Chapter 1 1

Selene adjusted her grip on the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white as she squinted through the thick fog. The trees along the narrow road seemed to lean closer with every passing mile, their skeletal branches scraping against the sides of her beat-up sedan like ghostly fingers. She'd been driving for hours, chasing a destination that felt as foreign as it was familiar.

The GPS on her phone had given up twenty minutes ago, leaving her with nothing but an outdated map and the vague instructions from her late grandmother's lawyer. "Follow the north road through the forest," he had said, his voice tinged with something she couldn't quite place-pity, perhaps. Or maybe warning. "You'll find the house at the end. It's hard to miss."

Hard to miss, sure, she thought bitterly as she glanced at the rearview mirror, where the fog seemed to churn like a living thing. Her stomach twisted as the road curved sharply, the edge of the asphalt disappearing into a steep drop. She tightened her grip and forced herself to focus.

She wasn't here for nostalgia or ghost stories. She was here to pick up the pieces of her life, to find something-anything-that might inspire her again. Inheriting her grandmother's old house in Silver Hollow felt like a sign.

The headlights caught something ahead-a faded wooden sign half-hidden by moss and ivy. Welcome to Silver Hollow, Population 3,247.

The weight of it settled on her chest like an omen.

The town appeared suddenly, almost startling in its quaintness. Stone cottages lined the main street, their chimneys puffing lazy spirals of smoke into the chill air. A small bookstore sat beside a café, where a handful of people lingered outside despite the cold. They turned to watch her car pass, their expressions wary, almost curious.

Selene shivered, rolling her window up. The sense of being watched didn't fade as she navigated through the narrow streets and out toward the edge of town, where the forest loomed even darker.

Her grandmother's house stood at the end of a gravel path, surrounded by ancient oaks and thick undergrowth. The house itself was larger than she'd imagined, a two-story Victorian with a wraparound porch and gabled windows. It was beautiful in a way that felt haunting, as if the house were alive and waiting.

Selene killed the engine and stepped out, pulling her coat tighter around herself. The air was colder here, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and pine. She glanced around, half expecting someone to greet her, but the driveway was empty.

She climbed the creaking steps and unlocked the door, the hinges groaning as it swung open. The interior was dim, dust motes dancing in the beams of light that slipped through the heavy curtains. Furniture lay shrouded in white sheets, and the air carried the unmistakable scent of time-stale and heavy.

"Home sweet home," she muttered to herself, dropping her bag by the door.

She wandered through the house, her footsteps echoing on the hardwood floors. Every creak and groan of the old structure set her nerves on edge, but she told herself it was just a house-just wood and nails and memories.

Until she reached the sitting room.

A low growl froze her in place.

Her heart hammered in her chest as she turned toward the sound, her eyes scanning the shadows. At first, she thought it was just her imagination, but then she saw them-two glowing silver eyes staring at her from the darkness of the far corner.

"Who's there?" she demanded, her voice sharper than she felt.

The growl deepened, and the figure stepped into the light.

It wasn't a man-at least, not entirely. The creature stood on two legs, its body covered in sleek black fur, its shoulders impossibly broad. Its wolf-like face twisted into a snarl, revealing sharp, glistening teeth.

Selene stumbled back, her breath catching in her throat. This couldn't be real.

The creature tilted its head, studying her. And then, as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone-vanishing into the shadows as if it had never been there at all.

Selene stood frozen, her pulse pounding in her ears. She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady her breathing.

"Get a grip," she whispered. "You're just tired. You're imagining things."

But deep down, she knew she wasn't.

The sound of footsteps on the porch sent her heart racing again. She spun toward the door, her mind scrambling for an explanation. Was it back?

The knock was firm, deliberate.

"Miss Rylan?" a deep voice called.

Selene hesitated before crossing the room and peering through the peephole. A man stood on the porch, tall and broad-shouldered, his dark hair slightly tousled. He was handsome in a rugged, almost dangerous way, his sharp jawline dusted with stubble.

She opened the door cautiously, keeping her hand on the frame. "Yes?"

"I'm Rowan," he said, his voice calm but carrying an edge of authority. "You're new to Silver Hollow."

"Is that a question or a statement?"

A hint of a smile tugged at his lips. "Both."

Selene narrowed her eyes. "Can I help you?"

"I could ask you the same thing," he said, stepping closer. "This house... it's part of our history. Part of the pack."

"The pack?"

His expression darkened, and for a moment, she thought she saw something flicker in his eyes-something inhuman.

"Let's just say you've stepped into a world you don't understand," he said. "And it's not a safe one."

Before she could respond, another voice cut through the tension.

"Rowan, don't scare her."

Selene turned to see another man approaching the porch, his features strikingly similar to Rowan's but softer, more playful. His grin was disarming, and his blue eyes sparkled with mischief.

"She's new," he said, looking at Selene. "You're not going to run her off already, are you?"

"Lachlan," Rowan growled, his tone low and warning.

Lachlan ignored him and extended a hand to Selene. "Welcome to Silver Hollow. I'd say it's nice to meet you, but judging by the look on your face, I'm guessing my brother didn't make the best first impression."

Selene hesitated before taking his hand. It was warm, his grip firm but not overbearing.

"Brother?" she asked, glancing between them.

"Oh, there's more of us," Lachlan said with a wink. "But don't worry-we don't bite. Much."

Rowan shot him a glare. "Enough."

Lachlan shrugged, but his smile didn't fade.

Selene's head spun with questions, but one thing was clear: whatever she had stepped into, it was far more complicated-and far more dangerous-than she had ever imagined.