Chapter 5 Maya

My heart pounded, my vision sharp yet hazy, and the air around me felt... wrong. Heavy. Almost toxic. I had to get out of there. Fast.

I stormed off the field, barely hearing the teacher's shout fading behind me. My legs moved on their own, carrying me to the edge of the school grounds. There, I dropped to my knees, gripping the grass as though it might anchor me to reality. My hands shook uncontrollably, and my skin burned from the inside out. Maya's growl echoed in my head, a constant, threatening presence.

Not here. Not now, I begged. But my fangs-sharp and unnatural-pushed through my lips, an unmistakable sign that she was gaining control.

"Mia!"

I flinched at the sound of Alexa's voice. Even before I turned, I could smell her-the sweet, warm scent of her humanity, grounding me in a way I didn't want.

"What are you doing out here? Are you okay?" Alexa asked concerned heavy in her voice. I didn't answer. I couldn't. Instead, I kept my back to her, hoping she'd take the hint and leave.

But Alexa never was good at taking hints.

She stepped closer. "Hey, talk to me. What's going on?"

"Stay back," I managed, my voice raw, low, and guttural-more a growl than words.

Alexa paused, and I hoped against hope that she'd back off. But she didn't. She stepped forward again, her hand reaching out like she could fix this like I was still just... Mia.

That's when everything snapped.

I don't even remember the exact moment it happened. One second, I was fighting to keep Maya at bay, and the next... she was in control. My body moved before I could stop it, and I felt my teeth-my fangs-sink deep into Alexa's arm.

The taste of blood hit me like a lightning strike, snapping me back to reality. I stumbled away, horror crashing over me as Alexa clutched her arm, staring at me as if I were some kind of monster.

Which, I guess, I was.

"I-Alexa, I didn't mean-" I stammered, but my words died in my throat. Her wide, terrified eyes told me everything I needed to know.

I turned and ran. I didn't even know where I was going, but my legs kept moving, carrying me as far away from her as possible.

When I finally made it home, my mom was waiting for me. One glance at my bloodstained hands, the streaks of tears on my face, and she knew.

"They called," she said, her voice calm, almost chilling. "The school. Someone reported... something. Investigators came by earlier."

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. "What does that mean?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer.

"It means we can't stay here," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "We're leaving tonight. Oakwood is the only place you'll be safe now."

Oakwood? Where's that?

I didn't argue. I didn't have a choice.

My hands were shaking as I threw my clothes into a bag. Mom's words still rang in my ears: "Go pack your things. Quickly. Put them in the car at the back of the house. We're leaving now."

I didn't dare ask why. The way she said it, sharp and urgent, made my stomach knot. It felt like we were on the run-not that I hadn't felt that way for most of my life.

When I finished packing, I slipped out the back door, dragging my bag behind me. Everywhere was calm and warm, and I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me. The car was parked at the edge of the yard, I shoved my bag into the trunk, trying not to think too much about how real this was. We were leaving-just like that.

Mom came out a minute later, but instead of getting in the car, she turned back toward the house.

"Mom," I called out, my voice tight with nerves. "What are you doing? We need to go!"

She didn't answer. She just kept walking, disappearing into the house without a word.

I stood there, my heart pounding. The quiet of the night was suffocating. I glanced around nervously, expecting someone-or something-to jump out at me.

When Mom finally came back, she was carrying a box.

But it wasn't just any box.

I frowned as she placed it in the trunk next to my bag. The thing looked ancient, with dark wood and strange carvings I couldn't make sense of. It didn't belong to us-I was sure of that.

"What's that?" I asked, eyeing the box like it might bite me.

"We'll be needing it," she said, closing the trunk. That was all she gave me. No explanation, no hint of what was inside.

"Needing it for what?" I pressed, but her tone made it clear she wasn't going to answer.

I wanted to argue, but I didn't. Instead, I climbed into the car, my stomach churning with questions I wasn't sure I wanted the answers to.

The highway stretched endlessly in front of us. The low hum of the engine was the only sound in the car, and the silence between Mom and me felt heavier than usual.

"Where are we going?" I asked finally, breaking the quiet.

"Oakwood," she said, her eyes locked on the road.

"What's Oakwood?" I pushed.

"That's where your father is from."

That was it. No elaboration. Just those six words, like they explained everything.

I stared at her, waiting for more, but she didn't say another word. "But why now? Why didn't we go before? What's it like there? Is he-"

"Enough, Mia," she cut me off, her tone sharper than I'd ever heard it.

I sank back into my seat, frustrated. If she didn't want to tell me, fine. I'd find out soon enough.

After what felt like hours of silence, I gave up trying to talk to her. I grabbed my phone, popped in my earbuds, and let the music drown out my thoughts.

At some point, I must have fallen asleep, because when I opened my eyes, it was pitch dark outside. I glanced at my phone 12:03 a.m.

"Happy birthday, Mia," Mom said softly. Her voice startled me.

I blinked, groggy. "What?"

"Your birthday. It's midnight," she said again, this time with a small smile.

I didn't even have time to respond before she slammed on the brakes.

The car skidded to a stop, and I jolted forward my heart racing.

"Mom, what-"

A shadow darted in front of the car. My eyes widened as a massive wolf crossed the road, its black fur catching the faint moonlight.

"Mom, that's a wolf!" I shouted, my voice shrill.

"I know," she said calmly, her hands tight on the steering wheel.

The wolf paused in front of us, its glowing eyes locking with mine,I felt it-the pull. It started in my chest, a strange, almost magnetic tug that made my heart pound harder. The air around me seemed to hum, as if something invisible but powerful was connecting me to the wolf standing in the middle of the road.

"What in the world..." my mom muttered, her voice shaky. I glanced at her hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

But I couldn't take my eyes off the wolf.

It growled-a low, rumbling sound that sent a shiver down my spine. And then it took a step closer, its golden eyes locking onto mine. My breath hitched.

There was something in its gaze-something familiar. It wasn't just looking at me; it was looking into me, like it knew me somehow.

"Mia, don't-" Mom's voice cut through the fog of my thoughts, sharp and urgent.

But it was already too late. My hands moved on their own, unbuckling my seatbelt. I barely registered the sound of the latch releasing. Before I knew it, I was opening the door.

for a moment before it turned and disappeared into the forest.

"Mom, it was a wolf!" I repeated, louder this time as if she didn't see it.

"Yes, Mia," she said, her voice unsettlingly steady. "You'll see more of them. This is a wolf town."

I didn't know what scared me more-her calmness or the fact that she was probably right.