His Fanged Luna

Emma.

I slammed the stack of pictures down on the editor's desk, my voice trembling as I spoke. "Another attack, Mr. Karl. Another one just last night. You can't keep ignoring this."

Karl barely glanced up from his computer, adjusting his glasses in that slow, deliberate way that always made me irritated. "Emma," he sighed, leaning back in his chair like he had all the time in the world, "what people want to read isn't wild animals running through the woods. They want celebrity gossip, local scandals, you know, stuff that sells."

I crossed my arms, trying to keep my voice steady. "People are dying, Mr. Karl. I'm talking about lives here, not some silly drama about who cheated on who."

"You'll watch your tone, miss Emma." his voice rose a notch and I stepped back.

Mr. Karl sighed, tapped his pen against his notepad, his eyes locking onto mine with what looked like sympathy. "Emma, you're good at what you do, but I'm running a business. People eat up the gossip like candy, but they're not gonna want to hear about something that scares them before bed. It's not what this town's looking for."

I clenched my fists, pissed. "Fine. But when something bigger happens, I hope you'll remember this conversation."

Without waiting for his response, I grabbed my bag and stormed out of his office, the door slamming shut behind me.

By the time I reached my car, I was already muttering to myself in frustration. "Karl is so blind! Who even made him editor?" I rolled my eyes. Gossips, that's all he ever cared about and journalism was much more than that.

The drive home was quiet and as soon as I stepped through the door of our small house, the familiar scent of Mom's lasagna filled the air, I tossed my bag onto the couch and headed straight for the kitchen where Alec and Mom were seated at the table.

"Honey, you look upset, is anything the matter?" Mum asked, no doubt seeing my face.

Alec looked up from his phone, frowning. "Tell me you didn't go back to the paper with that story again."

I threw my hands up in the air. "I'm a journalist, Alec. This is my job. And people are getting hurt. You don't expect me to just sit around, do you?"

He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "Emma, you've always been too stubborn for your own good. These attacks, whatever they are, they're dangerous. You're not a detective. You're not even animal control. You're going to get yourself hurt chasing after wild animals on the mountains."

Mom chimed in softly, her voice filled with concern. "Your brother's right, sweetheart. We've talked about this. It's not safe. These are very dangerous animal attacks and you can't even protect yourself."

I shook my head. "Then what do we do? Everyone's acting like there's nothing wrong, but people are ending up in hospitals, Alec. People are missing. First it's Mrs Parker and Joe boy was hurt too. All on that mountain."

Alec stood up abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. His anger was always quick to surface when it came to me. "And you want to be next? Is that it? You're going to keep pushing until you're the one getting dragged into a clinic because something out there decided to make you its next meal?"

"I'm careful!" I shot back, my voice cracking. "I'm not stupid, Alec. I know how to handle myself."

He shook his head, pacing the kitchen now. "You think you're invincible, Emma. But you're not. You don't know what you're dealing with."

"Don't talk up your sister like that, Alec," mum warned him sharply. Then she turned to me. "I'm sure you'll get your articles published. But just let this madness be over. We all want you safe, please."

I could feel Mom's worried eyes on me, could sense Alec's frustration from where he stood by the kitchen counter.

But what they didn't understand was that I wasn't looking for some big break. I was trying to help those poor victims and end these attacks. Whatever wild animals it was hurting the town had to be found and taken away.

Before I could say anything, my phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. I grabbed it, glancing at the screen. An unknown ID.

"Hello?"

"Emma, it's Nurse Reed from the clinic," her voice was rushed, panicked almost.

"The clinic?" I asked, my voice heavy. Alec came closer to me as I cast him a glance.

"It's Benny. You're on speed dial on her phone. Figured you're important. She's been hospitalized."

My heart sank. "Benny? What happened?"

"You need to come down to the clinic right away."

I could barely hear her over the ringing in my ears. Benny? Attacked? My best friend? No, this couldn't be real. "Is she okay?" My voice barely came out as a whisper.

"She's stable, but you need to come now."

I hung up without saying another word, the room spinning around me. Alec's eyes were locked on mine, concern overtaking his anger in an instant. "What is it?"

"It's Benny," I said, barely able to breathe. "She's been attacked."

The drive to the clinic felt like forever, though I was sure I'd broken every speed limit on the way. Alec had insisted on coming with me, but he hadn't said a word. He didn't need to, worry was written all over his face.

When we burst through the doors of the small clinic, Nurse Reed was already waiting for us. "She's in Room 4," she said quietly, leading us down the hallway.

I pushed open the door, my breath catching in my throat as I saw Benny lying there, pale and bandaged. Her arm was wrapped up tight, and there were scratches, deep, angry lines, across her neck and bruises on her cheeks.

"What happened?" I asked, my voice shaking.

Nurse Reed hesitated, glancing at Alec and then back at me. "We're not sure. The wounds, they look like she was attacked by an animal."

"What?" I could feel my heart thumping. Another animal attack. Just like I'd thought.

The nurse sighed. "We don't know for certain, but based on the wounds, it could be a bear. Or maybe a wolf."

Emma.

I'd had enough of the wild animal attacks. Benny was injured and I knew I had to do something. My backpack was stuffed and detective Shaw would be meeting me later.

"Hello, Mr. Karl," I said, "I won't be coming in today. I've got a family dinner and all."

Mr Karl hummed, "Are you upset about yesterday? Look, Emma. One day you'll write the big headlines but now, you've just gotta stick to the articles and__"

"Yeah, I get the drill. I'm just busy, I'll drop by tomorrow with the articles, bye." I said all in one breath and hung up.

As I stepped outside, I could feel Mom's eyes on me from the window. She hadn't said much after I arrived from the hospital, but she was clearly worried.

As I reached the car, Alec was already there, leaning, his fingers absentmindedly playing with the onyx ring he always wore. That ring was the only thing we had left from our father.

He passed months after my birth. Alec didn't talk much about him, but that ring meant something to him.

"Work?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as I tried to avoid eye contact.

"Yeah," I lied, nodding as if I could convince myself, too.

Alec squinted at me. "You're a little late. It's afternoon already."

"I just need to tidy a few things up at the office. Then I'll head back," I replied casually, opening the door to the car and tossing my backpack onto the passenger seat.

His eyes lingered on the bag. "What's with the backpack?"

"Documents. Some basic Work stuff," I shrugged, hoping he wouldn't press further.

He smiled faintly, but his expression remained cautious. "Alright. Just be safe. We can go check on Benny later."

"Don't worry, I'll drop by the clinic before I get to the press house." Alec nodded.

Once he stepped back from the car, I pulled out of the driveway, my heart doing a little dance. Of course I wasn't going to the office. No. I was going to the mountain.

But first, I needed to see Benny.

"Emma!" Benny sat up in bed as soon as I entered the hospital room, her face lighting up in that familiar, cheerful way that made her look like she hadn't just been hospitalized.

I forced a smile. The sight of her bruises and bandages still made me upset. "How are you feeling?"

"Oh, I'm fine!" Benny waved off my concern with a laugh, "It's just a few scratches. I'll be up and about in no time."

"Benny, this isn't a joke." My voice cracked, betraying the calm front I was trying to keep. "You could've died. What happened out there?"

Her smile faded a little, and she leaned back against the pillows. "I didn't see much. It was dark, but it looked like a dog. A really big dog. I was lucky I managed to get to the road before it could do any real damage. Some van picked me up and brought me right here."

I sat down at the edge of her bed. "A dog?"

Benny shook her head. "I don't know. A crazy mountain dog, a rottweiler. I'm glad it was just a few scratches."

"Well, I am going there tonight," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her eyes widened. "What? Are you out of your mind, Emma? It's not safe!"

"I know it's not safe, but someone has to figure out what's going on. I can't just sit around and do nothing."

"Emma, you can't just-"

"I'm not going alone," I cut in. "I've got an officer who's coming with me. It's all arranged."

Benny looked at me like I had completely lost it. "This is insane. What if something happens to you? Who's going to tell your story when you're the one getting dragged out of the woods?"

I forced a weak smile, trying to lighten the mood. "You'll write it for me, won't you?"

"Not funny." Benny frowned, but I could tell she knew I was hell bent on this.

I stood up and gave her a hug. "I'll be fine. Promise."

But as I walked back to my car, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

"Detective Shaw," I answered, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. He was my backup for this crazy plan.

"Emma, I'm sorry," his voice came through the receiver. "I've been pulled onto a missing person case. I can't make it to the mountain today."

"What?" I froze, disappointed. "But we had a plan!"

"I know, but this is urgent. I'll catch up with you as soon as I can. Just stay out of those woods, okay?"

I hung up without saying goodbye.

"Great!" I bit out.

No backup. No detective. Just me, alone. But I wasn't about to back out now.

By the time I reached the edge of the forest leading up the mountain, it was dark.

Armed with just a camera, a notepad, a flashlight, and a pocket knife, I followed the trail into the woods. Suddenly, I heard a twig snap behind me. I froze.

"Who's there?" I called out, my voice echoing through the trees. Silence.

Then came the growl. My flashlight trembled in my hand as I spun around, trying to see where it was coming from.

But before I could react, something slammed into me from behind, knocking the light out of my hand and knocking me down.

It was a wolf. A huge brown wolf.

"Arghhhh!" I screamed, scooting back, scrambling up in the dirt.

But a snarl ripped through the air and I froze. The wolf howled, its fangs glistening in the moonlight. Saliva dripped from its wide mouth, claws elongated.

My job. Benny. My family.

Terrified, I fumbled helplessly to pull out my pocket knife. But the wolf lunged at me.

I yelled, shutting my eyes and bracing for the pain. But it never came.

Out of nowhere, the creature was thrown off me with incredible force. I heard a rumble and a brutal groan.

A man stood between me and the creature. He moved faster than anything I'd ever seen. In a blur, he tackled the beast to the ground.

Frozen, all I were terrifying growls and snarls then the creature fled into the darkness with a whimper.

"Get up!" A deep baritone commanded, rough and angry.

I scrambled to my feet but my head spun, my vision darkened and my legs gave away just as I felt his strong arms wrap around me.

Emma.

The next morning, I sat at the breakfast table, staring blankly at my omelet and half eaten toast. The kitchen was warm, the scent of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the sound of clinking plates, but my thoughts were miles away, back to the woods, to that strange man. And now, the gray wolf.

"Emma, are you listening?" My mother's voice snapped me back to the present.

I blinked, shaking my head. "Sorry, Mom. What did you say?"

"You've barely touched your food, and you've been looking out the window all morning," she set a plate of eggs in front of me.

"Emma said she saw a wolf last night," Alec cut in, curling his salad. My family didn't eat much, in fact, I could say they didn't like food. But mum always cooked for me, she claimed.

I swallowed hard and interrupted him, "I know what I saw, Alec."

"We've been over this, Emma. You were in shock. That man you encountered in the woods, he was dangerous, but there's no wolf. It's just your mind playing tricks on you."

I leaned forward, "I'm telling you, I've seen it. Every night since that day, a gray wolf with piercing eyes stares at me from outside my window. I'm not imagining things."

Her mother exchanged a glance with Alec. "Sweetie, you've been through a lot, with Benny being injured and all. It's natural to have nightmares or see things that aren't really there. But you have to trust us, there's no wolf."

I clenched my fists under the table. "You think I'm crazy, don't you?"

"No one's saying that, Emma," Alec cut in. "But you need to stop going on silly little trips to that mountain, it's dangerous and you're not a cop! Focus on writing articles," Alec's voice was hard.

"I don't have to listen to you, Alec, you're not my dad," I retorted, standing up abruptly, my chair scraping the floor. "I know what I saw."

My mother sighed, her face softening. "We're just worried about you, honey. We don't want you getting hurt. Maybe you should take a few days off work."

I grabbed her bag from the table. "I'm not crazy. And I'm not letting go of my job. I have to go. I'll be late."

Later that evening, before heading home, I'd met Benny at the cafe after work. The small shop was cozy, filled with the quiet hum of conversations and the smell of pastries. Benny, now fully healed from the bruises she'd gotten, had greeted me cheerfully.

"You look better," I said, sitting down and wrapping her hands around a warm cup of tea.

"Yeah, I heal fast," Benny said with a smirk, "how's work going? Old man Karl is still giving you problems?"

I leaned in, lowering my voice. "I've been seeing things, Benny. A wolf. Every night, it's outside my window, just watching."

Benny's eyes widened. "A wolf? Are you sure it's not just a stray dog or something?"

"No. It's like the same wolf from the woods. I know it."

Benny paused, tapping her fingers on the table. "Okay, this might sound crazy, but... maybe it's connected to that man. What if he wasn't just some random attacker?"

I bit her lip, considering it. "I don't know. It feels like it's the same wolf from the forest. Is that even possible for a wolf to stalk me?"

Benny's eyes lit up. "We should look into it."

Emma raised an eyebrow. "Look into it? You mean investigate?"

"Yeah," Benny said, nodding. "I mean, if you're seeing this wolf, and if it's connected to that man, we need to figure out what's really going on."

Emma felt a rush of relief. "You believe me?"

Benny nodded but this time, I shook my head. "Not happening. You're lucky to heal, there's no way I'm taking you back to that mountain."

Rolling her eyes, Benny pinned me a stare. "My brother just got into town, remember? He's ex-Marines and he'll come along."

I sighed in relief. After detective Shaw had bailed on me, two officers called me crazy, I figured it was pointless getting the authorities involved. "Okay. You talk to your brother and let me know."

That might, I couldn't sleep. All I did was curl up in my bed, hoping sleep would somehow find me.

I wasn't that lucky.

"Hey, Emma?" I jerked up at the sound of my mum's voice and rushed to the door. She was with a tray of some chocolatey liquid and it smelled amazing.

"Hey, mum," I mumbled. As much as I appreciated the gesture, I wasn't really hungry.

She looked inside my room and walked in, dropping the tray by the bedside. "Will you be alright?" She asked. I nodded.

It was two days after the incident in the woods. Two days of sleeplessness and seeing wolves everywhere she turned. But of course, she couldn't tell her mother that.

"Yeah, I'm just getting a few scripts ready for tomorrow," I replied. Like I was in the mood for any work.

Mum nodded and left the room. I grabbed the cup and turned to the window. Then I froze. Right there, just beside the old nail box was a wolf.

A huge gray wolf staring right at my room. I shook, stepping back as its dark eyes bore into mine. I didn't know when the cup fell from my hand and shattered on the floor but right then, Alec was by my door.

"Emma?" His tone was sharp as he tapped twice.

I couldn't move, couldn't respond. The wolf was still there, staring right into my room.

A hand fell on my shoulder and I whipped around, startled.

"Are you alright?" Alec asked as he steadied me.

"There's a wolf outside," I blurted without a second thought.

Alec arched a brow at me as he looked outside. "Emma, there's nothing outside."

I turned to face the window and the gray wolf was gone. "It was right...there," I mumbled,

He looked outside and for a second, his nose flared. He touched his ruby ring and then sighed as he held my shoulders. "Come on, get some sleep, Emma." And with that, he left, closing the door.