đ Episode 10: The Beast in the Shadows
The forest was alive with whispers.
Every step Lila took seemed too loud, crunching twigs beneath her boots as she trailed Ethan deeper into the trees. The moon was full overhead, its pale glow slicing through the canopy in fractured beams.
Her heart pounded so violently she was sure he would hear it.
What are you doing, Lila? she scolded herself.
But the memory of last nightâthe way he moved, the way his eyes burned goldâpushed her forward.
She had to know.
Up ahead, Ethan stopped. He stood still as stone, his head tilted like he was listening to something she couldn't hear.
Lila ducked behind a tree, holding her breath.
For a long moment, silence. Then he exhaled, and his voiceâlow, roughâbroke the stillness.
"You can come out, Lila."
Her blood froze.
Slowly, she stepped from behind the tree, her cheeks burning with the shame of being caught. "IâŚI was justâ"
"Following me," he finished, his golden eyes glinting faintly in the moonlight.
Her throat tightened. "I need answers, Ethan. I can't keep pretending nothing's happening."
His jaw clenched, the muscles in his shoulders taut with restraint. "You shouldn't have come here."
She took a step closer. "Then tell me. What are you?"
The silence that followed was deafening. He turned away, running a hand through his hair, as though warring with himself.
"You wouldn't understand," he said finally, his voice hoarse.
"Try me," she whispered.
Thenâhe stilled. A sound cut through the forest: a low, eerie howl. It wasn't human.
Ethan's eyes snapped to hers, glowing brighter now, unmistakably unnatural. "Get back."
"What? Whyâ"
"Now, Lila!" he barked, the Alpha command in his tone making her flinch.
But before she could move, he doubled over, a guttural growl ripping from his chest.
Lila froze, her breath caught in her lungs.
His body trembled, every muscle straining. She heard bones cracking, saw his hands curl like claws, his back arching unnaturally. His shirt tore as his frame expanded, fur pushing through skin.
"E-Ethan?" she stammered, horror and awe flooding her veins.
He lifted his head, eyes blazing molten gold, his face no longer human.
And thenâhe was gone.
In his place stood a massive wolf, black as midnight, eyes glowing with a fierce, unearthly light.
Lila's knees went weak. She stumbled back, her chest heaving.
But instead of lunging at her, the wolfâEthanâstood protectively in front of her, head low, ears pinned, a deep growl rumbling in his chest.
From the shadows, figures emerged. The rogues.
The same ones from the alley. Three this time, their eyes burning with hunger and malice.
"Well, well," the leader sneered, his voice cruel. "You brought her to us yourself, Alpha."
Ethan's wolf snarled, the sound so vicious it made the ground vibrate.
Lila's heart thundered as realization crashed over her. The menâthey weren't men at all. They were like him.
Werewolves.
And she was standing in the middle of a war.
---
The first rogue lunged. Ethan met him midair, their bodies colliding with terrifying force. The sound of snapping jaws and tearing flesh filled the clearing.
Lila stumbled back, pressing against a tree, her eyes wide with terror. She wanted to runâbut her feet wouldn't move.
Another rogue circled toward her, grinning cruelly as his body began to shift, bones cracking, fur sprouting.
"No," she whispered, shaking her head.
Before he reached her, Ethan slammed into him, his massive jaws clamping around the rogue's shoulder. Blood sprayed, the rogue howled, and the two tumbled violently into the undergrowth.
The leader's gaze fell on Lila, sharp and calculating. "You don't even know what you are to him, do you?" he taunted, stepping closer.
Lila's breath hitched. "S-stay away from me."
He chuckled darkly. "Poor little human. You think this is about you? You're his weakness. And weaknesses get people killed."
Ethan roared, breaking free from the fight, his fur bristling as he lunged at the leader. The two clashed, snapping and tearing, the clearing echoing with savage growls.
Lila's whole body shook. She had never been more terrified. And yetâwhen Ethan's golden eyes flicked toward her, just for a momentâshe felt something else.
Safety.
Even as chaos raged, even as blood stained the leaves, she knew in her soul he was fighting for her.
---
The rogues finally retreated, limping into the shadows with promises of return. The leader spat blood on the ground, smirking through his pain.
"This isn't over, Blackthorn. The girl will be ours."
And thenâthey were gone.
The clearing was silent except for Lila's ragged breathing and the thundering of her heart.
Ethan stood before her, his massive chest heaving, fur slick with blood that wasn't his own. Slowly, painfully, his body began to shift back, the sound of cracking bones making her flinch.
When it was over, Ethan knelt on the ground, naked and trembling, his skin slick with sweat. He lifted his head, golden eyes still glowing faintly.
Lila took a step back, her voice trembling. "You⌠you're a monster."
His expression shattered. "LilaâŚ"
She shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "No. Stay away from me."
And before he could move, she turned and ran into the night, leaving him bleeding and broken in the clearing.
Ethan closed his eyes, his wolf howling inside him.
Because now⌠the truth could never be hidden again.
---
⨠End of Episode 10