Chapter 1: Beginning
My skin itched with sweat, and my breath tore at my lungs. I'd been running for hours, maybe years, when I stumbled into that clearing. The forest floor was covered in shadows, even though it was the middle of a bright. Summer. Afternoon. Trees towered overhead, weaving a roof of branches and leaves. Ferns, mosses and mushrooms clustered about their base, creating a wall of thick, verdant foliage.
As my heart pounded, slowing to a thud in my ears, I picked myself up, stole a quick glance around, and crept towards the heart of it all.
I squeezed through a patch of shrubs and found myself in a second circle of trees, equally imposing and intimidating. Their trunks were massive; their branches barred the sky, forming an inescapable closing. The only way out seemed to be where I came from, deeper into the woods. Or perhaps there was a way forward, if I could find it.
As I cautiously took in my surroundings, an unusual sight caught my eye. Through a gap between the trees, I could make out several forms. I approached slowly, straining my ears and eyes until I recognized them as men. But not entirely men. A chill ran down my spine as I observed their wolf-like features. They convened in the glade, standing tall with rippling muscles, piercing gazes, and fur-covered hands that ended in pointed claws.
Were they real? Or was this a dream spurred by exhaustion and desperation?
I let out a nervous chuckle that sounded more like a whimper. These men seemed insurmountably powerful, creatures of destiny or delusion. Nevertheless, I had nowhere else to go.
I edged closer, trying to catch the whispers of their conversation that danced on the wind.
"Do you think we should...?" asked one, the words dissolving into a lingering snarl.
"In good time," the first one responded, before locking eyes with me—his gaze was a mix of curiosity and calculation.
His blue eyes flickered with an icy concern, and I wanted to melt beneath his gaze. The other men followed suit, their forms becoming a mix of man and wolf, even the one who called himself 'Alpha.' He was enormous, radiating an undeniable authority that I felt in my bones.
Silently, the transformed creatures circled me. Alpha's lips curled into a sneer, and my heart thumped erratically in my chest.
The air was dense with tension when Alpha finally spoke, his voice a low rumble.
"Who are you? And how'd you end up in our woods?"
As I opened my mouth, my courage spilled out like shattered glass. "I'm Ben," I stuttered. "I wasn't sure where I was, and I needed somewhere to rest. I didn't know that I wasn't supposed to be here; I apologize if I did something wrong."
Beta, standing beside Alpha, leaned closer, scrutinizing me intently. His dark eyes seemed kind, and I searched for refuge within their familiarity.