Jessica’s heart pounded as she approached her house, her steps faltering on the familiar path. The porch light flickered, a beacon calling her home after days of absence. She hesitated at the door, her hand hovering over the knob. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and pushed it open.
“Jessica!” Her father’s voice boomed through the entryway. Before she could respond, Daniel engulfed her in a crushing embrace. His familiar scent - a mix of coffee and old books - washed over her, momentarily drowning out the new, wild scents that had plagued her since that fateful night.
“Where have you been?” Daniel pulled back, his hands gripping her shoulders as he scanned her face. The worry lines etched around his eyes deepened. “I’ve been out of my mind with worry.”
Jessica swallowed hard, her carefully rehearsed story sticking in her throat. “I’m sorry, Dad. It’s... it’s been crazy.” She forced herself to meet his gaze, silently praying he wouldn’t notice the subtle changes in her eyes - the flecks of amber that hadn’t been there before.
Daniel guided her to the living room, his arm protectively wrapped around her shoulders. “Sit down, sweetheart. Tell me everything.”
Jessica perched on the edge of the couch, her fingers twisting in her lap. “There was... an incident at school.” The words tumbled out, a mix of truth and carefully crafted lies. “Some kind of animal broke in. It attacked Mrs. Peel.”
Daniel’s eyebrows shot up. “I know… I’m sorry about Mrs. Peel.”
“Yes… It was terrible.” Jessica looked away, guilt gnawing at her insides. “Everything happened so fast. I just ran.”
Her father nodded, encouraging her to continue.
“I got lost in the woods,” Jessica said, the lie tasting bitter on her tongue. “I wandered for hours before I ran into some old friends. They took me in, helped me recover.”
Daniel’s eyes widened. “Kevin and Salina? I thought you broke up with them.”
Jessica bit her lip. “It’s a long story, but they were available for me.”
Daniel sighed. “Why didn’t you call me?”
Jessica’s throat tightened. How could she explain that she’d spent those nights not lost, but transformed? That she’d prowled the forest on all-fours, her human mind barely clinging to consciousness as a beast took control? And apparently she lost her cellphone at school when she changed.
“I... I wasn’t thinking straight,” she mumbled. “I was scared and confused. By the time I calmed down with Kevin and Salina, I just wanted to come home.”
Daniel nodded slowly, his expression a mix of relief and lingering concern. “Well, you’re home now. That’s what matters.” He stood up, pacing the length of the living room. “But this creature... it’s still out there. Until we know what we’re dealing with, I want you to stay home.”
Jessica’s heart sank. She couldn’t stay home, not when the night was approaching. Not when she needed to find the original werewolf and secure its blood to control her curse. But she forced a smile, nodding in agreement. “Okay, Dad. I’ll stay put.”
Relief washed over Daniel’s face. “Good. I don’t want to take any chances.” He glanced at his watch and sighed. “I have to head back to the station later. This investigation isn’t going to solve itself.”
Jessica nodded. “Understood.”
*****
Jessica’s eyes darted to the clock on the living room wall for the hundredth time. The second hand ticked relentlessly, each movement bringing her closer to a fate she desperately wanted to avoid. As soon as the front door had closed behind her father, she’d snatched up her phone, her fingers trembling as she dialed Kevin’s number.
“Kevin,” she blurted out as soon as he answered, not bothering with pleasantries. “Tell me you have a plan to catch this thing before the full moon tonight.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Jessica’s heart hammered in her chest. Finally, Kevin’s voice crackled through the speaker. “Yeah, we’ve got something. Salina and I made our own silver weapons. And we’ve got a tool to collect blood.”
Jessica let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “Good,” she said, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice. “I need you to come over right now. My dad just left for work.”
“Good.” said Kevin. “That means you are coming with us?”
Jessica glanced at the darkening sky outside her window. “I can’t. My dad told me to stay home tonight.” She swallowed hard, pushing down the fear that threatened to overwhelm her. “But I need that werewolf blood now. So I’m totally coming. Come hell or high water.”
“Alright,” Kevin said, his tone serious. “We’re on our way.”
Jessica ended the call and tossed her phone onto the couch beside her. She paced the living room, her mind racing with all the possibilities of what could happen tonight. Would they find the werewolf? Would they be able to get its blood? And even if they did, would Salina have enough time to brew the potion?
The sound of tires on gravel snapped her out of her spiraling thoughts. She rushed to the window, relief flooding through her as she saw Kevin’s car pull into the driveway. Kevin and Salina climbed out, each carrying what looked like long, metallic spears.
Jessica yanked open the front door before they could knock. “Get in here,” she hissed, ushering them inside.
Kevin and Salina filed into the living room, their faces grim. Jessica glimpsed at the weapons they carried–three spears with wickedly sharp silver blades that glinted in the lamplight. Kevin also clutched a small case, which Jessica assumed held the tool for collecting blood.
“Sit,” Jessica said, gesturing to the couch. “We need to go over this plan of yours.”
As they settled into their seats, Jessica couldn’t help but marvel at the surreal nature of the situation. Here she was, plotting to hunt a werewolf with her old friends. If she had been told a week ago that this would happen, she would have laughed at them.
Salina leaned forward, her dark eyes intense. “Alright, here’s what we’ve got,” she began, her voice low and urgent. “We’re going to hunt the werewolf in Blackwood Park after dark. It’s isolated enough that we shouldn’t run into anyone else, but there’s enough cover for us to hide if we need to.”
Jessica nodded, her mouth dry. “And the blood? How are you going to get it?”
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Kevin held up the case. “We’ve got a specialized syringe. If we can immobilize the werewolf long enough, we should be able to draw some blood.”
“Should be able to?” Jessica repeated, her voice rising. “That’s not exactly reassuring, Kevin.”
He had the grace to look sheepish. “Look, it’s not like we’ve done this before. We’re working with what we’ve got.”
Jessica ran a hand through her hair, frustration and fear warring inside her. “And what happens after you get the blood? How are you planning to... destroy it?”
Salina and Kevin exchanged a glance that made Jessica’s stomach churn. “Kill it with our silver spears, of course,” Salina said carefully. “But the important thing is getting the blood first.”
Jessica stood up abruptly, unable to sit still any longer. She paced the length of the living room, aware of Kevin and Salina’s eyes following her. “This is insane,” she muttered. “You know that, right? We’re talking about hunting a werewolf. A real, honest-to-God werewolf.”
“We know,” Kevin mumbled. “But what choice do we have? We can’t just sit back and do nothing.”
Jessica stopped pacing and turned to face them. “And what if I transform tonight?” she asked, voicing the fear that had been gnawing at her since the sunset began. “What if you can’t figure this out in time?”
The silence that followed her question was deafening. Kevin and Salina looked at each other again, and Jessica felt a surge of irritation at their wordless communication.
“We’ll figure it out before that happens,” Kevin finally said, but the uncertainty in his voice was clear.
Jessica let out a humorless laugh. “Right. Because you two are suddenly experts on lycanthropy.”
Salina stood up, her expression fierce. “We may not be experts, Jessica, but we’re all you’ve got right now. So unless you’ve got a better plan, this is what we’re doing.”
Jessica deflated, the fight draining out of her. “You’re right,” she breathed. “I’m sorry. I just... I’m scared.”
Kevin rose and put a hand on her shoulder. “We all are. But we’re in this together, okay? Just like old times.”
Jessica nodded, trying to draw strength from his touch, and Salina’s determined gaze. She desperately hoped her old friends knew what they were doing, because if they didn’t, the consequences would be dire.
*****
The trees loomed over Jessica, Kevin, and Salina as they ventured deeper into Blackwood Park. Shadows danced between gnarled trunks, and the air hung heavy with the scent of pine and decay. Jessica’s eyes darted from tree to tree, searching for any sign of the creature that had changed her life forever.
“This is hopeless,” Kevin groaned, kicking at a pile of rotting leaves. “We’ve been out here for hours, and there’s no sign of your furry friend.”
Jessica shot him a glare. “It’s not my friend.”
“Figure of speech, Jessica,” Kevin replied, rolling his eyes. “Point is, we’re not getting anywhere.”
Salina pushed a branch out of her face, leaves caught in her dark hair. “He’s right. We need a new strategy.”
Kevin’s eyes lit up, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “Hey, Jessica, why don’t you use that super sniffer of yours? You know, get down on all fours and—”
“I am not sniffing the ground,” Jessica snapped, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. The mere thought of crawling around like a dog made her stomach churn.
Salina stepped between them, her voice surprisingly gentle. “You don’t have to do that. Just try sniffing the air. You’ll know the wolf’s scent when you catch it.”
Jessica hesitated, glancing at her two former friends. Their eyes held a mix of expectation and barely concealed fear. She sighed, realizing she had little choice. “Fine. But if either of you laughs, I swear I’ll—”
“Relax, please,” Kevin quipped. “We’re all friends here.”
The words stung more than Jessica expected. Were they still friends? After everything that had happened?
Pushing the thought aside, Jessica closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. At first, all she smelled was the forest–damp earth, decaying leaves, the sharp tang of pine. But then, carried on a faint breeze, something else tickled her nostrils. A musky, animal scent that made the hair on the back of her neck stand up.
Her eyes snapped open. “I’ve got something. This way.”
Jessica led them through the dense underbrush, following the invisible trail only she could detect. Branches whipped at their faces and roots threatened to trip them with every step. The further they went, the stronger the scent became.
“So,” Salina’s voice cut through the silence, sharp as a knife. “After we solve your little furry problem, I think it’s best if we don’t see each other again.”
Jessica stumbled, nearly face-planting into a thorny bush. “What? Why?”
Salina’s laugh was bitter and devoid of humor. “Seriously? You have to ask?”
“I think what Salina means is—” Kevin began, but Salina cut him off.
“No, let me spell it out for her,” Salina snapped. She turned to Jessica, her eyes blazing. “Remember when you became a cheerleader? Suddenly, we didn’t exist anymore. You ghosted us, Jessica. And worse, you let your new ‘friends’ torment us.”
The accusation hit Jessica like a physical blow. “I... I had to. If I didn’t, I might have lost my popularity, my place on the squad.”
“Oh, boo-hoo,” Salina mocked. “Poor popular Jessica, so afraid of losing her spot with the mean girl cult. Did you ever stop to think about how much that hurt us? How much it hurt me?”
Jessica’s temper flared. “You don’t understand. You have no idea what it’s like—”
“To be accepted? To fit in?” Salina’s voice rose. “You’re right, I don’t. Because my so-called best friend abandoned me the second something better came along!”
“That’s not fair!” Jessica shouted back. “I worked hard to get where I am. I’m sorry if that doesn’t fit into your little outcast narrative, but—”
“Enough!” Kevin’s voice boomed through the forest, startling them both into silence. He stepped between them, his expression stern. “What happened in the past should stay in the past. Right now, we need to focus on finding this werewolf and getting its blood. That’s more important than rehashing old grudges.”
Jessica blinked, surprised by Kevin’s forceful tone. He’d always been the peacemaker of their group, quick with a joke to diffuse tension. This new, authoritative Kevin was... different.
“Kevin’s right,” Jessica murmured, suddenly feeling quite insignificant. “I’m sorry, both of you. I know I hurt you. I just... I didn’t know how to balance everything.”
Kevin’s expression softened. “You made your choice, Jessica. I respected that, even if it hurt.” He shrugged, a hint of his old easygoing nature showing through. “Besides, who am I to judge? I’m the one who thought frosted tips were a good idea sophomore year.”
Despite herself, Jessica felt a smile tugging at her lips. But Salina remained unmoved.
“You’re a coward, Kevin,” she spat. “Always trying to smooth things over instead of facing the truth. Well, I meant what I said. Once this is over, I’m done.”
The words hung in the air like a physical presence. Jessica swallowed hard, fighting back the unexpected sting of tears. “Fine,” she managed. “Let’s just... let’s just keep moving.”
They continued in tense silence, the only sounds the crunch of leaves beneath their feet and the occasional snap of a twig. Jessica’s mind raced. Maybe reuniting with her old friends had been a mistake. But they were the only ones who knew what she’d become. The only ones who might help her.
The forest grew denser; the trees pressing in on all sides. Jessica’s enhanced senses picked up every rustle of leaves, every skitter of small animals fleeing their approach. The werewolf’s scent grew stronger with each step, filling her nostrils until it was all she could focus on.
And then, through a break in the trees, she saw it. A cave in a stone steep, perched on the edge of a small clearing. The scent trail led directly to its sagging porch.
Jessica threw out an arm, stopping Kevin and Salina in their tracks. “There,” she whispered, pointing. “The scent’s coming from in there.”
Kevin squinted through the gloom. “Are you sure? It’s dark in there.”
“I’m sure,” Jessica replied, her voice tight. Every instinct screamed danger, but she forced herself to remain calm. “The werewolf... it’s in there. I can smell it.”
Salina’s hand tightened on her spear. “So what’s the plan? We can’t just waltz in there.”
Jessica took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. “We don’t have a choice. We need that blood.”
Kevin nodded, his face pale but determined. “Alright then. Let’s do this.”
Slowly, cautiously, the trio crept towards the cave. Each step brought them closer to the creature that had upended Jessica’s life, and to a confrontation that would change everything.