Jessica stabbed her fork into a stack of syrupy pancakes, her mind still foggy from the previous night. The resort's diner buzzed with the chatter of vacationers, a stark contrast to the overcast sky visible through the windows.

"Earth to Jessica," Salina said, waving a hand in front of her face. "You in there?"

Jessica blinked, focusing on her friends. "Sorry, just thinking."

Kevin raised an eyebrow. "About those red eyes you saw last night?"

"I told you, it was probably just light beams hitting Frankie’s face," Jessica muttered, not entirely convinced herself.

Mr. Lebowski chuckled, reaching across the table to ruffle Kevin's hair. "You kids and your imaginations. This is supposed to be a relaxing vacation, remember?"

"Trust me, Dad," Kevin said, ducking away from his father's hand. "With this crew, relaxation isn't exactly our forte."

Mrs. Lebowski sipped her coffee. “Um-hm. You kiddos always like to find some trouble.”

Jessica forced a smile, trying to shake off her unease. She'd come on this trip to escape the supernatural chaos of Moon Valley, not to find more of it. But something about this island kept her wolf senses on high alert. And Frankie was no exception.

"Well, I for one am ready for some adventure," Salina declared, pushing her empty plate away. "What's on the agenda for today?"

"Frankie and Damon mentioned they found a cool spot to explore," Kevin said. "We're supposed to meet them outside after breakfast."

Jessica's stomach churned, and it wasn't from the pancakes. Something about Frankie set her teeth on edge, despite the girl's friendly demeanor. But she'd promised herself she'd try to relax and have fun on this trip.

"Sounds good," she said, plastering on another smile. "Let me just run up to the room and change."

Ten minutes later, Jessica emerged from the hotel in a bright pink tank top and denim shorts, sandals, and her long hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. She squinted against the gray light, spotting Frankie and Damon near a row of golf carts.

Frankie waved, her smile bright with joy. She wore a baggy hoodie despite the humid air, the hood pulled up to shade her face. "Hey guys! Ready for an adventure?"

"Born ready," Salina replied, bumping fists with the surfer girl.

Damon grinned, looking effortlessly cool in a loud Hawaiian shirt and board shorts. "Hope you all brought your explorer hats. We're heading into uncharted territory today."

Jessica's wolf senses prickled. "Uncharted territory? What exactly did you have in mind?"

Before Damon could answer, Mr. Lebowski jogged over, slightly out of breath. "Hold up, kids. Just got word from the front desk. There's a big storm headed this way."

Kevin frowned. "How big are we talking?"

"Big enough that they're advising everyone to stay indoors if it hits," Mr. Lebowski said, his brow furrowed with concern. "Maybe you should postpone your little expedition."

Jessica felt a mix of relief and disappointment. Part of her wanted to heed the warning and curl up in her room with a good book. But another part—the part that had faced down demons and monsters—bristled at the idea of letting a little bad weather ruin their plans.

"We'll keep an eye on it, Mr. L," Damon said smoothly. "If things start looking dicey, we'll head right back. Promise."

Kevin nodded, pulling out his cell phone. "Yeah, Dad. I've got full bars. We'll call if anything happens."

Mr. Lebowski hesitated, then sighed. "Alright. But I mean it—first sign of trouble, you hightail it back here. Got it?"

"Got it," the teens chorused.

As Mr. Lebowski walked away, casting worried glances over his shoulder, Damon hopped into the driver's seat of a nearby golf cart. "All aboard the SS Adventure!"

Jessica climbed in next to Salina, her enhanced senses picking up the faint scent of ozone in the air. Storm's definitely coming, she thought. But maybe that's all it is—just a storm.

The cart lurched forward, Damon navigating the winding paths of the resort with practiced ease. Jessica found herself relaxing despite her earlier misgivings, enjoying the warm breeze on her face.

"So, where exactly are we going?" she asked, raising her voice to be heard over the whine of the electric motor.

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Frankie turned in her seat, grinning mischievously. "It's a surprise. But trust me, it'll be worth it."

Jessica's wolf stirred uneasily at those words. Trust me. How many times had seemingly innocent invitations led to supernatural disaster back in Moon Valley?

She pushed the thought aside, determined to give Frankie and Damon a chance. After all, not everyone was hiding dark secrets or sinister motives. Sometimes a fun day out was just that—a fun day out.

As they drove, Jessica found her gaze drawn to the sky. Dark clouds loomed on the horizon, creeping steadily closer. A gust of wind rustled the palm trees lining the path, carrying with it the sharp tang of rain.

"Looks like that storm might be rolling in sooner than we thought," Kevin observed, following Jessica's gaze.

Damon shrugged, unfazed. "Nah, we've got plenty of time. Besides, a little rain never hurt anyone."

Jessica bit back a retort. She'd seen plenty of things that could hurt someone in the rain—werewolves, vampires, and all manner of creatures that thrived in the dark and damp. But she held her tongue, not wanting to dampen the mood with her paranoia.

The cart rounded a bend, and Jessica's eyes widened. They'd reached the edge of the resort proper, the manicured lawns and quaint buildings giving way to a wild tangle of jungle. A worn dirt path disappeared into the greenery, barely wide enough for their cart.

Damon brought the vehicle to a stop, killing the engine. "End of the line, folks. From here, we walk."

Jessica climbed out, her sandals sinking slightly into the damp earth. She eyed the jungle warily, her enhanced senses picking up a cacophony of bird calls and rustling leaves. "Are you sure this is safe?"

Frankie laughed, playfully bumping Jessica's shoulder. "Where's your sense of adventure, Jessica? This is the only part of the island we haven't explored yet. Who knows what we might find?"

"Giant crabs, maybe," Salina quipped, wiggling her fingers dramatically. "Or a tribe of tiny island people who've never seen outsiders before."

Jessica rolled her eyes, but couldn't help smiling. "I think you've been watching too many cheesy movies, Salina."

"Hey, you never know," Kevin chimed in, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "After everything we've seen back home, would mutant crabs really be that surprising?"

A chill ran down Jessica's spine at the casual reminder of their supernatural encounters. She squared her shoulders, reminding herself that she was more than capable of handling whatever this island might throw at them. "Fine, but if we get eaten by mosquitoes the size of house cats, I'm blaming you all."

Damon chuckled, leading the way down the narrow path. "Relax, Jessica. The only wildlife on this part of the island is birds, some harmless lizards, and maybe a crab or two. Nothing scarier than what you'd find in your average backyard."

As they ventured deeper into the jungle, Jessica found herself torn between awe and apprehension. The foliage was lush and vibrant, a riot of green punctuated by bursts of colorful flowers. Vines hung from towering trees, creating a canopy that filtered the gray light into dappled shadows.

But beneath the beauty, Jessica's wolf senses remained on high alert. There was a stillness to the air, a tension that reminded her of the calm before a storm—both literal and metaphorical.

"So, Frankie," she said, falling into step beside the other girl. "How'd you and Damon find this place?"

Frankie's smile faltered for a moment, so briefly Jessica almost missed it. "Oh, you know. We like to explore. It's amazing what you can find when you're not afraid to go off the beaten path."

Jessica nodded, filing away the non-answer for later consideration. "And you're sure it's safe? I mean, no offense, but this doesn't exactly look like approved guest territory."

Damon glanced back over his shoulder, his easy grin still in place. "Trust me, we know what we're doing. Besides, where's the fun in sticking to the resort-approved activities?"

"Yeah, Jessica," Salina chimed in from behind them. "Live a little! When's the last time we got to just be normal teenagers on an adventure?"

Jessica bit back a sigh. Normal teenagers. Right. As if she even remembered what that felt like.

They pressed on; the path growing narrower and more overgrown with each step. Jessica constantly scanned their surroundings, her enhanced senses straining for any hint of danger. The thick canopy overhead blocked most of the sky, but she could still hear the distant rumble of thunder.

"Maybe we should think about heading back," she suggested, trying to keep the worry out of her voice. "That storm sounds like it's getting closer."

Kevin nodded in agreement. "Yeah, my mom and dad will freak if we're not back before it hits."

Frankie and Damon exchanged a look that Jessica couldn't quite decipher. "Just a little further," Frankie said. "We're almost there, I promise. It'll be worth it."

Before Jessica could argue, the path opened up into a small clearing. She gasped, momentarily forgetting her concerns as she took in the sight before them.

A waterfall cascaded down a moss-covered cliff face, feeding into a crystal-clear pool surrounded by smooth boulders. Tropical flowers in every imaginable hue dotted the banks, their sweet fragrance mingling with the earthy scent of the jungle.

"Wow," Salina breathed, her eyes wide. "Okay, I take it back. This was definitely worth the hike."

Damon grinned triumphantly. "Told you. Pretty sweet, right?"

Jessica had to admit, it was beautiful. For a moment, she allowed herself to relax, drinking in the peaceful atmosphere of the hidden grotto. Maybe she had been too quick to assume the worst. Maybe this really was just a pleasant spot Frankie and Damon had stumbled upon in their explorations.

But as she stepped further into the clearing, a chill ran down her spine that had nothing to do with the spray from the waterfall. Her wolf senses, which had been on edge all morning, suddenly howled in warning.

Something was wrong here. Very wrong.

Jessica scanned the area, her eyes narrowing as she searched for the source of her unease. At first glance, everything seemed perfectly normal—if you could call a hidden tropical paradise "normal." But there was something off about the entire scene, something that tugged at the edges of her perception.

The birds. That was it. Despite the lush surroundings, she couldn't hear a single bird call. The only sound was the rush of the waterfall and the low rumble of distant thunder.

"Guys," she intoned, "I think we should—"

A scream cut through the air, sharp and terrified. It came from back the way they'd come, from the direction of the resort.

Jessica whirled around, her body tensing for action. "What was that?"

Frankie and Damon exchanged another of those unsettling looks. "Probably just someone goofing around," Damon said, but his serene smile had vanished.

"That didn't sound like goofing around," Kevin said, his face pale. "That sounded like someone in trouble."

Another scream echoed through the trees, closer this time. Jessica's enhanced hearing picked up the sounds of crashing undergrowth, as if something large was moving through the jungle at high speed.

"We need to go," she said firmly, grabbing Salina's arm. "Now."

For once, no one argued. They turned and ran back down the narrow path, Jessica in the lead. Her wolf senses were in overdrive, every nerve screaming danger.

They burst out of the jungle and into the open area where they'd left the golf cart. Jessica skidded to a stop, her heart pounding. The cart was where they'd left it, but something was very wrong.

A body lay crumpled on the ground beside the vehicle, burnt to a crisp as if someone used a flamethrower on the victim. The smoking fried flesh filled Jessica's nostrils, making her stomach churn.

"Oh my god," Salina whispered, her voice trembling. "Is that—"

"Don't look," Jessica said sharply, positioning herself between her friends and the gruesome sight. But it was too late. She'd already seen enough to know that this was no accident. The body was mangled, torn in a way that spoke of savage violence.

And it had been burnt somehow.

A low growl rumbled in Jessica's chest, her wolf rising to the surface in response to the threat. She scanned the area, every sense on high alert. Whatever had done this couldn't be far.

Lightning flashed overhead, followed almost immediately by a deafening crack of thunder. Fat raindrops fell, quickly turning into a torrential downpour.

"We need to get back to the resort," Kevin said, fumbling for his phone. "Call for help."

But as he pulled out the device, Jessica saw his face fall. "No signal," he muttered. "Damn it!"

"The cart," Damon said, already moving towards the vehicle. "We can outrun whatever did this if we ride it.”

Jessica nodded to Damon. “Good idea.”

The storm was coming, but it wasn’t the only terror that she was worried about.