's jaw dropped as she saw that it was a woman

new werewolf. "I've been tracking you for weeks. I kn

licking between the woman and Leah.

s in a placating gesture. "We don't wa

lightly, eyeing Zyra warily

looking for a way to break t

e. "The curse?" she repeated, her v

t to fight. We just want to find a way to con

ly and stepped closer. "My name is Aria. I've been

heir shared curse, despite being on opposite sides of a potential f

ourney and their search for a cure. "I may be able to

ing in her chest. Maybe they

ou mean?"

ion, there's an ancient tree deep in the forest. They say that if a werewolf d

ged looks. It sounde

dangerous creatures. And even if you make it to the tree, there's

of a choice," she said firmly. "If there's ev

determined. "

d walking back into the forest. "Fo

faced challenges at every turn, from dodging traps to fighting off wild ani

nt with a gnarled, ancient trunk. In the full moon

ch the bark. It was rough and cold, but t

and Leah. "Are yo

g back. You'll be transformed back into your human form perman

me time. The curse had been a part of her life for so long, it was almost hard to imagine living witho

nod. Together, they stepped forward and each pressed their lips to

grand transformation to occur. But then she felt a tingling sensation spre

thing. The two of them shared a knowing look, the

n it ha

ody was breaking and then reforming itself again in a new shape. It was the most intense pain

looked at each other, both of them wide

ria asked, a hint of

ush of air through her lungs. "I feel...different," she said,

d in circles. "I feel amazin

more moments, basking in the wo

ance, they heard the sound of footsteps. They

voice low. "I don't think t

r, they could see that they were ar

s the werewolf here?" he growled. "We know you're in this

hoped for peace and freedom, but it seeme

orm no match for their weapons. "There are no werewolves her

e her. "We've had reports of werewolf attacks in

hat this was a delicate situation. They couldn't reveal their tru

se, sir," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "We're not

n't going to listen. But then, to their

stepping forward.

a and her companions. The man took a step closer and squinted at Z

hoped to leave her past behind her, but i

ptical. "How do we know she'

"I grew up in that pack,

the two men sized each other up. Then, to

ay," he said. "But you'd better stay away from

ay, their weapons still at the ready. Zyra breat

her voice shaking slightly.

our guard down," she said. "We've been gi

could have happened if they had been discovered. But despite the danger, there was a se

e together and start over. Aria wanted to help other cursed individuals like themselves and make sure they never fe

er. They had been on the run for months, always looking over the

et, casting an orange glow across the trees. Zyra led the way, u

could sense something nea

asked, noticing the ten

er eyes widening in alarm. "Werewolve

paled. "Wh

aid, her voice strained. "If we

ng, and their breaths came in sharp gasps as they sprinted t

path. Zyra skidded to a halt, nearly colliding with the creature. It

" it growled, bari

in a gesture of peace. "We mean you no har

ts eyes scanning the group. "Wh

h," Zyra said quickly. "We

It sniffed the air again, and then ste

low and menacing. "This forest is

pushed on, their nerves even more frayed than befor

own in the distance. It looked quaint and peaceful,

g to the town. "We can rest there for a whi

y with fear and anticipation. But as they got

k, with somber expressions on their faces. They

" Aria asked, her voice