sat on her bed, staring out the window as her pulse raced. Eli's cryptic promise re

vents had taken place since her arrival in Silverwood. She had spent the entire day thinking about what he might reveal, but every scen

lden eyes, the massive black wolf, the way Eli had

bbed her flashlight, pulled on a j

er in the dark, and every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig made her jump. The moon, nearly full,

ge pull, a sense of being drawn forward by someth

ure about

unfamiliar, and fi

" Eli replied. "If I don't te

of us," the oth

ason," Eli shot bac

the trunk. Eli stood in the middle of the clearing, his posture tense. Opposite him was

suddenly, turning his h

a f

i called, his voice

he other boy, Mason, scowled at her, his sharp gaze fl

company," Lyla said, crossing h

plied. "And this isn't just about

aid. "Then sta

Mason, who sighed and step

. "The forest, the people, even the history it's all tied to som

nked. "E

ood. We've lived here for generations, keeping the peace, staying hidden

r thoughts spinning. "Wer

e already seen one

said softly, the re

oint. What matters is that you've been pul

gh. "You should've stayed out of the

off. "This isn't her fault. Something

now. It's like the forest was c

ing about you, something different. You're not just a random human

? What does th

before he could answer, a low g

ward the sound, his bod

yla asked, her

dening. "Wolves without a pack. T

ight flickered, and her breath hitched. Shadow

in front of her. Mason shifted to the o

ws, their eyes glinting with malice. They were smaller than the black wolf she

ce taking on a strange, resonan

s his body twisted and transformed, fur erupting from his skin, his limbs elongating. In seconds, th

ms leaner but no less fierce. T

ed, teeth flashing and claws slashing. Lyla stumbled backwards, her flashlight forgot

round with a ferocious growl. Mason drove the othe

began. The rogues fled into the fore

y and his skin streaked with dirt and scra

e back," M

Eli replied, hi

nd struggling to catch up.

Eli sai

hose r

explained. "They don't follow

h. "Why did they attack

ecause they're opportunists. They've

hy she shouldn't be here,

ng anywhere,"

t here, you know. If this is my problem

I'll tell you everything. But n

line had worn off, leaving Lyla exhausted but buzzing with

that well," h

r each other apart?" she replied,

st people would'

dmitted. "But I also

a lot to take in, and it's not safe to talk about everything out

, too drain

and quiet. Her dad had fallen asleep on the couch,

her bed, staring at the ceiling. Werewolves were real. Eli and

ldn't shake the feeling that her lif