My eyes shot open, my heart racing as a loud rustle outside jolted me from my slumber. I sat up quickly, listening intently for any sign of danger. The rustling sound echoed through the stillness of the night, like a warning call from nature itself.
I shook Aiden’s shoulder urgently, panic and curiosity fighting for dominance in my mind. He stirred beside me, his brown eyes blinking awake as he mumbled my name. “Aiden, wake up,” I whispered urgently, gesturing toward the window. His gaze followed mine to the soft moonlight seeping through the curtains, casting a silvery sheen on the walls of our bedroom.
“What is it?” he asked groggily, rubbing his eyes and sitting up next to me. We both strained to listen, holding our breaths in anticipation.
The rustling sound persisted, growing louder and more insistent with each passing moment. It was like the whispers of secrets carried by the night breeze, luring us out into the darkness.
But then, we heard it—a loud howl that pierced through the night air. Aiden and I sprang into action, slipping out of bed and onto the cool hardwood floor. Our feet made no noise as we tiptoed toward the window, our hearts beating rapidly in our chests.
With bated breath, we pulled aside the curtain and peered into the moonlit night, searching for the source of the howl. The full moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale, ethereal glow on the winter landscape outside. The rustling of branches had now transformed into an eerie melody, accompanied by the distant howls that echoed through the stillness of the night.
Aiden and I exchanged puzzled glances, our senses on high alert as we tried to make sense of the strange sounds coming from outside.
As we gazed out at the moonlit scene, a mysterious figure emerged from the shadows of the trees. Clad in nothing but a pair of worn sweats, the silhouette moved with a fluid grace that seemed almost otherworldly. The air grew heavy with an unspoken magic as the figure drew closer to our home.
“Is that…?” My question died on my tongue as I realized who it was. Aiden pulled me back protectively as Joel turned his gaze toward us.
“Why is he half-naked and coming out of the woods?” I whispered-yelled at Aiden, my confusion and concern evident in my voice.
Aiden shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. “I-I don’t know, but let’s not rush to judgment. Maybe he’s sleepwalking?” His voice held a hint of doubt, and his furrowed brow betrayed his skepticism.
As we stood there, the air thick with mystery and tension, a chill crept down our spines as we heard the back door close, followed by heavy footsteps.
“Let’s just go back to bed,” Aiden said softly, guiding me back to our room. “We’ll ask him about it in the morning.” Though his words were meant to be comforting, they did little to dispel the unease that lingered in the air.
As the sun rose on a chilly winter morning, Aiden and I sensed a shift in the air. The smell of something sweet and comforting filled the house, drawing us to the kitchen where Joel was expertly flipping pancakes onto plates.
My siblings had opted to spend the holidays at their home due to their impending arrivals—babies who were due any day now. We were planning to visit them next week to celebrate with our growing family.
The cozy kitchen was alive with the sound of sizzling batter and the soft melodies of Christmas music playing in the background. Despite the jovial atmosphere, Aiden and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease as we watched Joel move around the kitchen with ease, his actions somehow both natural and calculated.
The children, excited for the day’s events, joined us at the table as Joel served up stacks of pancakes adorned with whipped cream and berries. They chattered happily about their plans for the day as they dug into their breakfast, unaware of the unspoken tension between Aiden and me.
After breakfast, as we watched the kids play outside in the freshly fallen snow, Aiden and I took a moment to discuss our suspicions. Something was going on with Joel, but neither of us could quite put our finger on what it was. But one thing was for sure—he was full of surprises.
Aiden’s brow furrowed in contemplation, his expression troubled as he turned to me. “I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off,” he admitted.
I nodded in agreement, my own thoughts mirroring his. “He’s definitely hiding something. He’s way too cheery, even for me.”
Aiden’s jaw clenched in frustration. “What do you suggest we do?”
I pondered for a few seconds, tapping my finger against my lips before making a decision. “Let’s see what happens tonight.” Aiden agreed, not wanting to dampen the holiday spirit of the children.
The crackling fire and twinkling lights created a warm and cozy atmosphere, while the joyful chatter of the children filled the air with holiday cheer. But as the sun began to set and cast a warm golden glow over the wintry landscape, Aiden and I exchanged nervous glances.
The children were still outside playing in the snow, their laughter echoing through the house. Joel had retreated to his room, claiming tiredness from the day’s festivities. Aiden and I waited anxiously, unsure of what would happen next.
Eventually, my mom offered to put the kids to bed as they begged her to read them a bedtime story. We hesitated for a moment before heading to our room, the evening now shrouded in an eerie quietude.
Aiden rubbed comforting circles on my bare waist, a habit he picked up to soothe himself as well as we laid in bed, casting worried glances at each other. The dim light from outside cast shadows that danced along the walls, creating an unsettling aura.
The distant laughter of the children faded into the background as they finally settled into bed, leaving us alone with our uneasy thoughts.
The soft rustling sound began again, breaking the peaceful quiet of the night. Startled awake, we realized we had dozed off, only to be jolted back into reality by the haunting echo of a howl. Aiden and I exchanged a cautious glance, our eyes reflecting a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.
Suddenly, the howls echoed through the winter night, resonating like an eerie symphony.
We quickly rose from bed, casting wary glances toward the window. I nudged Aiden to follow as we grabbed our coats and boots and ventured outside into the cold night air. Despite the chill, a strange heat seemed to emanate from within us as we made our way toward the woods. I knew every inch of these woods, but tonight they felt unfamiliar and foreboding.
The figure emerged once again from the shadows of the trees. Clad in the same pair of sweats, Joel moved with a fluid grace that defied explanation. His bare feet left deep imprints in the snow as he approached the edge of the woods, his body illuminated by an ethereal glow from the moonlight above.
We waited in silence for him to disappear before we followed his tracks in the snow. It was then that we noticed something strange—his footprints had disappeared, replaced by paw prints.
I pinched Aiden’s arm in shock, and he let out a yelp before realizing I was just trying to make sure this was all real. He returned the gesture with a playful pinch to my waist.
As we continued following the mysterious paw prints deeper into the woods, we couldn’t help but wonder how someone could walk barefoot in such freezing conditions. I couldn’t help but ask Aiden the question that had been nagging at me. “Are we really not going to acknowledge what we’re both thinking?”
My husband’s skepticism was palpable as he replied, “Well, I’m following your lead here, so tell me, what is it you think we’re both thinking?”
I knew Aiden didn’t believe in the unknown, but my fascination with fantasy books since childhood had left me open to the possibility of something beyond our understanding. And now, standing on the steps leading into a mysterious castle, I wasn’t sure how to feel—afraid…excited?
“I know you don’t believe it,” I began hesitantly, “but the proof is right here, Aiden. He’s a damn werewolf.” The pieces fit together too perfectly—his nightly disappearances into the woods, his half-naked state upon returning home, and now, unmistakable paw prints just a few steps away from his human footprints.
As if on cue, a low growl filled the air, and Aiden and I froze in unison. Our eyes followed the sound to a clearing where a light-gray wolf stood, staring directly at us with piercing amber eyes.
“Shit,” we both muttered simultaneously, our hearts racing as the wolf continued to glare at us. In that moment, I couldn’t deny what my senses were telling me—there was no denying that this creature before us was more than just an ordinary wolf.
