What kind of creature was that?
“A werewolf.”
I thought of the dreams I had been having these past few days.
“No, that’s impossible.”
While I could accept my friend’s discussions about spirits, the idea of such a creature made me question her intuition.
“Seraph, there are many things in this world that science can’t explain,” Evelyn said, giving me a dissatisfied look. “My grandmother once saw a werewolf, though neither my mother nor I have. I thought they had already integrated into human society.”
“Integrated into human society?” I found her topic drifting further from reality.
Even my parents wouldn’t tell me such legends.
And I had no interest in these things.
“There have been rumors of werewolves in our town. Didn’t you know? Though, that was over a hundred years ago.”
“If they really existed, why hasn’t our civilization left any trace of them?” I pulled the curtains shut, locked the window tightly, and made sure it was completely covered.
If that monster reappeared, it wouldn’t be able to get in immediately.
I grabbed two cans of beer from the fridge and sat Evelyn down on the couch.
What had happened tonight, along with Evelyn’s words, had completely overturned my understanding. I wasn’t entirely convinced. I thought it might just be some wild animal that had strayed into the residential area. After all, our town was near mountains and a vast, uninhabited forest.
Could such legends be true?
“Because they’re very good at disguising themselves. Usually, they go unnoticed,” Evelyn said, sitting beside me and taking a sip of beer.
“How do they hide? Didn’t you see it? That thing was terrifying. I guarantee anyone who saw it would never forget it.” I gripped the bottle tightly, still nervous thinking about the monster.
“Maybe it wasn’t a werewolf, but some other animal. Werewolves, under normal circumstances, are indistinguishable from humans. They look just like ordinary people, but a wolf lives inside them. When they want to transform, they can become wolves.”
Evelyn’s explanation shocked me.
“That’s impossible! It overturns all biological theories! It sounds too bizarre, Evelyn. Are you joking?”
“I’m serious. Do you think what you encountered tonight can be explained by science?”
“Maybe the police will issue a warning later. They’ll tell us.” I still didn’t believe her. “If they have such special abilities, couldn’t they easily destroy human society?”
Humans, though intelligent, are physically weak. Against wild animals, we can only win by using tools.
But werewolves have the ferocity of beasts and the intelligence of humans. If they wanted to destroy human society, wouldn’t it be effortless?
Evelyn smiled. “My grandmother once said that werewolves also have tribes and are bound by rules. They must hide their identities in human society. If they’re discovered or break human rules, they’re exiled.”
I see.
“What about tonight’s creature?”
“Maybe it was an exiled werewolf,” Evelyn said. “They can enter human society freely, but usually, they stay in the forest.”
I was stunned. This was entirely new territory for me.
So, even if there were werewolves among us, we wouldn’t be able to tell because they look just like normal people.
Too much had happened today, weighing on me like a stone, making it hard to breathe.
“Evelyn, I’m worried. Do you think that monster is targeting me? I felt something was off when I returned to the apartment.” I bit my lip, trying not to show my fear.
But this time, Evelyn couldn’t give me a definite answer.
Her green eyes were filled with concern.
Then she said, “Seraph, it’s okay. Lie down and rest. You’re safe now.”
She led me to my room and had me lie down.
Then she placed her finger on my forehead.
She muttered a few phrases in Greek.
I didn’t understand what she said, as I only knew a few simple Greek words.
But from Evelyn’s expression and demeanor, I could tell it was some kind of mystical incantation.
This feeling was strange yet fascinating.
I had always known Evelyn had a special constitution.
Her mother and grandmother were fortune-tellers, and she had an uncanny ability to predict things, occasionally helping classmates with readings.
But I wasn’t interested in such things.
I believed in science. I thought Evelyn’s sixth sense was just a heightened animalistic sensitivity.
Humans are animals, but as we evolved, many lost their intuition.
Some still retain it. As for fortune-telling, it’s just a matter of probability.
Now, as I watched Evelyn’s lips move and heard her speak words I couldn’t understand, I didn’t think it would work, but I was grateful for her efforts.
Soon, I felt my soul lift.
I floated into the air, seeing endless grasslands, azure seas, and snow-capped mountains.
I felt one with nature, peaceful and calm.
Drowsiness crept over me, and finally, I closed my eyes and fell asleep.
It was the best sleep I’d had in a long time.
When I woke up, I felt incredibly refreshed.
Everything from yesterday felt like a dream.
I walked out of my room to find Evelyn had brewed coffee and poured a cup for me.
The living room was filled with the aroma of coffee.
“Good morning, Evelyn.”
Evelyn looked at me for a moment and smiled. “Good morning, Seraph. Did you sleep well last night?”
“Very well, thanks to you. It’s the best sleep I’ve had in a while.”
“I didn’t do much. I think you just needed to relax,” Evelyn said. “I’ll call my mom later and ask what we should do.”
I was grateful to Evelyn but also puzzled.
“Why was I targeted?” I was just an ordinary girl who hadn’t done anything, yet a monster had fixated on me.
“I’m not sure. It shouldn’t have happened…” Evelyn’s green eyes were filled with worry. “You’re just a normal human. Why would it target you? Maybe it wasn’t a werewolf but some other creature.”
“What other creatures are there?” I asked, surprised.
“There are many mysterious beings in this world. Most are friendly and live alongside humans without interference. But there are also evil ones, and you need to be careful.”
If I had heard this from Evelyn before, I would have been shocked.
But after last night and witnessing her incantation, I was starting to believe her.
The world is vast, and there are so many unknown creatures.
How much of it can science explain?
“So, the creatures from fairy tales, like the vampires in Twilight or the elves in The Lord of the Rings, they exist?”
“You could say that,” Evelyn nodded. She glanced at the clock. “Hurry, Seraph. We have twenty-five minutes before class starts. We’re going to be late.”
This was incredible! How did Evelyn know all this? It felt like we were living in different worlds. Did such creatures really exist?
I had so many questions, but Evelyn stuffed a piece of toast in my mouth, handed me a thermos, and dragged me out.
This was our routine.
We always liked cutting it close, especially for our 8 a. m. classes.
Waking up early was a struggle for most young people.
During class, I kept thinking about werewolves.
Were they really that extraordinary? Could they hide themselves and appear human?
Coincidentally, today’s lecture was about wolf pack research.
But I couldn’t focus. I had already reviewed the material, and when I came to, I realized I had drawn a wolf in my notebook. Its eyes…
I had drawn Kael from my dream, with a patch of white fur on his forehead. I was startled by my own thoughts and dropped my pen, standing up abruptly.
“Miss Vale?”
I realized the entire class was staring at me, and the professor had stopped writing on the board.
“I’m not feeling well. I need to leave.” Ignoring the stares, I packed my books and rushed out.
This was insane. How could I suspect someone of being a werewolf? Evelyn’s words must have gotten to me.
But, thank goodness! I had work at the club today.
Should I observe him? Or should I avoid him? I didn’t know. The creature I saw that night terrified me, and I didn’t know how to protect myself.
In the end, I went to the club. Thankfully, I checked the training schedule, and Kael wasn’t scheduled for today.
My task was to clean the locker room and showers.
They were connected, and yesterday, with fewer people around, the cleaning was quick.
But I hadn’t expected to choose a time when several people were still there after training.
As I reached the locker room door, I saw a group of men taking off their shirts.
“Oh, sorry! I didn’t know you were still here!” I quickly lowered my head and backed away.
“Seraphina?”
Someone called my name. I turned instinctively and saw Kael, still shirtless!
Why was he here today?
My heart raced uncontrollably, and the dreaded ringing in my ears returned.
I didn’t want to see Kael or Lucian.
Covering my ears, I rushed out, even hearing the laughter of the guys behind me.