It was a night like tonight where the cool, crisp air was dropping fast from the warmth of the sun to the vast darkness of the open sky. There were no clouds to speak of, just stars and a light breeze in the almost frigid air. By midnight it would be close to freezing so everyone in town had their fireplaces roaring and the windows all shut for the night. The cold, however; wasn’t the only reason the doors and windows were locked down tight–there was a secret in town that no one spoke of yet everyone knew.

For deep in the valley they heard him calling from the hills to the once busy town. The distant howl of a lone wolf picked up by the wind and carried down the empty street. People shuddered when they first heard the eerie call and when their loved ones began to go randomly missing in the night they knew the wild creature was their only answer. Some even say they’ve seen him in the shadows–half man and half beast with wild, hungry eyes the color of polished silver.

Janice quickly left the bar from the side door. Still in her dance shoes and sequined bodysuit only covered by a fake fur coat and a crossover Body bag held tightly against her waist to avoid any muggers, she scoped the area for any vagrants or strange men hanging out. When she was sure no one was waiting for her, she hurried across the street to the Parking Lot where her boss forced her to park away from the paying customers. Fumbling for her keys, she dropped them when she heard the howl. She didn’t realize the adrenaline and fear that secreted from her pores attracted the wildest of animals.  For it was closer than normal. It seemed to get closer every single night she left the bar and tonight it sounded no further than building across the parking lot.

With one well-manicured hand, she slipped her fingers around her keyring grabbing it, and stood up quickly. Before she could push the key into the slot, a voice rumbled behind her invoking every uneasy nerve in her body. Without turning around, she shoved the key into the slot.

“You looked good up there,” the man whispered. His voice, although quiet, seemed to make the ground shake.

“T…thank you,” she stammered and continued to push the key into the slot. He put his hand over hers and pulled it away from the door.

The man laughed behind her sending shivers down her spine. “I didn’t mean you looked good dancing. I meant that you looked like you tasted good.” he licked his lips and smiled.

She felt his warm hand against her shoulder. He could smell the tears forming in her eyes as he yanked her body against his and began smelling her neck. Reaching for her Saturday Night Special in the crossbody bag she pulled the trigger and winced as the bullet tore through the cheap purse and into his stomach. For a brief second, his body jolted then he smiled while hair sprouted around his face and hands. Bones cracked and popped as his nose and cheeks stretched into something that resembled part beast and part human.

“No!” she cried out as he stared at her with haunting silver eyes.

He held on to her by her shoulders and with his snout turning into a gaping hole filled with razor-sharp teeth, he bit into her neck and savored his conquest for the night. As she collapsed more out of fear and shock than the loss of blood, he gently placed her on his back and galloped to his home in the mountains where the pack waited for their new sister to arrive.

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