Night came faster than Misun expected.
The town lights flickered softly through her window as she lay on the small bed in her new room. Everything was too quiet again—just like before.
Too peaceful.
She turned to her side, trying to sleep.
But sleep didn't come.
Instead… the sound returned.
That low growl.
Except this time, it wasn't distant.
It felt closer.
Inside her.
Misun sat up quickly, breathing uneven. "Stop it…"
Her fingers pressed against her head like she could physically silence it.
A flash hit her mind—
Dark trees.
Red eyes.
Running.
Something chasing her.
She gasped and fell off the bed.
Silence.
Then—
A whisper.
Come…
Misun froze.
"…Who's there?"
No answer.
Just that same pull… like something was dragging her thoughts toward one place.
The forest.
---
Outside, the wind shifted.
The trees beyond the town swayed even though there was no storm.
And somewhere deep inside them…
Something answered.
---
Misun didn't remember leaving the house.
One moment she was inside.
The next, she was standing at the edge of the forest.
Barefoot.
Breathing heavily.
"No… I didn't come here," she whispered. "I didn't—"
A branch snapped behind her.
She spun around fast.
Nothing.
Then another sound—closer.
Slow footsteps.
Circling her.
Her heart started racing. "Hello?!"
No reply.
Only the wind.
Then it hit her—
A smell.
Metallic.
Blood.
Misun stepped back.
Her foot touched something wet.
She looked down.
Red.
Fresh.
Her breath caught. "No… no, no, no…"
The forest darkened around her, like the trees were leaning in.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then—
A growl.
Right behind her.
Misun turned sharply—
And came face to face with glowing eyes.
Not human.
Not fully animal.
Something between both.
She stumbled back, panic rising. "What are you?!"
The creature tilted its head.
And then… it spoke.
Not with words.
But inside her mind.
You finally came back.
Misun's body froze completely.
"…Back?" she whispered.
The creature stepped closer.
And suddenly—
Pain.
Sharp, burning pain shot through her chest.
She screamed and fell to her knees.
Her vision blurred.
Her bones ached like they were breaking from the inside.
"No—stop—please—!"
Her nails dug into the ground as her body began to change… just slightly.
Not fully.
Not yet.
But enough.
Enough for the forest to recognize her.
The creature watched silently.
Almost… waiting.
And then it stepped back.
As if satisfied.
Misun gasped for air as the pain slowly faded.
The forest fell silent again.
The glowing eyes disappeared into the dark.
But before it left completely…
It left her with one final thought.
The Alpha returns when the moon is ready.
Misun collapsed on the ground.
And for the first time…
she wasn't sure if she was human anymore.