Chapter 2 The Stranger's Secret

Emma's curiosity burned as she watched Kael disappear into the trees, leaving her alone in the clearing. She sat there for a moment, her thoughts racing. Who was he, and why did that wolf listen to him? There was no logical explanation for what she had just seen, but Emma was determined to find one.

She picked herself up, dusting off her jeans, and glanced at the monument one last time before heading back to town. Every sound in the forest seemed louder now, every shadow more menacing. Yet, beneath her unease was a growing sense of excitement.

Back at the bed-and-breakfast, Mrs. Talbot was in the kitchen, humming a tune as she prepared lunch. Emma hesitated in the doorway, debating whether to share what had happened.

"You're back earlier than I expected," Mrs. Talbot said, glancing up from her chopping board. "Didn't find what you were looking for?"

Emma forced a smile. "Not exactly. But I did come across a strange monument in the woods. Do you know anything about it?"

Mrs. Talbot's hands stilled, her expression tightening. "What kind of monument?"

"It looked old-stone, with some kind of runes carved into it," Emma explained. "And... I thought I saw a wolf nearby."

At the mention of the wolf, Mrs. Talbot's face paled. "You shouldn't go wandering out there alone, dear. Those woods have seen their fair share of tragedy."

"What kind of tragedy?" Emma pressed.

The older woman shook her head. "Best not to dig up the past. Some things are better left buried."

Emma frowned but didn't push further. It was clear Mrs. Talbot wasn't going to give her any straight answers.

Later that evening, Emma decided to visit the library. If the townspeople weren't willing to talk, maybe she could find something in the town's history books.

The library was small but cozy, with rows of old, dusty books lining its shelves. The librarian, a frail man with thick glasses, greeted her with a polite nod as she entered.

"I'm looking for information about the history of Moonhaven," Emma said, approaching the counter.

"Anything specific?" the librarian asked.

"Wolves," she replied. "And any strange occurrences in the woods."

The man's expression faltered for a moment before he gestured to a corner of the library. "You'll find some old records in the back. Just be careful with them-they're fragile."

Emma thanked him and made her way to the designated section. She spent the next hour flipping through yellowed pages and faded photographs, piecing together fragments of the town's history.

What she found was unsettling.

According to the records, Moonhaven had been plagued by mysterious disappearances for over a century. Most of the victims were last seen near the forest, their bodies never recovered. Some of the older texts mentioned "creatures" that roamed the woods under the light of the full moon.

Emma's pulse quickened as she came across a photograph of the monument she had seen earlier. Beneath it was a caption: The Stone of Bonds – A symbol of an ancient curse.

"A curse?" she whispered to herself, her fingers tracing the faded letters.

"What are you doing here?"

Emma jumped, nearly knocking over the stack of books beside her. Kael stood at the end of the aisle, his expression unreadable.

"You scared me!" she said, clutching her chest. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," he replied, stepping closer. "Didn't I tell you to leave town?"

Emma crossed her arms. "And didn't I tell you I'm not leaving until I know what's going on?"

Kael sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "You're stubborn, aren't you?"

"Determined," she corrected. "And right now, I'm determined to figure out what this curse is and why everyone in this town is so afraid to talk about it."

Kael's jaw tightened. For a moment, he looked as if he might argue, but then his shoulders sagged. "You're not going to let this go, are you?"

"Nope," Emma said, holding his gaze.

"Fine," he muttered. "But if I tell you the truth, you have to promise me one thing."

"What's that?"

"You keep it to yourself. No articles, no interviews, no sharing it with anyone."

Emma hesitated, but her curiosity outweighed her professional instincts. "Deal."

Kael nodded and gestured for her to follow him. They left the library and walked through the darkened streets of Moonhaven. Kael led her to the edge of town, where the forest loomed like a shadowy wall.

"Why are we here?" Emma asked, glancing around nervously.

"Because the truth isn't something I can just tell you," Kael said. "You have to see it for yourself."

Before Emma could ask what he meant, Kael's eyes began to glow-a soft, silver light that made her heart skip a beat. His body tensed, and she watched in stunned silence as his form began to shift.

His hands lengthened into claws, his muscles rippling beneath his skin as dark fur sprouted along his arms. Within moments, the man who had stood before her was gone, replaced by a massive wolf with glowing silver eyes.

Emma's breath caught in her throat. She wanted to run, to scream, but her legs wouldn't move. The wolf stared at her for a moment before stepping closer, its movements slow and deliberate.

"Kael?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

The wolf lowered its head, its glowing eyes meeting hers. It was him. Somehow, it was still him.

Emma's fear began to fade, replaced by awe. She reached out a trembling hand, and to her surprise, the wolf didn't pull away.

As her fingers brushed against its fur, a strange sense of calm washed over her. For the first time since arriving in Moonhaven, everything seemed to make sense.

"You're a werewolf," she said, the words feeling strange on her tongue.

Kael shifted back to his human form, his expression guarded. "Now you understand why I warned you to leave."

Emma stared at him, her mind reeling. "This is... impossible."

"It's real," Kael said firmly. "And it's dangerous. That's why you need to go before it's too late."

But Emma shook her head, her resolve hardening. "I'm not going anywhere, Kael. Not until I know everything."

Kael's eyes narrowed. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into."

"Then show me," she said. "Help me understand."

For a long moment, Kael said nothing. Then, with a resigned sigh, he nodded.

"Fine," he said. "But don't say I didn't warn you."