Adrian Blackwood had never been a believer in fate. He had always lived a quiet life in the village of Ashford, surrounded by a family that never spoke much of their past. The town, nestled deep in a thick forest, seemed as ordinary as any other, yet there was something unsettling about the place—a dark energy that no one ever acknowledged. For Adrian, that darkness was merely a shadow in the corner of his mind, until one fateful night when everything changed.
It began with the moon. The full moon rose high above the treetops, bathing the village in a pale, silver light. Adrian had always felt an inexplicable pull to the moon's glow, something deep within his blood that stirred whenever it was full. But that night was different. The transformation was violent, painful—something he could no longer deny. His body had twisted and contorted, the wolf inside him clawing its way to the surface. He could feel the power, the hunger, and the raw primal instinct flooding his senses. When he had finally regained control, the world around him seemed foreign, and yet it was the same.
His grandfather, a man of few words, had found him in the woods, bloodied and confused, and had not once shown fear. Instead, he had spoken the truth that Adrian had always suspected but never dared to acknowledge.
"You are one of us now," his grandfather had said, his voice heavy with the weight of generations. "The curse is in your blood. You are a Blackwood."
Adrian had never known the truth about his family's lineage, nor had he ever imagined that their bloodline was tainted with a terrible, ancient curse. But now, in the midst of the forest's eerie silence, he began to understand. The transformation wasn't just a random event. It was his inheritance. It was a pact made long ago, a dark bargain with forces beyond human understanding.
The curse of the Blackwood family was old, rooted in a deal struck with a demon centuries ago. The men of the family would transform into wolves under the full moon, gaining strength, speed, and immortality. But the cost was steep—each generation would lose a part of their humanity, the beast growing stronger with every passing year.
Adrian's father had tried to hide it. He had left the village years ago, hoping to escape the curse, but his departure had only deepened the darkness surrounding their family. Now, Adrian was forced to confront it—there was no escaping what he had become. His grandfather had said the truth plainly: The pack was coming for him.
The pack.
Adrian's blood ran cold at the thought. They were the last remaining members of his family's bloodline, the ones who had embraced the curse fully, forsaking their humanity for power. They were the wolves that roamed the night, and they had been watching him.
The day after his transformation, his grandfather had given him a task—a quest, one that would lead him deep into the heart of the forest. There was an artifact, a talisman of immense power, hidden somewhere within the woods. This talisman, forged in ancient fires beneath the village, was the key to breaking the curse. But the pack wanted it too, and if they found it first, Adrian would be lost forever.
Alina Ravenscroft, a childhood friend who had always stayed close to him, had insisted on helping him find the talisman. Adrian hadn't wanted her to get involved—he had wanted to protect her—but her determination had been unwavering. She cared about him, and that care drove her to face the danger head-on. She wasn't afraid. But Adrian wasn't sure if she truly understood what she was getting into.
The forest was dense and alive, as if it had been waiting for him. The trees grew closer together the further they ventured, their twisted branches hanging like claws above them. Shadows moved in the corners of Adrian's vision, and every rustle of leaves made him tense. He could feel the pack's presence, like a shadow on the edge of his consciousness. They were near.
Alina was silent beside him, but he could sense her unease. She had grown up in Ashford, just as he had, and yet she had never experienced the darkness that seemed to haunt the Blackwoods.
"What's it like?" she asked, breaking the silence. Her voice was quiet but filled with an underlying tremor. "The change. How does it feel?"
Adrian's gaze softened as he turned to her, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's... not something you can explain. It's like being pulled in two directions. There's this power inside you, but it's not yours to control. It feels... wrong. Violent."
Alina shuddered, but she didn't look away. "I'll help you, Adrian. I won't leave you to face this alone."
Adrian appreciated her words more than he could express. But deep down, he feared for her. The pack was ruthless, and if they discovered Alina was involved, they would use her against him. He couldn't bear the thought of her being hurt because of him.
As they pressed deeper into the forest, the air grew colder, and the shadows seemed to stretch longer. It was then that Adrian heard the unmistakable sound of a branch snapping, followed by a low growl that sent chills down his spine. His instincts flared to life, the wolf inside him demanding to be freed, to fight, to protect.
"Stay close," he muttered, grabbing Alina's hand and pulling her toward the cover of a thick cluster of trees.
But it was too late. From the darkness emerged four figures—tall, lean, and impossibly fast. Their eyes glowed a fierce yellow, and their teeth gleamed in the dim light like sharpened daggers. They were wolves, but not like the ones in his nightmares. These were men who had embraced the curse fully—beasts who had long ago abandoned their humanity.
The leader stepped forward, his eyes locking onto Adrian with cold calculation. "The Blackwood heir," he said, his voice a low growl. "We've been waiting for you."
Adrian's heart raced as the pack encircled them, their predatory stances all too familiar. The leader's eyes flicked to Alina, a cruel smile curling on his lips. "And you've brought a friend, how... touching."
Adrian stepped in front of Alina, his body tense. He could feel the beast inside him pushing harder against his control, but he fought it down. He couldn't let it out—not now. Not with her in danger.
"I won't let you have her," Adrian said, his voice shaking with raw emotion. "You want me? You'll have to kill me first."
The pack leader laughed, a harsh sound that echoed through the trees. "We don't want to kill you, boy. We just want what's ours. And the talisman you're holding? It's not yours to keep."
Adrian's fingers brushed against the cold metal of the talisman that hung around his neck. He had found it just days before, hidden deep within the ruins of the old village church. The power it contained was unimaginable, but it was also dangerous—more dangerous than even he realized. If the pack got their hands on it, they would use its power to control the curse and the wolves. And with that power, they would stop at nothing to destroy him and everything he loved.
"Stay behind me," Adrian whispered to Alina, his eyes never leaving the pack leader.
But even as he said the words, Adrian knew there was no escaping the battle ahead. The curse had marked him. And now, the pack was coming for him—blood, claws, and fury.