Reena once told me there were still some secrets she hadn't shared with me.
I don't think badly of it. Some truths were not to be spoken right away. Some things survived better in silence. I respected her decision.
But then she looked at me and said, " I want you to come with me."
I didn't ask where. I followed her.
Deep inside the Forbidden forest, I discovered something I never believed could exist-a hidden community. Werewolves moved among the trees and crude shelters as if the forest had chosen to protect them. I stood frozen, my breath caught somewhere between fear and wonder.
" I thought no one lived inside this forest." I hesitated before speaking.
Before Reena could even speak, one of the villagers spotted us. He shouted in alarm, his voice echoing through the trees, alerting the entire village.
Within moments, villagers rushed toward us, weapons clutched tightly in their hands. They were ready to fight—ready to protect their home.
"Wait! Wait! Just a moment!" Reena stepped forward, raising her hands in a calming gesture. But just like me, the villagers were afraid—afraid to trust.
"Hey! It's me. Reena," she said firmly.
Because she had changed her appearance, the villagers no longer recognized her. Their grip on their weapons didn't loosen.
"You're not Reena!" one of them shouted. "Reena is a wolf!"
"Yeah! Yeah, I know," Reena said, frustration slipping into her voice. It wasn't easy for her to turn into a wolf again—werewolves could only transform under the moon.
"But it really is me! I've changed because of this girl. Whether you like it or not, this is who I am now."
A woman in her mid-thirties stepped forward. Her presence was calm and steady, and the tension in the air seemed to ease just a little.
"Is it really you, Reena?" she asked, relief softening her voice. "If it is, then we're glad you're back."
Reena let out a deep breath she didn't realize she was holding. She rushed to the woman and hugged her tightly.
"Thank you, Elder Nara."
The older woman nodded, then shifted her gaze to me, studying me carefully.
"Is she the latest sacrificial lamb and what do you mean you changed because of this girl?" she asked.
"Yes, she is and regarding about her, in time you will know." Reena answered without hesitation.
The old lady nodded her head. She understood that some things need to say in the right time. She knew that Reena will not do something that will ruin their trust.
Reena turned to me. "Jane, this is Elder Nara. She leads this village."
She turned to me. "Jane, this is Elder Nara. She leads this village."
Elder Nara inclined her head in greeting, then motioned for us to follow. She looked at the hostile villager and nod, assuring that it is safe to trust us. That's when the village began to relax.
"It is really, Reena. Does her red hair doesn't remind you about her?"
Reena chuckled and Elder Nara joined her with a quiet laugh.
My eyes wandered everywhere—faces, structures, paths hidden between roots and stone. I was still in shock. Still trying to understand. Since the villager has accepted us and knew that we are not a threat. Every werewolf we passed greeted us with warm smiles, and all I could do was nod in return, overwhelmed by a kindness I hadn't expected.
Elder Nara led us to her hut. It was small and modest, but welcoming. The scent of dried herbs lingered in the air, clinging to the walls and woven baskets. A healer, I realized. The kind of woman who stitched wounds and mended souls without asking too many questions.
"Have you told her?" Elder Nara asked.
"Not yet," Reena said.
She looked at me then, hesitation flickering across her face.
"Go on," I said quietly. "Tell me."
Reena inhaled deeply.
"These people," she said, "they are like you."
I frowned, confusion knitting my brows.
"They were sacrificial lambs too. Offered to the Lycans."
She watched me carefully, gauging my reaction.
I looked down. Truthfully, I had already suspected it while walking through the village—but doubt had kept me from accepting it fully.
"I thought you might have an idea," Reena said softly. "From the moment we arrived."
"The faintest one," I admitted. "Barely."
I smiled at her, not out of happiness, but understanding.
Elder Nara and Reena exchanged a glance and smiled.
No words were needed. I understood.
These people were alive because Reena had saved them. Just as she had saved me.
We walked through the village. Men trained in self-defense. Women prepared food and tended fires. Children laughed between shelters, unafraid. Some of the werewolves had formed families here—finding safety, finding each other, in the heart of the forest everyone feared.
Hope stirred in my chest, fragile but real.
I wasn't alone anymore.
We weren't alone.
We had allies.
And we shared a single purpose—to end the Lycans' cursed tradition.
Reena stopped in front of what looked like the mouth of a cave.
"What are we doing here?" I asked.
She took a deep breath before turning to me.
"Jane… this is the part I struggled to tell you."
She paused.
"I couldn't save them alone."
My chest tightened.
"I had help," she continued. "From someone you wouldn't expect."
My heart began to race. I said nothing.
She looked at me one last time before stepping inside the cave. I followed.
Questions swarmed my mind, but no name came to me.
The tunnel opened into a vast chamber, sunlight spilling through an opening above.
"Reena?"
" Who are you?" Before could Reena could even react, he pinned her to the cave wall.
The voice hit me like a wound reopening.
" Hey. It's me, Reena." Reena put her hand on the air.
The guy furrowed his eyebrow.
"How it could--?"' he didn't finished what he was talking about. Reena motioned him to my side, telling him about me.
My vision blurred. I tilted my head back, forcing the tears to stay in place.
Reena glanced back at me, her eyes speaking the truth she didn't need to say aloud.
He followed where Reena was galancing.
And then he saw me.
Mike.
Our eyes met.
"J-jane?" since my appearance changed. He somewhat doubts if it was me. But despite my changes, He regcognized me.
His filled with tears, though he tried to stop them.
"I'll leave you two," Reena said quietly.
Mike nodded and walked toward me.
He reached for my hand. I pulled away.
He didn't push. He understood.
"I'm sorry," he said.
I could hear the sincerity—but sincerity didn't erase scars.
"Should I believe you?" I asked, my voice cold despite the tears burning behind my eyes.
He didn't defend himself. He accepted my silence, my anger.
"Let's not talk for a while," I said.
He nodded.
I turned away, already knowing what his presence here meant. He was Reena's ally.
I had only taken one step when he spoke again.
Tears streamed down my cheeks. I bit down hard, refusing to make a sound.
Then I heard his footsteps fade into the distance.
"Jane…"
"Thank you for staying alive."
The words shattered something inside me.
I cried silently. I knew it was not easy to forget the feelings we had once shared, and I was no exception. Deep inside me, I knew he still had a place in my heart. But it was not easy to forget what I had been through—the situation I thought I might not survive.
So many thoughts came rushing into my mind.
What if Reena had not arrived in time?
What would have been his next step?
Lost in those thoughts, I passed Reena without even noticing her. I would not have realized she was there if she had not called out to me.
"Hey."
"Oh… you're here, Reena," I said, snapping back to reality as she called my name. I was clearly out of the moment.
"You can ask me," Reena said gently, trying to talk to me.
"No," I replied. "I think you don't need to. It's obvious. You couldn't have done this alone." I gave her a look of understanding.
In my mind, I wondered what there was left to complain about. I was there—still alive. The person I thought had abandoned me was there, and he had saved me. But my mind was still trapped in that moment, engraved deeply in my memory. Not only on my body, but in my soul. The trauma was still there, and it could not be undone simply by knowing that he and Reena had saved me. What happened had already happened.
I looked at Reena with tear-filled eyes. Without saying a word, she came toward me and wrapped her arms around me. She comforted me, because I knew she understood.
-
Mike's POV
It hurt me to leave her behind.
During the days when I didn't know where she was, my mind never rested. Was she safe? Did Reena manage to save her? Questions kept flooding my thoughts, one after another. I was restless, consumed by fear over what might happen to her. At the same time, I was afraid of how she would react if we ever met again—just like now.
I expected this kind of situation, yet I still felt a sense of relief knowing she was alive. I understood her anger. After everything she went through, I knew the trauma left behind was deep and painful. So I decided to let her have what she wanted—space. At least for now.
After this war with my own bloodline, the Lycans, I will make sure we return to what we once were.
As I stepped out of the cave, I saw Reena standing just a meter away from the entrance. I walked toward her.
"Reena…"
I hesitated to say her name. The Reena I knew was a massive wolf. Seeing her like this felt strange—almost unreal.
She looked at me and offered a small smile, then waved her hand.
"Hey," Reena said.
"I'm not used to your appearance," I admitted honestly, giving her a shy smile.
She laughed softly, but I quickly turned serious.
"Reena, about your appearance… what happened?"
She let out a deep sigh before meeting my gaze.
"Jane. Jane forced me to change my appearance. She's the reason I'm back in my human form."
Her serious tone made my forehead crease.
"How?"
"You need to contact your father—the former Alpha. He has to know what happened to me. I'll explain everything during the meeting. We need to discuss this properly."
I nodded. Maybe she wanted to save her strength and explain everything at once to everyone involved.
We built this village as a refuge for werewolves. My family isn't the only one opposing the Lycan sacrificial tradition. We believe werewolves are not livestock—creatures to be slaughtered whenever the Lycans demand it. This tradition only fuels hatred and could eventually lead to rebellion.
"We have to save the werewolves," I said firmly.
"I'll personally inform my father about your request to gather all our allies."
Reena nodded. "Tell him we hold the key to a successful alliance."
"Our victory might be guaranteed," she added, looking at me meaningfully.
My brows furrowed. Inside, impatience grew.
"Alright."
I couldn't stop thinking about Jane. Who exactly was she? And why was Reena so certain we could secure victory?
"I have to go, Reena."
She nodded, and I turned toward the forest to alert our allies. Before disappearing into the trees, I looked back once more.
That was when I saw Jane step out of the cave.
I let out a quiet sigh, then leapt into the forest, heading toward the city of the Lycans.