The moon hung heavy in the night sky, casting a silver glow over the dense forest. Each towering tree stood tall, unmoved by the cold wind that swept through the leaves, whispering the secrets of the wild. Kim stood at the edge of his territory, his keen eyes scanning the horizon. His body was a perfect blend of human and beast, muscles taut beneath his skin as he felt the pull of the full moon above. The air tonight was sharp, alive, as if the entire forest held its breath, waiting.
Being a shapeshifter gave Kim an unmatched connection to the wild, an instinct that never failed him. The wolf within him stirred, restless, its primal nature always just beneath the surface. His pack was safe, the borders secure. Yet, tonight, something felt different.
He inhaled deeply, and his eyes narrowed as the wind carried a strange scent. Foreign. Human. But it was more than just that. It was charged with something else, something dangerous. His instincts flared, and the wolf inside growled, sensing an unfamiliar presence. This wasn’t an ordinary human wandering too close to his land. There was something about the scent that tugged at him, unsettling his usual calm.
The moonlit night wrapped around Kim like a second skin as he stepped forward, his body fluid and graceful as he moved through the underbrush. His senses heightened, every sound crisp and clear—the rustle of leaves, the soft padding of nocturnal creatures, the whisper of the wind in his ear. But beneath it all was the constant, thrumming pulse of the scent. Closer now.
Miles away, Jeon sat in his small apartment, staring out at the night sky through the grime-covered window. The city buzzed in the distance, cars and streetlights casting a dull glow over the world below. He sighed, pulling the blanket tighter around himself as he sat on the edge of his bed, a thousand thoughts swirling in his mind.
Life had never been simple for Jeon. An orphan since birth, he’d grown up bouncing from one foster home to another, never quite fitting in anywhere. The city was his refuge now—its cold streets a familiar loneliness. Yet, recently, a strange unease had settled over him, a feeling he couldn’t shake, no matter how much he tried to dismiss it. He glanced at the calendar. Another month had passed, and still, the dreams haunted him.
Shadows and golden eyes. In every dream, they followed him, stalking him through a forest he’d never seen, a place that felt both alien and familiar at the same time. He would wake up drenched in sweat, heart pounding as if he’d run for miles. But when he tried to piece the dreams together, they dissolved like smoke in his hands.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling him from his thoughts. He glanced at the screen. Just another notification. Probably his friends out drinking or clubbing, living lives far more exciting than his. He swiped it away, uninterested. A life of routine and order kept him grounded, even if it was dull.
But deep down, Jeon knew something was coming. He didn’t know what, but his body had been on edge for weeks, as if sensing a change. The unease he felt was almost physical now, a weight pressing down on him. He couldn’t explain it, but it gnawed at him relentlessly.
Out in the forest, Kim’s pace quickened. His steps were soundless as he moved through the trees, his wolf senses on high alert. The scent was stronger now, mingling with the earth and pine, pulling him toward the source. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and his muscles coiled, ready to shift if necessary.
He hadn’t told his pack about the human presence. Not yet. He didn’t need them interfering. This was something he needed to investigate alone, to understand what had drawn this human so close to his domain. Humans rarely ventured this deep into the woods—especially not at night. There were rumors about this place, whispers of creatures that lurked beyond the trees, stories meant to keep curious souls away.
But this one, whoever it was, had crossed the line.
The wind shifted again, and Kim caught the scent more clearly. Male. Young. There was something distinct about it, something that pulled at him in a way he didn’t understand. He shook his head, clearing the thought. He wasn’t here to ponder; he was here to protect his land. The wolf inside him snarled, impatient, urging him to move faster.
Back in the city, Jeon stood from the bed and paced the small space of his apartment, feeling restless. The dreams had been getting worse. Last night had been the most vivid yet—he had been running, breathless, through a dense forest, the trees towering above him like giants. He could hear something behind him, something fast and powerful, chasing him, its eyes glowing in the darkness.
He shook his head, trying to dispel the memory. It was just a dream, he reminded himself. There was nothing to be afraid of. Yet, every time he closed his eyes, he could still feel those golden eyes watching him, waiting for him.
Jeon ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He didn’t believe in the supernatural, not like those people who lived in the rural areas outside the city. He had always prided himself on being rational. But this…this was different. Something was coming, and no amount of logic could convince him otherwise.
In the forest, Kim came to a halt, standing still as a statue. The scent was almost overwhelming now, but the source was nowhere in sight. He crouched down, touching the earth with his fingertips, his wolf senses prickling with awareness. Whoever this human was, they weren’t far.
Suddenly, a twig snapped in the distance, and Kim’s head whipped toward the sound, eyes glowing with a fierce intensity. His body tensed, every muscle coiled like a spring, ready to strike. The wolf within him surged, pushing against his control, wanting to take over. But Kim held it back, for now. He needed answers first.
He rose slowly, eyes fixed on the direction of the sound. The hunt had begun.
