Olivia Cent uncovers a dangerous ancestral secret in Mallow Glide that promises to either rescue or ruin the silent mountain town. She uncovers the truth about her family's werewolf curse after brutal attacks disrupt her community. As the full moon rises, so does a deadly choice: The full moon emerges as Olivia faces a lethal decision between accepting her inner beast or sacrificing all she loves. Mallow Glide is a small, secluded town shrouded in an air of mystery. Nestled deep within the foothills of a sprawling mountain range, the town is surrounded by dense, ancient forests that stretch for miles. The trees are tall and foreboding, their thick canopies blocking out much of the sunlight, leaving the forest floor in perpetual twilight. Wisps of mist drift through the woods, giving the area an ethereal, otherworldly quality. The town itself is a patchwork of weathered Victorian homes, rustic cabins, and crumbling stone buildings, many of which bear the marks of time and disrepair. The town square serves as the heart of Mallow Glide, with cobblestone streets, a towering clock tower, and an old church whose bell hasn't rung in decades. A small river winds its way through the town, its waters dark and reflective, often veiled in morning fog. At the edge of Mallow Glide lies Blackthorn Manor, a decaying estate with ivy-covered walls and broken stained-glass windows. Its ominous silhouette looms over the town like a watchful guardian, steeped in whispered tales of curses and witchcraft. Beyond the manor, the forest thickens, hiding ruins of a forgotten era-crumbling stone circles, ancient wells, and overgrown graveyards that tell stories of the past. The townsfolk are a close-knit and superstitious community, wary of outsiders and hesitant to speak of the town's darker history. Despite their unease, there is an undeniable charm to Mallow Glide: a beauty found in its untamed wilderness, the gentle glow of its lantern-lit streets, and the resilience of its people who have lived for generations under the shadow of an unspoken curse. Blurb: Olivia Cent uncovers a dangerous ancestral secret in Mallow Glide that promises to either rescue or ruin the silent mountain town. She uncovers the truth about her family's werewolf curse after brutal attacks disrupt her community. As the full moon rises, so does a deadly choice: The full moon emerges as Olivia faces a lethal decision between accepting her inner beast or sacrificing all she loves
Chapter 1 Homecoming
The mist enveloped the meandering road to Mallow Glide and wrapped around the trees as though they were being touched by spectral hands. Olivia Cent gripped the steering wheel harder while her car's headlights cut through the foggy night. A decade passed since she drove this road but every curve remained vivid in her mind as a roadmap of regret and unavoidable fate that led her to the town she vowed never to return to.
The call had come two days ago. Her mother, Evelyn, was gone. A sudden heart attack, they said. The cold medical explanation for her loss remained unprocessed by Olivia. Her mother and she hadn't talked for years because secrets and unbreakable silences had strained their relationship. And now it was too late.
The town sign emerged from the haze, its peeling paint barely visible: The town sign appeared through the mist showing its fading paint which displayed "Welcome to Mallow Glide: Est. 1834" while someone had added above it in red spray paint: "Beware the Moon."
The cold made Olivia shiver as she applied more pressure to the accelerator.
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The house stood at the edge of town, just as she remembered it: At the town's edge she found the house she remembered so well: a two-story colonial structure with dark shutters and a porch that visibly sagged. Watching it sent a sudden feeling of discomfort through her. The windows stared back at her with empty-eyed gaze while the untamed yard seemed to pulse with eerie quietness.
After parking the vehicle she remained stationary for a few seconds while she observed the house. The rearview mirror revealed her tired face with dark circles under her hazel eyes and auburn hair loosely tied in a messy bun. At thirty-one years old she felt centuries older because of the overwhelming weight of returning home.
The sound of someone knocking on her window shocked her into turning around to see someone she recognized.
She spoke the name "Michael Reed" while lowering the car window.
She realized he was taller than she had remembered when she saw the man standing before her in a park ranger's uniform with his broad shoulders filling it out. After his dark hair was cropped short his intense green eyes evaluated her with both curiosity and concern.
"Olivia," he said with a deep and consistent voice. "I heard you were coming back. I just...wanted to check in."
After exiting the car she paused and they remained silent in uncomfortable tension. Michael served as her most reliable friend throughout high school who she could always depend on when her mother's unpredictable mood swings became overwhelming. The passage of time created a barrier between them which she couldn't find a way to dismantle.
She said her thanks and moved aside to take her suitcase from the trunk before stating, "But I'm fine."
"Coming back here...after everything," he asked gently. "Are you?"
She cut him off, saying "I'm here just for the funeral."
Michael simply nodded and refrained from asking more questions.
She responded to him with a brief nod then proceeded up the stairs on the wooden porch. The door made a loud noise when she opened it, showing the dark and moldy inside of the house.
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The atmosphere inside was dense with the combined odor of dust particles and aged wooden surfaces. All the furniture remained exactly as she remembered with white sheets covering it like ghosts who'd been forgotten. The walls displayed her mother's antique clocks with faces stopped at various times as if time itself had deserted this space.
She placed her suitcase next to the stairs before heading towards the kitchen. The dining table remained arranged for two people although dust had layered over the plates. Guilt twisted within her chest like a sharp pain. This house had been preserved in her mother's loving anticipation of Olivia's return.
On the kitchen counter she noticed a stack of envelopes addressed to her with her mother's precise writing. Opening the top envelope from the stack she felt her heart racing.
Olivia,
You must learn these things which I have been unable to tell you before. Your strength surpasses your current understanding although you need to practice caution. This town-this family-is not what it seems. Look in the attic. The truth is waiting for you.
The letter concluded suddenly with ink blots which indicated her mother's hand shook as she wrote it. Her spine tingled with cold as Olivia fixed her eyes on the message before her.
The attic.
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As she ascended the pull-down ladder into the attic she held onto a flashlight. The air was thick to breathe while swarms of dust motes danced within the light beam. A towering stack of boxes covered the space with some marked by dates and others by mysterious symbols she couldn't identify.
She discovered a trunk with her mother's initials engraved on the lid at the most distant part of the attic. The trunk showed its age through heavy weight and cracked leather straps. For a brief second she paused before releasing the latch and raising the lid.
The trunk held numerous journals with scuffed covers and yellowed pages. She took off the top journal and started reading right away.
June 14, 1992
The curse is real. I've seen it with my own eyes. For many generations my family served as guardians of this town by standing against the darkness that hides within the forest. But the cost...it's too high. Olivia must never know. She has earned the chance to live without this heavy obligation.
As Olivia flipped through the journal pages her trembling hands revealed deeper ties between her family and both the town and the curse. According to her mother's writings the first settlers of Mallow Glide entered into an agreement with an ancient power to defend their land against enemy invasions. The force had honored its part of the agreement but required blood as payment which became a generational curse.
Her stomach turned as she read the final entry:
The attacks have started again. I fear the curse is waking. Without intervention she will fall victim to the curse.
The sudden loud knock coming from downstairs startled Olivia and she almost let go of the journal. She raced down the ladder while her heart pounded rapidly.
As she opened the door she discovered Marian Winslow on the porch. The wide-brimmed hat shadowed the older woman's sharp blue eyes which glinted and her smile remained as mysterious as before.
"Olivia," Marian announced with a voice that flowed like honey. "We haven't seen each other in far too long."
Olivia asked Marian with a tone of suspicion what her purpose was in appearing there.
Marian arrived to show her respect but also to issue a warning. The pull of this town draws people into its hidden depths. Be careful where you step, dear."
Without waiting for a reply from Olivia Marian placed a silver wolf-shaped pendant around her neck.
Marian said cryptically, "This will be essential," before adding, "Don't trust anyone." Not even yourself."
She turned around before vanishing into the fog which left Olivia holding the pendant as she watched her go.
As the moon ascended above Mallow Glide, Olivia felt her mother's words envelop her like a heavy cloak. The truth awaited Olivia but she doubted her readiness to confront it.