Hunted by the Beast

through her jacket. The streets of Maple Creek, once familiar and comforting, now seemed like a maz

mething ancient and terrifying lurking in the woods, something that had been there long before the town was built, were more

took seemed to bring her closer to an edge she wasn't sure she was ready to face. Her heart pounded in her chest, and every rustle of the trees, every d

t by "stay inside"? Why had he looked at her with such fear in his eyes? He wasn't just concerned about wild animals. No, there was

ng stopped her in her tracks. A figure stood at the edge of the woods. She f

shadows of the trees. His face was hidden, but Emma could feel his gaze on her, e

de. It's

e. He just stood t

over her. This wasn't just some random person. She had seen that look in

t something inside her wouldn't let her. She couldn't let this go. N

called out, her voice barely above a whisper. Her words felt thic

ng with the shadows. Then, slowly, as though he was considering her wor

ugh, his jaw set in a hard line. There was something primal about him-so

and gravelly. "You shouldn't b

y? What's going on? What are

e never leaving hers. His eyes were dark, almost unnaturally so,

softer now, almost pleading. "You need to

ning. This man-this stranger-was the only one who seemed to know anything about the dark

bling despite her best efforts to sound stron

arely above a whisper. "It's been

"The beast?" she repeate

e things you've heard? They're real. And it's not just t

ill down her spine. "Wh

're marked, Emma. The moment you heard it-the howl-it's alr

reeling. "Marked? What are you

crazy. You're not just hearing things. You're fe

felt it. Ever since the howl, there had been something inside her-something stirring.

. "How do you know

eaving hers. "I'm trying to protect you, Emma. The thing in the woods isn't a wild an

s doesn't make any sense. I'm just an ordinary

s eyes. "You're not ordinary. Not anymore. And

t in her throat. "W

e urged, his tone desperate.

d her seemed to shift, growing colder, heavier. Her heart pounded in her chest as the growl grew louder, closer.

ard the woods, his express

g sound that seemed to shake the earth beneath her feet. Emma's heart raced as the ground trembled slightly.

l, surged forward. Emma's stomach dropped. She could see the eyes-glowing amber-pie

blocking her view, his voice hars