Chapter 2:
The Pack's Call
The night after Lola’s transformation was restless. Sleep eluded her, as her mind raced with the events that had unfolded under the light of the full moon. The morning sun brought no comfort, only a strange unease that gnawed at her. She could still feel the wolf inside her, lurking just beneath the surface, as if it were waiting for the next full moon to unleash itself again.
Lola tried to go about her day as usual, but everything felt different. The world around her seemed sharper, more vivid. She could hear the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze, the distant chirping of birds, even the heartbeat of a squirrel in the tree outside her window. It was overwhelming, yet strangely exhilarating.
She kept to herself, avoiding eye contact with the townsfolk as she walked through Silver Creek. The whispers that had always followed her now seemed louder, more pointed. They had always considered her an outsider, but now she felt it more keenly than ever. They didn’t know what she had become, but somehow, they sensed the change.
That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Lola found herself drawn back to the woods. The urge was undeniable, pulling her toward the place where everything had begun. The forest was different at night, alive with the sounds of creatures stirring in the dark. But tonight, there was something else, something more.
As she ventured deeper into the woods, she heard it—the low, resonant howls of wolves. They were close, closer than she had ever heard them before. Her heart quickened, but she wasn’t afraid. Instead, she felt a strange sense of belonging, as if the howls were calling out to her, welcoming her home.
Lola followed the sound, weaving through the trees until she reached a clearing bathed in moonlight. There, in the center of the clearing, stood a group of wolves, their fur gleaming silver in the moon’s glow. They were larger than any wolves she had ever seen, their eyes reflecting the same luminous light that had filled her own the night before.
One wolf, larger and more imposing than the rest, stepped forward. Its eyes locked onto hers, and in that moment, Lola understood. This was the Alpha, the leader of the pack. She felt a deep connection to it, as if they were bound by something stronger than blood.
The Alpha tilted its head back and howled, a sound that sent shivers down Lola’s spine. The other wolves joined in, their voices rising in a haunting chorus that echoed through the night. Lola felt the pull of the moon again, the power within her stirring as the howls filled her with a sense of purpose.
Without hesitation, she let the transformation take hold, her body shifting into the form of the Moon Wolf. The change was smoother this time, less painful, as if her body was already beginning to accept its new nature. When she stood on all fours, she felt the strength of the wolf flowing through her, the instincts that had lain dormant now fully awakened.
The pack surrounded her, their eyes filled with recognition. They were no longer strangers but family, bound together by the ancient magic of the moon. Lola had found her place among them, and with it, a new understanding of her destiny.
The night was alive with the sounds of the pack, their howls a symphony of unity and power. Lola joined them, her voice rising to the heavens as they called out to the moon. She was no longer just a girl lost in the woods—she was the Luna, the leader of the Moon Wolves, and her journey had only just begun.
