As Sophia walked home, the cool night air offered little comfort against the unsettled feeling swirling inside her. The events of the day kept replaying in her mind—Ethan and Luke’s strange argument, Jacie’s teasing, and the fact that Ethan seemed to follow her everywhere lately. She shook her head, trying to shake off the tension. I need to get some sleep, she thought, her body aching with exhaustion.
Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the quiet street. Sophia froze in place, her heart skipping a beat. She scanned the area, but the dim streetlights only cast long, ominous shadows. The sound was unmistakable—a deep, guttural growl, closer this time. Panic surged through her, and without thinking, she bolted, her feet slapping against the pavement as she sprinted down the road.
Why did I walk? She cursed herself for trying to save money by leaving her car at home. A few extra dollars isn’t worth getting mauled by some... thing!
Her breath was coming in ragged gasps when she suddenly collided with something—someone. It was like hitting a brick wall. The impact knocked her off balance, and she stumbled back, her heart hammering in her chest. She looked up, dazed, and found herself staring into Ethan’s piercing blue eyes.
“Woah, slow down,” Ethan said, his hands coming up to steady her as a small smirk played on his lips. “You okay?”
Sophia blinked, her brain catching up with what had just happened. “I... I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there,” she mumbled, still breathless from the adrenaline and the collision.
Ethan chuckled softly, the sound low and warm. “It’s all right. You were running like the devil himself was after you.”
Sophia gave a shaky laugh, realizing how ridiculous she must’ve looked. “Yeah, well, I heard something. It freaked me out.”
Ethan’s expression darkened for a moment, but the smile quickly returned. “Do you need a ride home?”
She hesitated for a second, unsure whether to accept. But the idea of walking the rest of the way, especially after hearing that growl, wasn’t appealing. “Okay, yeah. A ride would be great.”
Ethan led her to his sleek black Audi parked along the curb. He opened the passenger door with a smooth, practiced motion, and Sophia slid in, the soft leather seats instantly enveloping her in comfort. Ethan got in on the other side and started the car, the engine humming quietly as he pulled away from the curb.
They drove in silence for a few minutes, Ethan glancing at her occasionally while she stared out the window, lost in her thoughts. But the quiet only made her more restless. She had too many questions swirling in her head, and the longer she sat there, the more her nerves gnawed at her.
Finally, she snapped. “Let’s stop the small talk,” she said, turning to him sharply. “What did you want to tell me?”
Ethan’s hands tightened on the steering wheel as he cast her a sideways glance, his jaw clenching slightly. “You always get straight to the point, huh?”
Sophia didn’t answer, just waited for him to continue. He let out a deep breath, his gaze flickering toward her again.
“Do you believe in urban legends, Sophia?” he asked suddenly, his voice calm but serious.
She blinked at him, unsure where he was going with this. “Like... Bigfoot? Ghosts?”
“More like... werewolves.”
Sophia burst into laughter, the tension evaporating for a moment. “Werewolves? Seriously? Is that where this conversation is going?”
But Ethan wasn’t laughing. His expression remained deadly serious as he pulled the car to a stop at a red light. He turned to face her fully, the intensity of his blue eyes making her heart skip a beat.
“I’m serious,” he said quietly. “I’m one of them.”
Sophia stared at him, the smile fading from her lips as a nervous chill crawled down her spine. The way he said it, with such conviction, made her wonder if he was playing some kind of elaborate joke—or worse, if he genuinely believed it. Great, I’ve gotten into a car with a lunatic, she thought, panic rising again.
“Ethan, come on,” she said, forcing a nervous chuckle. “You can’t actually expect me to believe—”
“I’m not expecting anything,” he interrupted, his voice calm but firm. “I’m just telling you the truth. And before you laugh again, let me explain.”
Sophia bit her lip, her mind racing. She wasn’t sure what to do—run, laugh, or stay and hear him out. Against her better judgment, she decided on the latter. “Okay,” she said slowly. “Explain.”
Ethan sighed, leaning back in his seat as the light turned green and he started driving again. “Werewolves are real. We’ve been around for centuries, living among humans, but keeping our existence hidden. And we’re not just wild animals. We have our own rules, our own laws—our own way of life.”
Sophia stared at him, her brain struggling to catch up with what he was saying. “Okay... let’s say I believe you. What does that have to do with me?”
Ethan’s eyes flickered with something—something intense and dangerous. “A werewolf spends their entire life searching for one person. Their mate. Their life partner. When they find them, nothing else matters. The whole world revolves around that person, and they’d do anything to protect them.”
Sophia’s breath caught in her throat. The way he was looking at her—it was almost like he was trying to say something without actually saying it. She swallowed hard, her heart pounding.
“And usually,” Ethan continued, “both people are werewolves. They feel the attraction instantly, like a magnetic pull. But sometimes...” He trailed off, his gaze locking onto hers. “Sometimes it’s a human.”