The Hunter Wolf

My family isn't like your typical, ordinary family-we're different. And my parents made sure I knew that from a very young age.

We've always tried our best to blend in with the rest of the community, keeping our true nature hidden-for our safety and for the safety of the people in the city.

My city is crawling with supernatural beings from every corner of the world, all hiding their existence from the unaware human population. But I fear for the lives of those who remain ignorant.

There are blood-sucking monsters and creatures of the night known as vampires. They are vicious, reckless, and extremely dangerous.

Then there are the lycanthropes, also known as werewolves. They're just as deadly as the vampires-maybe even worse. Unlike vampires, they are ruthless. Their victims are usually found torn to pieces.

Balkan City was once a peaceful place. That changed when they arrived. Ever since, things have been turned upside down, and the death toll keeps rising by the day.

Humans are no longer safe. They stand no chance against these creatures. Most people don't even know they exist, and those who find out often don't live to tell anyone.

Those who are aware keep the truth to themselves, pretending not to notice when something strange happens. A few of us who know the truth pray for them to leave-but it's clear now, they're here to stay.

There's another kind of supernatural being in the city: witches. They're nearly extinct and very few remain.

The good thing about witches is that they don't harm humans, and they have no reason to. Humans are safe around them.

Every supernatural creature has made Balkan City their home, and their numbers continue to grow.

There's an ongoing war between the vampires and the werewolves. It's been raging for over three centuries.

If the conflict had remained between them, it wouldn't be so bad-but it's us humans who suffer the consequences.

It's been months since my parents told me about a mysterious hunter-one who has been asleep for a century.

According to them, this hunter was created specifically to destroy supernatural creatures. That's his sole purpose.

Vampires don't stand a chance against him. Even the werewolves wouldn't dare fight him. He's powerful, lethal, and virtually unkillable.

My parents say he's infused with immense power, making him superior to any supernatural being.

Our family descends from a long line of hunters, but we're not strong enough to take on these creatures alone.

All we can do is defend ourselves-something my parents have trained me to do since I was a child.

I've learned everything there is to know about these creatures, including how to kill them. I've done it more than a few times.

But no matter how many we take down, they keep multiplying. And while we fight them, we also have to be careful not to expose ourselves.

When my parents first told me about this hunter, I was completely against the idea of waking him-even if it might work to our advantage.

What scares me is that he doesn't just kill monsters-he kills anyone who stands in the way of his mission.

He's been asleep for a hundred years. The world he knew is long gone. Everything has changed.

And we don't even know if he can stop these creatures. They evolve every year.

This is the 21st century. Things are not like they used to be. I'm not convinced he can protect us-he can't possibly take them all on.

Ever since I found out about him, I've been arguing with my parents almost daily.

I've tried to change their minds-especially now that the time to wake him is near and they're preparing for the journey.

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"Mom, do you really have to do this?" I asked again this morning as she packed for the trip.