Moonlit Bond

releases. The early morning mist clung to the colorful leaves scattered across the sidewalk, creating an almos

town seemed unusually quiet, even for this early hour. Shaking off her unease, E

d. Emma looked up, surprised to see Old Joe, one of the local farmers, standing in t

gruff. "You got any books on, well

l request. "I'm sure we have something in th

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "Found two of my sheep torn to pieces

smile. "I'm sure it was just a coyote or maybe a stray dog.

rd whispers around town of other attacks, but she'd dismissed them as exaggerations. Willow Creek had always bee

r usual tasks. She kept glancing out the window, half-expecting to see some monstrous creature l

recent events. It seemed everyone had a story – chickens disappearing from locked c

Lily burst into the shop, her usual

low. "They're saying it might be a pack of wolves.

ly attempting to read. "Wolves? That's impossible. The

e could it be? Mr Harrison swears he saw glowing eyes in the woods behind

, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "Wild dogs, mayb

ced. "Just... be careful, okay? Don't stay too late

to lose herself in a new mystery novel, but every creak of the old building made her jump. As t

er seemed so long. Every rustle in the bushes, every snapping twig underfoot sent her heart racing

eavily. This is ridiculous, she thought. I'm letting my imag

ges of snarling beasts with glowing eyes. Just as she was finally drifting off, a sound pi

this time, followed by another answering call. She scrambled out of bed, peering cautiously out the window.

. She huddled on her couch, a blanket wrapped tightly around her shoulders, ju

st dreamlike. As Emma walked to work, the town appeared normal – people hurrying to their jobs, ch

e spotted a small crowd gathered near the town square. Curious,

tracks I've

arks on th

it comes int

had stood in the square for over a century, was marred by deep gouges. At its base, partially obs

her voice sounded faint and unconvincing even to

rational explanation. Others looked skeptical, their ey

explanation for everything – the attacks, the howls, the tracks. Willow C

, just this once, the fantastic stories that filled her beloved books had somehow spilt over into rea

was a perfectly natural explanation. She just had to stay calm and think rationally. After all, real life wasn't l

e t

he couldn't shake the feeling that Willow Creek was on the brink of something... extraordinary. And whether she was ready