Liora's life had always been simple. Nestled at the edge of a sprawling forest, her village was small, quiet, and untouched by the chaos of the world. She spent her days helping her mother run their bakery, kneading dough and tending to the small garden behind their home. The most excitement she ever experienced came from the occasional visit of travelers, but even that was rare. The villagers were a close-knit community, and though she never felt truly alone, there was always a sense of something missing.
Every night, Liora would lie in bed, her eyes staring at the ceiling, trying to shake off the same unsettling dream that had plagued her for months. In this dream, she was running—no, being chased—through a thick, shadowy forest. The wind howled through the trees, and the earth beneath her feet was cold and unforgiving. No matter how fast she ran, something was always just behind her, and she could feel its hot breath on her skin. The dream always ended the same way—her chest heaving, her eyes wide in terror, as the howl of a wolf echoed through the forest, reverberating in her very bones.
But it wasn't until that evening that Liora's dreams would no longer remain just that—dreams. It started as a typical day. The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over the village as Liora finished the last of her chores. Her mother had sent her to the market for fresh herbs, and the path she took led her through the quiet streets toward the village square. She had no idea that by the end of this day, her life would be shattered, and everything she had known would be lost.
As she neared the market, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. There was something in the air, a strange, oppressive silence that made the birds stop singing and the wind cease blowing. Liora glanced around, sensing a disturbance, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Shrugging it off, she continued, thinking nothing more of it. That was when they came.
Vampires. There was no mistaking the menacing figures that emerged from the shadows of the square, their pale faces and glowing eyes unmistakable in the fading daylight. Liora froze as one of the creatures locked eyes with her. It grinned—a predator's grin—and she could feel a wave of terror rush through her body. Before she could react, another vampire appeared, grabbing a nearby villager and sinking its fangs deep into their throat.
Screams filled the air. Chaos erupted as the villagers fled in every direction. Liora's instincts screamed at her to run, but her feet wouldn't move. She could only watch in horror as the creatures began to tear through the crowd. The blood, the screams, the desperation—it was all too much. She felt a rising heat within her chest, a sudden pulse of energy that thrummed through her veins.
Suddenly, her mother's voice rang out in the distance, calling her name. "Liora! Run!" Her voice was frantic, but it cut through the panic around her, pulling Liora from her stupor. She snapped to attention, turning toward the sound of her mother's voice. But before she could move, a vampire appeared directly in her path. The creature's eyes glowed like molten amber, its grin wide and cruel. It raised a hand, and in that moment, Liora saw her life flash before her eyes.
Then, it happened.
A roar ripped through the air, a sound so primal, so full of fury that it shook the ground beneath her feet. The vampire in front of Liora faltered, momentarily distracted by the deafening howl. Liora's heart pounded as she turned to see a massive wolf—no, it was more than that—a creature unlike anything she had ever seen. It was a werewolf, its fur dark as midnight, eyes burning with an unearthly light. It tore through the vampire with a single swipe of its claw, leaving the creature nothing but a smear of blood on the cobblestones.
Liora barely had time to process what was happening. The wolf turned its gaze to her, and for a split second, she saw something in its eyes—recognition, as if it knew her. It snarled, stepping toward her, but before Liora could react, a sharp pain surged through her chest. The air around her seemed to thicken, her vision swimming as her skin rippled, changing in ways she couldn't control. It felt as though the very essence of the wolf had entered her body, and in that moment, everything changed.
Her body trembled as her senses expanded, the world around her suddenly sharper, clearer. She could hear the frantic heartbeat of every person around her, smell the blood on the wind, and feel the pulse of the earth beneath her feet. Her hands—no, her claws—dug into the earth as her body contorted, shifting in ways she could not stop. Pain, unlike anything she had ever known, tore through her as her bones rearranged, her muscles stretching and growing, until finally, she stood—no longer human.
The village square was silent for a moment. Liora, now in her werewolf form, was still. The world around her was quiet, as if everything had come to a standstill. She looked down at her hands—paws, now, large and furred—eyes wide in disbelief. What had happened? Was this real? She looked up to see the werewolf from earlier, still standing near her, watching her with a strange intensity.
In a panic, Liora tried to shift back, but her body refused to obey. The wolf that had saved her let out another growl, signaling for her to stay still. But before Liora could respond, she heard the sound of more vampires approaching. They were coming for her now—coming for the one who had awakened the Blood Wolf bloodline.
Without warning, the werewolf lunged at the approaching vampires, tearing through them with brutal efficiency. Liora barely had time to think before another figure appeared—Vera. She was a woman, dressed in dark, worn clothing, with a calm expression on her face. Despite the carnage around them, she moved as though she were untouched by the violence.
"Come with me," Vera said, her voice firm yet gentle. She stepped toward Liora, her gaze unwavering. "You're not safe here."
Liora wanted to protest, to run, to try to find her mother, but something in Vera's eyes made her stop. The woman's presence was commanding, and Liora could sense something familiar about her—something ancient, as if she had known Liora's kind for centuries.
With no other choice, Liora followed her.
As they moved through the village, the sounds of battle behind them, Liora's mind raced. She couldn't process everything at once—couldn't understand how she had become this thing, this creature of legend. But there was one thing she was certain of: her life was no longer the same.
The last thing she heard before the chaos faded into the distance was a howl—a howl that resonated in her chest, a sound that seemed to call to her very soul.