Betty woke up early. The faint gray light slipped through the curtains, soft and cold. The night had been noisy full of howls. Wolves, no doubt. The sound had echoed through the trees until the early hours, and though she had tried to ignore it, it lingered in her dreams.
She stretched, yawned, and rubbed her sleepy eyes before heading to the bathroom. The mirror was fogged from the heater, and her hair was a mess. She tied it up lazily and washed her face with the warm water that ran from the tap, then stepped into a quick hot shower. The heat relaxed her stiff muscles, washing away the chill from the night.
She dried off, threw on a large sweater and a pair of sweatpants, soft, thick, and comfortable. The kind that made her feel cocooned. She smiled faintly at her reflection. “Antenatal soon,” she whispered and rubbed her belly. The thought tugged at her for a moment, soft but sure.
Pulling on her boots and coat, she stepped outside. The air bit gently at her skin, but the snow under her feet crunched pleasantly. The smell of smoke drifted from her grandfather’s cabin.
By the time she reached his porch, she could already see him through the open doorway, crouched near the fire pit, turning something on the grill.
“Hey, my dear princess is awake!” he called out as soon as he saw her. “How was your night?”
She smiled, walked up to him, and kissed his cheek. “It was fine, Grandpa. I actually had the best sleep I’ve had in days.”
He chuckled softly, his eyes shining with affection. “That’s good to hear.”
She leaned closer, looking at the grill. “What are you roasting, Grandpa?”
“I caught an animal early this morning,” he said proudly. “I like to hunt in the woods when the day break is just coming up. Keeps me strong.”
Betty grinned. “That sounds like fun. I’d love to go with you next time.”
He gave her a gentle look. “I’ll take you, my dear. But you have to be careful in those woods. No wandering around at night, you hear?”
She tilted her head, confused. “Why not? Is there a reason, Grandpa?”
He hesitated, eyes darting briefly toward the trees. “There are lots of creatures out there. Wolves, yes… but not ordinary wolves, we’ve heard.”
Betty rolled her eyes, laughing. “Come on, Grandpa. That’s just a myth.” She plucked a small piece of meat off the edge of the grill and popped it into her mouth. “Mmm. Yummy,” she said, grinning at him.
“Just be careful, my dear,” he said quietly, but there was a trace of something serious behind his smile.
She shrugged it off and sat beside him as he turned another piece of meat. The fire crackled, filling the air with warmth and the smell of roasted spice.
“So tell me, dear child,” he said after a moment, “how is your work over there in the city? Since you’re here to stay for now.”
She shrugged lightly. “I can do most of my work online, Grandpa. Everything’s easy now.”
He blinked at her. “You work on the internet?”
Betty chuckled. “Not on the internet, Grandpa. I just mean I can do my tasks online—meetings, reports, all that stuff.”
“Oh, I see,” he said, nodding as though he half understood. Then he looked at her again, his eyes soft. “Grab some meat and eat, my dear. You need it. You’re too thin. Goodness knows what my precious princess went through in that city.”
She laughed at his dramatic tone. “You worry too much, Grandpa.” Still, she took a piece, sat cross legged near the fire, and started eating. The meat was warm, smoky, perfectly done.
They ate quietly for a while, the only sounds being the fire crackling and the occasional gust of wind brushing past the trees. One of Grandpa’s men came out from behind the cabin, nodding politely to Betty. She smiled back and greeted him softly.
Just as she turned, she caught a faint movement in the distance, something quick, slipping through the bushes. Her brows furrowed. For a second, she thought she saw a flash of gray fur, but when she blinked, it was gone.
She shook her head and brushed it off. Probably a rabbit or her imagination.
“I’ve got to go now, Grandpa,” the man said after a moment. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Alright, Michael. Be careful out there,” Grandpa said, his tone carrying a familiar warning.
Michael waved at Betty with a grin. “Nice seeing you again, Miss.”
“Same here,” she said with a small wave.
He jogged off down the path, disappearing into the trees. Betty finished her coffee, still a little distracted by the rustling she thought she heard earlier. But she didn’t mention it. It was too quiet a morning for wild theories.
—
Grayson crouched beside the fallen animal, studying it closely. The body was mangled, half buried in snow. His expression hardened as he examined the bite marks. Deep. Clean. Powerful.
The wolf had been a rogue, he could smell it even through the blood but something else had attacked it. Something stronger.
He frowned, touching the wound with the back of his gloved hand. “Who could’ve done this?” he muttered under his breath.
The forest around him was still, eerily quiet. The only sound was the faint rustle of branches above.
“Grayson!” a voice shouted from afar.
He tensed instantly. In one swift motion, he dragged the carcass behind a pile of logs and straightened up.
Michael’s voice came again, closer now. “Grayson!”
Grayson stepped out from behind the trees. “Why are you screaming my name like that?” he asked, his voice low but steady.
Michael stopped short, blinking. “Goodness, man—why don’t you have a shirt on? Aren’t you freezing?”
Grayson scoffed. “Not much.”
“Not much?” Michael raised a brow. “It’s freezing, Grayson. Are you even human?”
Grayson’s gaze locked on him, sharp. “What nonsense are you saying? Of course I’m human.” His tone was clipped, dismissive. He looked away before the silence stretched.
Michael raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. Just saying. Anyway, ugh i forget to grab some of the meat grandpa was roasting but the hottie sitting with him made me forget all about it.”
Grayson turned slowly. “Hottie?”
“Yeah,” Michael said with a grin. “Grandpa’s granddaughter. She came in last night. Man, she’s beautiful.”
Grayson’s jaw tightened, the cold air suddenly feeling sharper. His voice came out rougher than before.
“Grandpa has a granddaughter?”
Aksara