Twelve - Into the Night

Into the Night

Abbie's first full moon as a werewolf was on Halloween—October 31st. The irony wasn't lost on her. The day felt cursed long before it began. She had dreaded it from the moment she realized she would turn again, the inevitability of it looming like a shadow over her every waking thought. Despite weeks of anxiety, Abbie had done little to prepare for it. Her only act of foresight was asking Kai to bring shackles—more of a precaution than a plan. She hoped she wouldn't need them, that she could shift safely in the woods without incident.

Morning light spilled through her bedroom window as she dragged herself out of bed. She stumbled groggily to her closet, already grappling with the day's first dilemma: what to wear. It seemed trivial on the surface, but the decision carried weight. Clothes wouldn't survive the transformation. If she wore something she cared about, it would be shredded. Old clothes made the most sense. Then there was the alternative: shed them just before turning.

Her cheeks flushed as a thought flitted through her mind—Kai would be there. He had promised to stay by her side through the ordeal, no matter what. Would it be so bad if he saw her... like that? A mischievous smile crept across her face. Maybe not.

She shook the thought away, selecting a pair of light gray jeans and a button-up blouse with black vertical stripes. Both were on their last legs, making them a practical choice for potential destruction.

In the bathroom, she took her time getting ready, curling her long, chestnut-brown hair—desperately in need of a trim—into soft waves. The curling iron sizzled faintly as she worked, the motion grounding her in its routine. Afterward, she brushed her teeth until they felt spotless and spritzed herself with a new perfume she had bought just a few days ago. Its sweet, inviting scent of strawberries and honey lingered in the air, clinging to her skin. She smiled, remembering Kai's reaction the first time he'd caught a whiff of it. He had noticed her more since she started wearing it—definitely noticed. Her cheeks warmed as she recalled the kiss they'd shared the day before.

Straightening her posture, Abbie descended the stairs, her chin held high. She was determined to face this day head-on, no matter how much it unnerved her.

As she reached the kitchen, her mother intercepted her, standing in the doorway with a troubled expression. Abbie paused, tilting her head in concern.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, her voice cautious.

Her mother hesitated, then gave a small, tired sigh. "I just wanted to ask you something."

"Ask away," Abbie replied, throwing her arms out theatrically in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"Do you... like it here?" her mother asked carefully, her tone soft but probing.

Abbie frowned, her brow furrowing. "Of course I do. Why would you think otherwise?"

Her mother shook her head, her lips pressing into a thin line. "No reason. I just wanted to know."

That tone. Abbie recognized it instantly. It was the same one her mother used every time they were about to move again. Abbie's stomach dropped, her heart sinking under the weight of an all-too-familiar dread.

Her voice came out quieter than she intended. "Mom, I don't want to move again."

Her mother tried to soothe her. "It's okay. We're not moving anytime soon."

But Abbie's chest tightened, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "No, you don't understand. I don't want to move ever again."

Her mother looked taken aback by the vehemence in her voice. "Abbie, it's just a question—"

"No, it's not!" Abbie snapped, her voice rising. "It's never just a question with you! You always ask this right before you uproot everything. Do you know how hard it is to keep doing this? I'm tired of starting over. I'm tired of leaving everything behind!"

"Abbie—"

"I mean it, Mom!" she shouted, cutting her off. Her throat felt tight, her eyes stinging with unspilled tears. "I've finally started to feel like I belong somewhere. For once in my life, I don't want to lose that."

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the kitchen, her footsteps echoing through the house. Her mother's voice called after her, but Abbie didn't stop. She grabbed her jacket, yanked open the front door, and stepped into the brisk morning air, slamming it shut behind her.

Outside, the world was calm and still, in stark contrast to the storm raging inside her. She took a shaky breath, trying to steady her pounding heart. To anyone else, her reaction might have seemed extreme, but this wasn't the first time she'd had this conversation. And every time, it felt like a countdown to another loss.

She couldn't go through it again. Not now. Not ever.

As Abbie stepped into the school, the Halloween spirit hit her immediately. The hallways were transformed into a festive spectacle. Skeleton and pumpkin stickers adorned the lockers, grinning jack-o'-lanterns glared from every corner, and a vibrant orange banner stretched across the ceiling, advertising the Halloween party scheduled for tonight. Students moved about, most dressed in orange and black, while others flaunted costumes ranging from vampires to superheroes. The air buzzed with excitement, but for Abbie, it only heightened her sense of dread.

She made her way to Kai, who was leaning casually against his locker. His dark eyes scanned the crowd, mischief written all over his face.

"Hi, Kai," she greeted, her voice steady despite the knot in her stomach.

"Hey, Abbie." He smirked, his lips curving into a teasing grin. "Ready for tonight?"

"Of course not," she replied, deadpan. "I'm terrified." Her gaze flicked to his bag. "Did you bring the shackles?"

Kai's smirk deepened as he unzipped his bag just enough to reveal the cold, metal restraints inside.

"Great," she muttered. She was about to say more when Jo appeared, her usually confident demeanor replaced with something much softer, almost nervous.

"Hey, Jo?" Abbie said, confused by her expression.

"Can we talk?" Jo asked, her voice quiet and hesitant. "Alone?"

Abbie nodded. "Sure. Follow me."

She led Jo to a quieter corner, away from Kai and the bustling hallway. Jo fidgeted, clearly trying to gather her thoughts.

"What's going on?" Abbie asked, her concern sharpening as she took in Jo's guilty expression.

Jo hesitated, chewing on her lip before finally speaking. "I wanted to say... I forgive you."

Abbie's brows knitted together in confusion. "Forgive me? For what?"

"For killing someone," Jo said quietly, almost like the words hurt to say. "Or... whatever really happened. I'm sorry for how I acted before."

Abbie stiffened, her confusion deepening. "Jo, why would you forgive me for something like that?"

Jo dropped her gaze to the floor, her voice faltering. "Because... I don't think it happened the way Kai said it did. He lies. You know that, right? All the time." She looked back up, her expression conflicted. "I was afraid you were just like him, but... you're not."

Abbie opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. She wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or insulted.

Jo's hands suddenly shot out, gripping Abbie's shoulders tightly, almost desperately. "Abbie, please," she said, her voice shaking now. "You need to stay away from Kai. He's dangerous. I thought you two were good for each other, but I was wrong. I'm scared for you."

Abbie's eyes narrowed, her irritation flaring. "Kai's not that bad, Jo."

Jo's grip tightened, her eyes filled with hopeless urgency. "He is, Abbie! You don't see it yet, but you will. He's not just reckless—he's cruel. Manipulative. You think he loves you, but he'll ruin you." She exhaled shakily, her tone dropping to a pleading whisper. "Come to the party tonight. I'll tell you everything—everything he's done."

Abbie clenched her fists, a cold anger spreading through her chest. She didn't need to hear this, not from Jo of all people. "You don't know what you're talking about," she said sharply. "Kai's never hurt me. He's not perfect, okay? But no one is."

Jo shook her head, frustration mounting in her expression. "You don't get it. It's not about perfection. It's about who he is. He's broken, Abbie, and he'll break you too."

Abbie's jaw clenched, her patience wearing thin. "I can't, Jo. I'm turning tonight. Do you get that? I have way bigger problems than your dramatic theories about Kai."

Jo's eyes widened, a flicker of panic crossing her face. "Wait, you're turning tonight?"

"Yes," Abbie snapped, her voice cutting. "So if you see a wolf in the woods, congratulations—it's me."

Jo froze, her face paling. "You're not locking yourself up?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Abbie, it's Halloween. People are going to be out there. You could hurt someone."

Abbie's irritation finally boiled over. "You think I don't know that?" she shot back, her tone sharp and biting. "I've got it under control, Jo. Just worry about yourself for once."

Jo stared at her, her expression a mix of fear and despair. "You don't, though," she said softly. "You think you do, but you don't."

Abbie had had enough. She pulled away from Jo's grip and turned on her heel. "I'm done with this conversation."

Without another word, she walked away, heading back to where Kai had been standing earlier. His locker was empty now, and there was no sign of him in the hallway. She sighed in frustration and headed to her next class—Biology.

Biology was one of the few classes she didn't share with Kai. The teacher, a middle-aged man with a mop of red hair, stood at the front of the room wearing one of his usual painfully garish outfits: a lime-green shirt with cartoonish pumpkins and a pair of brown corduroy pants. Abbie stifled a groan as she slid into her seat, barely paying attention as the class began.

Her thoughts drifted back to Jo's words, looping over and over in her mind. "Stay away from Kai. He's dangerous."

Was he really a monster? She didn't want to believe it, but a small part of her wondered if Jo was right. If Kai truly was as bad as Jo claimed, what did that say about her? The thought made her stomach churn. If Kai was a monster, then wasn't she one too?

Her mind spiraled further. She didn't want to be like him—not entirely. But if they were the same, didn't that mean Jo's fear was misplaced? Abbie didn't know what frustrated her more: the thought of Jo being right or the fear that she might be wrong.

Her chest tightened as her thoughts shifted to tonight. The full moon. The transformation. She dreaded it more than anything. The memory of her first shift was hazy, but the pain was unforgettable—a searing, bone-deep agony that left her breathless and helpless. It was something she would have to endure every month for the rest of her life, an endless, excruciating cycle.

She sighed heavily, slumping further into her chair. The comparison to a period crossed her mind, though this felt infinitely worse—a far more painful and unpredictable curse.

As the class droned on, Abbie stared blankly at the teacher, her thoughts swimming in circles. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the unease creeping through her. Tonight would change everything.

A little while later, under the cool autumn sky, Abbie sat alone on a weathered bench, her arms wrapped around herself for warmth. The air smelled of damp leaves and faintly of roasted pumpkin seeds from the houses she passed earlier. She checked her watch again, the minute hand ticking relentlessly forward. Kai was late—thirty minutes late. Her patience was wearing thin.

She sighed, tilting her head back to watch the Halloween decorations swaying in the breeze. A little boy in a superhero costume darted by, clutching an oversized candy bag that nearly dragged on the ground. The sight tugged at her heart, and she couldn't help but smile wistfully. Halloween used to be her favorite day of the year. She'd worn a bright purple superhero outfit her mom had stitched together, cape and all. She'd gone door-to-door until her candy bag grew too heavy to carry, laughing as her mother pulled her wagon behind her. That life felt like a distant memory—something fragile and sweet she couldn't touch anymore.

Her thoughts broke when she spotted Kai strolling toward her from the shadows, his figure illuminated by the glow of a nearby jack-o'-lantern. His hands were shoved into his jacket pockets, his pace annoyingly slow, as if he wasn't thirty minutes late.

"If you're wondering why I'm late," Kai said, his tone dry and sarcastic, "let's just say you should count yourself lucky to be an only child."

Abbie let out a sharp puff of air. "Can we skip the excuses and just get moving? I really don't want to turn in the middle of a neighborhood full of kids dressed as superheroes and vampires."

Kai smirked as if he found the idea amusing. "Come on, you turning here would be the best Halloween story ever. Just think of the headlines."

Abbie shot him a glare and stood, her boots crunching against the scattered leaves. "Let's go."

The streets, lively only minutes ago with kids laughing and running from door to door, had fallen eerily quiet. The chatter and footsteps had been replaced by an unsettling stillness. A few teenagers passed them, heading to the school's infamous Halloween party. Supposedly, it was the highlight of the year—a tradition since 1940. Abbie's chest tightened. She hated that she couldn't go, even though she knew it was impossible. Maybe next year, if her mom didn't uproot their lives again.

They reached the edge of the forest, where the asphalt gave way to dirt paths tangled with roots. The woods were shrouded in mist, the silhouettes of gnarled trees twisting against the moonlit sky. The air was damp and cold, prickling Abbie's skin as she walked further into the shadows.

"What if I accidentally hurt someone?" she asked, breaking the silence. Her voice was low, almost like she was afraid to hear the answer. She tilted her head back, watching the full moon rise higher in the sky.

Kai glanced at her sideways, his face unreadable. "Then someone dies," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm—or was it indifference? "No big deal."

"Real funny," she muttered, irritation flaring.

They finally stopped in the heart of the woods, where the mist was thicker, the trees standing like silent sentinels around them. "I think this spot will work," she said, her voice quieter now. She dropped her bag to the ground, the soft thud echoing in the stillness.

Kai nodded and set his own bag down, pulling out the shackles with a deliberate slowness. "So, what's it gonna be? Do you want to run free and scare the locals, or are we going full werewolf-in-chains tonight?"

Abbie hesitated, her fingers trembling as she reached for the buttons on her blouse. "I don't know... What do you think?"

Kai turned to her with a smirk, but his expression shifted when he realized she was already unbuttoning her shirt. His eyebrows arched playfully. "Do you want me to turn around?" he asked, clearly hoping the answer was no.

She rolled her eyes but didn't stop. "Whatever you—" Her words cut off in a sharp, choked scream as an excruciating crack echoed through the woods.

Her arm snapped first, the bone splintering with a sickening sound. "Oh my God," she whimpered, clutching at it as her knees buckled.

Kai froze, the usual snark wiped clean from his face as he watched her crumple to the ground.

Another crack—this time her ribs. Abbie cried out, her hands clawing at the grass as pain exploded through her chest. She tried to breathe, but it felt like her lungs were being crushed. Her spine twisted violently, forcing her into an unnatural arch.

Her vision blurred, tears streaming down her face. "Kai," she gasped, her voice raw and desperate. But he didn't move. He was rooted to the spot, his hands gripping the shackles so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Abbie's screams turned guttural as her legs bent at impossible angles, the muscles tearing, reforming. She clawed at the ground, her nails splitting and hardening into sharp, black claws. The agony was relentless, waves of fire tearing through her body. Every joint shattered and realigned, every inch of her skin stretched and burned as thick, coarse fur sprouted over her trembling form.

Her jaw elongated with a sickening crunch, her teeth sharpening into fangs. By the time the transformation was complete, the world was eerily silent.

Abbie's wolf form stood on shaky legs, her chest heaving as she tried to regain control. Her yellow eyes locked on Kai, who took a cautious step back.

"Ho, ho," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Go find someone else to eat. I'm not on the menu."

The wolf licked its snout, taking slow, deliberate steps toward him. Kai's confidence faltered as he realized she wasn't stopping.

"Abbie?" he said, his voice tense.

She lunged.

Kai barely managed to get his hands up, pushing against her muzzle with all his strength. Her claws raked against his arms, tearing through his jacket. He grunted, holding her back, but it was a losing battle.

Then he remembered. "Sorry, Abs," he muttered. His hands glowed red as he pressed them against her. The wolf froze, trembling as the siphoning magic surged through her.

"Motus!" he shouted, and the wolf flew back, slamming into a tree with a heavy thud.

Before she could recover, Kai grabbed the chains and swung them around her, binding her tightly to the tree. His magic flared again, securing the shackles with an unbreakable spell.

He stepped back, breathing hard, his hands still glowing faintly. "Well," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow, "Happy Halloween."

Kai leaned against a tree, his arms crossed as the adrenaline of the night faded. Despite the lingering tension in the air, exhaustion crept over him, and before long, his head drooped, and he slipped into a light sleep. The quiet rustling of the forest was the only sound until dawn began to break over the horizon.

The first rays of sunlight spilled through the trees, bathing the forest floor in a soft golden glow. Abbie stirred, her body aching from the grueling transformation. The chains that had held her wolf form still bound her wrists and chest, pressing uncomfortably into her bruised skin. She blinked, her vision adjusting to the light as the memories of the night before flooded back.

"Kai," she croaked, her voice raw and barely audible. When he didn't respond, she tried again, louder this time. "Kai... wake up."

He stirred, groaning softly as he blinked himself awake. "Huh?" He squinted at her, his voice groggy. "You're back already?"

"Yes," she whispered, her tone strained with discomfort. "Could you—could you let me out of these?" She gestured weakly toward the chains wrapped tightly around her. Her wrists were raw from where the metal had bitten into her skin during the night.

Kai straightened, rolling his shoulders to shake off the stiffness of sleep. He moved toward her, examining the chains with a practiced eye. "Hold on," he murmured, placing his hand lightly on her arm.

A faint red glow radiated from his palm as he siphoned the magic needed to unlock the enchanted chains. With a smooth motion, he swung his hand, and the metal links clattered to the ground. The sound echoed in the stillness of the forest.

Abbie exhaled deeply, rubbing her sore wrists. "Thanks," she muttered, her voice laced with awkward gratitude. Her gaze flicked around the clearing. "Um... do you know where my clothes are?"

Kai smirked faintly, his finger pointing to a small pile of folded clothes near the base of another tree. "Over there," he said.

Abbie's cheeks flushed as she quickly retrieved the garments, shielding herself as she got dressed behind the thick trunk of a tree. The fabric felt rough against her skin, and her movements were slow, every muscle in her body protesting after the violent transformation.

When she returned, fully clothed but still pale, she hesitated before speaking. "I'm... sorry about last night. You know, the whole attacking-you thing." She winced, her hands fidgeting as she glanced at the ground.

Kai ran a hand through his disheveled hair, shrugging casually. "It's not exactly a shocker, is it? I mean, the moment you said you weren't locking yourself up, we should've known this was going to happen." His tone was light, but there was a glint of genuine concern in his eyes.

Abbie huffed a small laugh, though it was tinged with unease. "Yeah... I guess we should have. Still, it was terrifying. I wasn't in control—not even a little. I don't even remember lunging at you. One second I was in pain, and the next..." She trailed off, her gaze distant as the memory washed over her.

Kai's smirk faded, his expression softening. "Well, you didn't actually manage to kill me, so let's chalk that up as a win."

Abbie managed a weak smile but quickly sobered. "Maybe we should make this a rule," she said, her voice quieter now. "Lock me up every full moon. No exceptions." She crossed her arms, hugging herself as if to ward off the fear creeping up her spine.

Kai studied her for a moment, his usual sarcasm replaced with something more serious. "If that's what you want, we can do it," he said simply.

Abbie nodded. "It's what I need. Last night was..." She hesitated, then admitted in a shaky breath, "I was terrified. Of what I might do. Of who I might hurt. And the pain—it was unbearable. It felt like it lasted forever." Her voice cracked slightly, and she cleared her throat, trying to steady herself. "I can't go through that again without knowing it's contained."

Kai nodded, his usual teasing absent. "We'll figure it out. Next time, you'll be ready."

The words hung in the air, a promise both of them silently vowed to keep. As they began their slow walk back through the forest, the early morning sun filtered through the trees, a quiet reminder that the nightmare had passed—for now.

As they made their way toward the edge of the forest, the early morning light casting a soft glow over the landscape, Abbie's thoughts became more turbulent. The lingering adrenaline from the night's transformation had left her physically drained, but it was the emotional toll that weighed heaviest on her heart. The rawness of what had just happened—the terror of losing control, the desperation in her plea for safety, the overwhelming fear of what she might have done—had made her realize something she hadn't allowed herself to confront before.

She stopped walking, her footsteps faltering as the words that had been lurking deep inside her for so long bubbled up to the surface. She turned to face Kai, her heart racing in her chest, and the vulnerability she usually kept locked away seemed impossible to contain.

"Kai..." Her voice faltered for a moment, unsure if she was ready to say what she needed to say. But there was no turning back now. Not after everything they'd been through. "That... the whole attacking-you thing... it made me realize how scared I am. How scared I am of losing you. I've never felt this way about anyone, and it terrifies me. I really like you." She looked down, her cheeks flushing, before glancing back up at him with a sudden rush of courage. "And, well, everyone else thinks we're already dating. So why not make it official?"

The words left her lips before she had a chance to stop them, and for a moment, she was stunned by her own honesty. It had always been easier for her to guard her feelings, to shut them down before they could take root. But standing here, with Kai so close, and feeling the weight of their connection, she couldn't hold back anymore.

Kai stopped in his tracks, his body stilling completely as he turned to face her. His eyes softened, studying her for a long moment, and Abbie couldn't quite place the emotion she saw flickering there—surprise, disbelief, or maybe something deeper. But it was the tenderness in his gaze that caught her off guard.

After what seemed like an eternity of silence, he took a step forward, closing the distance between them. "Yes," he said softly, his voice low and sincere, "Let's make it official." The words were simple, yet they carried a weight, a promise in them that seemed to settle deep in her chest.

Abbie didn't wait another second. A burst of pure emotion surged through her, and before she could think, she jumped into his arms, her heart pounding wildly as she kissed him. It was a kiss that held all the words they hadn't said, all the fears and desires they had buried deep within themselves. The world seemed to fall away in that moment, and for once, Abbie didn't feel the need to fight it, to hold back. It was just her and Kai, wrapped in something unspoken but understood.

When they pulled away, both of them breathless, Abbie couldn't help the smile that spread across her face, even as a tear escaped from the corner of her eye. It almost felt like a dream. Almost.

But as she looked up at him, she realized this wasn't a dream. This was real. The connection between them had always been there, even when they'd both been too stubborn to see it, too afraid to acknowledge it. And for the first time, Kai spoke the words she hadn't known she needed to hear.

"I care about you, Abbie," he said quietly, his voice gentle but full of an intensity she hadn't expected. "I don't know if I've ever cared about anyone like this before. People... they don't really care about me. Not like you do." His hands, which had been resting gently on her back, tightened slightly, as if grounding himself in the moment. "You're different. You're the first person who's ever really gotten under my skin. And for what it's worth, I don't want to lose you either."

Abbie's heart skipped a beat, a rush of warmth flooding through her at his words. She had never imagined hearing such vulnerability from him—Kai, who had always been so guarded, so closed off. But in that moment, she realized that maybe, just maybe, they were more alike than they had ever admitted. They both had walls, both carried scars. But together, perhaps they could face whatever was coming, stronger than they ever could apart.

With his arms around her, holding her close, she finally let herself believe in this—believe in them.

"I don't want to lose you either, Kai," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She pulled away just enough to look him in the eye, searching for any sign of doubt, but all she saw was certainty—something she hadn't expected to find, yet something that filled her with hope.

And for the first time, she truly felt it: the weight of their connection, the unspoken bond that had been slowly building between them all along. The fear of losing him was still there, still a gnawing presence in the back of her mind, but in this moment, she allowed herself to embrace what they had. Because, for the first time in a long time, it felt like maybe they could make it. Together.