ROSE

ROSE

I turned away from the window as thick clouds veiled the full moon. A chilling breeze swept across my face, sending a shiver down my spine. Full moon nights always held a special allure for me—their serene, silvery glow soothing my weary body like a gentle lullaby. Adjusting to new places had never been easy, and I found myself longing for the familiar comfort of our old home in Canada. New York was proving far more difficult to settle into.

Dad was a man of secrets. At fifteen, I was still deemed too young to be privy to most family matters. He had always been distant, burying himself in his work, a silent figure lost in the demands of his business. Mom, a dedicated doctor, was scarcely around, her time consumed by the needs of her patients. Being the only sister among four brothers was no simple feat.

Nicholas, my eldest brother, was the spitting image of Dad—except for his striking blue eyes. Seven years my senior, he carried himself with the same quiet intensity. Jackson, six years older, was the odd one out, his personality clashing with the rest of us. Then came me and Alexander—twins bound by more than just blood. And finally, there was Maximus, the youngest, trailing two years behind us.

Life with four brothers was a relentless cycle of chaos and comfort. Their endless teasing and boisterous fights—especially between Nick and Jack—drove me to the brink of madness. Sometimes, I wished for an older sister, someone to yank their ears and put them in their place.

Ninth grade was nearly over, my final exams just a few months away. My sixteenth birthday loomed on the horizon, and as always, Mom and Dad would throw an extravagant party for Alex and me. Neither of us enjoyed the fuss, but our parents reveled in the celebration.

Lost in thought, I barely registered the footsteps approaching my room. Instinctively, I burrowed deeper into my blanket, feigning sleep.

"Rose, I know you're awake." Mom’s voice cut through the silence as she stepped inside.

"How… Mom, how do you always know?" I gasped, caught off guard.

"Finish it before I come back," she warned, placing a glass of milk on my nightstand.

The moment the door clicked shut, I exhaled in relief. Milk was my nemesis, yet Mom insisted I drink it three times a week. Gritting my teeth, I forced down as much as I could, fighting the urge to gag. The remnants of the glass sat abandoned as I glanced at the clock—10 p.m. A yawn escaped me, and I flicked off the lamp, surrendering to the night.

---

Two Hours Later…

A bloodcurdling scream shattered my slumber. I lay frozen, my heart hammering against my ribs. Just a nightmare, I told myself, straining to hear through the suffocating silence.

Minutes crawled by before another scream tore through the house. This time, I bolted upright, my pulse roaring in my ears. I scrambled downstairs, my bare feet slapping against the cold hardwood. The house was eerily still, no sign of disturbance.

Maybe it came from outside.

Peering through the curtains, I scanned the empty street. Nothing but the distant silhouette of a forest, bathed in the full moon’s ghostly glow.

Then—another scream.

This time, it came from inside the house.

My breath hitched as I traced the sound to the basement—the one place we were forbidden to enter without permission. Indecision clawed at me, but a final, agonized cry propelled me forward. I flung the door open and descended into the darkness.

The narrow staircase led to a heavy metal door. With a grunt, I forced it open, cursing myself for this reckless curiosity. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something metallic.

Blindly feeling my way along the wall, I yelped as my forehead smacked into unforgiving stone. Swearing under my breath, I adjusted my path until my fingers brushed against another door. A sliver of moonlight revealed a lone light switch.

The screaming started again—raw, guttural.

I flipped the switch.

The bulb flickered to life—then died just as suddenly.

Moonlight spilled through a small window, casting an ethereal glow on a cell at the far end. Its door was made of gleaming metal bars—silver?

Then the lights surged back on.

My scream lodged in my throat.

Nick was inside, curled into a fetal position on the floor, his body trembling violently.

"Nick! I whispered, my voice trembling. "What’s happening? Why are you locked in here?"

"Get out!" he rasped, his voice ragged with pain. "You shouldn’t be here—GO!"

Ignoring him, I grabbed the cell door.

"NO!" He choked out a cough, struggling to rise. "Don’t open it—you don’t understand!"

A sickening crack echoed through the room as his left arm twisted unnaturally. He collapsed with a strangled cry.

Horror rooted me in place. His bones kept breaking.

"MOM! DAD! NICK NEEDS HELP!" I shrieked, my voice raw.

Silence.

I had shut the basement door behind me. No one could hear me.

Idiot. Idiot. IDIOT.

I pressed myself into the corner, squeezing my eyes shut until his screams faded.

When the silence stretched too long, I crept forward, peering into the cell.

Nick was gone.

The bulb flickered again—then darkness.

A force slammed into me from behind, sending me crashing to the ground. My skull cracked against the floor, my vision swimming. A scream tore from my throat as something massive pinned me down.

I forced my eyes open.

A monstrous wolf loomed over me, its maw dripping with saliva, crimson eyes burning like embers. Its growl vibrated through my bones, razor-sharp fangs inches from my face.

Terror strangled the air from my lungs.

I was going to die...