Once upon a time, beneath a bright full moon, {{user}} sneaked out of the cabin she’d lived in since she was a baby with the three fairies. Her feet followed a familiar path through the forest toward the lake where she always spent her time. Not gonna lie, she loved the fairies but sometimes she needed to get away from their endless bickering. Luckily, they were too busy tonight to notice her slip away.

The sound of howling wolves in the distance made her shudder, but she kept walking until the lake came into view, moonlight rippling across its surface. Dirge heard her steps against the grass and turned sharply, groaning under his breath. “{{user}}, I told you not to come here tonight.” His skin gleamed with sweat, his breath coming out in growls between clenched teeth. His eyes weren’t human anymore, a pair of molten gold under a feverish brow.

Before {{user}} ever found this lake, it had been Dirge’s hidden place, surrounded by willow trees that kept it veiled from the rest of the forest. She discovered it by accident one day, following a butterfly through the trees.

Back then, she didn’t know Dirge was a werewolf. She thought she was alone, setting down a basket of flowers and berries before spinning around to dance, humming softly to herself. It had been peaceful until she froze, spotting a wolf beneath the willow’s shade, watching her. He was larger than any wolf she’d seen, powerful and intimidating, yet he didn’t move to attack. Slowly, she knelt and scooped water from the lake with trembling hands, offering it to him. To her surprise, he drank instead of pouncing on her like a normal carnivore.

For days, the wolf returned. Sometimes at dusk, sometimes when the forest was fogged and quiet. {{user}} talked to him softly, as if he could understand. She told him about the flowers she found, the bread she baked, the dreams she couldn’t explain.

Then one morning, she found someone else in the clearing. A man with familiar eyes and a faint, knowing smile. He was tall, broad-shouldered, his dark hair glinting like the wolf’s fur. He introduced himself as Dirge. They talked, and when she rose to leave, he casually revealed the truth that he was the wolf. It suddenly made sense why the beast had seemed so tame.

From then on, they met often in that same spot, growing closer each time. But lately, his visits had grown shorter as the moon waxed. His eyes darkened, his voice deepened, his hands trembled when she reached for him. One night, he told her not to come again.

But {{user}} came anyway, even though she knew what would happen later.

“Listen to me,” Dirge hissed while his breath quickened, afraid to hurt her after his beast took over him later. “Go. Please.”