Chapter 5: The Hunter's Threat
The news hit Dante like a slap to the face. Over dinner one evening, his dad casually mentioned the reports of strange animal attacks around Saskatoon.
“People are saying there’s some kind of wild beast on the loose,” Mr. Rossi said, his brow furrowed. “A hunter named Mr. Taggart has taken it upon himself to track it down. Apparently, he’s pretty famous for dealing with things like this.”
Dante’s stomach churned. He pushed his peas around his plate, trying to keep his expression neutral. Across the table, Mia’s eyes widened with excitement.
“A wild beast? Like a bear?” she asked.
“Nobody knows,” their dad replied. “Some say it’s a wolf, others think it’s something bigger. Whatever it is, it’s dangerous.”
Dante’s mom shot him a concerned look. “You kids should be extra careful walking home from school. And no playing outside after dark.”
Dante nodded automatically, his thoughts racing. He couldn’t risk anyone—especially his family—finding out the truth. The “wild beast” wasn’t some unknown animal; it was him.
That night, Dante sat on the edge of his bed, gripping his checklist. He’d been doing everything Clara suggested: breathing exercises, controlled movements, and careful monitoring of his senses. But no amount of planning could erase the fear gnawing at him now. If Mr. Taggart got too close, what would he do? He couldn’t exactly explain his way out of being a werewolf.
A soft knock at the window startled him. He turned to see Clara outside, her face lit by the pale glow of the streetlamp. He quickly opened the window to let her in.
“Clara, what are you doing here?” he hissed.
“I heard about the hunter,” she said, brushing snow off her coat. “You looked freaked out after school, so I figured you’d need backup.”
Dante sighed, grateful for her loyalty. He told her what he’d overheard at dinner.
“Taggart is serious,” Clara said, pacing his room. “He’s not just some random guy with a shotgun. My dad says he’s a professional tracker. If anyone can find you, it’s him.”
“Thanks for the pep talk,” Dante muttered, rubbing his temples.
Clara stopped pacing and sat beside him. “Listen, we’ll figure this out. First, we need to make sure you’re not leaving any clues behind when you transform. No tracks, no fur, nothing. Can you control where you go?”
Dante hesitated. “Mostly. But when the full moon’s close, it’s harder. Last time, I woke up in the woods without remembering how I got there.”
Clara frowned. “That’s not good. We need a plan for the full moon.”
They stayed up late brainstorming, eventually deciding that Clara would act as a lookout while Dante tried to confine himself to an isolated area in the woods. It wasn’t perfect, but it was better than nothing.
The days leading up to the full moon passed in a blur of tension. At school, Dante avoided conversations about the “wild beast” and tried to act normal. Hockey practice became a minefield; he couldn’t afford to let his heightened instincts take over and risk more attention.
Finally, the night of the full moon arrived. Dante and Clara met at their usual spot near the edge of the woods. Clara had brought a flashlight, a thermos of hot chocolate, and her dad’s binoculars.
“I’ll keep watch from here,” she said. “You’re sure this spot is far enough from town?”
Dante nodded, though his nerves were frayed. “Yeah. I scouted it earlier. No houses, no trails. It should be safe.”
He took a deep breath and stepped deeper into the woods. As the moon rose higher, his senses sharpened, and the familiar tingling spread through his body. The transformation was both painful and exhilarating, a rush of power and instinct that left little room for rational thought.
From her vantage point, Clara watched nervously. The woods were eerily quiet, the snow-covered ground reflecting the moonlight. She clutched the binoculars, scanning for any sign of Mr. Taggart or anyone else who might stumble upon Dante.
Hours passed, and Clara’s fingers grew numb despite the hot chocolate. She was about to call it a night when a movement in the distance caught her eye. She raised the binoculars and froze. A figure was moving through the trees, carrying a rifle.
“Taggart,” she whispered, her breath visible in the cold air.
She scrambled to her feet and ran towards the woods, her flashlight bouncing wildly. “Dante!” she called in a harsh whisper. “Dante, he’s here!”
Dante’s wolf ears picked up Clara’s voice, pulling him out of his instinct-driven state. He turned towards the sound, his glowing eyes narrowing. Taggart was here? How had he found them?
Clara burst into the clearing, panting. “You have to hide! He’s coming this way!”
Dante growled low in his throat, the wolf part of him wanting to fight, but Clara grabbed his arm. “No! You can’t! He’ll shoot you!”
Reluctantly, Dante followed Clara deeper into the woods. They ran until the sound of Taggart’s footsteps faded. Clara pulled him behind a thick cluster of trees, both of them breathing hard.
“We need to split up,” Clara said. “I’ll lead him away. You stay hidden.”
“No way,” Dante growled, his voice rough from the transformation. “I’m not letting you put yourself in danger.”
“You don’t have a choice!” Clara snapped. “If he finds you, it’s over. But he’s not looking for me. I can distract him long enough for you to get away.”
Before Dante could argue, Clara darted off, her flashlight bobbing through the trees. Dante’s heart pounded as he crouched low, listening. He heard Taggart’s voice in the distance, shouting something he couldn’t make out. A gunshot rang out, echoing through the woods.
Dante’s breath caught in his throat. Every instinct screamed at him to run after Clara, but he forced himself to stay put. Minutes dragged by like hours until finally, he heard Clara’s voice calling his name.
He emerged from his hiding spot to find her grinning, her cheeks flushed. “It worked,” she said. “I led him back towards the main road. He won’t be back tonight.”
Relief washed over Dante, but it was short-lived. The threat of Taggart still loomed, and the full moon wasn’t going anywhere. As they made their way out of the woods, Dante realized the fight to keep his secret was only beginning.
Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model