Under the Wolf Moon

Chapter 1: The Last Resort

The darkness of the kitchen seems to dissolve around me, as if the heavy air of despair begins to take shape and transform into something tangible. Every word from my father resonates against the walls, saturating the atmosphere with his anguish and misery. The dim light from the flickering bulb casts dancing shadows that seem to mock our reality, in a macabre game that makes me feel more trapped than ever. As I stroke the surface of the wooden table that looks like it has seen better days, my thoughts drift like a ship adrift, propelled by winds of worry and fear.

"Valeria, we need to act soon," my father says, his voice tinged with frustration. The bills piling up are a cruel reminder of how low we have fallen, and how the days of plenty are far behind us, like a shadow on the distant horizon. Worry fills every corner of my mind, painting a bleak picture where the only way out seems to be immediate surrender. And yet, amidst all this chaos, the idea of the ancestral pact flutters within me like a dark whisper. "The pact," a word that conjures images of sacrifices, grim promises, and death, creates a knot in my stomach, but also a flicker of almost inaudible hope.

My mother, Clara, interrupts the conversation, her face etched with concern.

"Juan, I’ve heard more than just rumors about the pact," she says, her voice trembling. "People talk about how it has worked for others; about what they have gained. We..." she adds, a touch of longing in her voice that echoes in the air.

Suddenly, I feel the atmosphere thicken even more.

"What does that mean for us?" my father asks, indignant. His reaction is a clear reflection of the emotional shock we both feel, a mix of desperation and revulsion at the thought of sacrificing their own daughter. My insides twist at the idea, a sea of horror and sadness floods my entire being.

Clara continues, her voice fading as I anxiously wait for the next word that could change everything... forever.

"It’s a decision families must make when there are no options. Valeria has a future ahead of her, and perhaps this is the way to secure her future..." Her voice falters, the silence that follows is so unbearable that I feel the need to make some sound.

I can see the conflict reflected in their eyes: a mother's love clashes with the terror of losing her daughter. The whispers of ancient tales resonate in my mind, those whispers of a village tormented by creatures that dwell in the shadows; werewolves that have existed in our legends since we can remember. Though fear is consuming me, a small crack opens in the wall of my resistance. That idea, which used to be just a cautionary tale, begins to transform into a considered option, like a beacon in the midst of the storm.

As I listen to my parents debate my future, a part of me feels powerless, and another feels combative.

"No, I can’t let this continue," I repeat to myself over and over, driven by the desire to protect those I love. But in this moment of deep reflection, a decision begins to forge within me. "I no longer feel like the helpless girl." The struggle feels like a burden and, in some way, like a release at the same time.

"What if I...?" The idea strikes me like a bolt of lightning. The thought paralyzes and empowers me simultaneously. Decisions define who we are, and it’s here that my family’s future rests, overflowing as I fear what that means. The idea of volunteering as a sacrifice leaves me hollow, but I also glimpse a better way of life for those I love.

"Valeria, are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?" My mother's voice interrupts my thoughts, and a chill runs through me at her tone.

With a deep sigh, and a resolution growing in my chest, I let the words slip that could seal my fate.

"If this pact can save us... I'm willing to consider it. I want to be able to help you." I pronounce, though I can't help that my voice sounds shaky. Each syllable carries a weight that feels like a sacrifice. My parents' reaction is a cocktail of surprise and fear, but also a ray of hope that filters through the darkness.

The kitchen, our refuge, becomes a temple of difficult decisions. The echoes of our worries hang in the air like thick smoke. The doors close to the possibility of a normal life. Choosing this path means opening the door to a world I always considered a fable or a warning.

With every heartbeat, the torch of determination shines more brightly within me. Faced with uncertainty, fear, and ancestral stories, I realize I’m about to cross a threshold where the unknown will become my new home. As the moon rises in the sky, flooding our kitchen with its silver light, I feel my steps move independently, guided by a purpose.

"I will never be the same again; in fact, I am no longer the same." I whisper, opening myself to the idea that my life is about to take an unexpected turn. I cling to the desire to protect my family, my heart burning with the fire of determination—"I will do it. I will do whatever it takes," I promise my parents who look at me in surprise, and I promise myself, on this night where the moon seems to witness the decision I have just made. I will take the first step towards an uncertain future, a journey that will lead me to the land of werewolves, where magic and danger coexist.

And so, under the gaze of a watchful moon, I decide to confront the supernatural, even though I know nothing about it. A new chapter of my life is about to begin, where the line between reality and fantasy blurs. The darkness may intimidate, but deep down, I recognize that within it lies a spark that can illuminate even the darkest places. Definitely, love can be a fire that burns fiercely, and I am willing to let that energy guide me.

Chapter 2: The Encounter The next morning, I wake up with a mix of anxiety and determination. Through the window, the sky is clear and bright, as if it has no idea of the storm of emotions brewing inside me. I barely managed to sleep; images of the pact and what it could mean for my life keep spinning in my mind, trapping each of my thoughts in a whirlpool of relentless wind. The love I feel for my family drives me to make the decision to seek out the one who might help us, but taking that step feels much bigger than I had anticipated. At breakfast, silence weighs heavily between my parents and me. The words are laden with a gravity that no one dares to break. —"Daughter, are you sure about this?" —my father's voice comes out strangled. I take a deep breath to try to hide the tremor coursing through my body and place a sweet smile on my lips. —"I am. Everything will be fine. I love you all," —I say goodbye to them, promising that everything will turn out well, even though I am