CHAPTER TEN – WAS IT ALL A DREAM?

Karina dragged herself out of bed, her entire body aching as if she had been hit by a truck. She shuffled to the bathroom, desperate to wash away the previous night's horrors. As the steaming water filled the tub, she caught a glimpse of her haggard reflection in the mirror. Dark circles ringed her bloodshot eyes, and her skin looked sallow and lifeless. She grimaced, quickly averting her gaze. Sinking into the bath, she let the scalding heat envelop her trembling frame. She closed her eyes, trying to sort through the jumbled mess of thoughts and emotions swirling in her mind. Had she really seen a werewolf last night? The events seemed so vivid, so terrifying...and yet, a part of her couldn't quite believe it was real. Werewolves were the stuff of legends and nightmares, not something that existed in the modern world. Maybe the emotional turmoil from her fight with Matthew had caused her to imagine the whole thing. Maybe she had a mental break of some kind. The thought caused a sh