Chapter 4 - The Hidden Life

The full moon cast an eerie glow over the secluded cottage, reflecting the tension between Mera and Jeff. Mera paced restlessly beside the window, her eyes fixed on the darkness outside. "We can't keep her hidden away forever, Mera," Jeff said, his voice low and gentle. "I know, Jeff. But the world out there... it's not safe for her. Not yet." Mera replied, her voice laced with worry. "What are we afraid of? That she'll get hurt? That she'll...?" Jeff trailed off, his eyes locked on Mera's. "That she'll be found out," Mera finished for him, her voice barely above a whisper. "We can't let that happen, Jeff. We can't let them find her." "Who, Mera? Who are we hiding her from?" Jeff asked, his frustration evident. Mera's pacing paused, her eyes flashing with a hint of fear. "You know who, Jeff. The society. They won't understand her... her condition." Jeff's expression softened. "We'll face that together, as a family. But we can't keep living in fear. Elsa deserves a chance at a life beyond this hiding place." As they spoke, the door creaked open, and their hearts sank in unison. "Elsa, what are you doing up?" Mera asked her voice tight with anxiety. "I couldn't sleep, Mom. I saw the moon and... and I wanted to go out," Elsa replied, her eyes shining with a mix of excitement and rebellion. Mera and Jeff exchanged a worried glance. "Not now, sweetie. It's not safe," Jeff said, his voice firm but gentle. "But why not? You're always saying how beautiful the moon is, Mom. And I want to see it up close," Elsa persisted, her voice filled with a sense of longing. Mera hesitated, her eyes darting to Jeff for support. "Elsa, we've talked about this. It's not safe for you to go outside during a full moon." "But why? What's going to happen?" Elsa asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. Mera sighed, her shoulders sagging under the weight of her secrets. "Just trust us, okay? We're only trying to protect you." Elsa's face fell, her eyes clouding over with disappointment. "You're always protecting me. But from what? I don't understand." Jeff stepped forward, his voice gentle but firm. "Elsa, we'll explain everything when the time is right. But for now, please just trust us. Let's go back to bed and talk about this in the morning." Elsa nodded reluctantly, her eyes still fixed on her parents with a mixture of confusion and frustration. As she turned to leave, Mera caught her arm, her voice barely above a whisper. "Elsa, we love you, no matter what. Never forget that." Elsa smiled slightly, her eyes softening. "I love you too, Mom. Dad." As Elsa disappeared into her room, Mera turned to Jeff, her eyes filled with worry. "We can't keep this up, Jeff. She's getting older, and she deserves to know the truth." Jeff's face was set in a determined expression. "I know. But we need to be careful. The society is always watching, waiting for any sign of... irregularities." Mera's eyes flashed with fear. "What if they find us? What if they find Elsa?" Jeff's arms wrapped around her, his voice filled with reassurance. "We'll face that together, as a family. We'll always protect Elsa, no matter what." Elsa lay in her bed, listening as her parents settled into their room across the hall. She heard the creak of their door closing, followed by the soft murmur of their voices as they whispered goodnight to each other. As their voices faded into silence, Elsa waited, her ears straining to hear any sign of movement from their room. But there was nothing. Her parents had finally fallen asleep, exhausted from their worries about her safety. Elsa's heart raced with excitement as she threw off her covers and slipped out of bed. She had been waiting for this moment all night. She crept to her door, her bare feet making barely a sound on the floor. She slowly turned the handle and slipped out into the hallway, her eyes fixed on her parents' door. It remained shut, no sound coming from inside. Elsa smiled to herself, her heart pounding with excitement. She was finally free to explore the night. Elsa, drawn to the thrill of freedom, kept sneaking out of her parents' house, and exploring the town under the cover of night. One evening, she stumbled upon a bar, where she met Jack, a charming stranger with a captivating smile. They hit it off, sharing stories and laughter, and before long, they found themselves walking along the lake's edge, the moon casting a silver glow over the water. As they stood together, the chemistry between them crackled, and they shared a romantic moment, their faces inches apart. But just as things were about to escalate, Elsa's nerves got the better of her, and she suddenly bolted, leaving Jack standing alone, wondering what had just happened. "She's on the move," Viktor whispered, his eyes fixed on Elsa's fleeing figure. "It seems she's had enough of her human companion for now." "Let's keep a safe distance," Ryker commanded, his voice low and menacing. "We don't want to spook her yet. We need her to lead us to her mother." As they tailed Elsa, their sensitive noses picked up a familiar scent. Viktor's nostrils flared, and he exchanged a knowing glance with Ryker. "Ah, Mera's scent!" Viktor exclaimed, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's faint, but it's there. She must be the daughter." Ryker's eyes lit up with excitement. "Which means she'll lead us straight to her mother... and her human father. The ones who dared to defy our laws." Viktor's eyes gleamed with malice. "Yes, the ones who thought they could defy the ancient laws of our kind. Mera, a werewolf, falling in love with a human? Unacceptable." Ryker's tail twitched with anticipation. "And now, they'll pay the price for their forbidden love. They'll pay with their lives." Viktor's voice dripped with venom. "The Law of the Pack is clear: no werewolf shall mate with a human. And yet, they disobeyed. They must be punished." As they continued to stalk Elsa, their excitement grew, their plans for destruction and domination taking shape in the shadows. They moved silently, their paws barely touching the ground, their eyes fixed on their prey. "We'll show no mercy," Ryker whispered. "No quarter. They'll beg for forgiveness, but it will be too late. The Law of the Pack will be upheld, and our dominance will be reinforced." Viktor's eyes gleamed with agreement. "Yes, and with them out of the way, no one will dare challenge our authority again." Ryker and Viktor continued to trail Elsa, their eyes fixed on their unsuspecting prey. Elsa, oblivious to the danger lurking behind her, led them deeper into the forest, closer to her family's cabin with every step. And so, the hunters followed, their patience and cunning rewarded as Elsa unwittingly led them straight to her family's doorstep. The stage was set for a deadly confrontation, one that would change the course of their lives forever. With their prey now in sight, Ryker and Viktor prepared to strike, their eyes gleaming with fierce and sinister intent. Elsa's family, unaware of the danger that lurked just beyond the treeline, remained blissfully ignorant of the horror that was to come. The hunt had ended, and the battle was about to begin.