The quiet night with a beautiful full moon in Willow Valley did not feel pleasant for Jeanice. That was because the howls of wolves, which had started with just one, were now echoing in unison, reverberating through the silence. The sound seemed to pierce the stillness, sending an unsettling feeling through Jeanice's chest that was difficult to explain.

"That must not be a wolf! Just the neighbor's dog!" Jeanice muttered, trying to reassure herself. However, the faint tremor in her voice betrayed the courage she wanted to display.

Outside, the night breeze blew gently, sweeping through the leaves, making them whisper to one another. The yellowish streetlights illuminated only a...