"Moonlit Secrets"

The small town of Lycanridge was the type of place where everyone knew everyone. Nestled between dense woods and looming mountains, the streets were quiet by day and eerily silent by night. There was, however, one particular night that the town never spoke of, but always feared: the full moon. On this fateful evening, the silver glow bathed the town, casting long shadows on the cobblestone streets. Caleb, a tall, lean young man with tousled black hair, was making his way home from his late shift at the local diner. He felt an odd tingling at the nape of his neck, a strange pull towards the woods. Shrugging off the eerie feeling, he turned a corner and almost bumped into Anna, his childhood friend. "You shouldn't be out here," she whispered, her blue eyes darting around nervously. Before Caleb could ask why, a sharp pain coursed through his body, causing him to collapse. Anna, panicked, tried to help him up, but she gasped when she saw his eyes – they glowed a bright yellow. Caleb felt his senses heighten. He could hear distant conversations, the rustling of leaves from miles away, and the rapid heartbeat of Anna standing beside him. Trying to speak, only a growl escaped his lips. Anna, using all her strength, pulled Caleb into a nearby alley, away from prying eyes. "Calm down," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Focus on my voice, Caleb." After what felt like hours, the pain subsided, and Caleb's eyes returned to their normal shade. Panting heavily, he looked up at Anna, confusion evident in his gaze. "It's the legends," Anna said, tears forming in her eyes. "They're true. You're one of them... a werewolf." Caleb stared at her, the weight of the revelation slowly sinking in. But before he could process it, Anna helped him up. "We need to get you home," she said, "before the others find out." The two hurried through the silent streets of Lycanridge, a town with secrets as deep and dark as the night.