Chapter 2

Jacob, still spinning from the strange events in the forest, stumbled back to his home in the quiet hours before dawn. His father, Billy, was sitting on the porch, waiting for him, a look of concern etched on his face. As Jacob approached, nude and disoriented, Billy's eyes widened briefly before concern took precedence.

"Jake, what happened to you? Where have you been?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.

Jacob, finding it challenging to articulate the surreal events that had transpired, managed to utter, "I don't... I can't explain. Something strange happened in the forest."

Billy, though seeming concerned, didn't seem all too surprised. He rolled his wheelchair forward and draped a blanket over Jacob's shoulders. "Let's get you warmed up and sit down. You can tell me everything."

They moved to the kitchen, and Jacob, wrapped in the blanket, recounted the inexplicable transformation in the forest. Though his father must think he was crazy, he listened attentively, and then his concern relaxed into relief.

Jacob noticed that his father's expression was quite unusual. It seemed to him that his father was feeling relieved about something, which struck him as odd considering the circumstances.

"Did you hear what I just told you, Dad?" Jacob said slowly. "I turned into a wolf."

The air thick with the weight of the mystery, Billy took a deep breath and began to share a tale that had been passed down through generations—the Quileute legends.

"Jacob, what happened in the forest... it's tied to something ancient, something that runs in our blood," Billy started, his gaze knowing. "Our people, the Quileute tribe, have a history entwined with the spirit of the wolf."

As Jacob listened intently, his father continued recounting their ancestors' legends. "Long ago, the Quileute people had a unique bond with wolves. It's said that our ancestors could transform into wolves at will, forging a connection with the land and its spirits. They were protectors, guardians of the natural balance."

Jacob's eyes widened as the pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place. "I thought those were just stupid stories. It can't be real." He shook his head in denial, but his heart knew otherwise.

Billy nodded solemnly. "Yes, Jake. It's a legacy that has been passed down through the generations. But over time, when the Cold Ones disappeared, so did the wolves. Many believed it was just a myth, a story to keep our history alive."

"Who are the Cold Ones?"

"The Cold Ones are blood-drinking creatures, vampires," Billy explained, his tone serious. "Legend has it that they are enemies of our tribe, ancient foes that have crossed paths with the Quileutes for centuries."

Billy continued to narrate the stories of the Cold Ones, beings frozen in time, immortal and predatory. He spoke of their sparkling skin in the sunlight and their thirst for human blood. Jacob listened, a chill running down his spine as he processed the unsettling tales.

"These creatures are not to be taken lightly, Jacob. They've always been a threat to our people, and our ancestors passed down the knowledge to stay vigilant," Billy cautioned. "The forest, the legends, the transformations—it's all connected, and you need to be aware of the dangers that exist."

Jacob sat quietly as he absorbed the weight of this new information. As he pondered over his predicament, a sudden memory came rushing back to him. It was the memory of a kind and gentle stranger he had encountered in the forest.

"You mentioned that the existance of the wolves is a secret to our tribe." Jacob proceeded cautiously.

"Yes." Billy nodded.

"We live in a modern world, though the spirit of the wolf still runs strong in us, we must uphold this secrecy to keep us safe."

The enigma of his ability to transform into a wolf, a secret he had only just begun to grasp himself, was known to very few. Yet, the stranger appeared to have a deeper understanding beyond ordinary.

"There was someone in the woods with me when I transformed." He recalled how the stranger had patiently guided him and provided him the beautiful lullaby that allowed him to transform into a man. "He knew what I was, and he helped me change back."

Billy's eyes widened in surprise. "Who was it who helped you, son?"

"I don't know." Jake said with a sinking feeling.

"Don't worry about it now, Jake. Just get some rest." His father told him.

Exhausted from the night's revelations and the profound encounter in the forest, Jacob laid down on the sofa, wrapped in the blanket his father had given him. The flickering light of the fireplace cast dancing shadows across the room.

As he closed his eyes, the soothing voice of the mysterious stranger echoed in his ears. He thought about his gentle guidance, the soothing touch, and the burning scent accompanying his presence. Questions swirled in his thoughts, and he couldn't shake the strange feeling in his chest.

The weight of the night's events slowly lifted as he drifted into a realm of dreams.