Curiosity.

Cerina’s heart raced, a pounding rhythm she couldn’t control. Her better judgment screamed at her to retreat, to turn and run, but her body betrayed her. Against all instinct, she took a step closer to the creature.

It stood still, its glowing green eyes locked onto hers, as if waiting for her to act. When she was close enough to see the glint of moisture on its nose and the subtle rise and fall of its chest, Cerina hesitated, her hands trembling at her sides.

Then, as if sensing her ****, it extended a thick, furred arm toward her. The motion was slow and deliberate, neither threatening nor inviting. It simply… was.

Cerina’s breath hitched, her chest tightening as the hollow ache in her stomach twisted sharply. She reached out, her fingers trembling as they neared the creature’s outstretched arm. When she finally touched it, the fur was softer than she’d expected, like fine velvet under her fingertips. But beneath the softness, she could feel the unmistakable hardness of muscle—unyielding, powerful, and strangely warm.

Her hand lingered, drawn by some unexplainable pull, and the hollow ache deepened. It was as if the contact had awakened something inside her, a need that clawed at her from the depths of her being. She pressed her fingers gently against the creature’s arm, the sensation intoxicating in a way that both unnerved and intrigued her.

“You carry the hunger,” the creature murmured, its gaze drifting down to her hand. “Not for food.”

Cerina’s cheeks flushed, a deep heat rising to her face as she pulled her hand away from its arm, breaking the connection. The absence of touch was immediate and unbearable, and the hollow inside her throbbed with a painful insistence.

“What… What are you?” she managed to ask, stepping back slightly, though her body ached to remain near.

“I rule the woods,” it replied, its eyes glowing brighter for a moment.

The creature’s words sent a shiver down her spine. The hollow in her stomach pulsed again, stronger this time, as if the very air around her was feeding it. Cerina wrapped her arms around herself, her mind a storm of confusion and want.

A new thought blossomed in Cerina’s mind. She wanted to look past the outstretched arm, to see what lay between the wolf’s legs…