The late afternoon sun sliced through the windows of Moon High's gym, casting long shadows across the polished floor. Jessica Tumblerlee struck her final pose, arms thrust skyward in a perfect V, trying to ignore how her enhanced senses picked up every squeak of rubber soles and the thundering heartbeats of her fellow cheerleaders.

  "And down!" Tiffany's voice cut through the humid air. "Great job, ladies. Let's take five."

  Jessica relaxed her stance, letting out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Her muscles ached—a testament to the grueling two-hour practice they'd just endured. Even with her supernatural strength, cheerleading could be brutal.

  "Water break!" Amber chirped, already bounding toward the cooler by the bleachers. Her hazelnut ponytail swung like a pendulum as she moved.

  Jessica followed at a more measured pace, careful to maintain her poise. Being a werewolf meant constantly monitoring her movements, making sure she didn't accidentally display superhuman agility or strength. It was exhausting but necessary. The last thing she needed was someone asking why the head cheerleader could suddenly bench-press a car.

  "Here," Camella said, pressing a cold water bottle into Jessica's hand. "You looked like you were gonna pass out during that last routine."

  "Thanks." Jessica managed a smile, grateful for the distraction from her inner turmoil. "I swear, if Tiffany makes us run through that pyramid sequence one more time, I might actually sprout fur and howl at the moon."

  The words slipped out before she could stop them. Jessica froze, but Camella just laughed, clearly taking it as a joke.

  "Girl, same," Mia said, wiping sweat from her forehead. "Though I'd settle for growing wings and flying out of here."

  Crisis averted. Jessica forced herself to laugh along, even as her heart hammered against her ribs. She had to be more careful with her words. One slip-up was all it would take to expose her secret.

  A familiar scent drifted through the gym's open doors—old books, coffee, and that weird incense Salina always burned during her "rituals." Jessica's enhanced senses picked up two sets of footsteps approaching the gym.

  Right on cue, Kevin and Salina appeared in the doorway. Kevin had his nose buried in some thick, probably incomprehensible tome about local legends, while Salina's black-painted fingernails flew across her phone screen, no doubt updating her blog about supernatural phenomena.

  "Ugh," Tiffany muttered, loud enough for the squad to hear. "Shouldn’t they be practicing with us instead of being nerds?”

  Jessica's hands clenched around her water bottle, plastic crinkling under her grip. She forced herself to relax before she accidentally crushed it. "They're probably just killing time before the next alien attack.”

  The words tasted like ash in her mouth. An alien slime monster attacked their school last month during detention. It devoured Ms. Becker and Mr. Russo, nearly consuming her entire squad, and her two closest friends.

  Though the nightmare lingered in her mind, she and her friends resumed their normal lives. The world was frightening, so sometimes you needed to pretend otherwise to survive.

  “Don’t remind us,” Tiffany muttered.

  "Speaking of hunting," Amber said, her eyes sparkling with gossip, "did you hear about Principal Matthews's latest brilliant idea?"

  Jessica's enhanced hearing picked up the change in Kevin's heartbeat at the mention of the principal. He looked up from his book, exchanging a meaningful glance with Salina.

  "Oh god," Camella groaned. "What now? Please tell me he's not trying to bring back that disaster of a spirit week. I'm still finding glitter in my hair from last time."

  "Even better." Amber's grin widened. "He's reviving the Valentine's Day dance."

  A collective gasp went up from the squad. Jessica felt her stomach drop. The Valentine's Day dance was practically cursed at this point—every attempt to host it had ended in disaster. Last year's fire had been spectacular, though Jessica still maintained that hadn't been her fault. How was she supposed to know werewolves and disco balls didn't mix?

  "Is he insane?" Mia demanded. "Does he not remember what happened last time?"

  "Or the time before that," Camella added. "When all the decorations mysteriously vanished overnight?"

  "Or the year with the mysterious fog machine malfunction," Tiffany said. "Half the school looked like Smurfs for a week."

  Jessica's gaze drifted to Kevin and Salina. They had their heads bent together now, clearly deep in discussion. She didn't need her wolf hearing to know what they were talking about—the Red Phantom.

  It was one of Kevin's favorite urban legends: a mysterious figure who supposedly cursed the school's Valentine's celebrations, determined to ruin any chance of romance blooming at Moon High. Jessica had always thought it was just another small-town myth, like the stories about the ghost in the library or the monster in the cafeteria's mystery meat.

  Of course, that was before she got bitten by a werewolf and realized maybe some urban legends had teeth. Literally, in her case.

  The legend of the disfigured man from 17th-century Moon Valley tells of his unfortunate encounter with a beautiful woman. Shunned by his appearance, the woman offered him a special romantic surprise in the woods alone. Eager for acceptance, he went to the woods wearing a red coat and carrying flowers but never returned. Some speculate a bear had attacked him, or he fell into a hidden hole. However, the true story reveals the woman's cruel intentions: she lured him into the woods to amuse her friends, a malicious prank that likely resulted in his death.

  After his disappearance on Valentine’s Day, a cloaked red figure was seen sabotaging parties and frightening couples. Townspeople thought he’d returned as the Red Phantom to avenge his exile for being ugly.

  "Well, I think it's romantic," Amber declared, breaking through Jessica's thoughts. "Principal Matthews is refusing to let fear win. He's standing up for love!"

  "More like setting us up for another disaster," Tiffany muttered. "But whatever. At least it'll be entertaining."

  The conversation devolved into excited chatter about dresses and dates, but Jessica's attention remained fixed on Kevin and Salina. They were leaving now, probably heading to the library to research more about the Red Phantom.

  She considered joining them, but she needed to finish practicing with her squad. Whatever their reason for not joining her squad’s practice today, there could be more supernatural occurrences to discover beyond back-flips and jumping jacks.

  "Earth to Jessica!" Tiffany's voice yanked her back to reality. "You're coming to the dance, right? We need our star cheerleader there."

  Jessica plastered on her brightest smile. "Of course! Wouldn't miss it."

  An idea formed in her mind. Maybe this was her chance to bridge both worlds—to have her romantic evening with Kevin while also investigating the mystery of the Red Phantom. After all, who better to catch a supernatural troublemaker than a werewolf cheerleader?

  "Actually," Jessica said, gathering her courage, "I should probably go ask Kevin about it now. You know, before someone else does."

  Tiffany shrugged. “If you say so. Just don't come crying to me when he tries to make you join his ghost-hunting club or whatever."

  Whatever, Jessica thought, already jogging toward the gym doors. She caught Kevin's scent easily—he and Salina had headed toward the library, just as she'd suspected.

  Her enhanced speed would let her catch up to them in seconds, but Jessica forced herself to maintain a human pace. As she rounded the corner, she heard Kevin's voice drift down the hallway.

  "There has to be a pattern to the disasters," he was saying. "No random spirit would target just Valentine's Day dances. This is personal."

  "Or maybe," Salina replied, her voice dry as dust, "this town is just terrible at throwing parties."

  Jessica couldn't help but smile. Some things never changed. Taking a deep breath, she stepped into view.

  "Hey guys," she called out, trying to sound casual. "Got a minute?"

  Kevin and Salina turned, surprise flickering across their faces.

  "The prodigal cheerleader returns," Salina drawled, but there was a hint of warmth beneath her sarcasm.

  Kevin's heart rate spiked—something only Jessica could hear. "Hey, Jessica. What's up?"

  Jessica squared her shoulders. She was a werewolf, for crying out loud. She'd faced down actual monsters. Asking her boyfriend to a dance shouldn't be this nerve-wracking. He asked her out before, so why is it such a challenge for her now?

  "So," she said, aiming for nonchalant and probably missing by a mile, "I hear there's going to be a Valentine's Day dance."

  "Yeah," Kevin replied, clutching his book like a shield. "Though given the track record, maybe we should call it the Valentine's Day disaster-waiting-to-happen."

  "Well," Jessica took a step closer, letting a hint of playfulness creep into her voice, "I was thinking maybe we could investigate it. Together. You know, as my date."

  The words hung in the air between them. Kevin's eyes widened, his heartbeat doing that funny little skip it always did when he was excited about something.

  "Really?" he asked, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I thought you don’t care about the Valentine Dance.”

  "I'm asking you to help me solve a mystery," Jessica corrected, though she couldn't help smiling back. "The date part is just a bonus."

  "How romantic," Salina deadpanned. "Nothing says true love like hunting down a vengeful spirit."

  But Jessica could see the approval in her friend's eyes. This was who they were—the weird kids who turned every school event into a supernatural investigation. Maybe it was time to stop hiding from that.

  "So?" Jessica prompted when Kevin hadn't responded. "What do you say? Want to be my monster-hunting Valentine?"

  Kevin's grin widened. "Only if you promise not to wolf out on the dance floor.”

  "Totally I would never." Jessica laughed. “So, is that a yes?”

  Kevin's expression softened. "Affirmative.”

  As they stood there grinning at each other like idiots, Salina made a gagging noise. "You're both lucky. My grandmother's making me go to her best friend's wedding outside of town. She'll probably turn me into one of those brainless bridesmaids, like in a cult. But hey, maybe there will be cute boys there for me to hook up with. Heeheehee.”

  But Jessica barely heard her. For the first time in ages, she felt like herself again—not just the popular cheerleader or the secret werewolf, but all of it, together. Maybe this Valentine's Day wouldn't be such a disaster after all.

  Of course, who knew if something dangerous might happen on Valentine’s Day again. But hey, at least she had a date.

  *****

  Jessica studied her reflection in the bathroom mirror, tugging at her crimson dress. The fabric shimmered under the fluorescent lights, hugging her curves in all the right places. She'd spent way too much time getting ready—curling her hair into perfect golden waves, applying just the right amount of mascara, and practicing her "surprised but pleased" expression for when Kevin saw her.

  "Girl, you look smoking!" Amber Hearts bounced into the bathroom, her own pink dress with a frothy confection of tulle and sparkles. "Kevin's gonna die when he sees you."

  Jessica managed a smile, but her stomach churned. Not from nerves about the dance—well, not entirely. Her inner wolf kept howling for a mate. It must be in heat. "Thanks. You look great too."

  "Obviously." Amber struck a pose, then grabbed Jessica's arm. "Come on, everyone's waiting! Tiffany's going to flip when she sees Mark in his tux."

  Jessica dragged herself into the hallway, where music already thumped from the gym. The decorations committee had gone all out this year—red and pink streamers twisted overhead, and paper hearts dotted every available surface. The whole place smelled like cheap perfume and hormones.

  And there was Kevin, waiting by the gym doors in a slightly too-big tux, looking adorably uncomfortable. His dark eyes widened when he saw her, and something in Jessica's chest fluttered.

  "Wow," he said, then cleared his throat. "I mean, you look... wow."

  "Smooth, Lebowski." Jessica grinned, reaching up to straighten his bow tie. "You clean up pretty nice yourself."

  "I try." Kevin's hand brushed against hers, sending tingles up her arm. "Though I still think we should investigate the—"

  "No supernatural stuff tonight," Jessica cut him off, even as her enhanced senses picked up a dozen different heartbeats, the metallic tang of the streamers, the faint trace of... something else. Something wrong. She pushed the thought aside. "Just dancing and punch and normal teenage stuff, okay?"

  Kevin raised an eyebrow. "Since when are you into normal?"

  "Since I want one perfect night with my boyfriend with no ghosts, aliens, or mysterious disappearances." Jessica tugged him toward the gym doors. "Come on, I hear they got a real DJ this year."

  The school has transformed the gym into a Valentine wonderland—if Valentine's Day threw up Pepto Bismol everywhere. Pink spotlights swept across the dance floor where couples already swayed together. A massive disco ball spun overhead, scattering hearts across the walls.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  "There they are!" Tiffany's voice cut through the music as she dragged her new boyfriend Mark toward them. The quarterback looked exactly like central casting's idea of a high school heartthrob—tall, brown hair, and blandly handsome in his designer tux. "Aren't they just the cutest? Though not as cute as us, right, babe?"

  Mark's vacant smile never wavered. "Sure thing, babe."

  Jessica felt Kevin tense beside her and squeezed his hand. She knew how much he hated this kind of forced small talk.

  "You both look great," Jessica said diplomatically. "Love the dress, Tiff."

  "Thanks! It's Versace." Tiffany twirled, her white dress floating around her. "Daddy got it special ordered. Speaking of special..." She waggled her eyebrows at Jessica. "I heard someone's planning a romantic surprise tonight."

  Jessica's enhanced hearing picked up Kevin's heart rate spike. She shot him a look, but he was suddenly very interested in his shoes.

  "Oh, really?" She kept her voice light. "And what might that be?"

  "Can't tell! It's a surprise!" Tiffany giggled, then dragged Mark away toward the punch bowl.

  Kevin cleared his throat. "So, uh, want to dance?"

  "In a minute." Jessica narrowed her eyes at him. "What's this about a surprise?"

  "Nothing! I mean, maybe something. But it's not—look, can we just enjoy the dance?" He gestured toward the dance floor. "I promise no supernatural investigations tonight. Scout's honor."

  "You were never a scout."

  "Details." Kevin grinned and pulled her close as a slow song started. "Dance with me?"

  Jessica let herself relax into his arms, breathing in his familiar scent—old books and that sandalwood cologne she'd gotten him for Christmas. Her wolf settled too, content for the moment to just be here with her mate.

  The moment lasted exactly three minutes and twenty-seven seconds.

  *CRACK*

  Jessica's enhanced reflexes had them both diving out of the way before her brain fully registered the sound. The massive crystal chandelier—which definitely hadn't been there that morning during cheer practice—crashed to the floor exactly where they'd been standing.

  Screams erupted as glass scattered across the dance floor. Through the chaos, Jessica caught a flash of red disappearing through the gym's back door.

  "You okay?" Kevin helped her up, checking her for injuries.

  "Fine." Jessica brushed a glass from her dress, already scanning the crowd. Her wolf stirred, sensing prey. "Did you see—"

  "The figure in red? Yeah." Kevin's eyes gleamed with that familiar research-mode intensity. "Just like from the old newspapers about the mysterious red-”

  "I thought I said no supernatural investigations tonight?"

  "Technically, this investigation found us." He grabbed her hand. "Come on, it went this way!"

  They burst through the back door into the cool night air. Jessica's senses kicked into overdrive—the figure's scent trail led toward the old church, mixed with something chemical and wrong.

  A distant explosion rocked the ground, followed by more screams from the gym.

  "Sink bomb," Kevin said grimly. "Must be the Red Phantom’s new trick-”

  "Less explaining, more running!" Jessica kicked off her heels, already sprinting toward the parking lot. Her wolf howled inside her, eager for the chase.

  Behind them, chaos erupted from the gym as teenagers fled the dance in panic. But Jessica barely noticed, too focused on their quarry. The figure in red was fast, but she was faster. And this time, she'd get answers.

  So much for a normal Valentine's Day dance.

  *****

  Jessica's heels clicked against the sidewalk as she chased the masked figure through Moon Valley's empty streets. Her breath came in short bursts, visible in the chilly February air. Kevin kept pace beside her, his dress shoes slapping against the pavement.

  "There!" Kevin pointed at a flash of red disappearing around a corner. "It’s heading toward St. Eclipse."

  The abandoned church loomed ahead, its Gothic spires piercing the night sky like dark talons. Jessica's inner wolf bristled, every supernatural instinct screaming danger. But Kevin was already charging forward, his determination to solve the mystery overriding any sense of self-preservation.

  "Kevin, wait!" Jessica grabbed his arm, pulling him to a stop. "Something feels wrong."

  He turned to face her, moonlight glinting off his glasses. "We've been looking for proof of the Red Phantom for months. This is our chance!"

  "I know, but—" Jessica's protest died as the church doors creaked open, spilling sickly pink light onto the stone steps. Strains of warped music drifted out—some old love song twisted into something unsettling.

  Kevin's face split into a grin. "Come on, Jessica. Did you lost your sense of adventure?"

  Jessica growled softly through her closed lips. She knew she couldn't let him go in alone. With a resigned sigh, she followed him up the worn steps.

  The interior of St. Eclipse transformed into a nightmare version of Valentine's Day. Heart-shaped balloons bobbed against the ceiling, their surfaces covered in what looked disturbingly like dried blood. Roses lined the walls, their thorny stems writhing like snakes, petals dripping with an oily substance that made Jessica's nose burn.

  "Okay, this is officially creepy," Kevin muttered, his earlier bravado fading.

  Jessica's enhanced senses picked up multiple heartbeats echoing through the building. They weren't alone. Could there be more than one phantom?

  Her wolf stirred restlessly beneath her skin, urging her to either fight or flee. She did neither, forcing herself to stay calm and think.

  "We should split up," Kevin suggested, already moving toward a side corridor. "Cover more ground."

  "Did you forget about the horror movies we watched?" Jessica hissed, grabbing his sleeve. "That's literally the worst—"

  A mechanical whirring cut her off. The floor beneath them shuddered, and suddenly walls were springing from the ground, separating them into different sections of the church. Jessica lunged for the gap, but the wall sealed shut before she could reach Kevin.

  "Kevin!" Her fist connected with the wall. No response except the continued playing of that awful music, now accompanied by childish giggling that echoed through hidden speakers.

  Jessica's wolf senses kicked into overdrive, mapping the surrounding space. The church had become a maze, its paths lined with twisted Valentine decorations. Heart-shaped boxes leaked suspicious fluids. Cupid statues held real arrows, their tips gleaming with poison. Even the air felt wrong, thick with the scent of chemicals and fear.

  "If you can hear me," Kevin's voice came faintly through the wall, "I'm okay. Just stay calm and—" His words cut off in a surprised grunt.

  "Kevin?" Jessica pressed her ear to the wall. Nothing but that damned music and more giggling.

  She started moving, letting her supernatural senses guide her through the maze. Her red dress felt ridiculous now, the skirt and top offering no protection against whatever threats lurked in this place. But her wolf form hummed just beneath the surface, ready to emerge at a moment's notice.

  A trip wire glinted in the dim light. Jessica leaped over it, hearing the snap and whoosh of something lethal passing through the space where she'd been standing. Her heart pounded, but not from fear—from anger. The people, whoever they were, had taken Kevin. Her Kevin.

  The giggles grew louder, accompanied by the sound of multiple footsteps. Jessica pressed herself against a wall, watching as three figures in red hooded robes passed by, their faces hidden behind white masks. They were dragging something—no, someone.

  Kevin.

  He wasn't unconscious, but they had him bound and gagged. His glasses were askew, and there was a fresh bruise forming on his cheek. When he spotted Jessica, his eyes widened in warning.

  Jessica felt her control slipping, the wolf rising closer to the surface. Her nails lengthened into claws, scraping against the wall. A low growl built in her throat.

  One of the masked figures paused, turning toward the sound. "Did you hear that?"

  "Probably just the sound system," another replied. "Come on, the Master is waiting."

  They disappeared around a corner, taking Kevin with them. Jessica followed at a distance, her wolf senses tracking their movement through the maze. The giggling had stopped, replaced by the sound of chanting.

  "On Valentine's Day, love dies," the voices intoned. "On Valentine's Day, truth rises."

  Well, that’s totally great, Jessica thought. A cult.

  She peered around a corner, getting her first good look at what appeared to be the main sanctuary. Dozens of robed figures stood in a circle, their masks gleaming in the flickering candlelight. One of them tied Kevin to a chair in the center, surrounded by those creepy heart-shaped balloons.

  A taller figure stepped forward, their red robe adorned with additional hearts that looked like they'd been cut from actual Valentine cards. When they spoke, their voice was bitter and filled with hatred.

  "Tonight, we show the world the truth about love," they declared. "It's nothing but chemicals and lies, manipulating us into feeling things that aren't real. But we'll expose the truth, starting with the couple who dared to chase us."

  The cult members cheered, their masks bobbing in agreement. Kevin struggled against his bonds, working the gag loose enough to speak.

  "You know," he said, in that casual tone that meant he was actually terrified, "if you're trying to prove love isn't real, you're putting an awful lot of effort into the decorations. The bloody hearts are a delicate touch. Very Pinterest."

  The leader backhanded him; the sound echoing through the sanctuary. "Silence! Your mockery only proves how deeply the lies have corrupted you."

  “Mockery? What are you, twelve?”

  "Silence!" Another voice responded, trying and failing to sound deep and threatening. "We are the Red Phantom Cult, and we—"

  "You're a bunch of losers playing dress-up in a church basement," Kevin cut in. "Do you have any idea how pathetic this is?"

  "Love is a lie!” The leader shouted, raising his hands up like a preacher. “Valentine's Day is just a corporate scam to treat the weak! Why should others be happy when we’re not happy?”

  “If we can not get dates, then no one should!” The other member shouted.

  Kevin sighed. “Seriously? You’re doing this because you couldn't get dates, so you decided to become discount horror movie villains?"

  The leader's mask couldn't hide his flinch. "We are the harbingers of truth! The destroyers of—"

  Kevin's laugh cut through his speech like a knife. "The only truth here is that you're a bunch of bitter losers hiding in a basement because girls won't talk to you-”

  The leader raised his hand and smacked Kevin’s cheek. “Silence, fool! Your judgement shall be decided after we find your bitch!”

  Bitch? Jessica felt something snap inside her. The wolf, already close to the surface, surged forward with a roar of protective fury. Her muscles tensed, bones ready to shift and reshape themselves into something deadly. She kicked her heels off as her bare feet stretched out.

  Nobody slaps my boyfriend! She thought, feeling her teeth sharpen into fangs. And nobody calls me a bitch!

  The last notes of the warped love song faded away, replaced by the sound of Jessica's growing snarl. The cult members turned toward the noise, their masks unable to hide their sudden fear.

  Happy Valentine's Day, jerks.

  The transformation ripped through her like lightning. Her crimson dress stretched and tore as her muscles expanded. Fur erupted across her skin in waves, and her face elongated into a snarling muzzle filled with gleaming teeth.

  She then leaped from her hiding place and roared up at the high ceiling. Her howl echoed through the chamber.

  The cultists screamed. Not the dramatic villain screams they'd probably practiced in the mirror, but high-pitched squeals of genuine terror.

  Kevin was the only one smiling. He knew what was coming.

  "Oh shit oh shit oh shit," one member babbled, scrambling backward. "A werewolf! A real werewolf!”

  Jessica's wolf form towered over them, saliva dripping from her jaws. She threw back her head and howled, the sound echoing off the stone walls and shaking dust from the ceiling.

  The cult broke. They scattered like roaches, tripping over their robes and each other in their desperation to escape. One tried to dive through a window, forgetting they were in a basement. Another got tangled in the Valentine's decorations, ending up wrapped in a cocoon of paper hearts and ribbon.

  The leader made it halfway to the door before Jessica bounded over him, cutting off his escape. He fell backward, his mask falling away to reveal a face that was younger than she'd expected, twisted with fear and impotent rage.

  "This isn't fair!" he wailed. "We are supposed to be the scary ones! We're the ones who make people afraid!"

  Jessica lowered her muzzle until she was eye-to-eye with him. Her hot breath ruffled his hair as she growled, the sound resonating in her chest like distant thunder.

  The only scary one is me! She thought.

  The leader's eyes rolled back in his head, and he slumped to the floor in a dead faint. A weak fart escaped his butt, sounding like a deflated tire.

  "Jessica?" Kevin's voice pulled her attention back to him. He was still tied to the chair, staring at her with wide eyes. "That was... honestly kind of hot."

  The wolf receded slightly, enough for Jessica to huff out a laugh that came out as more of a whuffing sound. She padded over to him, careful to keep her claws sheathed as she sliced through his bonds.

  Kevin rubbed his wrists as he stood, looking around at the chaos she'd created. The basement looked like a Valentine's Day store had exploded, decorations strewn everywhere and cult members in various states of unconsciousness or retreat.

  "You know," he said thoughtfully, "I think this might be the best Valentine's Day I've ever had."

  The sound of footsteps from the stairs cut Jessica's response. The remaining cult members had apparently found their courage—or at least enough brain cells to remember they outnumbered her.

  "We have to go," Kevin grabbed her fur-covered arm. "Like, now."

  Jessica nodded, already feeling her bones beginning to shift back with less pain. Within moments she stood human again, her red dress in tatters but her mind clear.

  "Next time," she said, grabbing Kevin's hand, "maybe we skip the dance and just watch a romance movie?"

  They ran for the stairs, leaving behind the wreckage of paper hearts and broken masculinity. Behind them, she could hear the cultists shouting, their voices high and panicked:

  "Did you see that?"

  "A werewolf! An actual werewolf!"

  "This is so going on Reddit!"

  "Shut up, no one will believe us!"

  "My mom is going to kill me when she sees what we did to the church basement!"

  Jessica and Kevin burst out of the church doors into the cool night air, their laughter echoing across the empty parking lot. They didn't stop running until they reached the alleyway and took cover behind a dumpster.

  "So," Kevin said as they caught their breath, leaning against the brick wall. "I guess this means the Red Phantom isn't real after all.”

  Jessica sighed in disappointment. “Yeah…”

  Kevin glanced toward her. “Does that mean our date is over too?”

  Jessica looked at him, at the red mark still visible on his cheek, at the way he was looking at her—not with fear or disgust, but with something that made her heart skip a beat.

  "No," she said, reaching for his hand. “It’s just getting started.”

  They ran away from the church, leaving behind the remnants of the Red Phantom Cult and their sad Valentine's crusade. While running, Jessica saw police lights beginning to flash in the distance. Someone had probably called in the screaming.

  She smiled, showing just a hint of fang. Let them try to explain this one to her dad.

  *****

  The first rays of dawn painted Jessica's bedroom in soft amber hues. She lay curled against Kevin's chest, wearing her red lingerie night grown, listening to his steady heartbeat as memories of the night before flickered through her mind - the terror of the church maze, the rush of her transformation, the satisfaction of tearing through that pathetic cult's defenses. And then... this.

  Her lips curved into a smile as she traced lazy patterns on Kevin's bare chest. Who would have thought that facing down a deranged Valentine's Day cult would lead to the most romantic night of her life?

  Kevin stirred, his eyes fluttering open. For a moment, confusion crossed his face before recognition dawned and he smiled down at her. "So... that all actually happened?"

  "Which part?" Jessica propped herself up on one elbow, enjoying the way his gaze traveled over her form draped in crimson silk. "The part where I went full wolf and terrorized a bunch of bitter incels, or the part where we..." She waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

  "Both." Kevin laughed, then sobered slightly. “Though I have to admit, watching scare those freaks was... intense. Especially when you made their leader fart in his robes.”

  "He had it coming." Jessica shrugged, but couldn't quite hide her smirk. "Nobody messes with my boyfriend and gets away with it."

  "My hero." Kevin's tone was playful, but his eyes were warm with genuine affection. He reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face, then suddenly froze.

  Jessica watched in alarm as his expression morphed from contentment to horror. His eyes went wide, pupils dilating as he stared at his hand. Before she could ask what was wrong, he let out a strangled gasp and bolted upright.

  "No, no, no..." Kevin scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping over the sheets in his haste to reach her vanity mirror. Jessica could only stare as he pressed his hands against the glass, examining his reflection of growing panic.

  Where his fingers should have been, wicked claws extended. Coarse dark fur sprouted along his arms, spreading rapidly across his chest. His face contorted in a mix of pain and terror as his features elongated, teeth sharpening into deadly points.

  "Jessica!" His voice came out as a gravelly growl. "The condom - it must have broken! I'm turning-"

  Kevin's words cut off in a howl as he shot upright in bed, chest heaving. Jessica jolted awake beside him, instantly alert.

  "Kevin? What's wrong?"

  He blinked rapidly, hands flying to his face, his arms, checking for any signs of transformation. Nothing but smooth, human skin met his searching fingers. Slowly, his racing heart calmed as reality settled in.

  "Just... just a dream." He let out a shaky laugh. "A really vivid dream about... you know."

  Understanding dawned on Jessica's face, followed quickly by amusement. "Worried about going full wolf after sex?" She nudged his shoulder playfully. "Don't worry, the protection held up just fine. I checked."

  Her nose wrinkled. "Trust me, with my strong sense of smell, I would totally know already “

  Kevin flopped back against the pillows with a groan. "That's... both reassuring and disturbing." He turned his head to look at her, a crooked smile tugging at his lips. "Though I have to admit, dating a werewolf does add an interesting element of danger to the relationship."

  "Please," Jessica scoffed. "You love it. Admit it - your life was way more boring before I got bitten.”

  "True. My girlfriend was just a regular cheerleader instead of a supernatural creature who could literally eat me if I make her mad."

  "Hey!" Jessica swatted his arm. "I would never eat you. Maybe nibble a little..." She showed by playfully nipping at his shoulder.

  Kevin's laugh turned into a yelp. "Down, girl! Save the biting for - "

  A sharp knock at the door cut him off mid-sentence. Both teens froze as a familiar voice called out:

  "Jessica? You up, kiddo?"

  Horror washed over Jessica's face as she locked eyes with Kevin. "Oh god," she whispered. "It's my dad."

  Another knock, more insistent this time. "Just wanted to check in before my shift. Everything okay in there?"

  Jessica's mind raced. Her father - the sheriff of Moon Valley - was standing right outside her door, while her very naked boyfriend lay in her bed. This was not good. This was so very not good.

  "Um, yeah!" Her voice came out an octave too high. "Everything's fine, Dad! Just... just getting ready for school!"

  "On a Saturday?" Her father's tone was heavy with suspicion.

  Jessica winced. Right. Saturday. "I mean... cheerleading practice! Extra practice, for the big game next week!"

  Kevin was already moving, gathering his scattered clothes as quietly as possible. He nearly tripped trying to pull on his pants, catching himself against Jessica's desk with a thud that seemed deafening in the tense silence.

  "What was that noise?" Sheriff Tumblerlee's voice had shifted from suspicious to full-on cop mode.

  "Nothing!" Jessica called back, frantically gesturing for Kevin to hurry. "I just... dropped my phone! Clumsy me!"

  "Jessica." Her father's tone brooked no argument. "Open this door right now."

  Kevin looked around wildly, clutching his shirt to his chest. "The window?" he mouthed.

  Jessica rocked her head. They were on the second floor - even if Kevin survived the fall, her father would definitely hear him hit the ground. And explaining why her boyfriend was jumping out of her window would probably be even worse than getting caught with him in her room.

  "One second, Dad!" She called out, mind racing. "I'm not... decent!"

  She could practically hear her father's frown. “Sweetie. You have exactly five seconds to open this door before I use my key."

  Kevin's eyes went wide with panic. "He has a key?"

  "Of course he has a key, he's my dad!" Jessica hissed, throwing Kevin's shoes at him. "Quick, under the bed!"

  "Under the - seriously?"

  "Four seconds!" Her father called out.

  "Do you have a better idea?" Jessica whispered furiously, already shoving Kevin toward the floor.

  With a resigned groan, Kevin army-crawled under her bed frame, barely tucking his feet in before the sound of a key turning in the lock filled the room.

  Jessica threw herself back onto her bed, trying to look casual despite her racing heart. The door swung open to reveal her father's imposing frame filling the doorway, his sheriff's badge glinting in the morning light.

  Sheriff Tumblerlee's eyes swept the room with the practiced efficiency of a law enforcement officer. Jessica held her breath, praying he wouldn't notice the male shoes poking out slightly from under her curtains, or the distinct lack of cheerleading gear for her supposed "practice."

  Her father's gaze landed on her, taking in her disheveled appearance and the way she clutched her sheets up to her chin. One bushy eyebrow rose slowly.

  "So," he said, his voice deceptively calm. "Want to tell me why there's a boy's suit hanging on your desk chair?"

  Jessica's heart stopped. She turned her head slowly, already knowing what she would see. There, draped casually over her chair as if mocking her, was Kevin's tux - the one he wore at the Valentine's Day Dance.

  From under the bed came the faintest sound - something between a whimper and a groan.

  Her father's other eyebrow joined the first. "And why," he continued, taking a deliberate step into the room, "do I hear breathing coming from under your bed?"

  Jessica closed her eyes, wondering if it was too late to trigger a convenient werewolf transformation and escape through the window herself. When she opened them again, her father was still there, arms crossed, waiting for an explanation.

  Well, she thought resignedly, at least getting caught with a boy in her room was better than him finding out she'd spent the night battling an incel cult. Though given the look on his face right now, that was debatable.

  "Daddy," she began, forcing a bright smile. "Whatever you do… Please don't arrest my boyfriend.”