The Friday night lights cut through the spring darkness, bathing the Moon Valley football field in harsh white brilliance. Jessica Tumblerlee’s spine prickled as she landed a perfect backflip in a full split. Pain shot through her muscles, but the crowd's roar drowned out everything else, their cheers hitting her like a physical force.

  "Go Wolves!" She thrust her pom-poms skyward, ignoring the sensation creeping up her neck—the one that had nothing to do with cheerleading and everything to do with what lurked beneath her carefully maintained image. She shoved it down, the way she'd trained herself to do these past months. Not now.

  "That's halftime!" Tiffany Barns's voice sliced through the commotion. "Looking good out there, Jessica!"

  Jessica rose from her split, moving effortlessly despite the burn searing her thighs. She flicked on her practiced smile—the one that said everything was fine.

  "Thanks. That new pyramid sequence is killer."

  The rest of the squad gathered around, a sea of crimson and silver—Moon Valley's colors. Jessica's nose twitched at the clash of Body Fantasies vanilla spray and fresh sweat, with the underlying tang of adrenaline that only she could detect.

  "Did you see Mark out there?" Amber Hearts bounced on her toes. "He practically demolished that linebacker from East Ridge!"

  Jessica's attention snapped to the field where the team huddled. Her eyes locked on number 84, his shoulders somehow broader than last week, his posture radiating aggression.

  "Yeah," Camella Yawda said, gulping water. "Coach almost benched him after that last play. Looked ready to murder someone."

  Jessica's stomach tightened as she watched Mark on the field. Camella had put into words what she'd been sensing all night. There was something off about Mark's movements—predatory and unleashed. Not unlike the feeling that clawed at Jessica's insides when the full moon approached.

  "Quarterbacks," Mia Roberto snorted. "All muscle, no brain."

  The girls laughed, but Jessica kept her focus on Mark. He'd yanked off his helmet, and even from this distance, she caught the unnatural flush of his skin, the throbbing veins in his neck. This went beyond typical teenage aggression.

  "Earth to Jessica!" Tiffany waved a hand in front of her face. "We've got five minutes before third quarter. Bathroom break?"

  Jessica blinked. "Sorry. Just thinking about that English paper for Monday."

  "School on game night?" Amber gagged dramatically. "Against the laws of nature."

  "Speaking of unnatural," Tiffany glanced around. "Where's our resident witch?"

  "Even Kevin's been MIA from his mascot routine," Mia added. "Probably hunting monsters in the woods again. Can't believe Harris hasn't kicked them both off already."

  "Maybe protecting the town matters more than cheerleading," Jessica said before she could stop herself. "What if they found something dangerous?"

  Five pairs of eyes swiveled to her with synchronized eyebrow raises. Heat crept up Jessica's neck.

  "What I mean is—cheerleading matters, but nobody could cheer if there were actual monsters running around."

  "We get it," Tiffany's lips curled. "We appreciate them saving our lives. But skipping practice isn't an excuse. I want our squad to become stars before the end of our senior year. Clear?"

  Jessica nodded, spine straight. Maybe Salina and Kevin should have stuck with their supernatural club. The squad wasn't built for people like them.

  "Take five, ladies," Tiffany clapped her hands. "Come back ready to send those kicks to the stars!"

  As the squad scattered, Jessica dropped her smile. She scanned the bleachers and field, finding no sign of her friends.

  Where could they be?

  Jessica dreaded the thought of them vanishing because of some otherworldly creature. But if they'd found trouble, they'd come to her. They always did.

  With a sigh, she headed for the water cooler. Her throat burned with thirst—another sign of her condition. As she filled her cup, an odor hit her nose—something chemical and sharp, with a thread of blood beneath.

  Her nostrils flared as she tracked the scent. Her gaze landed on the boys' locker room entrance, where Mark slumped against the wall, face twisted in agony while Coach Harris loomed over him.

  "—can't keep playing like that, Turner!" Coach's voice carried across the field. "You almost broke that kid's collarbone! What's gotten into you?"

  Mark's reply came too quiet for even Jessica's enhanced hearing, but his body spoke volumes. The rigid shoulders, the hands clenching and unclenching—he resembled a cornered animal.

  "I don't care what's at stake!" Coach's voice rose again. "One more stunt like that, and you're benched for the season. Championship or not. Got me?"

  Mark gave a sharp nod, and Coach stormed toward the field. For a heartbeat, Mark stayed frozen, eyes fixed on the ground. Then slowly, he lifted his head, and Jessica's blood froze in her veins.

  His eyes—normally warm brown—gleamed with an unnatural red light, like embers burning in the dark.

  Jessica dropped her water cup, the plastic bouncing on the grass. This wasn't teen aggression. This was something else. Something like her.

  Before she could process it, a hand gripped her shoulder. Jessica spun, a growl building in her throat.

  "Easy there, Tumblerina." Salina Carpenter raised her palms, her black-painted lips quirking upward. "Just me. Your friendly neighborhood goth."

  Salina wore her signature black clothes and thick eyeliner, her expression suggesting she found the world both amusing and tragic. Behind her stood Kevin Lebowski, dark skin contrasting with his crisp white button-down, a notebook clutched against his chest.

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

  "Where have you been?" Jessica hissed, checking that no squad members watched. "Everyone's freaking out about you disappearing."

  "Sorry," Kevin adjusted his glasses. "We've been investigating. Something weird is happening in Moon Valley. Again."

  "Weird how?" Jessica asked despite herself.

  Kevin and Salina exchanged a look Jessica knew too well—the silent signal that formed the foundation of their friendship.

  "There've been attacks," Salina murmured urgently. "People chased by some red-skinned monster."

  "We thought it might be you," Kevin added, "having a full moon episode. But descriptions don't match. This thing is bigger, more aggressive. And red."

  Jessica frowned, remembering Mark's unnatural eyes and the strange chemical stink clinging to him. "When did the attacks start?"

  "Three weeks ago," Kevin flipped open his notebook. "Mrs. Hargrove was walking her dog by Moon Lake when something rushed her from the bushes. She described it as 'a massive figure with skin like raw meat.'"

  "Then Mr. Peterson," Salina continued. "Found his shed destroyed, claw marks on the walls. He glimpsed 'glowing red eyes' before it disappeared into the woods."

  Dread pooled in Jessica's stomach. "And the most recent?"

  "Two nights ago," Kevin's face darkened. "Lisa Chen was jogging behind East Ridge High. Something chased her to the main road. She said it moved like a man but looked like a demon."

  East Ridge. Where the opposing team came from. Where Mark had nearly hospitalized a player tonight.

  "I have to go," Jessica said, mind racing.

  "Jessica, wait—" Kevin reached for her arm, but she sidestepped him.

  "Not now," she backed away. "The squad's waiting. Game's restarting."

  "Jessica, please," Salina called after her. "Whatever this thing is, it's dangerous. And if anyone knows how to handle monsters in this town, it's you."

  Salina was right. She was the only one who could stop this. Perhaps days of cheer practice had dulled her instincts.

  "I’ll do some patrolling," she said finally. "Tonight and the weekend.”

  Kevin's shoulders dropped, and Salina's tight expression softened, the corner of her black-painted lips lifting slightly. Jessica felt a pang of longing for the friendship they'd once shared. Then the announcer's voice boomed across the stadium, signaling the start of the third quarter.

  "Go," Kevin offered a small smile. "Your fans await. We'll be there tomorrow."

  Jessica nodded and jogged back to where her squad assembled. As she took her position, she glanced toward the Mighty Wolves huddle. Mark had returned to the lineup, his posture stiff, his movements jerky. Coach Harris hovered nearby, watching him intently.

  The whistle shrieked, and the game resumed with a crowd roar. Jessica moved through routines automatically, her thoughts elsewhere. Three attacks in three weeks. A red-skinned creature with inhuman strength. And now Mark Turner, star quarterback, showing signs of something not human.

  This couldn't be a coincidence.

  The third quarter blurred by. Jessica watched Mark play with a recklessness bordering on violence. His tackles grew harder, his throws more powerful. With each minute, that strange red flush spread further across his visible skin.

  By the fourth quarter, even spectators noticed. Murmurs rippled through the stands whenever Mark made a play.

  "What's up with Turner tonight?" "Dude's playing like he's possessed!" "That tackle was brutal—thought he'd kill that kid!"

  Jessica's skin crawled. This wasn't normal aggression. This was darker, dangerous. And worsening by the minute.

  The final whistle blew—Moon Valley victorious. The crowd erupted as the team flooded the field, celebrating. All except Mark, who stood apart, chest heaving unnaturally, eyes scanning the crowd with hunter's focus.

  "Party at my place!" someone shouted to approving roars.

  Jessica remained planted while her fellow cheerleaders bounced around her. She tracked Mark as he stalked off the field, brushing past teammates without acknowledging their victory.

  "Coming to the party?" Tiffany appeared beside her, face flushed.

  "I—" Jessica's voice stuck as Mark paused at the field's edge. For a split second, he turned toward her, their eyes locking across the distance.

  Red met gold—the wolf in Jessica recognizing the predator in him.

  Then Mark vanished into the shadows beyond the stadium lights.

  "Hello? Party? My house?" Tiffany snapped her fingers. "You're invited."

  Jessica pulled her gaze back. "Sorry, can't. Dad expects me home."

  Not entirely a lie. Sheriff Daniel Tumblerlee expected her home—though they both knew she rarely obeyed.

  Tiffany pouted. "Seriously? After crushing East Ridge? You have to celebrate!"

  "Rain check," Jessica said, already backing away.

  Without waiting for a response, she hurried toward the locker rooms. She needed to follow Mark, to understand what was happening before someone got hurt—or worse.

  By the time Jessica changed and grabbed her backpack, the field had mostly emptied. She raced across the parking lot, nose twitching for Mark's scent. The chemical odor hung in the air, leading toward the west exit.

  As she rounded the science building corner, Jessica froze. Mark stood alone under a flickering streetlight, back to her. His body shuddered, muscles spasming beneath his letterman jacket. From where she stood, Jessica saw his hands—fists clenched so tight that blood dripped from his palms.

  The scent hit her again, stronger now. Chemicals, blood, and something else—something wrong.

  Jessica retreated into the shadows, her wolf-senses alert. Something metal glinted in Mark's hand—a small vial filled with thick red liquid. As she watched, he uncapped it and raised it to his lips.

  "Mark!" A voice called out, startling them both.

  Tiffany emerged from the darkness, now wearing party clothes—tight jeans and a sequined crop top glittering under the streetlight.

  "There you are!" She bounced toward him, blind to the tension radiating from him. "Everyone's waiting at my place. You're the star!"

  Mark whirled, quickly hiding the vial. "I told you I'm not coming."

  Even from a distance, Jessica saw the unnatural gleam in his eyes, the veins pulsing at his temples.

  "Don't be ridiculous," Tiffany laughed, reaching for his arm. "You just won us the game! Of course you're—"

  Mark jerked away so violently that Tiffany stumbled backward. "I said no!"

  His voice had transformed—deeper, harsher, almost a growl. Tiffany stared at him, shock and hurt flashing across her face.

  "What is wrong with you?" she demanded. "You've been acting weird for weeks, and now you're yelling at me? After I planned this whole party for you?"

  "You don't understand," Mark gritted out, his entire body rigid. "I can't be around people right now."

  "Fine!" Tiffany snapped, eyes glistening. "Be that way!"

  She stormed off, angrily wiping at her face. Mark watched her go, breath coming in ragged gasps. Then, with a sound that was half sob, half snarl, he staggered into the night.

  Jessica stood motionless, mind racing. The vial, the red liquid, the aggression—it all connected to the red-skinned creature terrorizing Moon Valley. Whatever affected Mark was supernatural and escalating rapidly.

  She needed to tell Salina and Kevin immediately.

  As Jessica turned to leave, a breeze carried a familiar scent to her—comforting amid the chemical strangeness.

  "How long are you going to lurk in the shadows?" Salina's voice drifted from behind.

  Jessica spun to find Salina and Kevin standing nearby, expressions grim.

  "You saw?" she asked.

  Kevin nodded, holding up his phone. "Got it all recorded. Whatever's happening to Mark is getting worse."

  "And you're going to help us stop it," Salina stated matter-of-factly.

  Jessica nodded, thinking of the red gleam in Mark's eyes, the fear on Tiffany's face, the attacks setting the town on edge.

  "So," she said, a smile spreading across her face, "what's the plan?"