In the beginning of time, when the thirst for power consumed the hearts of men, there arose a relentless search for vitality and unparalleled strength. Years of experiments and studies led to the discovery of a gene, an ancestral fragment that humans shared with wolves. With this discovery, a new era began, an era in which the destiny of humanity would be intertwined with that of wolves.

The first experiments were marked by failures and disappointments. Frustrated attempts to unite man and wolf into one being resulted in tragedies and chaos. However, even in the face of adversity, determination persisted. Tireless scientists delved into the depths of genetics, seeking the key to unlocking the hidden potential within every human being.

And then, one day, the revelation came. A monumental breakthrough, achieved after countless attempts and sacrifices. The secret to uniting man and wolf was finally unveiled.

A new era of possibilities emerged, where individuals could harbor within their bodies not just one, but two distinct personalities. The human and the wolf, each sharing the same space, coexisting in a unique bond.

Thus, the bearers of this gene were graced with both a gift and a curse. Able to transform into ferocious wolves, while still retaining their human essence, creating a complex and fascinating duality.

But of course, greed leads human beings to extreme paths.

Not satisfied with simply creating a complex race, they wanted more: to create a unique and special race that would transcend human limitations and be the most powerful among this race.

After years of research and experimentation, they finally achieved what appeared to be the pinnacle of their ambition: the Supremes.

The powers of the Supremes are truly fascinating and unique. In addition to their unmatched strength, they possess an extraordinary ability to conceal their own wolf essences. This means that they can become completely invisible to any wolf, including the powerful Alphas.

This ability to camouflage themselves is a secret weapon of the Supremes, allowing them to move freely and act undetected. They become shadows in the darkness, observing and awaiting the right moment to strike.

However, there is one characteristic that identifies them: their unique red eyes, when they are transformed into wolves.

These eyes glow with a supernatural intensity, revealing the true nature of the Supremes. It is through these eyes that they are recognized, even when hidden in the shadows.

The Supremes, recognizing the injustice and oppression, led the rebels in an epic struggle for freedom and equality.

The scientists, once considered visionaries and masters of science, became targets of justified wrath.

The revolution was marked by moments of heroism and sacrifice, with the rebels fighting tooth and nail against their oppressors. In the end, they emerged victorious, proclaiming their independence and establishing a new order based on justice and equality.

However, the peace achieved was fragile and momentary. Some cracks began to appear in the rebel community.

The rarity of the Supremes made them even more valuable and coveted. While some admired them as exceptional beings, others harbored a deep envy, desperately desiring what they possessed.

This envy and desire for power led to revolt. Some members, dissatisfied with the situation, decided to go their own way and form a new village.

But it was not just a matter of independence - they had an ambitious plan in mind: to capture the Supremes, to strengthen their own position and gain an advantage over the others. Driven by their ambitions, they began a relentless search for the last Supremes.

Faced with this imminent threat, the last Supremes realized they had no choice but to hide in the shadows, disappearing from the map and avoiding capture at all costs. Every step was calculated, every shadow used as cover, as they struggled to preserve their freedom and keep their power secret.

However, even with the Supremes gone, the rivalry between the two villages persisted, fueling an incessant quest for ultimate power. This endless competition cast a shadow of uncertainty over the fate of all, as the conflict between good and evil continued to shape the world around them.

It is unknown if the last Supremes are alive, or if they have already perished while in hiding....

Their whereabouts remain a mystery....

To this day.

Frio.....

There wasn’t a part of my body that wasn’t freezing...

I needed to remain still, on alert, but it was practically impossible not to shiver when I found myself in a true frozen hell.

The landscape was white with brown... white from the snow and brown from the trees with their dry branches...

Wherever I looked in this damned forest, there was snow...

To my right: snow

To my left: snow

Below: snow

Behind: snow

Inside my boot: snow...

I shouldn’t have to be here if I hadn’t eaten my last reserve of meat.

Now I had to hunt for dinner.

Why didn’t I buy any? Well, let’s see....

Because the nearest town was miles and miles away, and my ATV couldn’t make it there....

I had lived in the middle of this forest for as long as I could remember. Literally, I was born and raised here, by my father...

My mother? My mother died after giving birth to me...

I really wished I had known her; my father told incredible stories about her, about how she was an amazing and strong woman, and how deeply he loved her...

My father was incredible....

I said “was” because he passed away too....

When I was 17, he got injured while we were hunting and didn’t survive...

Since then, I’ve been alone... that’s been about four winters now, to be more precise, five counting this one....

Is it boring living alone in the middle of nowhere?

Completely.

Do I nearly go crazy and talk to myself?

Definitely.

Actually, I think the fact that I talk to myself doesn’t classify me as crazy... I think it’s just a complement to my insanity...

Anyway, my ears pick up something...

I freeze, not even breathing....

A deer appears...

It doesn’t see me camouflaged in the snow.

Its black eyes look around but don’t even notice my presence.

Calmly, almost in slow motion, I adjust the rifle’s aim at it....

I take a deep breath and hold it...

The deer moves a little...

My finger brushes the trigger...

And then I pull...

The deer doesn’t have time to run. It’s down on the ground, and I’m certain the noise echoed throughout the forest...

Why didn’t I use the bow? Because I’m hungry, cold, and out of patience...

I place the rifle strap over my shoulder and walk toward the deer.

I take the rope and tie it to its leg before dragging it to the ATV....

I remove the cover from the ATV and with much effort lift it onto the rear of the vehicle...

My father had modified the back with a large compartment to fit the game... Like a big basket....

I place it there, gather everything up, and then start driving back home...

I would have meat for quite a while....

As the icy wind cuts across my face, I think of the possibilities for that meat.

I could make a stew...

Or meat in sauce...

With bread... hmm....

My mouth begins to water just thinking about the possibilities, but soon my thoughts are interrupted when I catch a shadow out of the corner of my eye, followed by a loud metallic noise, a piercing scream, and howls of pain, making me stop immediately...

I dismount from the ATV and grab the rifle, moving toward the sound.... it’s an agonizing sound of pure pain that tightens my heart...

I walk until I find a wolf with its paw caught in a trap fastened to the ground...

It was enormous.... Perhaps one of the largest wolves I had ever seen.... I felt small beside it....

With all four paws on the ground, it was bigger than me.

The trap pierced its paw causing anguish and pain, but as soon as it sees me, it starts to growl, its eyes filled with pain and distrust...

It was a low, guttural growl that, in a way, sent shivers down my spine, but what caught my attention were its eyes....

Blue....

An intense, bright light blue like the sky in summer....

They looked like two blue topaz...

I take another step, and its growl intensifies, its fangs even more exposed, and despite its trapped paw, it was ready to attack.

It was then that I realized it was growling because of the rifle.

With trembling hands, I lower myself, keeping my eyes on it, placing the rifle on the ground and slowly backing away from it.

"It's alright," I murmur to the wolf in a soft voice, trying to convey calm. "I won't hurt you. I just want to help."

The wolf stares at me for a moment, its blue eyes locked onto mine, as if it were contemplating my words.

Slowly, the growl subsides, replaced by a wary gaze, but less hostile.

It's a small progress, but enough to give me hope that I might help it free itself from the trap that was holding it captive.

With care, I take another step forward, ready to begin my rescue mission.

"I'm going to get you out of there... just... don't bite me..." I say.

Now, ready... in addition to being crazy, I was experiencing Snow White syndrome, talking to animals as if they could understand.

I glance at the trap...

It was a foothold trap... buried in the snow, there was no way for it to see...

But this trap isn't mine...

"Wait a minute," I say and dash to the quad.

I rummage through my tools, and the only thing I find is a wrench.

"That'll have to do..." I murmur as I head back to the wolf.

With cautious steps, I approach it... It eyes me warily, and when it sees the tool, it growls and snaps at the air as if to say "not that."

"But it's to set you free..." I murmur, taking another step forward, but it does the same thing again.

I take a deep breath and throw the tool to the side, and it stops immediately.

"Demanding, aren't you..."

A bit crouched down, I inch closer.

"If you bite me, I'll bite you back," I say.

I take a few more steps, and it growls softly.

Then I show my teeth and make a noise as if imitating its growl.

"I can do that too," I say impatiently.

It looks at me as if confused and sits, watching me, and I would say there’s a hint of submission deep down.

I glance at the trap again... I’ll have to figure something out.

I place the heel of my boot on one side and grip the other; then I start to exert force...

And force...

Gradually, it begins to move...

Come on...

The trap opens a bit more...

And more...

Just a little more...

"Help me..."

Then with one last pull, I manage to open it enough for it to free its paw.

As soon as I see it free, I let go and fall sitting on the ground, weak, gasping for breath...

It was bleeding... it was a nasty wound...

It needs help, or it will only get worse...

I try to inch closer, but it takes a limping step back.

"It's okay..." I murmur.

Before I can take another step, I hear howls, and the wolf begins to growl.

"I don’t think those are your friends..." I murmur.

I know it's going to be madness and foolishness, but I can't leave it here to die...

I grab my rifle and whistle to it, and it looks at me, tilting its head as if confused.

"Come on... I’m going to help you..." I say, snapping my fingers to call it.

Yes, because it’s totally likely that a wild wolf will—oh, it came...

It approaches, limping, and I keep calling it to the quad.

I look at where it might sit, but there’s a deer...

I glance between the wolf and the deer, trying to decide what to do, and then I hear the howl again...

Without thinking twice, I push the deer out of the basket and beckon it to sit there...

Limping, it settles in the back.

Quickly, I hop on the quad and flee the scene...

As I drive, I look back...

No wolves chasing us...

They might be fast, but I don’t think they’d be quicker than this contraption...

As soon as we arrive home, I get off and call it, heading toward the garage...

It descends with difficulty and limps toward me.

I open the door, and it follows...

It sits in the middle of the garage, looking at me... as if asking for help...

I search the garage for anything that might help...

I find iodine and some clean cloths and something I could use as a splint...

I approach it a bit apprehensively, crouching down, tapping the floor, and softly whistling, as if to tell it to lie down, and incredibly, it does...

It can’t be a normal wolf... it must be some kind of dog, perhaps a mix resulting in a creature like this, maybe a Tibetan Mastiff... who knows?

Well, today is the day I’m going to end up missing half my face...

I approach him and take a closer look at his paw...

I grab the iodine.

"This is going to sting..." I say, applying a bit to his wound, and he lets out a small whimper.

Carefully, I take hold of his paw, and he whines a little more.

"I promise it will be quick..." I murmur.

With great care, I manage to wrap his paw, immobilizing it.

"All done..."

The wolf looked at me as if he was grateful but still in pain.

"Everything will be fine, big guy," I say, extending my hand gently, and I notice he doesn’t react.

So, I start to scratch his head and ears, and he seems to enjoy it; his tail wags slightly...

"You like that, big boy? You were very brave and you were a good boy..." I say, petting him. "Yes, you were a good boy... I’ll get you something to eat... you must be hungry..."

I stand up and gather my supplies, putting them away.

"Stay here... I’ll bring food," I say, gesturing for him to remain. "Stay... I’ll be right back."

I rummage through the fridge for anything that might work for him...

I grab a large bowl and fill it with food, then head towards the garage...

But as soon as I open the door, a scream escapes my lips and the bowl slips from my hands.

Where the wolf had been, there was a man with the same injury on his arm...

Instinctively, I cover my face with my hands, pressing my eyes shut, trying to process what was happening.

"You... you’re naked!" I exclaim.

Oh my god...

There’s a man naked in my garage!

"Look, I can explain," the man says.

"Naked!" I say, my voice sounding higher than I'd like.

"Do you have any clothes, any cloth?"

"Oh my god, you're naked!" I feel ashamed for having seen something so intimate and invasive without warning. My eyes burned with embarrassment, even though I couldn't see him.

My heart pounded in my chest, and I desperately wanted it all to be just a weird dream that I could wake up from at any moment.

"I'm trying not to be..." he mutters.

I turn around and face away, taking off my coat and then holding out my arm without looking at him, and he takes the coat.

"What the hell are you and where's the wolf?" I ask.

I hear the rustling of my jacket's synthetic fabric.

"I... I am the wolf," he says calmly.

So calm that I wonder if I had heard correctly.

I turn to him.

"How- Oh my god you're-" I cover my eyes again.... He wasn't completely naked now... the jacket was covering his... parts...

But he still had his chest and abdomen exposed...

Without realizing it, I open my fingers just a little and allow myself to look a little....

Heavens....

The guy was built like a tank....

But what catches my attention is his arm.... It's bleeding...

"Your arm.... I'll get you something to wear," I say a little desperately, getting out of there and running into the house.

I grab some of my father's clothes from the closet and a pair of boots, he would need them to go to I don't know where, but he certainly wasn't staying here...

I go to the garage and open the door but don't go in.

I just put my arm in with the clothes and shoes, and then I see his hands take them.

"When you're dressed, come out and come inside, I'm going to bandage your arm before you go..." I say and leave, going into the house.

I get my first aid kit and put it on the table and then I wait...

A while later I hear the door open and hear hesitant footsteps.

"I'm in the kitchen," I say loud enough for him to hear.

A short while later he appears at the kitchen entrance holding my coat.

I avert my gaze, clearly embarrassed.

"Your... coat," he says, holding out the coat.

I take the coat, pinching it with my fingers and placing it on the chair beside me.

"You can leave it, I'll burn it...." I murmur.

"I know this must-"

"It's best if I take care of your arm first.... The bandage came undone and you're bleeding..." I say. "Sit down..." I say and he does. "Put your arm on the towel...."

Looking at the wound like that, on human skin, the cut looked even worse.... it wasn't bleeding as much, but it was still bad....

I carefully lift his arm.... He winces in pain.

"It doesn't look broken.... You're lucky, because if it was the clawless trap your arm would be in pieces," I murmur, placing his arm back on the towel.

I dab it with iodine and soon after I'm stitching it up.

He hisses and groans in pain, but I continue the procedure.

"If you stay still it will be easier for me to finish," I say.

"I'm trying..." he says through gritted teeth, his face contorted in pain.

After stitching him up, I clean his wound and bandage it.

"There..." I murmur. "Now.... what the hell happened in my garage? What's this story about you being the wolf?" I ask.

The man, or rather, the transformed wolf, takes a deep breath before speaking.

"I know this is hard to understand," he begins, his voice laden with sincerity. "But I am that wolf you found caught in the trap.... I... I'm sorry, it's difficult to explain this to a normal person..."

He sighs as if he feels the weight of my bewilderment.

"It's a long story," he admitted, seeming to choose his words carefully. "But what you need to know now is that I am human, just like you, but with the ability to transform into a wolf when necessary... my genetics are the result of a scientific experiment that gives me this possibility..."

I swallow hard, trying to assimilate this extraordinary information....

"What were you doing out in the woods?" I ask. "Looking for Little Red Riding Hood?"

He rolls his eyes slightly, visibly tired.

"I was with a group... I saw that danger was approaching and I ran to distract the other wolves, giving the group a chance to escape safely... The rest was entirely your fault."

"My... my fault?" I say in disbelief.

"Yes.... you are a hunter.... and my paw got caught in your trap," he says.

"That's not my trap.... I don't use those kinds of traps because they torture the animal... You're right I hunt, but only with a bow and rifle...." I stand up, taking a deep breath. "Do you live far from here?"

"A little."

"Hmm... well, I'm going to make us something to eat.... soup, that is, because I left my meat stock behind to save you, so no protein today," I murmur.

As I'm bustling around the kitchen I feel his gaze on me.

"You... seem to be taking it all in stride..." he says.

"Uh-huh.... that's because you're not real...." I turn to him. "At some point in this crazy dream I'm going to wake up and see that none of this happened, and I'm going to be waking up to hunt a 75-kilo deer."

Then I turn around and go back to getting things ready to make the soup.

I wash the vegetables and start chopping them.

"Do you live alone?"

"Uh-huh..." I reply.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you live alone?"

"Because my family is dead.... What else do you want to know? My age? Astrological sign? Favorite color?" I scoff.

"No... I just... it's strange, a normal person living alone in the middle of nowhere... I've never seen this house before, let alone knew anyone lived around here...."

I stop chopping and rest my hands on the counter.

This can't be happening...

It can't....

I take a deep breath and go back to preparing things.

After putting everything in the pot I go to the fireplace and light a fire....

I rub my arms, trying to warm up...

I grab a coat for myself and grab my dad's jacket and hand it to him.

"Put it on, you'll freeze..."

"Thank you...." he mutters.

As soon as it's ready I make our plates and set them on the table in front of him.

We eat in silence... at least I expected him to just eat quietly.

"Why did you save me?" he asks.

I take a deep breath.

"Would you prefer that I had left you there?" I reply.

"You're more polite when you're talking to an animal than a human...." he mutters.

I eat a little more in silence.

"I don't know... I just didn't think it was right to leave the wolf there suffering... I don't think those traps are right... And if I find out who put them there, I'll make a point of trapping their arm in it myself," I murmur, going back to my food.

Is it ironic that I hunt and don't like that?

Very much so.

It's just that my father always taught me to never let animals suffer... so whenever we went hunting, we did it in a way that the animal wouldn't agonize... a quick end.

So much so that on large animals I always used the rifle...

Now who's doing this?

Who's hunting on my land?

In these five years I've never even seen a living soul....

"Would you like some more?" I ask when I see that he's finished.

He nods a little sheepishly.

I get up, take his plate and put some more on, and hand it to him.

"Go on..." I say.

While we were there, sharing the meal, I took a good look at him.

He had a neatly trimmed beard and dark, slightly wavy hair. His brown eyes, so different from the blue intensity of the wolf's eyes, conveyed a mixture of calmness and mystery. His features were very masculine and somewhat rugged, like someone used to living in the woods. And his fair skin completed the picture....

Well.... I couldn't deny the guy was handsome.... And ripped....

He looks at me, realizes I'm looking at him and I quickly avert my gaze to my soup.

"When you leave, for the land of my subconscious, try not to turn into a werewolf, or your stitches will burst," I say.

"And how am I going to get home?"

"That's no longer my problem..." I say, shrugging, feigning indifference.

There is a moment of tense silence between us.

Finally, he looks at me with an expression of calmness mixed with a bit of resentment.

"I understand," he murmurs, his voice softening.

I force a fake smile.

"You don't need to thank me. Just... take care." I murmur.

After eating, he gets up.

"Well... I need to go before dark.... Thank you for everything you've done for me. I'll never forget it," he says, and I nod.

He seems reluctant to go, but soon turns and walks out of the kitchen.

Moments later, I hear the door close....

I push my plate away and rest my head on the table.

"What the hell was that?...." I mutter, trying to make sense of everything that's happened so far. "This is a dream, isn't it?... No.... it's not.... But what...."

I lift my head and look at his plate....

"No.... you're not going to do that, you can just stay put...." I tell myself.

I get up and wash the dishes.

After that I go to the garage to clean up the mess...

As soon as I open the door I see the food spilled on the floor with the bowl and blood in the middle of the garage...

I clean everything up and then I stand there looking at where I just cleaned the blood.

"No.... You're not..." I say firmly. "God, I hate you..."

I go inside, put out the fireplace and grab two beanies.

I spot one and put the other one in my pocket.

I leave the house and head for the four-wheeler, get on and drive down to the lower ground....

I drive for a good distance until I find him walking.

As soon as he hears the noise he turns towards me.

I stop beside him, put my hand in my pocket and hand him the beanie.

"Get on.... I'll take you home.... I don't want to be responsible if you die in the woods..." I say.

He looks at me with surprise, his eyes reflecting the gratitude he couldn't express in words. With a silent nod, he accepts my offer and climbs in behind me.

"Which way is your house?" I ask.

"Just keep going southeast and you'll get there," he says.

"Hold on tight..."

He holds onto the strap on the back of the seat, and then I take off.

We drive for a while in silence, until I spot what appears to be a small town.

My eyebrow furrows....

It was a walled town and everything.... like a village.

"You can stop here," I hear him say, and I slow down and stop.

He gets off, takes off the beanie and holds it out to me.

"Keep it..." I say.

He reluctantly lowers his arm....

"Thank you again." He says and I just nod, accelerate a little, turn around and leave.

I'm not going to prolong this, let alone try to talk to him....

I'm not going to lie... I was completely intrigued by the fact that there was a village around here and I had never seen it.... It was about 30 minutes from my house....

On foot it would take much longer... he would freeze to death on the way....

Why have I never been here?

Let's just say I have my reasons for not straying too far from home...

Fear... trauma...

The forest can be very dangerous when it wants to be.

I realize the sun has already set and I get home just as it gets dark.

I put the four-wheeler away and go inside.

I take a shower, eat something and go up to my room.

I light the fireplace and lie down....

My bed was practically next to the window so I could see what was going on outside.

I lie there looking at the stars, replaying the scene over and over again...

The embarrassment is the same when I remember myself walking into the garage and seeing the guy....

I rub my face as if that would erase the memories from my mind...

Not that they were bad memories, let's face it...

But it was so embarrassing...

I never imagined that the first time I would see a guy like that would be in my garage because he was a wolf....

God, the guy was a wolf....

I knew that wolf wasn't normal.....

I try every position to sleep in, but it seems like none of them can make me fall asleep....

Days go by and I practically go out hunting every day and come home with nothing....

I left my damn hunt to save that werewolf and now I can't catch anything else...

The only thing I'm going to catch is a cold...

At night, after turning off the lights, I go to bed....

My house had solar panels...

Which provided me with the basics, like hot showers, a working refrigerator and lights in the house without the need for a lamp...

I lie down and it's not long before I fall asleep...

But at night I wake up with a feeling of being watched....

I sit up in bed and look around...

Nothing...

Then I look at the window....

Those eyes...

It was the only thing that shone in the darkness...

Those same bright blue eyes....

What the hell is he doing here?