20. Fangs Of Doubt

[Gabriel's POV]

As the cab brought me closer to Willowvale, my heart quickened with a mix of anticipation and nostalgia. This small town, tucked away in the embrace of vast woods, was where I had spent my formative years. It held the echoes of childhood laughter, secret adventures, and the stories of my ancestors who had blended seamlessly with the unknowing humans who shared this space.

Willowvale had once been a sanctuary for lycans seeking refuge from a world that did not understand them. But as civilization spread its reach and cities beckoned with promises of progress, humans flocked to urban centers, leaving Willowvale primarily to its lycan inhabitants, unaware of their true nature. It became a haven where the ancient and the modern intertwined, a place where the forest whispered its secrets to those who listened.

As the cab rolled to a stop, I paid the fare and stepped out onto familiar ground. The air, scented with the earthy fragrance of the woods, greeted me like an old fri