Chapter 2: A Glimpse of Shadows
1378 Words
Morning arrived slowly in Ashwood, the light filtering through the trees in thin golden beams. Clara awoke to the sound of birds chirping outside her window, their songs harmonizing with the gentle rustle of leaves. For a moment, she lay still, the unfamiliarity of her surroundings settling in. The quiet was both comforting and unsettling—a stark contrast to the constant noise of her old apartment in the city.
Stretching, Clara swung her legs over the side of the bed and padded to the kitchen. She had unpacked only the essentials last night, and the small space felt cozy, though not quite like home yet. The kettle on the stove hummed softly as she prepared tea, the aroma of chamomile mingling with the earthy scent of the cottage.
As she sipped her tea, Clara’s thoughts returned to the howl she had heard the previous night. It had felt almost alive, carrying a weight of emotion she couldn’t explain. Her logical mind told her it was just a wolf—common in areas like this—but another part of her, a deeper part, wasn’t so sure.
Shaking off the thought, she decided to explore the town. Her work as a freelance editor gave her the flexibility to ease into this new life, and she intended to make the most of it.
Dressing in jeans and a sweater, she grabbed her bag and stepped outside. The morning air was crisp and cool, carrying the faint scent of pine. The garden surrounding the cottage was wilder than she had realized in the dim light of the previous evening. Overgrown bushes and vines created a tangled tapestry, and flowers peeked out from the undergrowth in bursts of color.
Clara made a mental note to tend to the garden someday—it felt like a metaphor for her own life, unruly but full of potential.
The drive into town was peaceful, the road winding through the forest like a ribbon. Sunlight dappled the ground as she passed, and she couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder at the beauty around her.
When she reached the main street, Clara parked in the same spot as yesterday and decided to start at Luna’s Café again. The bell above the door chimed as she entered, and Luna greeted her with a warm smile.
“Back already?” Luna asked, wiping her hands on her apron.
Clara nodded. “Couldn’t resist. This place has a good vibe.”
“That’s what we aim for,” Luna said. “Same as yesterday, or are you feeling adventurous?”
“Surprise me,” Clara said, settling into a corner table by the window.
The café was busier today, with locals chatting over coffee and pastries. Clara took out her journal, jotting down her thoughts about the move and the strange sense of unease that lingered despite the town’s charm.
Her writing was interrupted by the sound of the door opening, and when she glanced up, her breath hitched. Jacob had walked in.
He looked just as rugged and enigmatic as the day before, his green eyes scanning the room briefly before landing on Clara. Their gazes locked, and she felt her cheeks flush.
“Morning, Jacob,” Luna said from behind the counter.
He nodded in response, his voice low. “Morning, Luna.”
As he waited for his coffee, Clara tried to focus on her journal, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched. When she glanced up again, Jacob was heading toward her table, his expression unreadable.
“Mind if I join you?” he asked, his voice smooth but carrying a hint of caution.
Clara hesitated for only a moment before nodding. “Sure.”
He sat across from her, his movements deliberate and unhurried. Up close, Clara noticed the faint stubble on his jaw and the intensity in his eyes. There was something about him that felt both inviting and guarded, as though he was used to keeping people at arm’s length.
“You’re new in town,” he said, his tone more statement than question.
Clara smiled nervously. “That obvious?”
He shrugged. “Small town. Word gets around.”
She chuckled, feeling a bit more at ease. “Well, I just moved into the old cottage on the edge of the forest. Still settling in, but so far, it’s been… interesting.”
“Interesting how?” Jacob asked, his gaze sharpening slightly.
Clara hesitated. She didn’t want to sound ridiculous, but something about Jacob made her want to be honest. “Last night, I heard a howl. It was… eerie. Almost like it wasn’t just a wolf.”
Jacob’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—recognition, perhaps.
“The forest has its secrets,” he said after a moment. “You’ll get used to it.”
Before she could ask what he meant, Luna appeared with a fresh pot of coffee, refilling their cups. “You two look like you’re getting along,” she said with a grin before bustling away.
Clara and Jacob exchanged a glance, and she couldn’t help but smile.
“What brought you to Ashwood?” he asked, shifting the conversation.
Clara sighed, her fingers tracing the rim of her mug. “I needed a fresh start. Life in the city wasn’t… working for me anymore. I wanted somewhere quiet, somewhere I could breathe.”
Jacob nodded, as if he understood more than he was letting on. “Ashwood’s good for that. But it’s not always as quiet as it seems.”
There was something in his tone that sent a shiver down her spine, though she couldn’t tell if it was fear or excitement.
They talked for a while longer, their conversation flowing more easily than Clara had expected. Jacob was reserved, but when he did speak, his words carried weight. Clara found herself intrigued by him, drawn to the mystery that seemed to surround him like a cloak.
When he finally stood to leave, he glanced down at her journal. “You’re a writer?”
“An editor, mostly,” she said. “But I like to write for myself sometimes.”
He nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “See you around, Clara.”
The sound of her name on his lips sent a thrill through her, and she watched as he left the café, disappearing down the street.
For the rest of the day, Clara wandered through the town, exploring its nooks and crannies. She visited a small bookstore, its shelves crammed with well-loved volumes, and a craft shop where the owner insisted on giving her a handmade scarf as a welcome gift.
By the time she returned to her cottage, the sun was setting, casting the forest in hues of gold and crimson. Clara felt a sense of contentment she hadn’t experienced in a long time, though the memory of Jacob’s piercing gaze lingered in the back of her mind.
As night fell, she sat on the porch, wrapped in the scarf, and stared out into the darkening woods. The stars began to emerge, glittering like diamonds against the velvet sky.
Then, just as the silence began to settle over her, the howl came again.
It was just as haunting as the night before, but this time, Clara felt a strange sense of familiarity. It wasn’t just a sound—it was a call, a pull that resonated deep within her.
Her heart raced as she stood, peering into the shadows. Once again, she thought she saw movement—a flicker of something large and swift—but it vanished before she could be sure.
Clara stepped back into the safety of the cottage, her thoughts racing. There was something about Ashwood, something just beneath the surface, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that Jacob was connected to it.
As she lay in bed that night, the howl echoed in her mind, mingling with the memory of Jacob’s green eyes. She didn’t know what it all meant, but one thing was certain: Ashwood was far more than it seemed, and her life here was about to change in ways she could never have imagined.
- Writer
