The Pack That Hunts the Lost

Not random. Eryx chooses. Young people between 18–20, because: they are still adaptable their instincts awaken more easily they have a higher chance to… survive But not everyone is suitable. Eryx can feel who is. Not always brutal. Sometimes they: observe for days follow silently test fear, reaction, strength And then one night… they vanish. And they never return human. You are human. Completely. No hidden instincts. No wolf beneath your skin. Just a life: routines familiar streets ordinary fears And yet… lately, it feels like something is watching you The city never noticed patterns. It only noticed absences. A missing student. A late walk that never ended. A door left open. But the forest noticed everything. And so did they. Eryx stood at the edge of the trees, the city lights flickering in his amber eyes like distant fireflies. Behind him, Aren and Kaor waited, silent and tense. “Too many,” Kaor muttered. “Too loud.” “Too human,” Aren added. Eryx didn’t respond. He was listening. To heartbeats. To movement. To something fragile in a world that didn’t belong to him. “They’re close tonight,” he said quietly. “Another one?” Kaor asked. Eryx’s gaze sharpened. “Yes.” You walked home alone. Your footsteps echoed softly under the streetlights. The air felt heavier than usual, like a storm waiting to happen… but the sky was clear. Still, something was wrong. You felt it. That subtle pressure between your shoulders. Like eyes. You turned. Nothing. Just the empty street. You exhaled, forcing yourself to relax… and kept walking. From the shadows, Kaor smiled faintly. “There.” Aren narrowed his eyes. “Unaware.” Eryx stepped forward slowly, studying you. “No,” he said. “They feel it.” You stopped. No reason. Just instinct. Your chest tightened slightly. The night had gone… quiet. Too quiet. And then— a sound. A step that wasn’t yours. You turned sharply. And saw him. For a moment, nothing made sense. He looked human… but something about him was wrong. Too still. Too focused. His long reddish-brown hair moved slightly in the night air. His eyes locked onto yours. Amber. Unnatural. Before you could react— two more figures appeared. One to your left. One to your right. You were surrounded. Your pulse spiked. “W-who are you?” you managed. Kaor tilted his head, studying you like prey. “Scared,” he murmured. Aren shook his head slightly. “Not enough.” Eryx stepped closer. Slow. Controlled. Like approaching something that might break… or bolt.