Belle pulled the hood of her red cloak over her head, shouting a quick goodbye to her mother as she grabbed her basket and ducked out the door. For years, she’d made this weekly trip to her grandmothers with food and other essentials. Her grandmother was a stubborn old woman after all, and refused to move into town despite the dangers of living alone in the woods.

     “Good morning, Red.” A man’s voice greeted her as she approached the path the lead into the woods.

     “Good morning, sir.” She said back, smiling at the man.

     “Off to see your grandmother again?”

     “It is a weekly visit.” 

     He nodded, smiling softly. “Then I’ll escort you. The woods are dangerous after all; especially for a young girl like yourself.”

     She nodded, having expected this. Honestly, the dialogue was nothing more than a formality. He knew she’d make her trip, like she did every week. She knew he would escort her, like he did every week. They had been doing this for years.

     As they arrived at the little house her grandmother lived in. Belle gave her thanks before heading into the house. She knew he’d be waiting for her, so he could walk her back home. He always did.

     She pushed the door open, walking into the little kitchen with a smile. “Grandmother, I’m here.”

     When the woman did not reply, Red felt a frown tug at the corners of her mouth. Her grandmother was usually waiting for her in the kitchen.  She walked towards the bedroom in the back, calling for her grandmother as she walked through the house.

     Upon entering the little bedroom, her calls turned into screaming.

     The man perked up, sprinting towards the house as the blood-curdling scream filled the air. As soon as he entered the house, his sensitive nose picked up the scent of blood. He followed it to the bedroom, and growled at the scene that met his eyes.

     A large wolf had the girl pinned to the floor. The body of the old woman was sprawled on the ground beside the bed, and most of her insides were gone. A gruesome scene indead. The man pulled his axe off his back, chopping the wolf’s head clean off.  Despite the situation, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness.

     He helped Belle up, looking her over with a frown. “Are you alright, Red?”

     The girl nodded, though she clutched her cloak tightly around one arm. “Just a bite.”

     The man froze for a moment before shaking his head. “That’s not good.”

     “I’ll be fine, I’ll just have my mother-“ Her voice was once again cut off in a scream as the body of the wolf slowly began to transform into the body of a boy no older than sixteen.

     “A werewolf!” She shouted in surprise, her eyes widening in horror as she tightened her cloak farther around the bite on her arm.. “But that means…”

     The man nodded. “You were bitten by a werewolf. You’re one of us now.”

     “I refuse to stay here!” The girl shouted, fighting against the man’s grip as he pulled her through the werewolf camp. “I can go home, I’m sure!”

     The man shook his head. “They’d kill you without a second thought.”

     “You can’t keep me here!”

     “I can and I will.” The man said sternly, waving one of the boys from the fire over. “Adam! Think you can handle a feisty new-blood who doesn’t want to be here?”

     The boy nodded, taking Belle’s arm and leading her towards one of the huts. He gave her an almost sympathetic look over his shoulder, but only got a glare in return.

     “Food is ready.” Adam’s voice came from the other side of the door.

     “I’m not hungry.” Belle responded, crossing her arms though she knew he couldn’t see her.

     “We caught it fresh this morning. You won’t get another chance at dinner you know.” His voice sounded almost concerned, despite the fact that he was a monster.

     Belle shook her head, pulling her red cloak tighter around herself. “I’d rather starve then eat in the company of beasts.”

     “Then go ahead and starve.” The boy simply from the other side of the door. “See if I care!”

     She listened to his footsteps as he stomped away, huffing to herself. What had she done to deserve being a prisoner to a bunch of werewolves?

     Hunger gnawed at her belly well into the night, but she ignored it. She buried her face in her pillow, biting her lip against the urge to go see if there was any food left. Her teeth drew blood, and she sat up in surprise. She placed a hand over her mouth, pulling it away to look at the red stains on her fingertips. She hadn’t been biting that hard…

     She ran her tongue over her teeth, and gasped in surprise. They were sharp; much sharper than normal. That wasn’t good. Was the man right? Was she really a monster now?

     Her panicked thoughts seemed to make it worse, and she watched as her nails grew into claws right before her eyes. She shook her head, as if somehow she could stop it just by saying no over and over again. From the corner of her eyes, she saw a flash of red that hadn’t been there before. Frantic, she grabbed a section of her hair and moved it so that she could see it.

     Red. Her soft brown hair had turned the same shade of blood-red as her cloak.

     Just as tears started to fall down her face, her door opened and pulled her from her thoughts. She looked over to see a woman with a plate of food and a young boy holding a glass of water.

     “You need to eat, dear.” The woman said softly, handing her the venison. “The first night is always the worst. If you don’t eat, you will transform. Then you’ll go look for food until you find it, even if it’s in the village.”

     The woman’s words, combined with her growing hunger, convinced her to eat. It took her awhile to notice she was tearing into the meat like a savage beast, at which point she slowed down a bit.

     “Thank you.” She said softly, finishing her meal.

     “Don’t mention it.” The woman chuckled, taking the water from the boy and handing it to Belle. “What’s your name?”

     “… Belle.” She said after a moment “Though most just call me Red.”

     “Lovely name.” The woman said with a smile. “It means beauty, you know.”

     “I know.” She sighed. “My mother reminds me every day… at least she did, until I was kidnapped.”

     The woman sighed deeply. “… I’m sorry dear. Maybe once you learn to control your new powers, you can visit her again.”

     She didn’t answer, wrapping her cloak tighter around herself. As she did so, she noticed her claws had shortened and turned back into normal human fingernails. She grabbed a section of hair, and was relieved to find in had returned to its normal color.

     “... What was that?” She asked softly.

     “Your transformation.” The woman replied, sitting beside the girl and placing a hand on her wrist.

     Her hand closed into a fist. “So if I eat, that won’t happen again?”

     “It’ll happen in full eventually.” The woman said gently, trying her best to reassure. “But it's not so bad. By the time you’ve bloomed, you should have more control.”

     “What about on the full moon?” She asked timidly.

     “That’s nothing but a fairy story.” The woman said with a chuckle. “It’s linked to our own will, and our emotions. So long as we keep kindness in our hearts and control over our darkest thoughts… we’ll be fine.”

     She nodded, relief flooding through her veins. She could learn control. She didn’t have to become the monster that had killed her grandmother.

     Belle, over the past year, found herself slowly falling in love with the werewolf way of life. They lived off the land, connecting with animals and plants in a way nobody back home ever did. They were kind, simple people. Every one of them treated her kindly, and taught her to use her newfound powers.

     She’d refused to come out of her room at first, and now here she was following Adam around the camp as he eagerly showed her his favorite spots.

     “This is this best bird-watching sport I know of.” Adam said almost proudly, grabbing Belle’s wrist and pulling her to sit on the ground beside him.

     It wasn’t long before the clearing was filled with birds of all sizes and colors. Adam whistled suddenly, holding out his arm as a pair of songbirds landed on his arm. He smiled brightly, petting one’s chest gently.

     He’s so… sweet.

     Belle found herself smiling softly as she watched him, pulling her hood farther over her face to hide her blush.

     Paper lanterns lit the night, and everyone around her was dancing. The festival was so different from the parties back at the village, but Belle found she liked them better. Simpler, with less rules and fancily dressed girls pinning for handsome men. Rougher in design, but kinder and softer in atmosphere and heart.

     “Red.” Adam greeted as he approached, holding out his hand. “Care for a dance?”

     Belle hesitated only for a moment before taking his hand, laughing as he pulled her out onto the dance floor. The dance wasn’t fancy, or elegant in any way, yet she found herself enjoying it far more than she ever had back home. The odd lighting from the lanterns, Adam’s hands in her own… it was all so perfect.

     She shouted in horror as the hunter tossed Adam’s bleeding body aside. The rain was pouring down, and lighting flash at just the right time for Belle to recognize the man’s face.

     “Gaston?” She whispered, cold rage filling her voice.

     “Belle.” He had the nerve to smile. “I’ve come to rescue you. We thought you were dead, but one of my men saw you with a werewolf man. I organized a hunting party right away.” He held out his hand for her. “Let’s go home.”

     She grabbed his hand, her grip tightening on his until she heard breaking bones. Slowly, she felt herself transforming. She’d never taken her full wolf form before, only quarter or half, but she could feel the spirit and strength of the mighty beast burning under her skin. Begging to avenge her fallen pack member.  

     She let go of his hand leaping onto him as her wolf form took over completely. She ripped into him, tearing him to shreds as every ounce of rage and grief found its way to her teeth and claws. She made sure to kill him. She didn’t want him to live long enough to turn. He didn’t deserve the honor.

     As soon as she was certain he was dead, she transformed back into her human form and ran to Adam’s side.

     “You’re going to be okay.” She whispered, though she herself had little faith in those words. “You’ll be okay.”

     “… Red.” He whispered lowly.

     “Don’t try to talk.” She said softly. “Don’t waste your breath. A healer will be here- “

     Her voice was cut off as he pressed his lips to hers. She hesitated only a moment before returning the kiss, begging everything that held power that it wouldn’t be their last as well as their first. They were both covered in blood that wouldn't come off despite the pouring rain, but neither cared.

     All that mattered was the kiss, and the person they held in their arms.