A sterile glare from the cafeteria's fluorescent lights illuminated the sea of faces. Nathaniel maneuvered the crowd with his sweaty raven hair on his forehead, his eyes on the exit. Every movement and whisper sent a chill down his spine. The wolf, a ferocious beast, fought at his frail control, desperate to escape. He'd struggled with this horrible part of himself that threatened to consume him for years. Subtle whispers-"odd," "strange," "too intense." Fearful and ignorant, they escalated: "beast," "savage," "dangerous." He was a school pariah, a shadow in the corners, a continuous reminder of the horror beneath seemingly regular society. Recently, the wolf's thirst become insatiable. The smell of blood and the excitement of hunting shook him to the core. He wanted to unleash the beast, break down his prison, and experience unbridled power. He felt nauseous at the thought of injuring someone and causing suffering. A dichotomy of light and gloom, he struggled to reconcile his human side with the beast that threatened him. Elena, then. Her nice eyes and sweet smile brightened his otherwise dreary life. He was hopelessly in love with her. Could she ever embrace the monster he feared he was? Could she love him despite his impending darkness? The prospect of losing her and scaring her away was worse than the wolf's pain. Nathaniel entered the café, the fresh air a brief relief from the oppressive atmosphere. The fading sun produced long, ominous shadows across the parking lot, reflecting his turmoil. He needed to imprison the wolf. But for how long? What if he failed? Imagine if the beast broke out and there was no saving?