The limo cruised through the entrance of Yosemite National Park. Five girls, dressed in designer clothes that clashed wildly with the rugged landscape, laughed and chatted inside.

“Is it just me, or do we look completely out of place?” asked Rachel, glancing out the window.

“You think?” Sarah replied, tossing her head back in laughter. “What kind of birthday is this, Bloom? We could be lounging on a beach in Greece, but no—you just ‘had’ to lose that bet.”

“Believe me, it wasn’t by choice,” Bloom Tillbury shot back then she leaned her head against the seat with a dramatic sigh. "I would rather be anywhere but here right now."

Everyone in California knew who Bloom Tillbury was. The heiress to a multi-million dollar empire. Her face was a regular on magazine covers. And every move she made was scrutinized by the media. But here, in the middle of a national park, she was just a girl with a debt to pay—a bet lost to her friends. If she hadn’t been so confident in her poker skills, they’d be halfway across the world sipping cocktails.

“I think it’s refreshing,” Nina commented. “We needed a change of pace. And besides, it’s just one night. How bad could it be?”

The limo pulled up to the camping site, drawing a wary glance from a nearby park ranger. He shook his head at the sight of the luxury vehicle and its high-spirited occupants.

“Looks like we’re already making friends,” Rachel joked as the girls piled out of the limo.

As they set up camp, Bloom’s phone buzzed. She rolled her eyes as she saw the caller ID and picked it up. "What now, Marianne?"

“Bloom,” her publicist started, “please tell me you’re not doing anything reckless.”

"Define reckless." Bloom smirked.

"I'm serious, Bloom," Marianne warned. "The paparazzi have been sniffing around since they found out it’s your birthday. Don’t give them any ammunition for tomorrow’s headlines."

"It’s just me and the girls," Bloom replied as she glanced around as her friends huddled together, already opening bottles of wine. “No boys, no wild parties. We’re behaving.”

Marianne didn’t sound convinced. “You better. The last thing we need is a repeat of last year’s birthday fiasco. Stay out of trouble, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t worry. I’ll be a perfect angel,” Bloom said sarcastically before ending the call. She shoved the phone into her bag, already irritated.

"Marianne again?" Sarah asked.

"Who else? She’s convinced we’re going to get caught up in some scandal, as if a few s’mores and a campfire are going to make headlines."

"Well, you ARE Bloom Tillbury. Even the marshmallows would be glamorous," Nina teased.

The evening passed in a blur of laughter, gossip, and the clink of glasses. Bloom found herself relaxing, letting go of the frustration she’d felt earlier. The wilderness wasn’t so bad, she admitted to herself. The towering trees and cool night air were far different from the chaotic city she was used to, and the full moon above cast an ethereal glow on everything around them.

Later, as the fire died down and her friends retreated to their tents, Bloom stayed outside for a moment longer, staring up at the moon. It was unusually bright tonight. Its light was so intense it made the trees cast long shadows. She felt a strange pull toward it, something that stirred deep inside her chest, though she couldn’t explain why.

“It’s just a moon,” she whispered to herself, shaking off the feeling. Still, she couldn’t help but admire its beauty. There was something different about this night, but she didn’t know what. With a shrug, she zipped herself into her tent and lay down, her eyelids heavy.

***

The sensation of cold, damp air brushing against her bare skin jolted Bloom awake. She gasped. Her breath hitched as her eyes flew open. The soft fabric of her sleeping bag was gone, replaced by the rough texture of dirt and fallen leaves beneath her.

Her mind raced as she sat up abruptly, blinking against the darkness. She was no longer in her tent. She wasn’t anywhere near camp. The trees around her were unfamiliar.

And she was naked.

]“What the—?” she whispered to no one. Her heart pounded as she spun in circles, looking for any sign of her friends, her tent, anything familiar. But there was nothing.

"Guys?" Bloom called out. "This isn’t funny!"

There was no response, only the rustling of leaves and the faint whisper of the wind.

How could she have ended up here? Naked, alone, in the middle of nowhere?

Her breath came in short bursts as the cold started to settle deep into her bones. This had to be a prank. It had to be. She could hear Sarah and the others laughing, waiting to jump out and yell, “Gotcha!”

Anger flared within her. She clenched her fists. Her teeth chattered as she shouted into the night, “Very funny, guys! You can stop now!”

Silence.

“Okay, seriously, this isn’t cool!” Bloom’s voice grew louder, fueled by frustration and fear. “When I find you, I swear—”

But no one answered. There was only the quiet rustle of the forest and the distant call of an owl, leaving Bloom standing there, naked and alone under the glow of the full moon.

Red Nordstorm prowled quietly through the thick underbrush of Yosemite’s southern woods. His senses became sharp and alive because of the energy of the Howling Moon. The night felt electric. Tonight wasn’t like any other hunting trip. It was special, sacred even.

"South it is tonight," Red muttered to himself. He stretched his muscles as the anticipation of the hunt built inside him. Normally, he would stick to his territory in the north, but something urged him to push boundaries tonight. He needed to feel the rush of something different. The south was home to the antelopes, a rare and challenging game.

What better way to celebrate his twentieth year and his first Howling Moon as a fully-fledged wolf?

He knelt briefly, pressing his palm into the damp earth. His eyes lifted to the sky as he whispered a quick prayer to the wolf gods. “Let this hunt be worthy.”

Red was not a wolf who lived among his pack. He valued his independence too much for that. But even though he refused to stay within their borders, he was still deeply connected to them—especially to the Alpha, who had placed immense trust in him despite his youth. And tonight, as the moon called to him, he knew he’d be expected to return with an offering worthy of the Howling Moon celebrations.

Mating season was just around the corner. Red could feel it deep within his bones. This was supposed to be his year. Every instinct in him buzzed with excitement, but tonight wasn’t just about finding a mate. No, tonight was about the hunt. About proving his strength, his agility, and his dedication to the pack, even if he didn’t live among them.

Hours passed as Red moved silently through the forest. The woods felt alive tonight. Red’s sharp eyes caught a glimpse of movement—a flash of light fur in the distance. His breath quickened as he honed in, following the trail of an antelope.

Just as he was about to make his move, something distracted him.

Another wolf.

But not one from his pack.

He froze. His eyes narrowed as he crouched low, watching from the shadows. The wolf’s fur was darker, sleek and unfamiliar. Red’s heartbeat quickened.

A rogue? Or perhaps a member of another pack?

Either way, something was off. He wasn’t supposed to be encountering wolves from outside the GrayBack Pack in this part of Yosemite.

The strange wolf darted between the trees, moving swiftly as if it were hunting something. Red’s instincts kicked in. He had to follow. If this wolf was a threat, he needed to know.

Keeping his distance, Red shadowed the unfamiliar wolf through the dense forest. It was only when the wolf reached a small clearing that something truly shocking happened.

Red blinked. He caught his breath in his throat as he watched the wolf's fur ripple and change. Its body convulsed slightly, bones cracking and reshaping, shrinking until what stood before him was no longer a wolf, but a young woman.

What the—

Red’s heart pounded. She was kneeling on the forest floor, naked under the pale moonlight. Her breath was ragged as if the transformation had taken everything out of her. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. Her long hair tumbled down her back in dark waves. Her skin, pale and smooth, glistened with the dew of the night. And even from a distance, he could see her eyes—wide and terrified, darting around as though she had no idea where she was.

Who is she?

Was she a rogue? A lost wolf without a pack? Or something else entirely?

Whatever the answer, Red felt his heart skip a beat as he continued to watch her. There was something inexplicably magnetic about her.

Bloom wandered through the dark forest. Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself in an attempt to shield her bare skin from the biting cold. She stumbled forward. Her head spun with confusion.

Where were her friends?

How had she ended up here of all places?

"Rachel? Sarah?" she called out. The thick trees seemed to swallow her words.

But she didn’t receive any response. The silence was deafening, only broken by the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind.

"This isn’t funny!" Bloom yelled. Her bare feet crunched on the forest floor, but it wasn’t just the cold that bothered her. It was the overwhelming sense of vulnerability. She was exposed, alone, and scared in a way she hadn’t felt in years.

That’s when she heard a twig snap behind her.

She spun around. Her eyes immediately widened because of what she saw. A man stepped out from behind the trees. His piercing blue eyes locked onto hers.

“Stay back!” Bloom shrieked as she instinctively tried to cover herself with her hands. She backed up into a bush. Its sharp branches scratched at her skin. “Don’t come any closer!”

The man raised his hands, palms out in a gesture of surrender. “Relax. I’m not here to hurt you.”

“Yeah, right,” Bloom spat, crouching low as if she could disappear into the bushes. She winced when she felt an uncomfortable sting where the branches pricked her skin.

“I wouldn’t hide in those if I were you,” he commented, nodding toward the bush. “They’re poisonous.”

Bloom froze. Her eyes darted to the leaves brushing against her legs. “What?”

“Look, I know this is weird,” the man continued. “But those bushes? They’ll leave a nasty rash.”

Bloom scowled, still clutching her arms around herself. She glanced at the bush again and reluctantly stepped away, hating that he was probably right.

“I don’t know who you are,” she began, “but you need to stay away from me.”

The man hesitated for a moment, then shrugged off his jacket. “Here.” He held the jacket out to her. “Take this. You’re going to freeze out here.”

Bloom eyed the jacket warily, but the chill creeping into her bones finally made the decision for her. She snatched it from his hands and wrapped it around herself, glaring at him the entire time.

“Thanks, I guess,” she muttered.

“What happened?” he asked. He kept his distance but watched her closely. “You’re... not exactly dressed for a camping trip.”

“I... I don’t know,” Bloom admitted reluctantly. “I woke up like this. I don’t remember anything after going to sleep.”

The man studied her for a moment. “You’re not used to this, are you?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Bloom shot back defensively.

“Being... like this,” he replied slowly. “The confusion… waking up in the woods… it’s new for you, right?”

Bloom frowned. “What are you talking about? I don’t even know who you are.”

“My name’s Red,” he introduced.

“I don’t care who you are!” Bloom snapped, suddenly angry. “And I don’t need your help!”

Red’s lips twitched in amusement, but he said nothing.

Just as Bloom opened her mouth to say something else, she froze, hearing faint voices in the distance.

“Bloom? Bloom!”

It was her friends. Relief flooded through her, but it was quickly followed by another emotion. Dread. The last thing she needed was for them to find her like this—naked, in the middle of the woods, with some strange man. Her reputation was already fragile enough with the media always circling. And she couldn’t take that kind of hit.

“You need to go,” she hissed at Red, glancing around frantically as the voices grew closer.

“What?” Red asked, taken aback.

“You NEED to go!” Bloom repeated, shoving his jacket closer around herself. “If they see me with you, they’ll freak out.”

Red raised an eyebrow. “And why’s that?”

Bloom shot him a glare. “Because they’re my friends, and I don’t want them to think I’ve... I’ve...” She trailed off, realizing how ridiculous this was going to sound.

Red’s lips curved into a full, amused grin. “You think I attacked you?”

“Well, yeah!” Bloom blurted, then faltered when she saw the look on his face.

Red let out a bark of laughter as he shook his head. “You’ve got it all wrong. I found you out here. I didn’t touch you, I swear.”

Bloom’s face flushed with embarrassment, but she quickly masked it with a scowl. “You’re laughing at me?”

“I’m laughing because it’s absurd.” Red’s grin widened. “If I’d attacked you, do you think I’d be offering you my jacket right now?”

Before Bloom could respond, she heard Rachel calling her name. She could hear panic in their voices. Her friends were desperate to find her.

“Bloom! Where are you?”

She straightened, pulling the jacket tighter around her body. “You need to leave. Now.”

Red raised his hands again, backing away slowly. “Fine. Your secret’s safe with me.”

“Go!” Bloom hissed one last time. Then she turned away as she heard the crunch of footsteps approaching.

Her friends burst through the trees a moment later. Their eyes widened in shock. “Bloom! Oh my God! Where were you?” Rachel gasped then she rushed forward and grabbed Bloom’s arm.

“I’m fine,” Bloom said quickly, forcing a smile. “I just... went for a swim in the lake. Lost track of time.”

“What?” Nina asked as she scanned Bloom from head to toe. “In the middle of the night? And... where are your clothes?”

Bloom shrugged, glancing at the jacket she was wearing. “Yeah, I know. Crazy, right? I didn’t plan on going for a swim, but I couldn’t sleep and, well... one thing led to another.”

“And... the jacket?” Sarah asked, raising an eyebrow.

Bloom hesitated for half a second before forcing a casual laugh. “This? Oh, I brought it with me. It’s, uh, an old thing. Fugly, I know.”

Her friends exchanged confused glances, but before they could ask any more questions, Bloom turned on her heel. “Come on. Let’s just get back to camp. It’s freezing.”

As they started to walk away, Bloom cast one last glance over her shoulder, scanning the treeline for any sign of Red.

But he was already gone.