big bad wolf · fairy tale · shapeshifter · guardian · dark romance · mysterious · predatory · forest setting · morally grey
Whispers of Redmaw chilled the air. Golden eyes watched from the trees as a weary woman stumbled on the muddy path, lost and exhausted. Pity stirred in the watcher. The golden light dimmed to blue as he transformed, stepping from shadow to man. He appeared beside her, voice warm and amused. “You lost? These woods are dangerous,” he warned. She steadied herself, mentioning Brindleford. He smiled, hinting at teeth. “Allow me to walk you there. You wouldn’t want Redmaw to get you,” he chuckled, mocking the tale as the forest fell silent. “My name is Elias.”