A cool breeze blew gently through the trees. Angela heard the soft rustling of the leaves as she watched the full moon slowly rising. From her vantage point on the balcony of her chateau she heard the howl of a wolf in the distance. It was somewhere in the forest. It had been a month since she had last seen her love, Heinrich. He was supposed to come home this day, but he had not yet arrived. The last time she saw him he was not himself. Usually cheerful and energetic, he was brooding and introverted. He hadn't eaten in the days before he left. He would not tell her why he was leaving. He simply told her he would return by the next full moon. She was lonely over the past month and her heart ached with his absence. Soon he would be home, she was certain of it. Angela heard a howl again, but it was closer. Wolves were known to roam these parts of the woods, but recently they did not come around much. The howls she had been hearing lately sounded different. It sounded angry and in some way pained. She never saw it, she only heard it in the distance. Tonight was the closest it had ever been. Although she was excited over the return of Heinrich, something disturbed her. She returned to her sleeping chambers and withdrew a Colt Navy black powder revolver from the night stand then she returned to the balcony. A short time later she thought she saw movement along the tree line. A figure was emerging from the light mist in the trees and walked towards the main house. "Heinrich," she gasped excitedly. She hurried down the stairs to the front door. Hans, her butler, was already by the door opening it and stepping aside. Angela stopped as Heinrich entered. He smiled. Angela placed the pistol on a table and ran over to Heinrich jumping into his arms. "I've missed you Heinrich," she said. Tears ran down her cheaks. She kissed him. "And I you," He responded, he kissed her again. "Where have you been?" Angela asked as they sat in the living room. Hans went to brew some tea. "I had to seek answers." "Answers to what?" Heinrich breathed deeply. "When I was out hunting last I encountered a creature, it was massive. It attacked me and during the fight it bit me, but I slew it. Since then I have not felt right. I had to find out what had attacked me. I traveled to Carpathia to talk to a gypsy, an old sage. She told me the creature was a lycanthrope." Angela frowned. "What is that?" "It is a man who can change into a wolf. It is evil. It retains it's cognitive ability. It chooses to kill. I have been infected." Angela rested her head on his shoulder. “Oh, no Heinrich.†"Is there a cure?" Heinrich shook his head. "No, and the only way to kill a lycanthrope is with silver." Heinrich nodded towards the Colt on the table. I loaded the pistol with .44 calibre silver bullets before I left.†Hans returned and poured two cups of tea. Heinrich took a sip. Angela sipped some of her tea, but she was not in the mood for it. "I wanted to return and say goodbye," "No! You can't go." Angela protested. Tears ran freely down her reddened cheaks. "It is too dangerous if I stay. I do not want to hurt you. I fight the urges, but it is difficult. I can feel the change as we speak." "Where will you go?" "Deep into the woods far away from people." "Will I ever see you again?" "No." Heinrich stood. "I must go before it is too late." “Please Heinrich, there has to be a way,†Angela pleaded between sobs. “I wish there was, I love you Angela. I do not want to hurt you.†He started to walk towards the door when he doubled over, falling to the floor. “Heinrich!" Angela cried out. She reached out for him. "No!" He shouted. “Don’t. It is too late. You must leave. Run, now!†He crawled towards the door. Angela froze. She watched as Heinrich began to change. He began to grow in size while his arms and legs deformed, shredding his clothes. He screamed in agony as his bones cracked and popped morphing into the form of a giant wolf. Angela did not recognize the creature standing in front of her. "Kill me," he groaned as he fought for control. Hans tried to run past him, but the creature grabbed him by his head and squeezed. Hans's scream was cut off when his skull caved in. The creature threw the limp form of the butler against the wall and turned towards Angela. "Please Heinrich," she pleaded. He moved closer towards her. Staring into his burning yellow eyes she could could see the pain and pleading in them. He struggled to stop his advance, but he still drew closer. Saliva drooled from his elongated jaws. His howl was ear shattering and Angela’s blood ran cold. She reached down and picked up the colt revolver. She cocked the hammer. Unable to resist the beast he charged the woman he loved. "I'm sorry Heinrich," she cried. She pointed the pistol at his heart and pulled the trigger. The roar of the pistol was deafening. Through the gray smoke Angela saw Heinrich lurch forward and fall heavily to the floor where he lay still. Angela stared down and the lifeless body now back in human form. Angela rolled him onto his back. His dead eyes stared off into nothingness. She gently leaned forward and kissed him on his forehead. "Goodbye Heinrich, I love you." (word count 962. I was inspired by stories like the Howling and werewolf stories that take place in previous centuries.)