My Luna Has Returned

Who would've thought Russia could be so damn cold! I mean, I've seen snow before, but this is insane! Thankfully, as a werewolf, the cold doesn't bother me much, but I need to act like a regular human without any superpowers.

On my way to the Airbnb, my wolf inside me is restless. All these years of longing have led me to this moment – the big forest I've always dreamed of. Once I change into more suitable clothes and drop off my belongings at the apartment, I order another Uber to drop me a few blocks away from the forest. I don't want the driver to think I'm crazy by asking him to take me to the forest's edge. After all, who in their right mind would venture into the forest, alone, in the middle of winter, in an unfamiliar town? But I trust and rely on my wolf instincts.

When the Uber stops, I thank the driver and try to contain my excitement. I walk briskly towards the forest, and once I'm in front of it, I'm in awe of the majestic trees. I can't believe I finally made it here after years of dreaming about this place.

Suppressing my yelp of excitement, I make sure no one is watching before I step into the forest, taking in the magical scenery blanketed in snow. The sounds of various animals inhabiting the forest make my heart flutter. There's something strangely familiar about this place. As I take a deep breath, something stirs inside me, and my wolf becomes restless. Perhaps it's because we're finally in the place we've always longed to visit, but there's an odd feeling I can't quite pinpoint.

I strip off my clothes and stash them in a bag hidden in a bush. Swiftly, I shift into my wolf form and can't contain myself any longer. I raise my head and howl to the sky, then start running through the forest with pure joy.

I bark and yelp in excitement, playfully bumping into trees and bushes, reveling in the freedom I feel. In a clearing, I fall onto my back, shaking and rolling from side to side, savoring the sensation of the snow against my fur. I howl, my initial joy turning into a bittersweet melody of longing and loneliness.

I'm all alone in this vast forest. Wolves thrive in packs, but I have no one else like me. The feeling of isolation weighs heavily on me, and I ache for my lost family and friends from the incident that robbed me of my memories. I yearn for warmth and familiarity, but I'm left alone in this world, and it cuts deep.

Suddenly, I hear howls – multiple howls joining my own. My heart races as I run towards the sound. Could they be like me? Other werewolves? Will they be friendly, or will they see me as a threat?

I howl desperately, seeking an answer, and I receive plenty in response. My mind is in a daze, excitement and fear battling within me. I've only encountered one other werewolf before, during my first transformative run. But now there are more, and I crave their acceptance and companionship, as I have no family left.

In my haze, I fail to notice a few feet away a bear feeding on a dead deer. My realization dawns only when I accidentally bump into it.

I back up immediately, trying to make myself look smaller as the bear turns and growls at me.

Oh, shit.

Was I about to become a bear's meal just before meeting others like me? The fear and desperation to cry overwhelmed me. I whimper and try to back away from the bear, but it stands on its hind legs, ready to attack. I close my eyes, unable to face it, when suddenly, I hear more growls and barks. Wolves, the sounds of wolves!

As I open my eyes, I see different-colored, huge wolves standing in front of me, protecting me. Their barking and growling drive the bear away, and they turn to me with curiosity rather than hostility.

Approaching me, one of the wolves sniffs the air and then sniffs me, tilting his head curiously. I stand tall, barking at him to show I mean no harm. He barks back and motions for me to follow him. Feeling accepted, I walk behind him, and the other wolves surround me, forming a protective circle.

We walk for a while until the forest opens up into an unexpected town that wasn't on any map I'd seen before. My fascination with maps and my knowledge of Russia didn't account for this place. In front of us stands a large mansion-like house made of ancient-looking stones.

The wolves suddenly begin shifting into their human forms, leaving me feeling shy and embarrassed. A woman greets me kindly, covering me with a blanket, and urges me to shift so I can meet the alpha.

Once I'm covered, I shift back into my human form, and the men surrounding me are now clothed in jeans and simple shirts, studying me with curiosity. I realize that it's rare to find a lone wolf.

Just as I wonder what's happening, I meet the gaze of an old man whose eyes are locked onto mine. He seems shocked, and he sniffs the air as if trying to confirm something. Before I can react, he embraces me tightly, lifting me from the floor.

Confused and overwhelmed, I try to speak, but he pulls away slightly, and another woman comes running towards me, embracing me as well, calling me "baby" and "home."

Feeling breathless, I pull away from their embrace, not understanding why they are showing such affection. Besides my adoptive parents, no one has shown me empathy before. I ask who they are and how they know me, and their response leaves me stunned.

They claim to be my parents, but I can't comprehend it. Their faces are somewhat familiar, but I've never been to Russia before. My confusion and doubts irritate them, and I scream in pain as my brain throbs and memories start flooding in.

The realization hits me – they are indeed my parents, and I remember them now. Memories come back in a painful rush, putting names to the faces that were triggering my brain to remember.

Before succumbing to the darkness, I can hear their concerned voices, and I finally accept my true identity and the family I've found.