ACT I   ▬▬▬▬ cabin in the woods

HAILEY COULD FEEL THE SUN BEATING AGAINST HER SKIN, as she wandered around the back of her house towards the rustic barn that was slowly deteriorating. The warmth of the sun's rays was a welcome sensation after the long, cold winter months. Her hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, with strands falling delicately around her face, framing her features. Hailey shielded her eyes with her hand, accustoming them to the rare sunlight that peeked through the clouds.

Confusion clouded Hailey's thoughts as she made her way toward the barn. Her father, Kai Omega, had informed her that he would be spending the rest of the day working in the barn before joining her for lunch at the diner. It was out of character for him to stand up anyone, let alone his own daughter. Hailey's mind raced with worry, as she contemplated the reasons behind his absence.

The creaking of the barn door announced her arrival, and Hailey's cautious steps came to an abrupt halt as a look of horror overcame her face. The sight before her caused her to let out an involuntary whimper, her body instinctively recoiling in shock before adrenaline took over and propelled her into a sprint. The image burned into her mind and her heart pounded against the confines of her chest. Her father, her rock, had succumbed to the dark thoughts that haunted him since the loss of his beloved wife. His lifeless body hung from a noose, his once vibrant presence extinguished.

In a desperate attempt to save him, Hailey's hands grasped tightly onto her father's lifeless legs, pushing upwards in a desperate attempt to provide him room to breathe. The frigid touch of his cold body sent shivers down her spine, revealing the brutal reality that death had already taken hold. "No, dad! Dad, please... not you too," Hailey cried out, her voice choked with grief and disbelief. She clung to her father's hanging body, hoping against hope that she could somehow will him back to life. Her sobs echoed throughout the barn, pleading for him not to leave her alone in this cruel world.

"You don't get to leave me!" she whimpered, the pain in her voice palpable. As if in response to her anguish, a pair of comforting arms gently pulled her away from the lifeless body and enveloped her in their warmth. A soothing voice whispered words of solace, leading her away from the distressing scene and out into the open air. The world around Hailey began to blur, the barn and everything it represented fading into the realm of memory.

With a sudden gasp, Hailey jolted awake, her body covered in a thin sheen of sweat. The sunlight streamed into the room through the half-open blinds, casting long, golden streaks across the floor. Sticky tears stained her cheeks, evidence of the emotional journey her dream had taken her on. As she glanced at the clock, a sinking feeling settled in her stomach. She was already running late, with little time to spare.

Summoning her strength, Hailey rose from the couch, though every movement felt as though she were carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Her entire body ached, the remnants of the dream still lingering in her bones. Despite the fatigue that threatened to overcome her, she made her way towards the shower, hoping the hot water would soothe both her body and her mind. As the cascading warmth enveloped her, Hailey couldn't shake the unease that seemed to be imprinted in every fiber of her being, a lingering reminder of the haunting images that played out in her subconscious.

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Stumbling from her old, beaten-up truck, Hailey readjusted her oversized sunglasses and pulled her warm, woolen coat even tighter against her trembling fever- ridden body. With each step, she slowly ascended the creaky, wooden stairs of Emily's cozy home, the sound echoing through the quiet neighborhood, before finally mustering the courage to knock against the worn, weathered door.

Emily, with her sparkling eyes and generous smile, appeared at the door, her expression instantly shifting from joy to concern as she ushered Hailey inside. Without wasting a second, she guided Hailey to a comfortable chair, her worry evident in her furrowed brow and gentle touch.

"You weren't lying when you said you were sick!" Emily exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine worry as she took in Hailey's pale complexion and tired eyes.

Hailey shrugged nonchalantly, a mix of pain and resignation evident in her voice, as she reluctantly removed her sunglasses, wincing at the sudden increase in light that intensified the throbbing ache in her head and made the dark circles under her eyes more prominent.

Gasping at the sight, Emily hurriedly brought Hailey a steaming cup of soothing tea, her motherly instincts kicking in. "Oh honey, you should've called! I really wouldn't have minded. You look like you're on the verge of collapse."

Hailey took a slow sip of the hot tea, feeling its warmth spread through her body. "I'll be fine," she reassured Emily, her voice tinged with a mixture of weariness and resilience. "This happens a lot... It'll last a few days, but afterwards, I'll be back to my normal self."

Concern etched on her face, Emily probed further. "Have you seen a doctor about it?"

Hailey shook her head, a hint of frustration in her voice. "It's not something a doctor can fix."

Emily was about to inquire further, her curiosity piqued, but before she could voice her question, the door to the small house swung open, and the boisterous boys burst in.

"Em! Where's the food?" Jared called out, but he stopped in his tracks as his eyes landed on Hailey, sitting wearily in the chair.

"You look hungover," Jared remarked, his tone laced with teasing.

"Fuck off," Hailey groaned, dropping her head onto her arms, exasperation evident in her tone.

Without hesitation, Embry pulled a chair beside Hailey, concern etched on his face as he gently brushed her hair back and felt the chill against her clammy skin.

"Is it happening again?" Embry whispered, pressing his warm hand against her forehead, seeking any sign of relief or reassurance.

"What do you think?" Hailey spat, her eyes narrowing in a way that would make any man cower.

Embry grimaced, his worry deepening. "Did you tell Billy? Or one of the council members?" he asked, his voice gentle yet urgent.

"Nah, they're sick of this shit. I know it," Hailey replied dismissively, her frustration evident in her voice.

Shaking his head, Embry persisted, "They're not, Hailey. This is important! It could—" His incessant questioning was abruptly interrupted by Jared, who lazily pulled out a chair and slumped down.

"What's important?" Jared asked casually, his mouth full of food.

Hailey shrugged off Embry's arm, her voice filled with frustration. "None of your business, fool" she snapped, her sudden outburst catching the pack and Emily off guard. Hailey had always been somewhat standoffish, but no one had ever heard her snap so quickly.

"Kinda is, Hailey," Paul chimed in from his place against the door, raising an eyebrow.

"You are so punchable," Hailey stated with an exasperated exhalation, her body tensing with pent-up anger and anxiety.

"Well, that's aggressive," Jared mumbled through a mouthful of food, his remark falling on deaf ears as Hailey pushed herself up from the chair, her hands clenched tightly as her whole body trembled with suppressed emotions.

"Hey, Em... she's, uh, shaking," Jared called out, concern squeezing his voice.

Emily's eyes widened in alarm. She threw the tea towel onto the counter and glanced worriedly at the boys. "Get her outside, Sam's around the back," she ordered, her maternal instinct taking over.

Embry moved to assist Hailey to stand, but she pushed him away and walked out of the house, her steps unsteady before collapsing on the front steps. Hugging her knees tightly to her chest, she started taking slow, deep breaths to calm herself.

"Sam!" Jared yelled, watching as the man jogged from around the side of the house.

"What?" Sam questioned, his eyebrows furrowed in concern as he slowly made his way towards the girl. "Hailey?" he murmured, looking at the girl with a mixture of concern and recognition in his eyes.

"Can you just let me go to the council?" Hailey asked in a monotone voice, her eyes devoid of any emotion.

Sam looked between the group of boys, his gaze finally meeting Embry's, who nodded in agreement. "Yeah, give me your keys," Sam requested, holding out his hand.

Hailey stood up slowly, her movements sluggish, and tossed him the keys before sliding into the passenger seat of the truck, exhaustion evident in her every movement.

As Sam sped off, his focus divided between the road and the girl beside him, beads of sweat forming on her hairline and her skin growing even paler, Hailey finally let herself relax. She unzipped her jacket and peeled off the flannel, her head falling against the seat, her energy depleted.

Observing Hailey closely, Sam decided it was now or never to fill her in on the truth. "Hailey, there are some things you need to know," he began, his voice filled with urgency. "The legends are all true. Me and the boys, we're spirit warriors, and you've triggered the gene too..."

Hailey groaned, interrupting him, "And I thought I was delusional..."

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Hailey laid on woven mats made from string and straw, the rough texture pressing against her back as she tried to find some comfort amidst the pain. Sue, her trusted friend, knelt beside her, focused and determined, meticulously rubbing a homemade salve onto Hailey's pressure points. As the girl groaned and mumbled, her distress evident, a mixture of worry and confusion clouded the eyes of Sam, who stood nearby.

"Billy, what is going on?" Sam questioned, his voice laced with concern. His gaze was locked onto Hailey, his mind struggling to comprehend the scene unfolding before him. He had witnessed countless transformations of the boys, but never had he witnessed anything like this.

Hailey, overwhelmed by the intensity of her pain, could no longer fight it. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head, their whites stark against the flickering light of the makeshift campfire. Tremors coursed through her body, causing incessant twitching and shaking, the physical manifestations of inner turmoil.

Sue, sharing a knowing glance with Billy, silently acknowledged the gravity of the situation. It was a moment they had been dreading, yet preparing for, knowing the truth that had eluded Sam for so long. A sigh escaped Billy's lips as he turned to face Sam, feeling a sense of heaviness settle on his shoulders.

"Hailey isn't a shifter, Sam," Billy stated with a mix of firmness and empathy, his tone weighted with understanding. The revelation hung in the air like a thick fog, permeating the silence around them.

Sam's eyes widened in a mix of shock and realization, the weight of his obliviousness crashing down upon him. He had unknowingly revealed something to Hailey that was not his place. As the full weight of his actions settled upon him, he realized just how much making up he had to do.

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    — RIN SPEAKS

Sam ovs has some making up to do... also I know slot of people portray Sam as some large gruff mean man who's only soft around Emily but in my eyes he's a victim of a resting bitch face and deserves everything life has to offer.

And I know this seems quite fast paced so far but I'm writing at my own speed and honestly I hate slow burns. Just give me what I came for??