The harsh words from the mysterious voice on the phone lingered in my mind like an unshakable curse. I paced restlessly in the villa, each step feeling weighed down by an indescribable heaviness. Just as the oppressive atmosphere grew unbearable, the doorbell rang. Peering through the peephole, I saw Lucy's charming figure, her eyes filled with concern.

　　"Boss, you looked unwell when you left work today. I couldn't help but worry, so I came to check on you." Her voice was gentle and caring, like a soft breeze trying to dispel the gloom in my heart.

　　I forced a smile, "Lucy, thank you for your concern. I might just be a bit tired from work."

　　She stepped inside, the faint scent of her delicate perfume wafting through the air. "Boss, if you have something on your mind, you don't have to bear it alone. Talk to me."

　　Before I could respond, a sudden wave of intense dizziness overwhelmed me like a surging tide of darkness. My legs buckled, and I felt myself teetering. Seeing this, Lucy rushed over to support me, urgently calling my name, but her voice faded into the distance as I succumbed to an endless black void.

　　I don’t know how long it was before I awakened in a haze of pain. I found myself in a dim, damp, and foul-smelling abandoned warehouse. My hands were tightly shackled with cold, hard cuffs, the other end of the chain wrapped around a sturdy iron pillar. Not far away, Lucy was also imprisoned, her hair disheveled, her eyes filled with terror and helplessness. When she saw I was awake, a flicker of surprise and relief crossed her face.

　　"Wow, you woke up pretty quickly." A sinister, mocking voice emerged from the shadows. A man with a brutish face, fierce eyes, and a grotesque scar at the corner of his mouth slowly stepped into view.

　　"Who are you? Why are you doing this?" I glared at him, my voice trembling slightly with anger.

　　He let out a chilling laugh, "I'm Karl, kid. I've heard you have a huge secret—you’re a werewolf. This secret is worth a fortune. As long as you cooperate and divulge the secrets of your transformation and the source of your power, I won’t just spare your lives; I can grant you a life of luxury. Otherwise, hm!" He brandished a spiked whip, cracking it in the air.

　　"Don't even think about it!" I shouted, struggling against my restraints, the cuffs digging painfully into my wrists.

　　Karl’s response was fury; he waved his hand, and several burly henchmen armed with clubs lunged at me like wolves. The clubs rained down upon me, and though I fought back, my hands were bound, making it impossible to defend myself fully. I could only endure the brutal pain. Lucy screamed in fear from the side, tears welling in her eyes.

　　Just as despair began to take over, a loud crash echoed from the warehouse roof, and a dark figure shot down like a bolt of black lightning. It was a woman clad in a black bodysuit, her movements as swift and graceful as a ghost. She executed a stunning mid-air spin, her feet striking like fierce battle axes, sending the henchmen flying to the ground.

　　Karl was taken aback, attempting to flee. But the woman was relentless, throwing a shimmering silver chain that wrapped around Karl's ankle, yanking him down like a butchered pig.

　　She quickly approached Lucy and me, pulling a sleek tool from her waist, and deftly unlocked our cuffs and the ropes binding Lucy. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Her voice was cold but held an undercurrent of concern.

　　I flexed my sore wrists and looked at her gratefully, "Thank you for saving us. Who are you?"

　　She lifted her head slightly, revealing deep, bright eyes that sparkled like stars in the night sky. "I'm Ellie. I've been tracking down Karl and his gang. They’re trying to control the power of werewolves to unleash chaos in the dark world, and I can't let them succeed. Besides, I have deep connections with the werewolf clan, so I won’t stand by while you’re in danger."

　　I turned to Lucy, who was still trembling. I gently pulled her into an embrace, comforting her. Ellie observed us, her brow slightly furrowed. "We can't stay here long; you’re in danger."

　　I nodded, "I have a safe house on the outskirts of town. Let's go there to regroup and plan our next move."

　　Ellie agreed, and the three of us cautiously left the abandoned warehouse. As we made our way to the safe house, I remained vigilant, scanning the surroundings. Lucy clung tightly to my arm, her body pressed against mine as if seeking comfort in my presence.

　　Finally, we reached the safe house. It was an unassuming villa nestled deep in the mountains, but inside it was well-equipped and secure. I led Ellie and Lucy inside and let them rest in the living room.

　　I went to the kitchen, poured some hot water into cups, and handed them to Ellie and Lucy. Ellie took the cup and said softly, "We can't just sit here and wait; we need to take the initiative."

　　I sat on the sofa, rubbing my temples. "I know, but we still don't know enough about the enemy. Karl is just a small player; there must be a bigger force behind him."

　　Lucy timidly suggested from the side, "Boss, I think we should investigate Karl's background first to see if we can find any clues."

　　Ellie glanced at Lucy with a hint of approval in her eyes. "That's a good idea. But we need to be cautious; if they dared to kidnap you, they will surely come after you again."

　　I stood up and walked to the window, gazing out at the dense forest. "I was kidnapped because my werewolf identity was exposed. But I can't figure out how they found out."

　　Ellie pondered for a moment. "It might be related to that time you transformed to save someone on the street. Even though you left quickly, perhaps someone saw you and tracked you down, ultimately discovering your secret."

　　I sighed helplessly, "It's my fault for being so impulsive and not considering the consequences."

　　Lucy walked over and gently took my hand. "Boss, don’t blame yourself. You acted to save that young man; it was a just act."

　　Looking at Lucy, warmth surged in my heart. Ellie cleared her throat, "Alright, this isn't the time for self-reproach. We should rest for now and regain our strength before investigating Karl."

　　Thus, the three of us found separate rooms in the safe house to rest. I lay in bed but couldn’t sleep, constantly contemplating our next steps. I knew this crisis was only just beginning, and I had to protect both Lucy and Ellie, while also safeguarding my secret, preparing for a thrilling confrontation with the dark forces.

　　After a few hours, I got up and went to the living room, where I found Ellie and Lucy waiting for me. Ellie looked much better, and she said, "I thought about it; we can start by checking Karl's phone to see if we can find any records of his connections to the forces behind him."

　　My eyes lit up, "That's a great idea. But now that we’ve driven Karl off, I wonder if we can find his phone."

　　Lucy said, "I remember seeing him put his phone on a table in the warehouse."

　　Ellie stood up, "Then let’s head back to the warehouse to look for the phone. It’s risky, but it’s the best plan we have right now."