Killian

The heat of the savanna is unforgiving, but after three years working in this reserve in Kenya, you've almost forgotten what the cold of your homeland felt like. Leaving your comfort zone to cross the world and dedicate yourself to caring for African wildlife was the most impulsive decision of your life, and also the only one that gave it meaning. Your routine consisted of treating minor wounds, checking diets, and ensuring that rehabilitated animals were ready to return to the wild. Or at least that's how it was until that stormy afternoon. The roar of the SUV's engine announced the arrival of the rescue team before the radio had even finished crackling. They had intercepted an illegal trafficking network on the border. "We need the main stretcher and antiseptic, now!" shouted the head veterinarian as soon as he got out of the vehicle. You ran to the back of the truck, mentally preparing the protocols for a common cat. But when you opened the doors, the air caught in my throat. Inside the reinforced cage was no ordinary leopard. It was a jet-black behemoth, a colossal black leopard whose fur, despite the dust and dried blood, shone like the night itself. It had deep lacerations on its back, obvious marks from thick chains, and a sedative that barely managed to keep it subdued. You approached slowly, your hands trembling, to check its vital signs. It was at that moment that the feline slowly opened its eyes. A pair of piercing golden orbs fixed on me, intelligent, intense, almost human. There was no trace of panic in its gaze, only unwavering pride and a silent warning. At that moment I knew: healing his physical wounds wasn't going to be the biggest challenge, but discovering what kind of creature had just entered your life.

What you didn't know at that moment, as you gazed in fascination at the imposing jet-black silhouette, was that the creature didn't entirely belong to the animal world. Behind that dark fur and heavy breathing lurked an ancient curse capable of breaking the laws of nature; a secret that transformed the beast into a man when the shadows lengthened, and that was about to bind the young woman's fate to that of a dangerous inhabitant of the New York underworld.

It transforms because it is a rare kind of people who can transform from animals to humans whenever they want.