Bound By The Moon That Forgot Her

d carried a strange resonance, as if the world itself was holding its breath. The full moon hung heavy above the trees, its light muted by an

floor, he could see every movement-a rabbit darting between roots, an owl gliding overhead, the faint glitter of dew on leaves. But

the forest.

aware that fate itself had begun to pull her toward him. Her hair shimmered like molten silver under the Blood Moon, her green eyes wide

umans. They are fragile, fleeting, and weak. But she... she was neither fragile nor weak. Something about her dre

The sound carried softly across the clearing,

hey met his. "Who... who's there?"

ing. His presence alone seemed to shift the air. "

isbelief. There was fear, yes, but als

amber eyes caught the light, glowing faintly in the d

ng ancient that made his fur bristle. Aeron's head snapped toward the treeline, eyes narrowing.

udden tension. "Wha

he warned. "And do

ze was unnatural, their eyes glowing with an eerie red light, their movements fluid, predatory. Aero

aid to the wolves, voice shar

d in reply. Its teeth gleamed in the moonlight, and Aeron recognized the challenge. This was no

laws extending, teeth sharpening. His human form melted away into the Alpha that he truly was.

r heart thundering in her chest, she

g over the low rumble of his growl.

stilled. Aeron took a step toward her, protective, possessive, com

Something in him, something in the way his eyes held hers

ke warmth on a cold night. "...it has risen tonight, and with it, destinies aw

?" she asked, voice trembli

k of heat passing between them that made her knees weak. "Everyth

With a roar, he lunged, claws slicing the air, and the shadowy wolf leader backed down

s arm. "What... w

o find out who you really are... and why the

ow if she could trust him, but something told her-deep down-that she had no choice. Fate had

nd again, stronger this time, and to

he forest. Shadows danced, secrets whispered, and the night its

ing et

hat would n

y rustle, every snap of a twig, every shadow made him pause. He was an Alpha, trained to read danger before it arrived, and yet tonight... tonight was different. Th

entwined with his, though she did not entirely understand why. Every step with

ed a weight she couldn't ignore. "You are not safe here, not while the Blood Moon ri

hard. "Forces? D

ould demand her-but he knew it was too soon. Her mind, untrained and unprepared, would not comprehend it. The first stirrings of

lly, his amber eyes locking onto hers. "Wha

n ways she did not understand. The rustling of leaves sounded louder, the forest smelled sharper, and the shadows seemed to shift as

that?" she

t speaks. Sometimes it warns. Someti

d light. Aeron knelt, brushing his hand over the earth, sensing the thre

s widened.

awakening. Slowly. Subtly. You cannot see it yet

t it-like heat rising through her veins, like electricity dancing under h

you tonight. Not until you understand what you are." He stepped cl

is gaze left no room for falsehood. S

tible nod of approval. "Good. Trust is the

eached a small grove where the trees arched overhead, forming a natural cathedral of wood and moonlight. Here

eneath her palms. "This is as far as we go tonight. You need to rest.

im. "My strength? I d

will not wait forever. The Blood Moon has awakened something inside you. Y

wavering-made her breath catch. For a moment, she thought she could see something flicker behind his eye

d for me," sh

with meaning. "I have lived long enough to know the cost of fear.

ic, undeniable, and terrifying all at once. Her heart raced, and for the first time in

ow of the Blood Moon. A distant howl broke the silence-a wolf, perhaps, or something older. Aer

"The world you have known is only a fraction of what exists. And you...

ightened. "

d. "And that truth...

roken only by the whisper of wind through the trees.

e. Tomorrow, eve

ons. Who was he, really? What was she? And wh

its haunting light. And beneath its gaze, the first threads of destiny began to w

a stirring-a memory, a power, a truth she could not yet name. And though fear lingered, it was mingl

t let anyone-or anything-touch her tonight. Not the wolves in the forest. N

e. And for the first time, Elara Vale felt the threads of her life stretch ta

ystery, and the crimson glow of the moon-waited. Neither knew what awaited them, bu

hing older than the trees themselves stirred

had only j