Chapter 1: Moonlit Fangs and Forbidden Love
The night air was thick with tension as if the moon was holding its breath. Beneath its pale glow, the forest was eerily silent—except for the faint rustle of leaves underfoot. The dense trees loomed like silent sentinels, their twisted branches stretching toward the heavens. In the distance, a low growl rumbled from deep within the shadows, sending a shiver down her spine.
Nina had never been one to wander the forest after dark, but tonight was different. Something was pulling her, a sensation she couldn't shake—a feeling deep in her bones that something awaited her, something powerful and dangerous.
Her heart raced as her feet carried her deeper into the woods, guided only by the moon's dim light. The growl came again, closer this time. She froze, every instinct screaming at her to run, but her feet refused to move. The sound was no longer just a growl, but the unmistakable rumble of something... or someone, large, predatory.
"Nina," a voice whispered through the trees, low and commanding.
It was a voice that she couldn't place, but it stirred something within her—a memory or perhaps a longing. Her breath hitched as the shadows around her seemed to move. She wasn't alone. The realization hit her like a storm, but before she could react, the figure emerged from the trees.
A man. No—more than a man. His eyes gleamed with an unnatural intensity, glowing in the moonlight, and his face was framed by wild, untamed dark hair. His skin was marked with strange tattoos, swirling symbols that shimmered like ink under the pale light. His gaze locked onto hers, and in that moment, Nina felt her pulse quicken—not from fear, but from an undeniable pull.
"Stay back," she warned, though her voice trembled.
The man stepped closer, his movements smooth and predatory. His lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "You've been waiting for this, haven't you?"
Nina's chest tightened as her pulse pounded in her ears. She could see the sharp glint of fangs beneath his smirk, gleaming like the edge of a knife. "What are you?"
His smile widened, and for a split second, his eyes flickered with something darker—something ancient and dangerous. "I am what the moon calls."
Her heart skipped a beat. Her legs felt weak, as if they might buckle under her. But the pull—the attraction—was undeniable. She couldn't look away.
Before she could speak, the forest erupted with sound. A vicious snarl pierced the night air, followed by the unmistakable rush of claws on dirt. The man's eyes narrowed, and he spun, his body becoming a blur of motion. He was gone before Nina could even blink.
The growls grew louder, closing in. She turned, ready to flee, but the shadows swirled around her, disorienting her.
And then she saw it—a pair of glowing eyes watching her from the darkness. Not one set, but two. And then three. The pack was closing in.
The world seemed to hold its breath, as Nina realized the full extent of her mistake. She hadn't just wandered into the forest. She had walked straight into their world.
And now, there was no way out.