into the unknown

"But be careful, Luna. Some forces can’t be outrun."

Luna’s pulse pounded as Alexander released her hand. His words echoed in her mind, weighted with meaning she didn’t fully understand. The way he looked at her as if he knew more about her than she knew about herself sent a chill down her spine. She wanted to ask what he meant, but her instinct told her she wouldn’t like the answer.

He turned away, the moonlight casting an ethereal glow over his features. “Come with me,” he said, his voice calm but insistent. “It’s not safe here, and you need rest. We’ll talk more once you’re safe.”

Though every fiber of her being screamed to run, her legs felt like lead. She hesitated, then nodded. The fear and adrenaline from her chase earlier left her feeling vulnerable, and as wary as she was of Alexander, he was the only one offering her protection.

They walked in silence through the dense trees, the forest looming around them. Luna couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching her from the shadows, its gaze heavy and unyielding. She shivered and pulled her coat tighter, stealing glances at Alexander’s calm face as he led her down the path.

After a few minutes, they came upon a secluded house nestled between tall, ancient trees. It was larger than it had first appeared, with ivy winding up its stone walls and warm light glowing through the windows.

“This is your home?” she asked softly.

“One of them,” Alexander replied, opening the door and gesturing for her to enter. “My pack uses this house. You’ll be safe here.”

The word "pack" gave her pause. She opened her mouth to ask him what he meant, but his expression stopped her. His eyes were intense, unyielding, like he could see straight into her soul. She followed him into the warmth of the house, and the tension in her chest softened slightly, though a sense of unease lingered.

Alexander guided her to a spacious sitting room with a fire crackling in the hearth. The cozy leather armchairs and soft rugs created an inviting atmosphere, a stark contrast to the night’s chaos. She sank into one of the chairs, rubbing her hands together as the warmth seeped into her bones. Alexander sat across from her, his gaze steady and unwavering.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing thoughts. Finally, she couldn’t hold back the question that had been gnawing at her since they’d met. “How did you know my name?”

Alexander’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes seemed to grow darker, more guarded. He held her gaze, clearly debating whether to tell her the truth.

“I keep an eye on this town,” he said slowly. “It’s… close to my territory. Willow’s Edge may look quiet, but it lies on a boundary a place where different worlds intersect.”

His answer only deepened her confusion. She frowned. “I don’t understand. What do you mean by ‘different worlds’?”

Alexander leaned back, his gaze never leaving hers. “There are things in this world that most humans never see. Creatures that live among you, unseen.” He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. “And some of them… don’t have good intentions.”

The way he said it, as if he wasn’t one of those “humans,” made her stomach twist. She clenched her hands in her lap, feeling a surge of panic rise within her. “So, you’re saying you’re… not human?”

The question hung in the air, her voice barely a whisper. Alexander’s expression remained calm, but something flickered in his eyes—an acknowledgment that sent her heart racing.

“I’m not,” he said finally, his voice quiet but steady. “I’m what humans would call a… a shifter.”

Luna’s eyes widened, her body tensing as her mind struggled to process his words. She’d heard rumors, myths, and legends about creatures like him, but they were always stories told to scare children. Creatures that roamed the night, beings that could take the shape of men or wolves.

She scrambled to her feet, her eyes darting toward the door. “I… I don’t understand. This can’t be real.” Her voice shook as fear clawed at her, urging her to run.

Alexander held up his hands in a calming gesture. “Luna, please. I’m not here to harm you. I’ve been watching over this town for years, keeping people safe. And tonight, that meant protecting you.”

She backed away, her hand brushing against the cool leather of the couch. “You know my name, you know things about me that you shouldn’t… and you’re telling me you’re some kind of…” She couldn’t finish the sentence. The words felt foreign, impossible.

“I understand this is hard to accept,” he said, his voice soothing. “But if you run out there, if you try to leave, you’re only putting yourself in more danger.”

She swallowed hard, her heart pounding so loudly she could hear it echoing in her ears. “I can’t… I can’t just stay here with someone who’s not…” She trailed off, unable to finish the thought. Her mind raced, and she glanced toward the door, calculating her options.

Alexander seemed to sense her intention. “You’re safer here than out there. The man who chased you tonight was a Rogue—an outlaw with no loyalty or restraint. They hunt people like you, people who don’t know their own power.”

“People like me?” Luna whispered, gripping the edge of the couch.

He nodded, but didn’t elaborate. “They’ll come for you again, especially now that they’ve seen you.”

The room seemed to close in around her, the walls pressing in as panic clawed at her chest. Everything she’d known about the world felt like it was crumbling, leaving her stranded in this strange new reality with no clear way out.

“I… I need air,” she stammered, taking a step back.

Alexander watched her closely, his face unreadable. “I understand. But stay close.”

Nodding, she backed out of the room and slipped down the hallway, the weight of his gaze following her. She didn’t stop moving until she reached the door, pushing it open and stepping into the cool night air. She inhaled deeply, the cold biting at her skin and helping to clear her mind.

Luna glanced back toward the house, her heart racing. Alexander had been kind, protective, but her instincts screamed at her to run. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was standing at the edge of something dangerous, something she didn’t fully understand.

She lingered outside, waiting for the quiet of midnight to settle in before making her move. Every creak of the house behind her set her on edge, and she watched the surrounding trees, feeling as if unseen eyes were watching her, waiting.

Finally, when the silence grew thick and the moon rose higher, she slipped quietly through the shadows, her footsteps soft against the dirt path. She took a deep breath and began to walk, forcing herself not to look back. Her heart pounded as she put distance between herself and the house, a desperate need to escape propelling her forward.

But after a few minutes, she heard a soft rustle from the trees beside her. She froze, her pulse racing, every nerve on high alert.

“Leaving so soon?”

Alexander’s voice cut through the silence, calm but laced with a hint of disappointment. He stepped out from the shadows, his eyes reflecting the moonlight in an otherworldly way that made her breath hitch. She took a step back, her heart hammering as she realized there was no way to outrun him.

“Please,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “I don’t know you. I don’t know what you are… I just want to go home.”

He watched her for a moment, his expression softening. “I understand that this is a lot to process. But going back now would only make you a target.”

She shook her head, her voice trembling. “I never asked for any of this. I don’t want to be a target. I don’t want… whatever this is.”

Alexander stepped closer, his gaze gentle but firm. “You may not want it, but it’s a part of you now. And whether you understand it or not, you’re in danger. I can help you. But you have to trust me.”

Luna swallowed hard, her instincts screaming to run, but her body frozen in place. She could see the honesty in his eyes, a sincerity that contradicted every warning blaring in her mind.

After a long silence, she took a deep, shaky breath. “How can I trust you when I don’t even know you?”

He considered her words for a moment, then nodded slowly. “Fair enough. I won’t stop you from leaving if that’s truly what you want.” He gestured to the path behind him. “But think carefully. The Rogues know who you are now. They’ll come for you again, and they won’t care about your choices.”

Her heart sank, the weight of his words pressing down on her. She didn’t want to believe him, but deep down, she knew there was a truth to his warning. Reluctantly, she looked back toward the house, its warm glow spilling into the night. It felt like her only safe haven, however temporary.

Finally, she nodded, her voice barely a whisper. “I’ll stay… for tonight.”

Alexander stepped back, relief flickering across his face. “That’s all I ask.”

He led her back inside, the tension between them heavy and unspoken. As they returned to the warmth of the house, she felt a strange mix of fear