Moonlight Millionaire

Chapter Five - The Mansion's Secrets

We stumbled back into the mansion, breathless and covered in dirt. Jonathan’s hand was tight on my arm as he half-pulled, half-carried me up the grand staircase, his eyes constantly darting toward the windows and doors as though expecting something—or someone—to burst through at any moment.

My body was still trembling from the chase, every nerve buzzing with adrenaline. I could barely process what had just happened—giant wolves, a terrifying chase through the woods, and Jonathan’s superhuman strength and speed. Who was he really?

We reached the second floor, and Jonathan hurried me down a long corridor, finally stopping outside a heavy wooden door. Without a word, he pushed it open and ushered me inside.

The room was nothing like I’d expected. It was a library—an expansive, dimly lit space lined with floor-to-ceiling shelves packed with leather-bound books. A massive fireplace crackled at one end, casting flickering shadows across the ornate furniture.

"Stay here," Jonathan ordered, his voice a low growl.

Before I could argue, he was gone, leaving me standing in the center of the room, my mind racing. The mansion’s eerie silence pressed in around me. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to shake the cold fear that clung to my skin.

I moved toward the fireplace, the warmth a small comfort in the overwhelming uncertainty. My thoughts were chaotic—who were those wolves? What had I gotten myself into? And what was MB’s true connection to all of this?

My eyes drifted to the bookshelves, curiosity momentarily overtaking my fear. I reached out, running my fingers over the spines of the ancient books, feeling their age and weight. Some of them had titles in languages I didn’t recognize, their covers worn and cracked. Others looked newer, meticulously organized by subject.

But one book stood out.

It wasn’t like the others. It was a simple, black leather-bound journal, tucked away on the shelf almost as though it had been hidden. My pulse quickened as I pulled it out and opened the cover. The pages were filled with handwriting—sharp, precise lines of text written in black ink.

Flipping through the pages, I realized it was a journal. MB’s journal.

I hesitated for a moment, feeling like I was intruding on something deeply personal, but the need for answers outweighed my guilt. I skimmed through the entries, my eyes catching snippets of information—mentions of packs, alliances, betrayals.

And then, I saw it.

An entry dated five years ago.

_“The transformation grows stronger each full moon. The beast inside me fights harder for control. I cannot let it win. I will not allow it to consume me. But I fear time is running out. The pack senses weakness, and the rival clan grows bolder. Anya must never know.”_

My breath caught in my throat. MB had known about me… five years ago?

I flipped further back, scanning for more clues, but the journal abruptly ended at that entry. What did it mean? Why was he writing about me before we had even met? My mind reeled with questions I didn’t know how to answer.

Just as I was about to dig deeper into the journal, the door creaked open, and Jonathan strode back in. His eyes immediately zeroed in on the book in my hands, and his expression darkened.

“You shouldn’t be reading that,” he said, his tone cold and sharp.

I snapped the journal shut, holding it defensively against my chest. “What is going on, Jonathan? What’s in that journal? What is MB hiding?”

Jonathan’s jaw clenched, his eyes flicking to the fireplace as though searching for the right words. “There are things you don’t understand, Anya. Things that are better left alone.”

I stepped closer, my frustration boiling over. “I’ve just been chased through the woods by wolves—no, not wolves, monsters—and you’re telling me I don’t understand? What is MB? What are you?”

For a long moment, Jonathan didn’t answer. His eyes met mine, the flickering fire casting strange shadows across his face. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost pained.

“He’s a werewolf, Anya. And so am I.”

The words hung in the air between us, heavy and impossible. My mind struggled to grasp the truth—Jonathan, the calm, composed butler, and MB, the elusive billionaire, were both werewolves. It felt like I was drowning in a sea of revelations, each one more unbelievable than the last.

I stumbled back, my mind reeling. “How—how is this possible?”

Jonathan stepped toward me, his face etched with regret. “It’s been like this for centuries. MB’s family has been tied to the curse for generations. He’s the Alpha of this pack, but there’s more at play here than just a family legacy.”

My breath hitched. “The wolves that chased us… they weren’t part of MB’s pack, were they?”

Jonathan’s expression hardened. “No. They belong to a rival pack—the Blood Moon Clan. They’ve been after MB’s territory for years. Tonight was just the beginning.”

A cold chill swept through me, the reality of the danger sinking in. This wasn’t just some bizarre secret world I’d stumbled into. It was a full-blown war, and I was caught in the middle of it.

“We need to leave,” Jonathan said, his voice firm. “This place isn’t safe anymore. If they find out about you—”

“They already know,” a deep voice interrupted from the doorway.

I turned sharply to see MB standing there, his tall frame casting a long shadow into the room. His eyes were dark, unreadable, and the tension in the room spiked as he walked toward us.

“They know about Anya,” MB continued, his gaze flicking to Jonathan. “Which means they’ll come for her next.”

My heart pounded in my chest as MB’s words sunk in. I was a target now—because of him.

I clenched my fists, feeling anger flare inside me. “You knew this would happen,” I accused, my voice shaking. “You knew, and you didn’t tell me.”

MB’s eyes softened, but there was a steeliness behind them. “I didn’t want this life for you, Anya. But now that you’re here, we don’t have a choice.”

He took a step closer, and despite everything, I felt the pull of his presence—the magnetic intensity that had drawn me to him from the beginning. His hand reached for mine, but I pulled away, the weight of betrayal too heavy to ignore.

“You used me,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. “You lied to me.”

MB’s face tightened, pain flickering across his features. “I never lied about how I feel.”

His words hung in the air, and for a moment, the firelight flickered between us, casting long shadows on the walls. My heart warred with my mind, caught between the undeniable connection I felt with MB and the overwhelming sense of betrayal.

Jonathan cleared his throat, breaking the tension. “We don’t have time for this. The Blood Moon Clan won’t wait.”

MB nodded, his gaze never leaving mine. “We’ll talk about this later,” he said quietly, before turning to Jonathan. “Get her to the safe house. I’ll handle the Blood Moon.”

“I’m not running,” I interrupted, my voice steadier than I felt. “I’m staying to help.”

Both men looked at me, Jonathan with surprise, MB with a mix of admiration and frustration.

“This isn’t your fight,” MB said, his voice hard. “You have no idea what you’re up against.”

“I don’t care,” I shot back. “I’m not leaving you.”

For a moment, silence stretched between us. Then, MB gave a sharp nod.

“Fine,” he said. “But you stay close to me. And when I tell you to run, you run. Understand?”

I nodded, my heart thudding in my chest.

The mansion may have been filled with secrets, but the battle outside was coming—and I was about to dive headfirst into a world I could never have imagined.