Obsessed By Moonlight

The edge of control

The next few days passed in a blur, each one heavier than the last. Elena could feel the bond deepening, threading through her like a dark current she couldn’t escape. She’d catch herself thinking about Lucien at random moments—his voice, his touch, the way his eyes seemed to burn straight into her soul.

But it wasn’t just Lucien. Something else was stirring inside her. A hunger, sharp and insistent, that she didn’t understand and couldn’t ignore. It was like an itch just beneath her skin, growing stronger with each passing day.

“Elena, you’re spacing out again,” Mia said, nudging her in the ribs as they sat in the cafeteria.

“Sorry,” Elena muttered, forcing a smile.

“You’ve been weird lately,” Mia said, giving her a suspicious look. “Like, even weirder than usual. What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Elena said quickly. “Just… a lot on my mind.”

Mia raised an eyebrow. “Does this have anything to do with that new guy, Lucien? Because, no offense, but he gives me major vampire vibes.”

Elena’s heart skipped a beat. “Vampire vibes?”

“Yeah,” Mia said, laughing. “You know—dark, brooding, probably writes tragic poetry in his spare time. Classic vampire stuff.”

Elena forced a laugh, but inside, she was spiraling. If Mia was picking up on something, how long would it be before someone else did, too? How long before Damien found out?

She glanced across the cafeteria and saw Lucien sitting alone at a table in the corner, his eyes fixed on her. The bond flared between them, and she felt a rush of heat that made her breath catch in her throat.

“I’ll be right back,” Elena said, standing up abruptly.

Mia frowned. “Where are you going?”

“Bathroom,” Elena lied, already walking away.

She made her way toward Lucien, her pulse racing. When she reached his table, he stood up without a word and led her out of the cafeteria, down the empty hallway, and out the back doors into the shadowed courtyard.

As soon as they were alone, Lucien turned to her, his eyes dark and intense.

“You’re feeling it, aren’t you?” he said quietly.

Elena nodded. “The hunger. It’s getting stronger.”

Lucien’s jaw tightened. “I was afraid of this.”

“What’s happening to me, Lucien?” Elena asked, her voice trembling.

“The bond is changing you,” Lucien said. “It’s awakening the part of you that’s connected to me—the part that craves what I crave.”

Elena’s breath caught. “You mean… blood?”

Lucien hesitated, then nodded. “It won’t be as strong as what I feel, but yes. The hunger is part of the bond. And the more you give in to it, the harder it will be to stop.”

Elena felt a wave of panic. “How do I stop it?”

Lucien stepped closer, his eyes filled with concern. “You have to control it. Focus on something else—something stronger than the hunger.”

“Like what?”

“Like us,” Lucien said softly. “Focus on me. On the bond. We’re connected, Elena. We can help each other.”

Elena’s heart pounded as she looked up at him. She could feel the bond pulsing between them, stronger than ever, pulling them closer together.

“I don’t want to lose myself, Lucien,” she whispered.

“You won’t,” Lucien said, his voice fierce. “I won’t let you.”

Before she could respond, he reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face. His touch was cool and comforting, and for a moment, the hunger faded, replaced by something warmer, something deeper.

“Elena,” Lucien said, his voice low and rough. “I—”

A sudden noise behind them cut him off. They both turned, their senses on high alert.

Standing at the edge of the courtyard, half-hidden in the shadows, was Damien.

“Well, isn’t this touching,” he drawled, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. “The vampire and his little human pet. How sweet.”

Lucien stepped in front of Elena, his body tense and ready for a fight. “Stay away from her, Damien.”

Damien chuckled. “Or what? You’ll bite me?”

Lucien didn’t respond, but Elena could feel the tension radiating off him in waves.

“You’re wasting your time, Lucien,” Damien said, his voice mocking. “You can’t protect her forever. Sooner or later, she’ll break. And when she does… she’ll belong to me.”

Elena’s blood ran cold.

“Over my dead body,” Lucien growled, his eyes flashing with fury.

Damien’s smile widened. “That can be arranged.”

And then, before either of them could react, he was gone, vanishing into the shadows as if he’d never been there at all.

Elena let out a shaky breath, her heart racing. “What are we going to do, Lucien?”

Lucien turned to her, his expression grim. “We’re going to fight. And we’re going to win.”

But deep down, Elena knew that the battle was just beginning—and that the darkness wasn’t done with them yet.