Obsessed By Moonlight

Blood in the horizon

The next day dawned dark and cold, as though the sun had given up on trying to break through the thick blanket of clouds. Elena woke with a heaviness in her chest, her thoughts clouded by everything that had happened the night before.

Lucien’s kiss. His warning. The bond that now tied them together in ways she couldn’t fully understand.

And the danger that loomed over them both.

“Elena! You’re going to be late!” her mom called from downstairs.

Elena sighed, dragging herself out of bed. She dressed quickly, throwing on a hoodie and jeans, and headed downstairs, where her mom was waiting with a cup of coffee and a concerned look.

“You sure you’re okay, honey? You’ve been kind of… distant lately.”

“I’m fine, Mom,” Elena said, forcing a smile. “Just tired.”

Her mom didn’t look convinced, but she let it go. Elena grabbed her bag and headed out the door, her mind already racing ahead to what the day might bring.

At school, everything felt… off. The halls were quieter than usual, and the air was thick with tension, as though everyone was waiting for something to happen.

Elena found Mia by their lockers, but even her usually bubbly best friend seemed subdued.

“Hey,” Mia said, her brow furrowed. “Did you hear about what happened last night?”

Elena’s heart skipped a beat. “What happened?”

Mia glanced around, as if making sure no one was listening, and then leaned in closer.

“Someone was attacked in the woods,” she whispered. “A guy from Mason’s party. They found him this morning, unconscious and covered in blood.”

Elena’s stomach dropped. “Is he… okay?”

“They said he’ll be fine,” Mia said. “But he doesn’t remember what happened. Just that he heard something—like footsteps—and then everything went black.”

Elena’s mind raced. Was it Damien? Had he attacked someone to send a message to Lucien?

“Elena? Are you okay?” Mia asked, looking worried.

“I’m fine,” Elena said quickly. “I just… that’s really scary.”

Mia nodded. “Yeah. They’re saying it was probably some wild animal, but… I don’t know. It feels like there’s something else going on, you know?”

Elena forced another smile and nodded, but inside, she was spiraling.

She needed to talk to Lucien.

Elena found him after school, waiting by the edge of the woods like he always did. His expression was tense, and his dark eyes were watchful, scanning their surroundings as though he expected an attack at any moment.

“We need to talk,” Elena said, her voice low.

Lucien nodded. “I know. I heard about the attack.”

“Do you think it was Damien?” Elena asked.

Lucien’s jaw tightened. “It’s possible. He’s trying to draw me out—to force me to make a mistake.”

Elena’s heart pounded. “What do we do?”

Lucien hesitated. “We have to be careful. The bond makes you stronger, but it also makes you a target. If Damien finds out how deep our connection is, he’ll use it against us.”

Elena swallowed hard. “I’m not afraid, Lucien.”

“You should be,” Lucien said, his voice rough. “Damien is dangerous, Elena. He won’t stop until he gets what he wants.”

“And what does he want?” Elena asked, her voice shaking slightly.

Lucien’s eyes darkened. “Me broken—and you dead.”

Elena felt a chill run down her spine, but she refused to back down. “Then we’ll fight him. Together.”

Lucien stared at her for a long moment, and then he reached out and took her hand, his grip firm and reassuring.

“We’ll fight,” he said softly. “But we have to be smart. Damien is watching us, waiting for the right moment to strike. We can’t give him that moment.”

Elena nodded, her resolve hardening. She didn’t know how they were going to survive this, but she knew one thing for sure—she wasn’t going to let Damien tear them apart.

Whatever it took, she would protect the bond. She would protect Lucien.

Even if it meant embracing the darkness within her.