Obsessed By Moonlight

A bond in blood

The days after Lucien’s warning passed in a blur, each moment tinged with fear and anticipation. Elena tried to go about her normal routine—school, work at the bookstore, and evenings at home—but nothing felt normal anymore. Everywhere she went, she felt as though eyes were watching her from the shadows.

And sometimes, they were.

Lucien kept his distance during the day, but at night, she would catch glimpses of him—standing at the edge of the woods, hidden beneath the cloak of mist. He was always there, watching, protecting.

It should have frightened her. But instead, it made her feel… safe.

One evening, after finishing her shift at Blackthorn Books, Elena was locking up when she felt it again—that eerie, prickling sensation at the back of her neck. She turned quickly, her heart racing, but there was no one there. Just the empty street, bathed in the pale glow of the streetlights.

“Elena.”

She spun around—and there he was. Lucien. He seemed to materialize out of the darkness, as silent and graceful as a shadow.

“You scared me,” she said, pressing a hand to her chest.

“Sorry,” he murmured, his lips twitching in a faint smile. “Old habits.”

Elena shook her head, trying to calm her racing heart. “What are you doing here?”

Lucien’s expression grew serious. “I told you I’d protect you. I wasn’t lying.”

Before Elena could respond, a sudden gust of wind whipped through the street, sending leaves scattering across the cobblestones. And with it came something else—a low, whispering sound, like voices carried on the breeze.

Lucien’s eyes narrowed, and his entire body tensed.

“They’re here,” he said softly.

“Who?” Elena asked, her voice trembling.

“Stay behind me,” Lucien commanded, stepping in front of her.

Out of the darkness, three figures emerged, their movements slow and deliberate. They were dressed in black, their faces pale and expressionless, but their eyes burned with a crimson glow that sent a chill down Elena’s spine.

“Well, well,” one of them drawled, a tall man with sharp cheekbones and a cruel smile. “If it isn’t Lucien. Still playing protector, are we?”

Lucien’s jaw tightened. “Leave her alone, Damien.”

Damien laughed, a cold, hollow sound. “Oh, but she’s so… tempting.” He tilted his head, his gaze sliding to Elena. “Is she yours, Lucien? Or can we share?”

Elena’s blood turned to ice. She took a step back, but Lucien reached for her hand, pulling her close.

“She’s mine,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Touch her, and I’ll kill you.”

For a moment, there was silence. Then Damien’s smile widened, revealing sharp, gleaming fangs.

“Interesting,” he said. “I didn’t think you were capable of obsession, Lucien. But it seems you’ve finally found your weakness.”

Lucien didn’t respond, but Elena could feel the tension radiating from him, like a coiled spring ready to snap.

“Come on, boys,” Damien said, turning to the others. “Let’s leave them alone… for now.”

With that, they melted back into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as they had appeared. But their parting words lingered in the air, a chilling promise of what was to come.

Lucien let out a breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly.

“Are you okay?” he asked, turning to Elena.

She nodded, though her hands were still trembling. “Who were they?”

“Vampires,” Lucien said grimly. “Like me. But they’re not like me, Elena. They don’t care about humans. They see you as nothing more than prey.”

Elena swallowed hard. “Why did they leave?”

Lucien hesitated. “Because they think you’re mine. And in our world, that means you’re off-limits—for now.”

“For now?” Elena repeated, her voice barely a whisper.

Lucien’s eyes darkened. “They’ll be back. And next time, they won’t just be playing games.”

Elena felt a wave of fear crash over her, but beneath it was something else—something stronger. She looked at Lucien, at the fierce protectiveness in his eyes, and she knew one thing for certain.

She wasn’t going to run.

Whatever was coming, she would face it. And she would face it with him.