Obsessed By Moonlight

Shadows within

The journey back to the manor was quiet, but tension crackled in the air like a thunderstorm waiting to break. Elena could feel it with every step—the unease settling into her bones, the weight of the power inside her thrumming just beneath the surface, like a wild thing desperate to break free.

Lucien stayed close to her, his hand brushing against hers as they moved through the dense forest. His eyes darted to her now and then, full of worry and something deeper, something darker. But he didn’t say anything. Not yet.

Selene led the way, her sharp gaze scanning the shadows for any sign of danger. Mia and Cassie walked a little behind, whispering to each other, their voices low and anxious.

No one wanted to break the silence.

It wasn’t until they reached the edge of the forest and caught sight of the manor—its towering spires silhouetted against the rising moon—that Elena finally spoke.

“I don’t feel like myself,” she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lucien turned to her, his brows drawing together in concern. “What do you mean?”

Elena hesitated, struggling to put the feeling into words. “It’s like… there’s something inside me. Something dark. And it’s getting stronger.”

Lucien’s jaw tightened, and he reached out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re stronger now, Elena. That’s not a bad thing.”

“But what if I lose control?” she asked, her eyes searching his. “What if the power takes over, and I become something… something I don’t want to be?”

Lucien cupped her face in his hands, his gaze fierce. “You won’t. Because you’re not alone in this. I won’t let you lose yourself.”

Elena’s heart ached at the intensity in his voice. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that she was strong enough to handle the power of the Source. But deep down, a part of her wasn’t so sure.

They reached the manor in silence, and Selene pushed open the heavy iron gates with a wave of her hand. The wards flared briefly, shimmering with blue light, then faded as they stepped through.

Inside, the manor was quiet, the air thick with the scent of old wood and candle wax. Elena felt a strange sense of foreboding as they made their way down the long, dimly lit hallway toward the main chamber.

As they entered, Dimitri rose from one of the high-backed chairs near the fireplace. His dark eyes widened when he saw them.

“You’re back,” he said, his voice tense. “What happened?”

Selene glanced at Elena, then back at Dimitri. “The Source… merged with Elena. She’s carrying its power now.”

Dimitri’s expression darkened. “That’s dangerous.”

“We know,” Lucien said sharply.

Elena stepped forward, her chin lifting. “I didn’t ask for this, Dimitri. But it’s done. And now we have to figure out how to use this power to stop Damien before he finds us.”

Dimitri studied her for a long moment, then nodded. “Agreed. But if you’re carrying the Source, that means Damien will sense you. He’ll come for you.”

“Let him,” Elena said, her voice cold and steady. “I’m done running.”

A flicker of admiration crossed Dimitri’s face, but it was quickly replaced by concern. “If we’re going to fight Damien, we need a plan. And we need allies.”

“I’ll send word to the other clans,” Selene said. “But we’ll need time to gather our forces.”

Elena frowned. “Do we have time?”

Lucien shook his head. “Not much. Damien knows we went after the Source. He’ll be hunting us already.”

“Then we need to act fast,” Elena said. She turned to Selene. “Call the clans. I’ll do whatever it takes to get ready for the fight.”

Selene hesitated, then nodded. “You’re stronger than you realize, Elena. But you’re right—we don’t have much time. We’ll start training tomorrow.”

Elena nodded, though her mind was already racing ahead. She could feel the power of the Source thrumming inside her, dark and dangerous, and she knew that controlling it wouldn’t be easy. But she didn’t have a choice.

As the others began to discuss battle plans, Lucien took her hand and led her out of the room. They walked in silence until they reached the balcony overlooking the moonlit garden.

“Elena,” he said softly, turning to face her.

She looked up at him, her heart aching at the worry in his eyes. “What is it?”

“I’m scared for you,” he admitted. “This power… it’s changing you. I can feel it.”

Elena swallowed hard. “I can feel it too. But I can control it, Lucien. I have to.”

Lucien cupped her face in his hands, his thumb brushing gently over her cheek. “Just promise me one thing.”

“What?”

“Promise me you won’t let the darkness consume you. No matter what happens, hold on to who you are. Hold on to us.”

Tears stung Elena’s eyes, and she nodded. “I promise.”

Lucien leaned down and kissed her, his lips warm and gentle against hers. For a moment, the world faded away, and there was only the two of them—the girl with the darkness inside her and the boy who loved her, despite it all.

But deep down, Elena knew that this was just the calm before the storm.

And when the storm finally broke, nothing would ever be the same again.