Obsessed By Moonlight

Shadows clossing in

The following morning, sunlight streamed through Elena’s window, but it brought no comfort. The night’s events lingered in her mind like a nightmare that refused to fade. Lucien had stayed by her side until dawn, only leaving reluctantly to avoid being caught by the daylight. Now, as she walked to school, her thoughts were consumed by the girl she had seen at the edge of the woods—Lilith, with her glowing eyes and eerie smile.

“Elena!” Mia’s voice broke through her thoughts, and Elena looked up to see her best friend hurrying toward her in the parking lot.

“You look like you haven’t slept in days,” Mia said, eyeing her with concern. “What’s going on? And don’t say ‘nothing’ because I’m not buying it.”

Elena hesitated, her mind racing. She couldn’t tell Mia the truth—not about Lucien, the bond, or the vampires who were hunting her. But she hated lying to her best friend.

“I’ve just been… stressed,” she said finally. “You know, school, life… stuff like that.”

Mia gave her a skeptical look. “Uh-huh. And does ‘stuff like that’ have anything to do with the dark, brooding guy who keeps staring at you like you’re the last drop of water in the desert?”

Elena’s heart skipped a beat. She followed Mia’s gaze and saw Lucien standing near the edge of the school grounds, half-hidden in the shadows. Even from a distance, his presence was magnetic, and Elena felt the bond between them flare to life.

“It’s complicated,” Elena said, tearing her gaze away from him.

“Complicated how?” Mia asked, raising an eyebrow.

Elena opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, a familiar voice interrupted them.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the lovebirds.”

Elena’s stomach twisted as she turned to see Damien leaning casually against a nearby tree, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement.

Mia frowned, clearly sensing that something was off, but Elena barely noticed. Her entire focus was on Damien—and the wave of dread that washed over her at the sight of him.

“What do you want, Damien?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Damien’s smile widened. “Oh, don’t be so hostile, darling. I’m just here to chat.”

Elena crossed her arms, refusing to be intimidated. “We have nothing to talk about.”

“Don’t we?” Damien said, his tone silky and dangerous. “Because from where I’m standing, it seems like we have quite a lot to discuss. Like, for example, the fact that you’re bonded to my dear brother.”

Mia’s eyes widened. “Wait—brother?”

Elena ignored her, her gaze locked on Damien. “Leave me alone, Damien.”

Damien laughed, a low, chilling sound. “Oh, Elena. You really don’t understand how this works, do you? You don’t get to tell me what to do. I’m in control here, not you.”

Elena felt a surge of anger, but before she could respond, Lucien appeared at her side, moving so fast that he was just a blur of motion.

“Stay away from her, Damien,” Lucien said, his voice low and deadly.

Damien sighed dramatically. “Must you always be so predictable, brother? It’s really quite tiresome.”

Lucien took a step closer, his eyes blazing with fury. “I’m warning you, Damien. Leave. Now.”

Damien smirked, but there was something dangerous in his expression. “Careful, Lucien. You wouldn’t want to lose control, would you? Not in front of all these lovely humans.”

Elena glanced around and realized with a jolt that several students were watching them, their expressions ranging from curious to nervous.

“Lucien, don’t,” she said quietly, placing a hand on his arm. She could feel the tension in his body, the barely restrained rage simmering beneath the surface.

Lucien’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t move.

“Wise choice,” Damien said, his smile cold and triumphant. “But don’t think this is over. You can’t protect her forever, Lucien. Sooner or later, she’ll be mine.”

With one last lingering look at Elena, Damien turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving behind a suffocating sense of dread.

Elena let out a shaky breath, her hand still resting on Lucien’s arm. He turned to her, his eyes filled with concern.

“Are you okay?” he asked softly.

Elena nodded, though her heart was still racing. “I’m fine. But Damien… he’s not going to stop, is he?”

“No,” Lucien said grimly. “He won’t stop until he gets what he wants.”

Mia, who had been standing silently through the entire exchange, suddenly spoke up. “Okay, can someone please explain what the hell is going on? Because I’m pretty sure that guy’s eyes were red. And did he seriously just call Lucien his brother?”

Elena exchanged a wary glance with Lucien. They had been trying to keep Mia out of this, but it was clear that the truth was becoming harder to hide.

“Mia, we need to talk,” Elena said, her voice serious.

Mia crossed her arms. “Yeah, I’d say we do.”

Lucien sighed. “Let’s go somewhere private. It’s time you knew the truth.”

As they walked away, Elena couldn’t shake the feeling that things were spiraling out of control—and that their fight with Damien was only just beginning.