Episode 5 – Bound by the Moon
1437 Words
Alyssa’s heart pounded in her chest as she stood on her balcony, staring at the moonlit forest beyond her estate. The wind carried the distant howls of wolves—haunting, yet strangely calling to her. She had spent the entire day trying to make sense of Kade’s words from the night before.
"You don’t belong to this world, Alyssa. You were meant for something greater. Something dangerous."
The memory of his intense gaze sent a shiver down her spine. She didn’t know what terrified her more—the truth he was hiding or the undeniable heat that burned between them.
Her fingers traced the emerald pendant around her neck. It felt warmer than usual, almost pulsing against her skin. Was it just her imagination? Or was it reacting to something?
A sharp knock on her door broke her thoughts. She turned to see Eleanor standing in the doorway, arms crossed, her piercing gaze filled with suspicion.
“You’ve been sneaking out,” Eleanor said coldly. “Do not insult me by denying it.”
Alyssa’s lips parted, but no words came. How much did Eleanor know?
“I won’t ask where you’ve been, but let me remind you of something,” Eleanor continued, stepping closer. “You are a Cross. This family has given you everything. Do not throw it all away chasing things you do not understand.”
Alyssa clenched her fists. “I never asked for this life,” she said, her voice steady.
Eleanor’s eyes darkened. “No, you didn’t. But that doesn’t mean you get to walk away from it so easily.”
With that, she turned and left, leaving Alyssa with more questions than answers.
That night, sleep was impossible. Alyssa felt trapped in her own home, torn between the luxury she had known all her life and the raw, untamed world Kade had introduced her to.
As if on cue, a shadow moved beyond her window. Her breath caught as she recognized the silhouette. Kade.
Without hesitation, she grabbed a hoodie, slipped out onto the balcony, and climbed down. The moment her feet touched the ground, he was there, his presence overwhelming.
“You shouldn’t be here,” she whispered, but she didn’t move away.
“I had to see you,” Kade said, his voice rough with restraint. “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into, Alyssa.”
She looked up at him, her confidence unwavering. “Then show me.”
Something flickered in his gaze—hunger, frustration, desire. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”
“I know that I don’t want to be caged anymore.”
A growl rumbled in his chest, and before she could react, he had her pinned against the tree. His hands rested on either side of her head, his body dangerously close.
“You drive me insane,” he muttered.
“Good,” she whispered back.
For a moment, he hesitated. Then, as if the battle within him snapped, he crushed his lips against hers. The kiss was nothing like she expected—fierce, desperate, like a storm breaking free. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, drinking in the heat between them.
Just as quickly as it started, Kade pulled away, his breathing ragged. “This… isn’t safe,” he said, his voice thick with restraint.
Alyssa touched her lips, still burning from his. “Nothing about us is.”
He let out a bitter chuckle. “That’s the problem.”
Before she could say another word, the sound of rustling leaves made them both freeze. Kade’s body tensed as he turned toward the darkness.
“We’re being watched,” he said, his voice deadly serious.
Alyssa’s blood ran cold.
Within seconds, Kade had her behind him, his posture protective. The air grew heavy, charged with something unseen. Then, from the shadows, a figure stepped forward.
It was a man—tall, broad, and exuding an aura of danger. His piercing golden eyes locked onto Alyssa with something between curiosity and amusement.
“So, this is her,” the man said, voice smooth but laced with menace. “The girl who has the whole pack talking.”
Alyssa’s breath hitched. Pack.
Kade’s muscles coiled like a predator ready to strike. “What do you want, Lucian?”
Lucian smirked. “Just making sure our little princess here knows exactly what she’s dealing with.” His gaze flickered to Alyssa. “You should be careful, sweetheart. Getting close to him…”—he nodded toward Kade—“could get you killed.”
Alyssa lifted her chin. “I can take care of myself.”
Lucian’s smirk widened. “I like her. Shame she won’t last long.”
Before Alyssa could react, Lucian turned and disappeared into the night, leaving a chilling silence in his wake.
Kade exhaled sharply. “We need to get you out of here.”
Alyssa’s pulse pounded. “No. I need to know what’s going on. Who am I to them? Why am I important?”
Kade hesitated before finally meeting her gaze. “Because, Alyssa… you’re not just some girl caught in the middle. You are meant to be a queen among wolves.”
Her world tilted.
A queen?
Before she could process the weight of his words, the distant sound of howls echoed through the trees.
They were coming for her.
Within seconds, Kade had her behind him, his posture protective. The air grew heavy, charged with something unseen. Then, from the shadows, a figure stepped forward.
It was a man—tall, broad, and exuding an aura of danger. His piercing golden eyes locked onto Alyssa with something between curiosity and amusement.
“So, this is her,” the man said, voice smooth but laced with menace. “The girl who has the whole pack talking.”
Alyssa’s breath hitched. Pack.
Kade’s muscles coiled like a predator ready to strike. “What do you want, Lucian?”
Lucian smirked. “Just making sure our little princess here knows exactly what she’s dealing with.” His gaze flickered to Alyssa. “You should be careful, sweetheart. Getting close to him…”—he nodded toward Kade—“could get you killed.”
Alyssa lifted her chin. “I can take care of myself.”
Lucian’s smirk widened. “I like her. Shame she won’t last long.”
Before Alyssa could react, Lucian turned and disappeared into the night, leaving a chilling silence in his wake.
Kade exhaled sharply. “We need to get you out of here.”
Alyssa’s pulse pounded. “No. I need to know what’s going on. Who am I to them? Why am I important?”
Kade hesitated before finally meeting her gaze. “Because, Alyssa… you’re not just some girl caught in the middle. You are meant to be a queen among wolves.”
Her world tilted.
A queen?
Before she could process the weight of his words, the distant sound of howls echoed through the trees.
They were coming for her.
A sudden gust of wind sent a shiver down Alyssa’s spine. Kade grabbed her wrist, pulling her close. “We don’t have much time.”
She looked up at him, her mind spinning. “What does he mean? What do they want from me?”
Kade’s jaw clenched. “They want to test you.”
“Test me for what?”
“To see if you’re worthy of the throne.”
Alyssa’s breath hitched. “Throne?”
Kade’s expression darkened. “Your real parents… they weren’t just anyone, Alyssa. They were rulers. Alphas of the most powerful bloodline to ever exist.”
Alyssa’s heartbeat pounded in her ears. “That’s impossible.”
Kade shook his head. “No. You are the heir to something far greater than you can imagine. And they—” he motioned toward the darkness “—won’t stop until they see if you’re strong enough to claim it.”
Alyssa swallowed hard. “And if I’m not?”
A grim silence stretched between them.
Then Kade finally spoke. “Then they’ll kill you.”
Alyssa’s stomach twisted. This was more than some supernatural encounter—this was a battle for survival.
Kade grabbed her hand. “Come with me.”
“Where?”
“To prepare you.”
The growls in the distance grew louder. The night air buzzed with the presence of something unnatural.
Alyssa knew she had no choice.
She squeezed Kade’s hand. “Then let’s go.”
And with that, she ran into the darkness, into the unknown, with only Kade by her side.
- Writer
