TANGLED IN MOONLIGHT

The Voice in the Dark

Nora’s POV

Nora remained sitting upright in bed long after the strange voice disappeared.

Her heart continued to beat violently against her ribs.

She pressed her palm against her chest.

Nothing.

The pain was gone.

The warmth beneath her skin had disappeared too.

Only the faint sound of Ava’s breathing remained in the room.

Nora looked toward the window.

Moonlight spilled across the floor, turning everything silver.

The curtains moved gently even though the window was closed.

She stared at them.

Then she slowly climbed out of bed.

Her feet touched the cold floor.

“Nora?”

Ava’s sleepy voice made her freeze.

Nora turned.

Ava was sitting up, her curly hair messy from sleep.

“What are you doing?”

Nora looked toward the window again.

“I thought I heard something.”

Ava rubbed her eyes.

“At this hour?”

“I don’t know.”

“Was it someone outside?”

“I don’t think so.”

Ava glanced toward the window.

Her expression changed.

Only for a second.

But Nora noticed.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You did that thing again.”

“What thing?”

“The thing where you pretend nothing is wrong when something is obviously wrong.”

Ava sighed.

“You’ve known me for one day.”

“And I already know you do that.”

Ava stared at her.

Then she slowly climbed out of bed.

“Don’t open the window.”

Nora frowned.

“I wasn’t going to.”

“Good.”

“Why?”

Ava hesitated.

“Because we’re on the second floor.”

Nora stared at her.

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“I know.”

Ava returned to her bed.

“Just go back to sleep.”

Nora remained standing beside the window.

She didn’t understand what had just happened.

She didn’t understand the voice.

She didn’t understand why she had heard it.

And she certainly didn’t understand why a part of her had wanted to obey.

Run.

The word still echoed in her mind.

Nora touched the glass.

It was cold beneath her fingers.

Then something moved beyond the gardens.

Her breath caught.

A shadow passed between the trees.

Too large to be a person.

Nora stepped closer to the window.

The shadow disappeared.

She stared into the darkness.

Nothing.

“You’re going to give me a heart attack,” Ava muttered from behind her.

Nora turned.

“Did you see that?”

“See what?”

“Something moved outside.”

Ava’s face went pale.

“Where?”

Nora pointed toward the garden.

Ava didn’t move.

For a long moment, she simply stared at the window.

Then she looked at Nora.

“Close the curtains.”

Nora frowned.

“Why?”

“Just close them.”

There was something in Ava’s voice.

Fear.

Real fear.

Nora slowly pulled the curtains shut.

The moonlight disappeared.

The room fell into darkness.

Ava climbed back into bed.

Nora stood still.

“What is going on?”

“Nothing.”

“Ava.”

“I said nothing.”

Nora’s irritation grew.

“Everyone keeps saying that.”

Ava turned her back.

“Nora, please.”

The word stopped her.

Ava didn’t sound annoyed.

She sounded afraid.

Nora said nothing else.

But she didn’t return to sleep.

…

Xavier’s POV

The howl continued to echo through the forest.

Xavier stood beside the study window, his entire body tense.

His father remained behind him, holding the silver blade.

“What is it?” Xavier asked again.

Alexander didn’t answer.

“Father.”

“The sound came from the eastern forest.”

Xavier looked at him.

“The forest near the academy?”

“Yes.”

His wolf growled beneath his skin.

He could feel it.

Something was wrong.

Not just wrong.

Familiar.

The creature outside had not been calling randomly.

It had been searching.

For something.

Or someone.

Xavier’s hand moved toward his pendant.

The silver had grown hot again.

His father noticed.

“Take it off.”

Xavier looked at him.

“What?”

“Take off the pendant.”

“Why?”

“Now.”

Xavier pulled the chain over his head.

The moment the pendant left his skin, the heat disappeared.

Alexander’s expression darkened.

“It has begun.”

“What has begun?”

“The bond.”

Xavier clenched the pendant in his fist.

“What does that have to do with the wolf?”

His father looked toward the forest.

“Everything.”

Xavier’s patience finally snapped.

“Stop speaking in riddles.”

Alexander turned to him.

“Your uncle Adrian was not killed by a member of our family.”

Xavier froze.

His father continued.

“He was killed by a rogue.”

“What rogue?”

“The one who betrayed the Blood Moon pack.”

Xavier’s eyes narrowed.

“That pack was destroyed.”

“That is what we believed.”

“Then what is out there?”

Alexander’s expression became grim.

“The last survivor.”

A low growl echoed again.

This time, it was closer.

Xavier’s body reacted before his mind did.

His eyes shifted toward the window.

The world sharpened.

The darkness became clearer.

He could hear the movement of leaves.

The distant heartbeat.

The scent of something ancient.

His wolf pushed violently against his control.

Danger.

Xavier’s fingers tightened.

“Stay here.”

Alexander immediately shook his head.

“No.”

“I wasn’t asking.”

“You are not going to the forest.”

Xavier looked at him.

“Why?”

“Because the creature out there is looking for your mate.”

The words silenced him.

Xavier felt the bond pull.

A sharp pain tore through his chest.

Nora.

He knew it before his father said anything else.

Somewhere, she was in danger.

His wolf roared inside him.

Protect her.

Xavier turned toward the door.

His father stepped in front of him.

“Don’t.”

“Move.”

“You have no idea what you are dealing with.”

“Then tell me.”

“I can’t.”

Xavier’s eyes darkened.

“Then move.”

For a moment, the two Ashford men stared at each other.

Then Alexander stepped aside.

Xavier walked out of the study.

“Xavier.”

He stopped.

His father spoke quietly.

“If you lose control tonight…”

Xavier turned.

Alexander’s expression was serious.

“Do not let her see what you are.”

Xavier said nothing.

Then he walked away.

…

Nora woke the next morning with a headache.

She had barely slept.

Every time she closed her eyes, she heard the voice.

Run.

She had no idea what it meant.

She had no idea who had spoken.

And she was beginning to hate Ashford Elite Academy.

It had been less than twenty four hours.

Already, she had encountered strange students, secretive teachers, a forbidden forest, an intimidating billionaire heir, and voices inside her head.

Ava was sitting at the mirror, applying lip gloss.

“You look terrible.”

Nora glared at her.

“Thank you.”

“I mean it with love.”

“Keep your love.”

Ava laughed.

“You barely slept.”

“Neither did you.”

“I slept perfectly.”

“You woke up three times.”

Ava paused.

“I was thirsty.”

“Three times?”

“I drink a lot of water.”

Nora stared at her.

Ava avoided her gaze.

There it was again.

The feeling that Ava knew something.

Before Nora could question her, the academy bell rang.

Ava jumped to her feet.

“We’re late.”

“Again?”

“First day of classes.”

Nora grabbed her bag.

They hurried out of the dormitory.

The academy was already alive.

Students rushed toward their classrooms.

Teachers walked briskly through the corridors.

The polished halls echoed with footsteps.

Nora checked her timetable.

“History.”

“Second floor.”

Ava pointed toward the staircase.

“Come on.”

They hurried upstairs.

Nora was halfway up when she suddenly stopped.

A sharp pain struck her chest.

She gasped.

The world around her blurred.

A familiar presence.

A familiar pull.

She turned.

At the bottom of the staircase stood Xavier Ashford.

He was looking directly at her.

His expression was unreadable.

But his eyes were different.

Darker.

More intense.

Nora’s heart began to pound.

The pain in her chest grew stronger.

Xavier took one step toward her.

Then stopped.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Students passed around them, completely unaware of the strange tension filling the space between them.

Nora pressed a hand against her chest.

Xavier’s gaze immediately dropped to the movement.

His jaw tightened.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

Nora swallowed.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

His eyes returned to hers.

“That wasn’t what I asked.”

She hated the way he looked at her.

As if he could see something she couldn’t.

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”

“Then stop looking at me.”

Something changed in his expression.

A flash of something dangerous.

Then it disappeared.

“Believe me,” he said quietly.

“I’ve been trying.”

Nora stared at him.

She didn’t understand why the words affected her.

She didn’t understand why her heart had suddenly begun beating even faster.

Xavier stepped closer.

The pain in her chest intensified.

His eyes darkened.

For one impossible moment, Nora thought she heard a growl.

Not from him.

From somewhere inside him.

She stepped backward.

Xavier immediately stopped.

Then a voice echoed through the corridor.

“Xavier.”

A tall girl in a perfectly fitted Gold Division uniform approached them.

She had long blonde hair and a beautiful face.

Her eyes moved from Xavier to Nora.

Then her expression hardened.

“Your father has been looking for you.”

Xavier didn’t look away from Nora.

“Tell him I’ll call him.”

The girl’s eyes narrowed.

“He said it was urgent.”

“I said I’ll call him.”

She looked at Nora again.

This time, there was something unmistakably hostile in her gaze.

“Who is she?”

Xavier finally turned toward her.

“None of your business.”

The girl’s expression changed.

Only for a second.

But Nora saw the hurt.

Then the girl smiled.

A cold, beautiful smile.

“Of course.”

She turned and walked away.

Nora watched her leave.

“Who was that?”

Xavier looked back at her.

“Someone you should stay away from.”

Nora’s eyebrows rose.

“That’s interesting.”

“What is?”

“You keep telling me who I should stay away from.”

“Maybe you should listen.”

“Maybe you should stop telling me what to do.”

For the first time, Xavier’s expression almost softened.

Almost.

Then his eyes shifted toward the window.

The forest was visible beyond the academy grounds.

His face changed.

Nora followed his gaze.

“What is it?”

Xavier looked back at her.

For a second, something almost like fear flashed across his face.

Then he said,

“Nothing.”

Nora stared at him.

The same word.

The same lie.

Before she could respond, a howl echoed faintly across the academy grounds.

Nora froze.

Xavier’s expression turned cold.

The sound came again.

Closer.

And this time, every student in the corridor heard it.