BLOODLINE OF THE MOON

CHAPTER ONE The Adoption. In the marble hallway of the New York City adoption center, an eight-year-old girl sat on a wooden bench with her legs swinging just above the floor. Her shoes were slightly too big. She didn’t swing them much. Just enough to keep herself awake. Across from her, adults whispered. Papers shuffled. The girl held a small stuffed rabbit tightly against her chest. A woman from the center knelt beside her. “Sweetheart,” she said gently, “are you nervous?” The girl shrugged. “A little.” “Why?” The girl looked toward the glass doors where strangers occasionally walked past. “What if they don’t like me?” The woman smiled softly. “Oh, they already do.” The girl tilted her head. “How do you know?” “Because they asked for you.” Before the girl could answer, the doors opened. A tall man in a dark suit stepped inside first. Behind him walked a woman wearing a cream coat and elegant heels that clicked softly against the floor. And beside them— A boy. He looked about ten. His hair was messy in the way rich boys somehow managed to make look intentional. The boy spotted the girl immediately. His face lit up. “That’s her?” he whispered loudly. The woman nodded. “Yes, Jameson.” The boy didn’t wait for permission. He rushed forward and stopped right in front of the bench. The girl blinked up at him. “You’re her?” he asked. She frowned slightly. “I think so.” The boy grinned. “I’m Jameson.” He stuck out his hand. She looked at it carefully before shaking it. “I’m… Chloe, Chloe Foster”. It wasn’t the name given at birth, but it was the only one she had ever known. Jameson nodded approvingly. “My mom says you’re going to be my sister.” Chloe stared at him. “Sister?” “Yeah,” he said. “All my friends have sisters.” His parents reached them just then. The woman knelt in front of Chloe. Her smile was warm, practiced, and reassuring. “Hello, Chloe. I’m Caroline Winthrop.” She gestured to the man beside her. “And this is my husband, Charles Winthrop.” The man gave a small nod. “It’s nice to finally meet you.” Chloe clutched her rabbit tighter. “You’re… adopting me?” Caroline’s expression softened. “Yes, darling.” Jameson bounced slightly beside them. “I told them I wanted a little sister,” he added proudly. Chloe looked between all three of them. Then she asked the one question that had haunted her for months. “Are you going to bring me back if I’m bad?” The room fell silent. Jameson’s face scrunched in confusion. “Why would we do that?” “That happened to someone here,” Chloe whispered. Caroline gently took her small hands. “We don’t return children,” she said firmly. “When you become part of this family, you stay.” Jameson leaned closer. “And I’ll protect you,” he added. Chloe blinked. “From what?” “From everything.” The certainty in his voice made the adults chuckle. But Chloe didn’t laugh. She believed him. The car ride into Manhattan felt like entering another universe. Chloe pressed her nose against the window. “So many buildings,” she whispered. Jameson leaned across the seat. “Wait till you see our apartment.” “Apartment?” Chloe turned to ask. “Yeah.” She envisioned a small house with perhaps two bedrooms. When the car stopped in front of a tall glass building near Central Park, her mouth dropped open. “This is an apartment?” She asked. Jameson laughed. “Technically.” Inside, the lobby alone was bigger than the entire adoption center. A doorman smiled warmly. “Good evening, Mr. Winthrop.” Jameson tugged Chloe's sleeve and held her hand. “Come on, Princess.” She blinked. “Princess?” “Yeah,” he said casually. “That’s what little sisters are.” A few weeks later, Chloe settled comfortably in the mansion with the help of Jameson. By the end of the first week, she was enrolled in the same school as Jameson and everyone already knew who she was. Jameson Winthrop’s sister, Chloe Winthrop. The private academy sat behind iron gates and tall trees. Students arrived in black cars with their drivers. Jameson always arrived with Chloe and ensured to walk her to her class. He opened the classroom door. The teacher looked up. “Ah, welcome Chloe. The entire class turned. Even at eight years old, Chloe had a striking kind of beauty. Her skin was smooth and luminous, her dark hair falling neatly down her back. Her eyes were large, bright, and curious. One boy whispered to another. “She looks like a doll.” Jameson heard it and looked the boy over. “Say that again and I’ll break your nose.” The classroom went silent. The teacher cleared her throat. “Jameson.” He straightened immediately. “Yes, ma’am,.” Jameson replied and closed the classroom door while walking out. But the message had already been delivered. Everyone understood. Jameson Winthrop’s sister is untouchable. At lunch that day, a girl plopped down across from Chloe with a bright grin. “You’re new,” she announced. Chloe nodded. “I’m Chloe, Chloe Winthrop. “I’m Vivienne Blackwood.” The girl stuck out her hand dramatically. “Future billionaire.” Chloe giggled. “How do you know?” Vivienne leaned forward conspiratorially. “Because I always find a way out.” “A way out of what?” “Everything.” Chloe studied her carefully. “Do you always talk like that?” “Yes.” Chloe smiled. “I like it.” Jameson entered the lunchroom and searched for Chloe across the room. When Vivienne waved at him cheerfully, he raised an eyebrow and walked towards their table. “You’re my sister’s friend now?” he asked. Vivienne shrugged. “Someone has to keep her interesting.” Jameson smirked. “Good luck with that.” CHAPTER TWO Heirs of the Moonbound Pack. Long before Manhattan knew him as the untouchable billionaire... Before the business magazines called him the youngest tech genius in America... Before rival Alphas whispered his name with caution... Ethan Langston was simply... A fourteen-year-old boy trying to become the man his father believed he could be. He attends Fieldville Academy, which to the outside world was one of the most prestigious boarding academies in New York State. Children of billionaires, politicians, and business moguls studied there. Royal families from Europe occasionally sent their heirs there. No one knew the school quietly educate generations of werewolves alongside ordinary humans. Only a select few knew the truth. Students crowded the windows overlooking the front courtyard. Two black SUVs rolled through the entrance. A blonde girl squealed. "It's the Langston!" Other students hurried to the window. The first SUV stopped. The driver hurried to open the rear door. A tall teenage boy stepped out first. His black uniform fit him perfectly. Dark hair, broad shoulders despite his age. Sharp grey eyes that seemed to notice everything. Ethan Langston. Class president, Captain of the fencing team, Top student in combat strategy. Every girl in school had whispered his name at least once, but none had ever managed to hold his attention. He looked back into the SUV and held out his hand. A beautiful eleven-year-old girl came out holding his hand. Ethan's younger sister, Evelyn Langston. Ethan looked down at her. "You forgot your ribbon." "Oh." She laughed. "I knew something felt funny." He reached into his pocket. "I brought another one." "You always do." He carefully tied the silver ribbon into her long dark hair. "There." She smiled brightly. "Perfect?" "You always are," Ethan responded. Several girls watching from the windows sighed. "I wish my brother was like that." "He remembered her ribbon..." "My brother barely remembers my birthday." The second SUV door opened and a boy jumped out carrying his school bag over one shoulder. Unlike Ethan’s calm composure... This one grinned like trouble itself. "Morning, civilians!" Ethan sighed without looking at him. "Henry." "What?" "Try behaving." Henry smirked. "I've been behaving." Ethan raised one eyebrow. "It's only eight in the morning." Henry looked genuinely offended. "I haven't bullied anyone today." "...Yet," Ethan replied. The younger girl giggled. "Mother says you're impossible." Henry pointed dramatically. "Your mother loves me." "She tolerates you." Ethan corrected. Henry laughed. "Same thing.” All three walked into the academy. The two boys walked the girl to her class first. Dr. Bennett adjusted his glasses as the two boys entered the classroom with Evelyn. "Good morning, sir" Ethan and his sister greeted the teacher together. Evelyn entered the class and found her seat, while Ethan and Henry stepped out and closed the classroom door. Henry nodded before going in another direction. “See you at lunch,” he said to Ethan and went to his class. During lunch break, a student accidentally bumped into Evelyn, causing her books to scatter across the hallway. "Oh!" Evelyn immediately knelt. "I'm sorry!" She said to the student. Before she could pick up a single notebook... Three older girls surrounded her. "You should watch where you're going." "You think being a Langston makes you special?" Evelyn lowered her eyes and said. "It was an accident." One girl folded her arms. "Apologize properly." A shadow fell across the hallway. "She already did." Every student froze. Ethan calmly helped his sister up, then looked at the three girls. "Is there still a problem?" "No..." They said in unison. "I didn't think so." Ethan replied. The girls hurried away. His sister smiled sheepishly. "I could've handled it." "I know." "So why did you help?" "Because you're my sister." She hugged him without warning. "You spoil me." "I've been told." Across the corridor, a tall senior was seen shoved backwards into a locker by Henry. The boy glared at him. "You cheated!" Henry leaned closer. "You lost." "You started it!" Henry grinned. "And you finished it." The senior wisely chose to walk away. Ethan arrived moments later. "What happened?" Henry shrugged. "He said I couldn't beat him." "You didn't have to prove him wrong." "I know." "Then why?" Henry smiled. "It was for fun." Ethan rubbed his forehead. "One day, you're going to give Uncle Victor a heart attack." Henry laughed. "He'll survive." After school hours, the three returned to the pack estate. Unlike the glittering skyline of Manhattan, the estate rested deep within ancient forest, where towering pines hid sprawling stone buildings from human eyes. The main house was less a mansion than a fortress. Wolves in human form patrolled the grounds with quiet discipline, while others trained in the distance. The scent of woodsmoke drifted through the crisp air. As Ethan stepped inside, a deep voice echoed from the grand hall. "Training room. Five minutes." Ethan didn't need to ask who it was. His father. Richard Langston. Alpha of the Moonbound Pack. Ethan groaned dramatically. "I just got home." Richard's voice came again. "Four minutes." Henry muttered under his breath. "He's getting faster." Ethan smirked. "Or you're getting slower.” The training room was already prepared. Wooden practice weapons lined one wall. Ancient banners bearing the Langston crest hung from the rafters. Richard stood in the center with his arms folded. "You've grown stronger, Ethan." "I'm trying." "No." Richard shook his head. "You are succeeding." A flicker of pride crossed Ethan's face. His father rarely offered praise. Then Richard turned to Henry. "And you." Henry straightened immediately. "Yes, Uncle?" "How many fights today?" Henry hesitated. "...One." Evelyn coughed. "Three." Henry looked betrayed. "I thought we were family." She smiled sweetly. "We are." Richard's lips twitched, almost becoming a smile. "Henry." "Yes?" "You are talented." "I know." "But talent without discipline becomes arrogance." Henry lowered his head. "Yes, Uncle."