Moonlight Bonds

Chapter 1: The Night Before

CHAPTER 1

Lily Thompson stood at the forest's edge, staring up at the darkening sky above Ashwood. The full moon was already rising, illuminating the quiet town nestled at the base of the mountains with its soft light. A shiver ran down her spine, but it wasn’t the cool air that brought it on. It was the anxious feeling deep within her chest—like something was on the verge of occurring, something beyond the usual, beyond her control.

“Are you certain this is a good plan? ” Emma’s voice interrupted her thoughts, a tinge of anxiety coloring her words.

Lily turned back to her best friend, who was fiddling with the strap of her backpack. Emma’s large blue eyes were locked on the forest behind them, the darkness encroaching among the trees as twilight settled in. Jake, who had been preoccupied with his phone and oblivious to the emerging tension, looked up and smiled.

“Come on, Em. Have some fun,” he said with his typical confident grin, not even attempting to put his phone away. “It’s merely a hike. We’ll be alright. ”

Lily could almost sense the enthusiasm emanating from him. Jake was always the one who encouraged them to take risks, the one who persuaded Emma to go along with any adventurous scheme he had. And Lily, as usual, found herself in the middle. She craved the adrenaline. She wanted to break free from the stifling predictability of Ashwood, to engage in something that made her feel alive. After all, tonight was her birthday. The evening she had resolved to take control of her destiny.

She tucked her hair behind her ear and tightened her jacket against the wind that was picking up. “It’ll be okay. I just need a bit of adventure before the real world starts piling on,” she said, attempting to reassure herself more than anyone else.

Her mother's advice from earlier that evening echoed in her mind: “Don’t venture into the woods tonight, Lily. Not with the full moon. ”

Lily had rolled her eyes, brushing off her mother’s cautions as mere superstitions. Margaret Thompson had always been overly protective. She’d raised Lily to be careful, to abide by the rules. It was why Lily had spent much of her life yearning for something greater, something extraordinary. Ashwood had its appeal, but it was small and unremarkable, caught in a time loop. Nothing ever occurred here, not really.

Her mother had never given her a cause to doubt her instincts. But tonight, as she stood at the edge of the woods, she couldn’t shake the sensation that there was something more to this than just an innocent hike.

Emma gave her a doubtful glance. “You sure, Lils? You seem kinda pale. ”

“I’m fine,” Lily responded with a forced grin, trying to dismiss the anxiety gnawing at her. “Just. . . excited. Let’s go. ”

With a shared look, the three of them ventured further into the forest, the dark trees towering above them as the moon ascended higher in the sky. The only sound was the crunch of leaves underfoot, aside from the occasional hoot of an owl or the rustling in the underbrush.

Lily focused on the trail ahead, yet she couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling that something was amiss. The forest seemed. . . alive in a manner she couldn't put into words. It wasn't just the noises; it was how the wind whispered through the trees as if they were conversing, sharing secrets.

“Chill out, Lils. You’re acting as if we’re about to be ambushed by a group of wolves,” Jake quipped, not looking away from his phone.

She offered him a nervous laugh, but her eyes remained in the shadows, watching for any signs of movement. Something about this place, tonight, felt unusual. The air was thick with energy as if the world was holding its breath.

“Let’s just savor the night,” Emma suggested, attempting to lighten the atmosphere. “Birthday hike, right? We’ll return before your parents even realize we’re missing. ”

Lily nodded, but her heart wasn’t fully invested. As they ventured deeper into the forest, the full moon illuminated the trees in silver light, rendering the path ahead both enchanting and ominous. The further they went, the louder Lily’s instincts screamed at her to retreat. But she didn’t want to be the wet blanket, especially tonight. She was now 18 and wanted to feel as if she was in command of her life.

Abruptly, a rustling in the bushes halted them in their tracks.

Emma tensed. “What was that? ”

Lily’s breath hitched in her throat. Her heightened senses—a strange feeling she hadn’t yet grasped—had intensified. Her heart raced as she instinctively scanned the trees around them. Something was observing them. She could sense it.

“Probably just a deer,” Jake remarked, his voice laced with unease. He attempted to joke, but it fell flat. His eyes flickered about, searching the shadows.

Another rustle. This time, much nearer. Then came the unmistakable sound of a low growl.

Lily stiffened. It wasn’t a deer. It was something far larger. And the growl. . . it didn’t resemble any animal she’d ever encountered before.

“Lily,” Emma whispered, her voice quaking. “What is that? ”

Before Lily could respond, the shadows shifted, and from between the trees emerged a colossal figure, its eyes glowing with an unnatural golden light. The wolf was gigantic, its fur thick and dark, the muscles beneath it rippling with strength. It moved with a predatory elegance, each step causing a shiver to run down Lily’s spine.

It was a werewolf.

The breath escaped her lips in a gasp, and she hardly had a moment to respond before the creature charged at them. In a flash, it was upon her—its sharp claws slicing through the air as she recoiled. Her instincts kicked in, her body acting before her mind had a chance to catch up.

A scream erupted from her throat as she struggled to free herself. However, the wolf was too powerful, its jaws gripping her arm as a sharp pain surged through her. The universe whirled, the borders of her sight fading, and just before everything faded into darkness, she perceived a voice—a low, growling rumble that didn’t come from the being assaulting her.

“Stay away from her. ”

Then, everything went dark.