The Bloody Luna

The war between the Werewolves and the Vampires has lasted for years. Neither side was willing to surrender. The Werewolves fought to protect their home, their families, and the land that had belonged to them for generations. The Vampires wanted more. They wanted the forest, the rivers, the mountains everything. Every battle left bodies behind. Every battle brought more hatred. And that night, the war reached its worst. The forest was filled with the sound of howling wolves, shouting warriors, and the sharp screams of wounded soldiers. The moon was hidden behind dark clouds, but the light from the burning trees was enough to see the battlefield. “Don't let them cross the river!” The Alpha's voice echoed through the forest. “Push them back!” Aria Moonvale tightened her grip and ran toward the fight. She was one of the youngest warriors in her pack, but she was not afraid of battle. She had already fought in more wars than she wanted to remember. Blood covered her claws. Her chest rose and fell as she tried to catch her breath. “Aria!” She heard someone shout her name. “Behind you!” Aria turned. A vampire was already there. He moved faster than she expected. His claws came toward her face, but Aria quickly stepped aside and struck him across the chest. He stumbled backward and looked at the blood on his clothes. Then he smiled. “You're faster than you look.” Aria raised her claws. “And you're not as strong as you think.” The vampire laughed softly. Then he disappeared. Aria looked around. Nothing. No footsteps. No movement. Only the sound of fighting around her. She slowly turned. Too late. Something grabbed her from behind. Aria struggled and tried to break free, but the vampire's arms were too strong. She felt his breath against her neck. Then his fangs pierced her skin. A sharp pain went through her entire body. Aria screamed. The vampire pulled away and looked at her with a cold smile. “Werewolves don't survive a vampire's bite.” Aria fell to her knees. Her hands shook. Her vision became blurry. The sounds around her slowly disappeared. She could still hear the fighting, but it sounded far away. The vampire walked toward her. “You're finished.” Aria tried to stand. Her legs refused to move. She looked at the river in the distance. Then everything went black. But something strange was happening inside her body. The wound on her neck began to change. The black veins spreading from the bite slowly stopped. Then they began to disappear. The vampire suddenly stopped. His smile was gone. “What...?” Aria's body began to shake. The poison inside her blood was fighting something. But something else was fighting back. The vampire stared at her in disbelief. “That shouldn't be possible.” Aria opened her eyes. She didn't know what was happening. She didn't even know if she was still alive. Before she could move, another Werewolf jumped between them and attacked the vampire. “Aria! Get up!” Aria tried. She forced herself to stand. But her body was still weak. More Vampires were entering the forest. The Werewolves were losing ground. The river was getting closer. Aria knew she had only one choice. Run. She turned and forced her legs to move. One step. Then another. Her vision blurred. Her breathing became harder. Still, she kept running. She reached the riverbank. Her foot slipped. “Wait” Her body fell into the cold water. The current immediately pulled her away. Aria tried to swim. She tried to grab a branch. But she had no strength left. The river carried her farther and farther from the battlefield. Her eyes slowly closed. The last thing she heard was the distant howl of her pack. Then everything disappeared. THE HIDDEN VALLEY OF NOCTERRA Far beyond the mountains, hidden behind thick forests and endless cliffs, was a place almost no one knew existed. The Valley of Nocterra. It was the last refuge of the Lycans. Unlike ordinary Werewolves, the Lycans had almost disappeared from the world. Only a few families remained, and for generations, they had lived in silence, far away from the war between Vampires and Werewolves. They wanted no part of the war. They wanted to be forgotten. Among them was a young man named Adrian Veyron. He was the last heir of an ancient Lycan bloodline. Tall and quiet, Adrian was stronger than any ordinary Werewolf. Even among the Lycans, there were few who could match his strength. His father had warned him many times. Never leave the valley. Never get involved with the outside clans. And most importantly Never trust a Werewolf. But that morning, Adrian was near the river. He had gone hunting alone when he heard something. A strange sound. He stopped walking. His eyes narrowed. “What was that?” He slowly moved toward the river. Then he saw her. A young woman was lying near the water. Adrian immediately ran toward her. “Hey!” He dropped beside her. She wasn't moving. He placed two fingers against her neck. A weak heartbeat. “She’s alive.” Adrian looked at her body. There were several wounds on her arms and legs. But one wound caught his attention. A vampire bite. His expression changed. “A vampire...?” He looked around. There was no one nearby. Whoever she was, she had somehow survived the river. Adrian carefully lifted her into his arms. She felt cold. Too cold. “Who are you?” The woman didn't answer. Her eyes remained closed. Adrian looked at her face for a moment before carrying her toward the hidden village. He didn't know it yet, but bringing her home would change his life forever. When Aria opened her eyes, everything was blurry. The first thing she noticed was the strange smell of herbs. The second was the pain in her body. She tried to move. “Don't.” A man's voice came from beside her. Aria immediately reached for the dagger lying near the bed. Before she could grab it, the man caught her wrist. “Easy.” “Let go of me.” “You're injured.” “I said let go!” He released her. Aria quickly moved away from him and looked around the room. “Where am I?” “My home.” “Who are you?” The man looked at her. “Adrian.” Aria studied his face. Something about him felt strange. Not like a Werewolf. Not like a Vampire. “Are you a Vampire?” Adrian almost laughed. “No.” “Then what are you?” He didn't answer immediately. His eyes slowly changed. A golden glow appeared in them. Aria froze. “A Lycan.” Her eyes widened. She had heard stories about Lycans. They were supposed to be almost extinct. “You're a Lycan?” “Yes.” Aria looked around the room. “Why did you save me?” Adrian simply shrugged. “You were dying.” “I could be your enemy.” “I know.” “Then why save me?” Adrian looked at the bite on her neck. “Because I don't leave dying people beside the river.” Aria didn't know what to say. She looked away. For a moment, neither of them spoke. But Adrian kept looking at her. Something about her didn't make sense. He had seen vampire bites before. He knew what vampire poison did to a Werewolf. It killed them. Always.