Moonshadow Pact

Chapter 1: The Howling in the Woods The woods were always loud at night. Elara knew this. She lived next to them all her life. But tonight was different. It was a howl. A long, deep howl. It made her skin cold. She stood at her window. Silverwood was quiet. Most people slept. Only her lamp was on. Outside, the woods were black against the night sky. The moon was hidden. Elara felt cold. It was not just the air. It was the howl. Pain and power. It called to her. She always felt different in Silverwood. Small town. Everyone knew everyone. But Elara felt apart. Dark hair and eyes. Others were fair. She liked books and woods. Others liked dancing. People said she was strange. She liked being alone. Alone felt safe. But tonight, alone was not safe. The howl came again. Closer. More howls now. A group. They moved in the trees. Closer to town. Closer to her house. Elara held her breath. Woods were dark. Shadows moved. Shapes in trees. Hard to see. Woods kept secrets. Something moved at the trees' edge. By her garden. Big and dark. Bigger than a deer, dog. Animal move, man stand. My heart beat fast. Back from the window. Dark room. Life in Silverwood is over. Quiet life was gone. Something came. Wild, strong, dangerous. It came for her. Room small. Bed, desk, books. Quiet, safe things. Safe gone. Howls louder. Woods all around. Air thick. It's not a normal storm. Something else. Knock at door. Soft, strong knock. Sure of self. Elara stopped. Late. Silverwood stayed home. Knock. Knock. Again. Loud in a quiet house. Elara still. Listen. Quiet. No sound. Go away. "They." Steps outside. Heavy steps. Around house. Not quite. Noise on purpose. Know they were there. Steps stopped at window. Just looked out. Elara jumped. Someone outside. Close. Feel looking in. Curtains closed. Voice outside. Deep, rough. Rocks rubbing. Man's voice. Not Silverwood man. Wild voice. Not quiet. “Elara,” voice said. Just name. But way he said it… name different. Important. Scary. No answer. Dark room. Held breath. Go away. Bad dream. “I know you are there, Elara,” voice again. Closer. Window. “Come out. Talk.” Talk? What talk? Voice strange. Move strange. Woods scared. Run? Back door. Woods. Hide. Knew woods well. Paths, hills, streams. Woods is dark, but known. Comforting. But no. Not run. The voice not stop. Howls are still there. All around. No getaway. Not really. Slow move to room door. Small wood door. Old, thin. Not stop anyone. Hand on handle. Cold metal. Hand shook. Deep breath. “Who there?” Quiet, shaky voice. Hope to hear. Hope answer. Steps from the window. The front door again. Rough voice again. Front door. “Lucian,” voice said. “Name Lucian. Here see you, Elara.” Lucian. No Lucian knows. Name not Silverwood. Old name. Stories name. Kings, magic. “What want?” Elara asked. Voice stronger. Still scared. But also… ready. What happen. Lucian not leave. Quiet life over. Next… start now. Voice quiet. Then Lucian again. Softer voice. But strong, wild. “Want talk future, Elara.” Future. Words in air. Elara’s future Silverwood. Small town, quiet, books, woods. All she thought. All she wanted. But now… Lucian at door. Howls in woods. Felt change inside. Future not quiet. Something else. More. Maybe scary. Maybe good. Move to front door. Old wood. Room door. One lock. Rusty maybe. Not stop Lucian. Knew that. But turned lock. Click. Loud in quiet. Hand on door handle. Cold. Room door handle. Deep breath. This it. No back now. Open door new thing. Unknown. Howled in woods all night. Pulled door open. He was there. Front of house. Dark. Not all dark. Clouds moved. Moonlight. See him. Tall. Very tall. Taller than Silverwood. Black clothes. Black coat, pants. All dark, woods night. Eyes not dark. Silver eyes. Like moon, bright. Shine in dark. Look at her. Face strong. Hard lines. Sharp. Stone cut. Not soft handsome. Wild handsome. Scary handsome. Move back, move closer handsome. Elara stood there. Doorway. Looked at him. He looked back. Silver eyes on her face. Looked inside her. Secrets, fears, hidden things. Howls quiet now. All quiet. Wind in trees. Heart beat fast. “Elara,” he said again. Voice rough, softer now. Gentle try. Wild still there. Under soft words. “Thank you come out.” Elara nothing. Just looked. Tried to know. Who he was. What want. Why here. Door. Night. Howls. Lucian step closer. Very close. See face well. Lines by silver eyes. Dark hair forehead. Strong jaw. Smell different. Not Silverwood men. Woods smell. Trees, earth. Wild, animal smell. “Name Lucian,” he said again. “Lucian… Alpha.” Alpha important. Know it. Alpha. What mean? “I am here…” Lucian stopped. Looked around. Dark woods. Quiet town. Then Elara again. Silver eyes on hers. “I am here because of you, Elara.” Because of her? What want from her? Just Elara. Strange Silverwood girl. Books, alone. No one. Nothing want. “What want?” Elara asked. Voice shaky, stronger now. Not just scared. Waiting. What next. What Lucian do. Small smile on Lucian’s mouth. Quick smile. Not warm. Like… wolf smile. “I want ask you something, Elara.” He said. “Something change your life.” Change life? Life changing now. Changed first howl. But Lucian words… start now. Real change coming. “What ask?” Elara asked. Looked at eyes. Silver eyes… hard look away. Power. Secrets. Danger. Maybe hope. Strange, wild hope. Never felt it. Lucian smile bigger. Still not warm. More sure. More Alpha. “I ask come with me, Elara.” He said. “Leave Silverwood. Old life gone. Come woods with me.” Hand out. Big, strong hand. Power hand. Get what want. Lead people. Alpha. “Come with me, Elara,” again. Soft, hard voice. “Come woods. Let me show you… who you really are.” Elara looked hand. Then silver eyes. Wind in trees. Moon from clouds. Little bit. Shadows dance. Lucian eyes shine silver. Did not know Lucian. Did not know what want. Did not know woods. But something in her… quiet long time… woke up. Called to her. Like woods howl. Doorway. Lycan King in moon. Elara knew. Take hand. Go with him. Woods. Dark. New future. Whatever it be.