THE HEIRS OF THE CURSED MOON

Episode 3

The Ones Who Returned

Elena’s POV

I woke up tired and uneasy. The memory of the wolf and Mum’s quiet voice saying It’s starting was still fresh in my mind. I didn’t know if what I saw last night was real or if my mind had played a trick on me, but the fear in her voice had been real. That much I was sure of.

When I went downstairs, Mum was already behind the counter. She looked like she hadn’t slept at all. Neither of us mentioned the night before. We just started working in silence.

I had worn a long-sleeved shirt even though it wasn’t cold. The bruises on my arms were still dark, and I didn’t want anyone asking questions. The smell of fresh bread filled the café as I tied my apron and lifted a tray of croissants.

“Mum, these are going to disappear before lunch.”

She smiled without looking up from the machine. “They usually do.”

I arranged them the way she liked. Outside, Ashridge was waking up the same as always — the florist putting out flowers, Mr. Harris sweeping, a truck rumbling past. Everything looked ordinary, but it didn’t feel ordinary anymore.

The bell rang before we’d even unlocked properly.

“Sorry, we’re not—”

A familiar voice cut in.

“So this is how you welcome an old friend?”

I blinked, then smiled hard enough that my cheeks hurt.

“Ethan!”

He grinned. “There she is.”

Serena shot past me and threw herself at him so hard he stumbled. They talked with each other, laughing, while I just stood there. Ethan ruffled my hair the way he always did, then pulled out souvenirs — chocolate for Serena and a silver crescent-moon bookmark for me.

“Found it near the coast,” he said. “Reminded me of you.”

“Thanks.”

As he handed it to me, his eyes dropped to my sleeve. It had slipped up slightly, showing the edge of a bruise. His smile faded a little.

“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

“Yeah. Just tired.”

He didn’t look convinced, but Serena started talking again and the moment passed. Still, I caught both of them glancing at me more than once throughout the morning.

For a while things felt almost normal. Serena filled every gap with stories, Ethan laughed too loud, and the regulars treated him like he’d never left. By lunch, the place was nearly full.

That was when Maya walked in with Brooke half a step behind. Her eyes found Ethan first, and the smile she put on was bright and practised.

“Ethan. I heard you were back.”

“Got in yesterday.”

“You should’ve called.”

“I was unpacking.”

His tone wasn’t rude, but it also wasn’t an invitation. Serena quickly pulled him toward the storage room for coffee beans, and I went with them. As the door shut, I caught Maya’s face. The smile had gone tight.

In the storage room Ethan showed me a few photos from his trip. He kept looking at me when he thought I wouldn’t notice.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” he asked again.

“I’m fine.”

He nodded slowly, but I could tell he didn’t believe me.

When we came back out, Maya was still there. She waited until Ethan was busy with a customer before stopping at the counter. Her eyes flicked to my long sleeves.

“You really are lucky,” she said softly. “People always seem to choose you.”

I met her eyes. “If you’re trying to say something, just say it.”

Her sweet expression slipped for a second. For a moment, the real Maya showed — sharp and tired of losing.

“Just an observation,” she said. “Some people collect attention without trying.”

Serena appeared beside me. “There’s a line.”

Maya picked up her drink and left.

Not long after, the bell rang again. A man in a dark jacket walked in. I recognised him straight away as Kael. He went to the window table without looking around and sat down.

Serena leaned closer. “He’s back again.”

“I noticed.”

I took him a black coffee, but we were too busy to talk. When I set it down, our fingers brushed, and the pendant against my chest flared warm. I quickly went back to the counter. Ethan was frowning deeply, tracking Kael's every move.

“What is it?” I asked.

Ethan kept his eyes on Kael. “I don’t know. Something about him feels familiar, but I can’t place it.”

By the time I looked back, Kael was already gone. Only the half-finished coffee remained on the table.

When we finally closed, Ethan walked me to the stairs. “Just be careful, alright?” he said.

“I will.”

He left, and Mum locked the front door. I was about to go upstairs when the back door handle suddenly rattled violently.

We both froze.

The wood groaned, and the door banged open. Two massive men stepped inside. Mum moved in front of me immediately, but one of them shoved her aside into the shelving.

The other man stepped closer, pinning me against the wall. He leaned in, his voice low and dangerous. “Stay away from Ethan.”

My blood went cold. “What?” I choked out.

The man reached out, his thick fingers grabbing for the moonstone pendant around my neck. “You can’t hide her forever,” he sneered.

Before his fingers could touch the glass, a heavy, terrifying growl echoed through the dark kitchen. It didn’t sound human.

A shadow moved from the alleyway, and Kael stepped through the broken back door.

His presence filled the room like a suffocating storm. His jaw was set in stone, and when the dim light hit his face, I gasped. His silver eyes were gone. They were glowing a fierce, predatory amber.

The man holding me froze. Real panic crossed his face.

“Blackwood,” the intruder whispered, his voice trembling.

Kael didn’t say a word. He moved with impossible, lightning speed. He grabbed the man by the jacket and slammed him face-first into the heavy wooden table. Plates shattered. The second intruder lunged, but Kael threw a brutal backhand that sent the man crashing into the back door frame.

“Get out,” Kael rumbled. The sound vibrated right through the floorboards.

Terrified, the two men scrambled to their feet, bleeding, and bolted out into the dark alley, running for their lives.

Silence filled the café.

Kael stood by the door, breathing heavily, his hands curled into fists. Slowly, the glowing amber in his eyes faded back into that deep, piercing silver. He turned to look at me, his gaze sweeping over my face to make sure I was okay.

Mum pushed herself up from the floor, her hands shaking badly as she stared at Kael. “You…” she whispered, her voice full of recognition and terror.

Kael didn’t answer Mum. He kept his eyes on me for one last long moment. “They are coming back, Elena,” he said quietly. “And next time, there will be more of them.”

Without another word, he turned and vanished into the shadows of the alley.

Mum rushed over and pulled me against her. She was trembling all over. “Go upstairs,” she whispered frantically. “Please, Elena. Go upstairs.”

I went, but my mind was completely racing. Stay away from Ethan. Why would those men say that? And who—or what—was Kael?