Chapter 1: The Girl Beneath the Moon
877 Words
The small town of Ashwood was the kind of place where everyone knew one another. It was peaceful, surrounded by towering pine forests and misty mountains that seemed to touch the clouds. The townspeople often whispered old legends about wolves that roamed the woods during the full moon, but to most people, they were nothing more than bedtime stories.
For seventeen-year-old Aria Blackwood, those stories always felt strangely familiar.
Every night, she dreamed of running through the forest beneath a silver moon. She could hear wolves howling in the distance, and instead of fear, she felt comfort—as though they were calling her home. But each dream ended the same way. A woman's voice would whisper, "When the moon calls, never be afraid." Then everything would fade into darkness.
Aria woke with a start.
Her heart raced as she stared at the ceiling of her bedroom. Morning sunlight poured through the curtains, chasing away the lingering shadows of her dream.
"It happened again," she whispered.
She rubbed her eyes before reaching for the framed photograph on her bedside table.
It was the only picture she had of her mother.
Selene Blackwood smiled brightly in the photograph, her silver-blonde hair dancing in the wind. Aria barely remembered her. She had been only six years old when her mother died in what everyone called a tragic accident.
Her father never liked talking about it.
A knock came at the door.
"Aria," her father called gently. "Breakfast is ready."
"I'm coming."
She placed the photograph back on the table and headed downstairs.
Daniel Blackwood was already serving pancakes and eggs when she entered the kitchen. His warm smile hid the exhaustion in his eyes.
"Morning, sweetheart."
"Morning, Dad."
"You slept well?"
Aria hesitated.
"I had the wolf dream again."
Daniel froze for the briefest moment before forcing another smile.
"Dreams are only dreams."
"They feel real."
He looked away.
"Don't let them worry you."
Aria wanted to ask more questions, but she knew better. Every conversation about her mother or the strange dreams always ended the same way—with silence.
After breakfast, Daniel grabbed his truck keys.
"I'll be home before dinner. Stay away from the northern forest."
Aria frowned.
"You always say that."
"Because I mean it."
"What's in the northern forest?"
"Nothing you need to find."
Before she could ask another question, he kissed her forehead and walked out the door.
Standing by the window, Aria watched him drive away.
"He always looks afraid," she whispered.
Later that afternoon, Aria packed a small backpack with a notebook, a bottle of water, and one of her favorite mystery novels. Instead of going into town, she wandered toward the forest behind her house.
The fresh scent of pine filled the air.
Birds sang from the treetops.
Sunlight filtered through the branches in golden beams.
The forest always made her feel calm.
She followed a narrow trail deeper among the trees until she reached a quiet stream. Sitting on a large rock, she opened her book.
A sudden howl echoed through the forest.
Aria looked up.
It wasn't loud.
It wasn't frightening.
It sounded... lonely.
She waited.
Another howl answered from farther away.
Then another.
Goosebumps spread across her arms.
Without thinking, she stood and followed the sound.
The trail slowly disappeared beneath thick moss and tangled roots. She had never walked this far before.
The deeper she went, the quieter the forest became.
Even the birds had stopped singing.
Finally, she stepped into a circular clearing.
At its center stood a massive gray stone carved with glowing silver symbols unlike anything she had ever seen.
"What is this place?"
She moved closer.
The strange markings shimmered softly beneath her fingertips.
The moment she touched the stone, a blinding silver light burst across the clearing.
The ground trembled.
Wind swirled around her as voices echoed through her mind.
"The last daughter has returned."
Aria gasped and stumbled backward.
The light disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared.
Silence returned.
"What... what was that?"
Her breathing became uneven.
Then she noticed something impossible.
Large wolf footprints surrounded the stone.
They were fresh.
A twig snapped behind her.
She spun around.
Standing between the trees was an enormous black wolf.
Its silver eyes locked onto hers.
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
Instead of attacking, the wolf simply watched her.
Its gaze felt... familiar.
Almost protective.
Then, without a sound, it turned and disappeared into the forest.
Aria chased after it.
"Wait!"
She ran through the trees until she reached another clearing.
The wolf was gone.
Only a single silver feather lay on the ground.
Confused, she picked it up.
The feather glowed faintly before dissolving into sparkling light in her hand.
A cold voice suddenly echoed from the shadows.
"So... the seal is beginning to break."
Aria's heart pounded.
"Who's there?"
No one answered.
Far away, hidden high on a cliff overlooking the forest, a hooded man watched her through glowing crimson eyes.
He smiled.
"After seventeen years... we've finally found the Alpha's daughter."
Lightning flashed across the darkening sky.
For the first time in her life, Aria felt as though her ordinary world had begun to unravel—and somewhere beyond the trees, destiny was waiting for her.
- Writer
