Bound in Blood and Moonlight

The night was heavy with the scent of rain and blood. The distant sound of crickets was the only sign of life as the ambulance tore down the winding mountain road. The patient in the back was barely holding on—shallow breaths, pale skin. Zarina’s hands were slick with sweat as she tried to stabilize him. “Just hold on a little longer,” she whispered, her voice trembling. Manong Tonyo (the driver) gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white. “Almost there, Nurse Zarina,” he called over his shoulder. “Just a few more minutes.” But fate had other plans. A dark blur shot across the road—too fast, too large. “What the—” A massive shape slammed into the side of the ambulance. The metal screeched as the vehicle spun, tires skidding violently across the wet road. Zarina screamed as the world flipped—glass shattered; steel crumpled. Her head slammed against the wall of the ambulance as everything turned black. She drifted in and out of consciousness, her mind hazy. A low growl rumbled nearby—a sound that didn’t belong to this world. Warm hands touched her face. A deep, commanding voice echoed through the fog. "Stay with me." Her eyes fluttered open. The world was dark, shapes distorted. And then she saw him. Silver eyes, glowing faintly in the dim moonlight. Dark hair falling carelessly over a strong jawline. His face was beautiful—perfect in a dangerous kind of way. "You're awake," the man said, his voice low and smooth. She blinked. Her head throbbed. “What… happened?” “You were in an accident,” he said. His silver eyes softened, a rare gentleness in their depths. Her eyes widened. The accident. The patient. Manong Tonyo. “Oh my God!” Zarina sat up too quickly. Pain shot through her body. “How’s Manong Tonyo? And the patient?” The man’s expression darkened. His gaze dropped for a brief moment before he shook his head. “No,” she whispered. “No… they can’t…” She scrambled to her knees and crawled toward the wreckage. The crumpled frame of the ambulance lay beneath the twisted branches of a fallen tree. Blood pooled beneath the wreck. Manong Tonyo’s lifeless body was partially covered by shattered glass and metal. The patient—just a teenager—lay still on the ground, eyes open but empty. Her breath hitched. A strangled sob escaped her throat. “I… I should have saved them…” Zarina’s voice cracked. Tears blurred her vision as she covered her mouth. The man moved behind her, his large hand resting on her shoulder. “You would have died too.” She spun around, angry tears burning down her cheeks. “Then why am I alive?” His gaze sharpened. “Because I saved you.” Her chest heaved as the weight of his words sank in. “But why?” He crouched before her, silver eyes gleaming in the moonlight. “I couldn’t let you die.” Zarina shook her head, struggling to make sense of it all. “You don’t even know me.” A ghost of a smile curved his lips. “I know enough.” His hand brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, his touch unnervingly gentle despite his imposing presence. “You’re stronger than you think.” Her eyes narrowed. “That doesn’t answer my question.” A dark shadow flickered across his face. He stood, tension rolling off him in waves. “You shouldn’t have survived that crash. Your injuries were fatal.” Her breath hitched. She touched her side, expecting to feel broken ribs or deep cuts—but there was nothing. Just smooth skin beneath torn fabric. “I don’t understand…” “You will.” His voice was low, almost regretful. A cold breeze swept through the trees, rustling the leaves. Zarina hugged herself, the chill biting through her thin uniform. “You’re… not human, are you?” she whispered. His silver eyes glinted. “No.” A deep, primal fear twisted in her gut. She took a shaky step back. “What… what are you?” His gaze darkened. The moonlight caught the sharp angles of his face, casting shadows across his high cheekbones and strong jaw. “You already know.” Her mind raced, recalling the growl she’d heard earlier—the impossible speed, the unnatural strength in his hands. “Werewolf,” she breathed. Zarina knew about werewolves because, since she was still young, her grandmother used to tell a story about when her grandmother was still young, a lady werewolf saved her life, but after that she never saw that werewolf again. A muscle in his jaw ticked. “Yes.” Zarina stumbled back. Her foot caught on a rock, and she nearly fell—until his hand shot out, steadying her with ease. His grip was firm, warm, despite the tension humming beneath his skin. “You saved me… why?” His gaze softened for the briefest moment. “Because you’re mine now.” Her eyes widened. “What are you talking about?” His fingers brushed the side of her neck, and she gasped as a sudden heat bloomed beneath her skin. Her hand flew to the spot—and that’s when she felt it. A mark. Warm and pulsing with energy, just beneath her collarbone. Her heart hammered against her ribs. “What did you do to me?” “I bound you to me,” he said, his voice dark and possessive. “When I healed you… the bond was formed.” Her breath hitched. “No… That’s not possible.” “It’s done.” His silver eyes burned into hers. “Our fates are entwined now.” Zarina shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. “I didn’t ask for this!” “And yet here we are.” His voice softened, his hand dropping from her arm. “You’ll understand soon enough.” She backed away, her pulse thundering in her ears. “Stay away from me.” “You can’t run from this.” “Watch me.” Without waiting for a response, Zarina turned and ran into the dark forest. Her breath tore through her chest as she stumbled over roots and rocks, her heart slamming against her ribs. Behind her, she swore she heard the low growl of a wolf. And silver eyes watching her from the darkness. His gaze sharpened. “Because I saved you.” Her chest heaved as the weight of his words sank in. “But why?” He crouched before her, silver eyes gleaming in the moonlight. “I couldn’t let you die.” Zarina shook her head, struggling to make sense of it all. “You don’t even know me.” A ghost of a smile curved his lips. “I know enough.” His hand brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, his touch unnervingly gentle despite his imposing presence. “You’re stronger than you think.” Her eyes narrowed. “That doesn’t answer my question.” A dark shadow flickered across his face. He stood, tension rolling off him in waves. “You shouldn’t have survived that crash. Your injuries were fatal.” Her breath hitched. She touched her side, expecting to feel broken ribs or deep cuts—but there was nothing. Just smooth skin beneath torn fabric. “I don’t understand…” “You will.” His voice was low, almost regretful. A cold breeze swept through the trees, rustling the leaves. Zarina hugged herself, the chill biting through her thin uniform. “You’re… not human, are you?” she whispered. His silver eyes glinted. “No.” A deep, primal fear twisted in her gut. She took a shaky step back. “What… what are you?” His gaze darkened. The moonlight caught the sharp angles of his face, casting shadows across his high cheekbones and strong jaw. “You already know.” Her mind raced, recalling the growl she’d heard earlier—the impossible speed, the unnatural strength in his hands. “Werewolf,” she breathed. A muscle in his jaw ticked. “Yes.” Zarina stumbled back. Her foot caught on a rock, and she nearly fell—until his hand shot out, steadying her with ease. His grip was firm, warm, despite the tension humming beneath his skin. “You saved me… why?” His gaze softened for the briefest moment. “Because you’re mine now.” Her eyes widened. “What are you talking about?”