Bound by the Moon’s Call

Chapter 6: Attack in the Forest

The afternoon sun had barely managed to break through the ever-present fog that wrapped around Ashen Hollow, but Lena needed air. She needed space. The strange visions, the pulsing energy that simmered just beneath her skin, the way her thoughts kept drifting back to the man from the library—it was too much. She felt like she was unraveling, piece by piece, and the suffocating stillness of the library had become unbearable.

So, she found herself in the woods that bordered the town, her boots crunching softly against the fallen leaves and twigs. The forest had always been a place of peace for her, a quiet retreat where the town’s whispers couldn’t reach. Today, though, it felt different. Heavier.

The strange energy that had been swirling inside her since the visions had only grown stronger, and she couldn’t seem to shake it. It was as if the forest itself was alive, watching her, waiting for something.

She paused on the trail, drawing in a deep breath, the scent of damp earth and pine filling her lungs. Calm down, Lena, she told herself. It’s just your imagination.

But even as she thought it, a faint rustling in the trees made her tense. She glanced around, her eyes scanning the shadows between the trees, but there was nothing. Just the wind, she told herself. But the uneasy feeling didn’t leave her.

The mist was thicker here, swirling between the trees, making it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead. Lena continued walking, her thoughts drifting back to the man with the amber eyes. Rylan Steele. The name fit him—sharp, solid, dangerous. He had come into the library looking for answers, but somehow, it felt like he’d found something else. Like he had found her.

And the way she had felt when their fingers brushed—like something electric had passed between them. The pull was undeniable, but it frightened her. He had spoken of the leyline, of old magic, and though she had brushed it off at the time, now she wasn’t so sure. What if—

A low, guttural growl cut through the quiet.

Lena froze.

Her heart leaped into her throat, and her hand instinctively went to her chest. The sound came from somewhere off the path, deep in the woods, and it wasn’t a sound she could mistake. A growl, unmistakably animal, but it carried a menacing edge that sent a shiver down her spine.

Slowly, she turned, her eyes scanning the forest around her. The trees were silent, still, but the air felt charged. Something was out there.

Another growl, this time closer.

Before she could even process what was happening, a shape shot out from the trees, a blur of fur and claws and teeth. Lena barely had time to react. The wolf—if she could even call it that—was massive, its eyes wild with hunger and rage, its body a blur of muscles and fur. It barreled toward her with a speed that made her blood run cold.

She stumbled back, her feet slipping on the uneven ground, but the wolf was too fast. It leaped at her, and she threw her arms up instinctively to shield herself. Pain exploded through her side as the wolf’s claws raked across her skin, tearing through her jacket and into her flesh.

A scream tore from her throat as she hit the ground, her vision blurring for a moment as the world tilted. Blood soaked through her clothes, warm and sticky, and her heart pounded in her ears.

The wolf loomed over her, its eyes glowing with a savage light, its breath hot and rancid as it snarled. Lena’s body froze, panic flooding her senses. This was it. She was going to die.

But just as the wolf lunged again, a blur of movement crashed into it, knocking the beast off its feet and sending it tumbling into the trees. Lena gasped, struggling to pull herself to her feet, but the pain in her side was overwhelming. She clutched at the wound, feeling the hot sting of blood seeping through her fingers.

Through her blurred vision, she saw another figure step into the clearing, and her breath caught in her throat. It was him.

But he wasn’t the same man she had met in the library. He was different now—larger, more primal. His amber eyes glowed in the dim light, and his body seemed to ripple with barely contained power. He wasn’t fully human anymore. He was something else. Something more.

Lena watched in disbelief as Rylan squared off with the rogue wolf, his movements smooth and deliberate, his body poised for a fight. The wolf snarled, shaking off the impact, but Rylan was faster. He lunged, moving with a speed and precision that seemed almost inhuman, his hands—claws?—slashing through the air.

The wolf howled in pain as Rylan’s claws raked across its side, sending it staggering back. But the beast wasn’t done yet. It lunged again, teeth bared, but Rylan was ready. With a fierce growl, he grabbed the wolf by the throat, slamming it into the ground with a force that shook the earth beneath Lena’s feet.

The rogue wolf let out one last snarl before Rylan brought his claws down, a final, brutal strike that silenced the beast for good. The forest fell silent, save for the sound of Rylan’s heavy breathing as he stood over the fallen creature, his eyes still glowing with that dangerous light.

Lena’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind struggling to catch up with what she had just witnessed. Wolves. Real wolves. And Rylan—he wasn’t just a man. He was a—

“Are you alright?” Rylan’s voice, rough and low, snapped her out of her shock.

He was already at her side, crouching down, his eyes scanning her face, then her injury. His expression was intense, a mix of concern and something else—something deeper. He didn’t seem surprised by what had just happened. In fact, he looked like he had expected it.

Lena winced as he reached for her, his hand brushing against her side where the rogue wolf had struck her. His touch was surprisingly gentle, though his fingers trembled slightly, as though he was holding back something far more powerful. Heat radiated from him, but instead of fear, she felt… drawn to it. To him.

“Lena,” he said softly, his voice barely more than a whisper. “You’re hurt.”

Her vision blurred again, and she gasped, the pain from the wound making her legs wobble. “I—I don’t understand,” she stammered, her voice shaking. “What was that? What are you?”

Rylan’s amber eyes darkened for a moment, as though he was deciding how much to reveal. But then, he sighed, his shoulders relaxing just slightly. “I’m a werewolf,” he said, his tone matter-of-fact, though there was an edge of hesitation there. “And that thing—it was a rogue wolf. Not one of mine.”

Lena blinked, the words not fully registering at first. Werewolf. It was one of the oldest legends in Ashen Hollow, one of the stories she had grown up hearing but had never believed. And yet, here she was, face-to-face with one. Rylan Steele, the man who had walked into the library just days ago, the man whose presence had stirred something deep inside her, was a werewolf.

“Werewolf?” she echoed, her voice weak. “That can’t be… that’s not possible.”

Rylan’s gaze softened, though his eyes still held that strange glow. “I didn’t want you to find out like this,” he said quietly, his hand still hovering near her wound. “But yes, it’s real. And so is the danger you’re in.”

Lena swayed, her legs giving out beneath her. Rylan caught her easily, his arms wrapping around her as though she weighed nothing. His touch sent another jolt of warmth through her, but this time, she didn’t fight it. She was too tired, too shaken by what had just happened. The pain in her side throbbed, and the world started to blur at the edges.

“Stay with me,” Rylan said, his voice low but firm. “I need to get you out of here before more come. I’m Rylan by the way”

“More?” she whispered, barely able to form the word.

Rylan nodded grimly. “The rogues aren’t the only ones hunting tonight. We need to get you somewhere safe.”

Lena’s head lolled against his chest, and she struggled to keep her eyes open. “I don’t understand,” she murmured. “Why… why are they after me?”

Rylan hesitated again, his jaw tightening. “Because you’re more important than you know, Lena. And they can sense it.”

Her breath hitched, the weight of his words sinking in. But before she could ask anything else, darkness pulled her under.