THE HUMAN HE CLAIMED AS THE LUNA

Nyssa Vale fled her home without a single backward glance. Standing on the curb, she waved frantically at passing traffic until a cab screeched to a halt. The warning had been clear: the loan sharks were coming to collect. Despite every hour she’d worked to clear the debt her grandmother left behind, it hadn’t been enough. She lunged into the backseat before glancing at the meter. The fare didn’t matter compared to the cost of being caught by the five men trailing her. “Is this car as ancient as you are?” she snapped at the driver, her fingers knotting through her hair. “I’ll pay you double,” she added, eyes glued to the rear window. The black van loomed behind them. With trembling hands, she powered off her phone, praying it killed the GPS signal too. “I want out! Pull over now!” she shrieked, hurling a handful of cash at the driver. The cab barely stopped when the van jerked to the curb behind them. Nyssa bolted for the tree line, her mind cycling through escape routes. She ignored the driver’s curses when he realized she’d only paid half. “Consider it full payment for a relic!” she spat over her shoulder. She vaulted past a 'Restricted Area' sign and plunged into the woods. “Where are you?” the thugs’ voices drifted through the trees, too close. Nyssa froze and held her breath. When she shifted her weight, a glass bottle crunched under her boot. The sound was deafening in the silence. “Over there!” one barked. She ran again, but the chase ended in blood-curdling screams behind her. Cold fear settled in her gut. She drew a small knife, knuckles white around the hilt. A searing heat flared in her arm. She gasped and reached up—her skin was shredded, as if torn by a claw. Nyssa spun and leveled the knife at the darkness. Under a crimson moon, a wolf stood watching her, eyes fixed on her throat. She reached for her necklace to steady herself. It was gone. Before she could process it, the world tilted and went black. She woke to the smell of damp stone and rattling chains. Other girls huddled on the cold floor, staring at her like she was a ghost. They were gaunt, their clothes rags. Nyssa pushed herself up and stumbled to the iron bars. “Is anyone there?” she yelled. Only her echo answered. Her phone was gone, but her fingers brushed a canister of pepper spray. A sharp smile tugged at her lips. The door groaned open. Two maids entered, pushing carts of food. The aroma made Nyssa’s stomach roar. She reached for a chicken leg, but another girl slapped her hand away. “Abide by the rules. The Boss Lady eats first. Always.” Eva’s voice cut in, bitter. “Why do we need a ‘boss’ when we’re all getting eaten in a few hours anyway?” Silence fell. “Eaten? By who?” Nyssa asked, hand tightening around the pepper spray. “The werewolves,” Eva replied, eyes brimming with tears. “They celebrate the crimson moon tonight. We’re the feast.” Nyssa laughed, harsh and short. “Werewolves? You’ve got to be kidding.” Eva didn’t blink. “My friend was killed by them. We’re next.” Nyssa’s laughter died at the hollow, terrified faces around her. “That’s a myth,” she muttered, shoving meat into her mouth. “There’s no such thing as Alphas or Lunas.” The door opened again. Guards marched in and dragged the girls through dark corridors. “We’re going to be dinner,” one girl whimpered, staring at her feet. They were led into a grand hall. Despite her situation, Nyssa looked around with grim fascination. At the far end, on a high throne, sat a man in a crimson robe that hung open, exposing the hard lines of his chest. Nyssa felt a sudden jolt of heat. She couldn’t help noticing the cut of his abs. The lead woman bowed and left. The girls stood in the center while the men and women around the tables watched them with a hunger that wasn’t human. “Are you a werewolf?” Nyssa asked, voice cutting through the quiet. “Are you supposed to be the Alpha or something?” Her boldness rippled through the room. The man rose, his silhouette shimmering under the dim chandeliers. He stepped forward, a slow, predatory smile on his face. “I’m taking this one with me,” he said.