MoonBlood: The last of my kind

Chapter One: The Red Night "Run, Ivy, don't look back. Those were the last words my mother said to me. They echoed through the trees, through my bones, louder than the screams that followed, louder than the tearing sounds, the snarls, the wet snap of something breaking. Louder than my heartbeat pounding against my ribs like a war drum. I ran. Barefooted, breathless, blinded with tears. The forest was a blur of shadows and thorns, branches clawing against my arms like desperate hands. I didn't even have any idea of where I was running to. Only that I had to keep moving, keep living. Whatever had slaughtered my family was behind me. And it was still hungry. The moon above was wrong—too big, too red. Like eye-watching, judging. I stumbled over a root and crashed to my knees. My hands sank into the mud, slick with something warm. Blood? I didn’t stay to check. I pushed up and kept running. A scream cut through the trees. My little brother. “Eli?” I gasped, spinning around. Nothing. Just the wind. Just the trees. But I saw them. Eyes. Yellow, glowing, high up in the dark. Watching me. I bolted. Leaves tore from the trees as something crashed from the undergrowth behind me. Fast, with four legs. My legs screamed in protest, lungs burning. I'm not going to make it, not like this. Not alone. Something lunged—huge, black, teeth glinting. I fell back, arms up to shield my face— But it never hit. A growl shook the air. Not the one chasing me—something deeper. Older. Two shadows collided. I rolled away, breath heaving, as two beasts tore into each other under the red moon. Fur flew. Jaws snapped. One of them yelped a terrible sound, more human than animal—and fled into the trees. The other turned toward me. I froze. Silver fur. Golden eyes. Blood dripped from its claws. And then— Bones cracked. Limbs twisted. Flesh moved like water. The wolf was gone. A man stood in its place. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Bare-chested, with blood streaked down his side. A long scar cut across his left cheek, but his eyes-the same golden ones—stared right at me. “You’re Ivy,” he said. I tried to back away. “Who—what are you?” He didn’t move. “I’m not going to hurt you.” “That’s what monsters say.” His jaw tightened. “If I were going to kill you, I would’ve let the other one have you.” “Why did you save me?” He looked up at the blood moon, then back at me. “Because you’re the last of your kind. And they’ll come again.” I blinked. What are you talking about? He stepped closer. I scrambled back. “Stay away.” “Ivy.” He called my name like he'd known it for years. “You have Moonblood. It's why they came for your family. And that's why you're still alive. Also if you don't want to die tonight, then you need to come with me. And why should I trust you? His eyes softened a little. Because the next one won't give you a choice. A branch snapped behind me. He moved so fast that I couldn't blink, grabbing my wrist and pulling me to my feet. “Run now. You will ask your questions later.” We ran. Through trees and fog and cold, deeper into the forest. I don't even know who he was or where we were going. Only that the howls behind us were getting louder and closer. He led me down a slope, through a hollow creek, then into a clearing. An old cabin sat crookedly between the trees, its window boarded, its door hanging loose. “In here,” he said. I hesitated for a while. This place looks like it's going to fall apart. “So are you, if we stay out here.” Fair enough. Inside the air smelled like old smoke and cedar. A fireplace sat cold in the corner. He tossed a blanket at me and lit a lantern, bathing the room in a golden glow. “What is your name?” I asked. “Lucian.” Of course, it was something dramatic like that. I sat, wrapping the blanket around me. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking. He crouched near the fire, striking flint until a flame caught. Silence stretched between us. “You knew my name,” I said finally. He nodded. “How?” "I've been watching you." “Creepy.” “I was trying to protect you.” “From the others?” “Yes.” “And what are you?” He looks up at me, the firelight flickering in his eyes “I'm cursed.” I don't know what to say to that. He stood slowly and pulled a cloth from a shelf. “You’re hurt.” I looked down. Blood on my calf. A cut, shallow but raw. “Let me help.” I flinched when he touched me. Not because it hurt. Because his hands were warm. Gentle. “You said they’re coming again,” I said. He nodded. “They won’t stop until they have you.” “Why me?” His gaze darkened. “Because you can end the curse.” “What curse?” Lucian didn't answer right away. Instead, He reached into his coat and pulled out something wrapped in cloth. He handed it to me. A necklace. It belongs to your mother. I stared at it, then at him, Where did you get this? He looked toward the door, tension in his shoulders. “I found it at the tree where your father hid the truth.” “What truth?” He stepped closer. “That you are Moonblood.” I opened my mouth to demand what that meant— —But a scream tore through the woods. Not an animal. Humans. Lucian’s face went pale. “They found us.” Something slammed on the cabin walls. The door flew off its hinges. And standing in the open was a huge, black wolf, eyes burning like coal. But it wasn’t alone. Behind it stood a girl. Eyes like mine. And she whispered, “Ivy... you don’t remember me, do you?” I couldn’t speak. Could barely breathe. The black wolf growled low beside her, its eyes locked on Lucian. It was waiting for her command. “I don't know you,” I managed, my voice dry like dust. But something about her twisted in my stomach like a half-remembered dream. Her face looks familiar, like a picture from long ago. Burning around the edges. “You should,” she said softly. “We used to play under the silver tree, before the curse took everything.” Her eyes glistened. “Before your father chose them over us.” What are you talking about? I stepped back, bumping into the table behind me. The old lantern flickered, shadows dancing on the walls. No, I don't have a sister. She smiled sadly. “You did. You don’t remember. They made sure of that.” Lucian moved between us. “Get out. She’s not yours to claim.” The girl tilted her head. “Still pretending you’re her guardian, Lucian? Still playing the noble wolf?” Her voice dropped to a sneer. “You know how this ends. She belongs with her blood. She belongs with us.” The wolf beside her growled again, lips pulling back over jagged teeth. Lucian snarled in return, his shoulders already shifting, spine beginning to c***k— “No!” I shouted. “Stop it, both of you!” The force of it surprised me. My voice, suddenly strong. And something else—something pulsing just beneath my skin, hot and ancient. The girl froze. Her eyes widened a little, and for the first time, she looked afraid. “[End Of Chapter One”]. Dive into Chapter Two: Familiar Voice.