The next day, Luna ventured into the woods. She told herself it was just for a walk, an attempt to reconnect with the place that had once been her home. But something in her—some instinct she didn't understand—compelled her to explore.
As she moved deeper into the forest, she felt the air change, thickening with tension. The trees seemed to loom closer, casting shadows that danced across her path. And then she heard it—a faint rustle behind her, a presence drawing near.
She spun around, her heart in her throat, and came face-to-face with the man from the night before.
His eyes, strikingly golden in the daylight, studied her with an intensity that made her pulse quicken. He was taller up close, with broad shoulders and a presence that radiated authority.
"Lost?" he asked, his voice low and calm, though his eyes remained sharp.
Luna shook her head, her voice catching in her throat. "Just…exploring. I grew up here."
"Then you should know to stay out of these woods," he said, his gaze unrelenting. "Especially with the Blood Moon coming."
"The Blood Moon?" Luna's curiosity piqued, but something about his tone made her hesitate.
"Stay out of the woods," he repeated, a hint of warning in his voice. He turned, walking away with a grace and quiet that seemed unnatural, leaving her standing there, her pulse racing, and a thousand questions burning on her tongue.
That night, as she lay in bed, his words echoed in her mind. Who was he? And why did she feel like he knew something about her that she didn't?