Moon Bound

The air grew heavier, charged with a strange, electric energy as the group pressed forward through the dense forest. The faint hum of ancient power seemed to vibrate beneath their feet, sending shivers down Selene's spine. She could feel it now—like a force pushing against them, something ancient and unknowable, lurking in the shadows. Every step she took felt like an echo in the dark.

The griffins circled above, their keen eyes searching the land, their calls now sharp and tense. Damon's pace quickened, his silver eyes narrowing as he scanned the path ahead. His hand hovered near his sword, ready for anything. The deeper they ventured, the more Selene's instincts screamed at her. Something was coming—something far more dangerous than they had prepared for.

The trees closed in around them, their twisted limbs like gnarled fingers reaching toward the sky, casting long, eerie shadows over the group. The forest was suffocating, the oppressive silence broken only by the sound of their footsteps and the occasional rustle of leaves. It felt as though the very forest itself was alive, watching them, waiting for them to make a wrong move.

Damon's voice broke the silence, low and commanding. "Stay sharp. We're close."

Selene could feel the tension rising in the air, a knot of unease twisting in her stomach. She glanced around, her senses on high alert. Everything seemed to be still, too still. The usual sounds of the forest had faded, leaving an almost unnatural silence in their wake. Mira, her wolf, was pacing restlessly in her mind, growling softly.

There was something wrong. She could feel it.

A soft rustling ahead caught her attention. Her heart skipped a beat, and before she could react, Damon was already moving, his eyes scanning the shadows. He held up a hand, signaling for everyone to stop.

"Something's out there," Damon murmured, his voice low but filled with warning.

Selene's pulse raced. "What is it?" she whispered, her breath shallow. She couldn't shake the feeling that whatever was lurking ahead wasn't something they were prepared for.

"I don't know," Damon replied, his eyes flicking to the trees. "But we need to stay cautious. This forest... it's hiding something."

The group fell silent, each person straining to hear the slightest sound. The air felt thick, suffocating. Then, as if the forest itself was holding its breath, a figure emerged from the shadows.

At first, it was barely a blur—dark, swift, like a shadow slipping between the trees. But then it stepped forward, revealing a tall, cloaked figure. The hood was drawn low, obscuring most of the face, but even in the dim light, Selene could feel the unmistakable aura of power that radiated from the figure. The magic in the air grew colder, darker.

And then she heard the voice.

"Well, well. I see the great Damon Nightbane is finally awake."

The words hit Selene like a punch to the gut. That voice... she knew it. The deep, gravelly tones, the underlying malice—she could never forget that voice. It was a voice from her past, a past she had tried to bury.

Selene's breath caught in her throat as the figure slowly lifted his head, revealing the face beneath the hood.

Ronan.

The man—no, the monster—who had killed her parents. Who had torn apart her life. His piercing, bloodshot eyes locked onto hers, and in that moment, everything inside her froze. He was here, standing before her, alive and in front of her once again. The terror she had felt all those years ago came crashing back like a tidal wave, but this time, it was different. She was no longer a helpless child. She was a warrior.

Ronan's lips curled into a twisted smile, his sharp canines gleaming in the low light. The wolf inside him, the one that had ravaged her family, was so close to the surface that Selene could practically feel it—feel the raw, predatory power radiating from him.

"Ronan," she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of rage and disbelief. She wanted to fight, to strike him down where he stood, but something kept her rooted in place. The memories of that night flooded her mind—the howling, the blood, the screams. Her parents. Gone because of him.

Damon stepped in front of her, his posture defensive, his silver eyes flashing with recognition and fury. "So, you're the one hunting us. I should've known it would be you, Ronan."

Ronan chuckled, the sound low and mocking. "You always did think you could outsmart me, Damon. But here we are, with you in my territory. You're too late."

Selene clenched her fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. The urge to throw herself at him, to tear him apart, was overwhelming. But Damon's voice, calm and steady, cut through the storm in her mind.

"Why now, Ronan?" Damon asked. "Why reveal yourself? Why wait until now to make your move?"

Ronan's eyes gleamed with dark amusement. "Why not? I've waited this long, haven't I? Your little rebellion is a joke. The prophecy, the child... none of it matters. I'm going to end all of this. You, Damon. You, Selene. You're nothing compared to what's coming. And that child..." He let out a low growl, the sound vibrating in the air. "That child is mine."

The words sent a cold chill through Selene's entire being. The child. He knew. Somehow, he knew what they were after. And he was coming for it. He was coming for the one thing that could stop him.

"No," Selene said, her voice shaking with fury. "You won't have him. I won't let you."

Ronan's lips twitched into a feral smile. "You think you can stop me, little wolf? You can barely stop yourself from trembling. You're nothing but a ghost of what you once were."

Her blood boiled at his words, but the wolf inside her—the part of her that had been awakened in the heat of battle—began to stir. Mira's growl echoed in her mind, urging her forward. You're stronger than this. You've always been stronger.

Damon's hand rested on his sword, his stance unwavering. "We'll stop you, Ronan. No matter what it takes."

Ronan tilted his head, his grin widening. "We'll see, won't we? The hunt has already begun, and the end is near." He stepped backward into the shadows, his voice lingering in the air like a curse. "You're too late. The child is already mine. And when I've finished with you, I'll take everything else."

Without another word, Ronan disappeared into the trees, his presence fading as if he had never been there. The forest, which had been alive with tension, fell eerily silent once more.

Selene's heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She could still hear his voice in her mind, feel the weight of his presence like a dark cloud hanging over her. He was right. He was closer than they had realized.

Damon turned to her, his face hard, his eyes full of resolve. "We can't let him win, Selene. We have to move now. We can't waste any more time."

Selene nodded, her body shaking with the force of her anger and fear. Not this time. Ronan had come for the child, but he had underestimated her. She wasn't the scared girl she once was. She was stronger, more powerful. And she would stop him, no matter the cost.

The hunt had truly begun.