Moonlit Vows

The events of the previous night lingered in Selene's mind like a vivid, unshakable dream. As dawn broke over the town of Everhollow, she sat at the small kitchen table in her family's modest home, staring into her untouched mug of coffee.

"Earth to Selene," Ivy's voice broke through the fog. Her younger sister's green eyes sparkled with mischief as she waved a piece of toast in Selene's face. "You've been zoning out for five minutes straight. What's going on?"

"Nothing," Selene said quickly, though her tone betrayed her.

"Nothing?" Ivy leaned in, resting her chin on her hand. "That's a suspiciously loaded nothing. Come on, spill it. Weird dreams? Crush on someone? Did you see something in the woods last night?"

Selene flinched at Ivy's last guess, and Ivy caught it immediately. "Oh my god, you did see something!" Ivy gasped. "Wait… was it that creepy ghost everyone keeps talking about? The one old Mrs. Thatcher swears haunts the woods?"

"It wasn't a ghost," Selene muttered, glancing out the window.

"Then what was it?"

Before Selene could answer, their mother walked in, her arms full of grocery bags. The conversation died as they helped her unload, but Selene couldn't shake the feeling that someone—or something—was watching her.

---

That afternoon, Selene found herself back at the edge of the forest, drawn by a pull she couldn't explain. The towering trees seemed less ominous in the daylight, but they still carried an air of mystery. She hesitated for a moment before stepping onto the familiar path.

"Curiosity killed the cat," she muttered to herself, tightening her scarf as the wind picked up.

"You're stubborn," a deep voice said from behind her, making her jump.

Spinning around, she saw him again. The man from last night—Kael. He stood casually against a tree, arms crossed, his piercing blue eyes watching her intently. He wore a black leather jacket now, and the scars on his chest were hidden beneath a simple gray shirt.

"How do you keep doing that?" she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.

"Doing what?"

"Appearing out of nowhere."

Kael shrugged. "I wasn't trying to hide. You're just… distracted."

Selene glared at him. "What are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you that," he said, pushing off the tree and taking a step closer. "Didn't I tell you to stay out of the woods?"

"I don't take orders from strangers," she shot back, crossing her arms.

Kael's lips twitched, the ghost of a smirk threatening to appear. "Noted."

There was a beat of silence as they stared at each other. Despite her frustration, Selene couldn't help but notice the way the sunlight caught the silver in his hair, or the way his presence seemed to command the very air around him.

"Why are you here?" she asked again, softer this time.

Kael hesitated, as though weighing his answer. "I wanted to make sure you stayed safe."

"From what? More wolves?"

His expression hardened. "Among other things."

Selene's breath hitched. "What are you, Kael? And don't tell me you're just some guy, because normal people don't turn into wolves and fight off monsters in the middle of the night."

Kael ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. "It's not something you're meant to know about."

"Too late for that," she said, stepping closer. "You saved my life, but now I'm in the middle of… whatever this is. So start talking."

He sighed, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "I'm a werewolf, Selene. My kind has existed for centuries, living in the shadows. We don't usually cross paths with humans, but… you seem to have a knack for finding trouble."

Selene blinked, trying to process his words. Werewolves. It sounded ridiculous, like something out of a fairy tale. But she couldn't deny what she'd seen.

"And that wolf last night?" she asked. "The one that attacked me?"

Kael's jaw tightened. "A rogue. Wolves who've abandoned their pack and given in to their baser instincts. They're dangerous, unpredictable. That one shouldn't have been here."

"Why not?"

"Because Everhollow is my territory," he said, his voice low. "And I don't tolerate threats to what's mine."

Selene's pulse quickened at the intensity in his tone. "Why would a rogue come here, then?"

Kael hesitated. "I don't know. But I intend to find out."

Their conversation was interrupted by a sudden rustling in the bushes nearby. Kael's head snapped toward the sound, his entire body tensing.

"What—" Selene began, but he silenced her with a gesture.

A moment later, a man stepped into view. He was tall and lean, with dark hair and a lopsided grin that seemed permanently etched on his face.

"Damon," Kael said, relaxing slightly.

"Didn't mean to interrupt," the newcomer said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "But you've got a meeting back at the den, and they're not exactly patient."

Kael sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Of course they're not."

Damon turned to Selene, his grin widening. "And who's this? Don't tell me you're finally making friends, Kael."

"This is Selene," Kael said curtly. "Selene, this is Damon. He's... my second-in-command."

Selene gave Damon a wary nod. "Nice to meet you, I guess."

"Charmed," Damon said, giving her an exaggerated bow. "You've got guts, wandering around with him. Most people can't handle the brooding."

"Enough," Kael growled, though there was no real bite to his tone.

Damon smirked. "We'll be waiting for you at the den. Try not to take too long."

With that, he disappeared back into the woods, leaving Selene and Kael alone again.

"What was that about?" Selene asked.

"Pack business," Kael said, his voice distant.

She frowned. "Do I want to know?"

"No."

His answer only made her more curious, but she let it go. For now.

Kael took a step closer, his expression softening. "Stay out of the woods, Selene. I can't always be there to protect you."

"Why do you care so much?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, he didn't answer. His blue eyes searched hers, as though trying to find the right words. "Because you don't belong in my world," he said finally. "And I can't let it hurt you."

Before she could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving her alone in the forest once again.

Selene watched him disappear, her heart heavy with unanswered questions. Whatever Kael was involved in, she had a feeling it was far from over.

And for reasons she couldn't explain, she wasn't sure she wanted it to be.

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