Moonbound

The forest was never truly silent.

Even on the stillest nights, when the wind refused to move the towering pines and the stars hid behind thick clouds, there was always something watching.

Emily Carter knew that.

Growing up in the tiny mountain town of Black Hollow, she'd heard every story the old-timers told. Tales of missing hunters. Strange howls echoing through the valleys. Massive paw prints that disappeared into solid rock.

She never believed any of them.

Until tonight.

Rain soaked through her jacket as she hurried along the old logging road, her flashlight barely cutting through the darkness.

"Seriously?" she muttered. "This is exactly how horror movies start."

Her SUV had broken down nearly five miles back. No cell service. No passing cars.

The nearest town was another two miles ahead.

A twig snapped.

Emily froze.

The beam from her flashlight swept across the trees.

Nothing.

Probably a deer.

Another crack.

Closer.

Then...

A low growl.

Not a dog.

Not a bear.

Something... bigger.

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

The flashlight shook in her hand as two glowing amber eyes appeared between the trees.

They were impossibly high off the ground.

The creature stepped forward.

Seven feet tall.

Covered in dark silver fur that glistened with rain.

Its shoulders were broader than any man she'd ever seen, muscles rippling beneath its coat.

Its muzzle curled back, revealing rows of dagger-like teeth.

Emily couldn't breathe.

"Wolf..."

No.

It stood on two legs.

It wasn't a wolf.

It wasn't human either.

It took one slow step toward her.

Emily screamed and ran.

Branches whipped across her face as she crashed through the woods.

Behind her came heavy footsteps.

Not running.

Walking.

As if it already knew she'd never escape.

She tripped over a root and tumbled down a steep embankment.

Pain exploded through her ankle.

She scrambled backward until her spine hit a massive oak tree.

The creature emerged from the darkness.

Its glowing eyes locked onto hers.

It tilted its head.

Instead of attacking...

It sniffed the air.

Everything changed.

The beast froze.

Its ears flattened.

Confusion flashed across its face.

Then something almost impossible happened.

Its glowing eyes softened.

"No..."

The voice was rough, strained, almost painful.

"...Mate."

Emily stared.

Her mind refused to process what she'd just heard.

The monster took another step toward her before suddenly roaring in agony.

It clutched its head.

Bones cracked.

Its enormous body convulsed.

Emily watched in horror as the fur began to recede.

The towering beast collapsed onto one knee, transforming before her eyes.

Minutes later, kneeling in the rain where the monster had stood, was a man.

He was naked except for the shredded remains of dark jeans hanging from his hips.

His black hair clung to his face as he struggled to breathe.

A long scar crossed his chest.

His piercing silver eyes met hers.

"You have to leave."

His voice was urgent.

"They'll smell you."

Emily's heart raced.

"Who will?"

He looked toward the trees.

Every muscle in his body tensed.

Then came the howls.

Not one.

Not two.

Dozens.

Echoing from every direction.

The man's face went pale.

"They found us."

The forest erupted with movement.

Dark shapes raced through the trees, impossibly fast.

Glowing eyes appeared one after another, surrounding the clearing.

The man stepped in front of Emily.

His body trembled as claws began extending from his fingertips once again.

"You need to run," he whispered.

"What about you?"

He smiled sadly without taking his eyes off the approaching pack.

"I was never the one they came for."

A massive black werewolf stepped into the clearing.

Unlike the others, this one stood nearly nine feet tall, with crimson eyes and a coat black as midnight.

Its voice rumbled like distant thunder.

"Alpha Kael."

The silver-eyed man stiffened.

"You've broken our oldest law."

The black wolf's gaze shifted to Emily.

"You let your human mate live."

Emily looked at the man in disbelief.

"Mate?"

Kael closed his eyes for a moment.

Then he whispered the words that changed everything.

"I've been looking for you... my entire life."