Destined by the moon

Elara's feet pounded against the forest floor as she sprinted through the trees, her flashlight abandoned somewhere along the path. The air was cold and sharp, burning her lungs as she ran, but she didn't dare stop. The guttural snarls and the clash of teeth and claws behind her sent shivers down her spine.

Her thoughts were a chaotic whirl: the golden-eyed man—Kael—turning into a wolf, the monstrous creatures pursuing her, and his cryptic words about her being more than she thought. None of it made sense, yet every fiber of her being told her this was real.

She risked a glance over her shoulder, but the darkness swallowed everything. The sounds of the fight faded, replaced by an eerie silence that made her stomach twist.

Where am I going? she thought, her steps faltering as she realized she had no idea how far she'd run or where she was. The forest seemed different now, the trees gnarled and twisted, their branches reaching out like claws.

A low growl echoed ahead of her.

She froze, her breath hitching as a figure emerged from the shadows. It wasn't Kael. The creature's eyes glowed a malevolent red, its sharp teeth glinting in the moonlight.

Her legs refused to move. The creature snarled, crouching as if preparing to lunge.

This is it, she thought, her heart pounding so loudly it drowned out everything else.

But before the creature could strike, a blur of motion exploded from the side. Kael slammed into the beast, his massive wolf form radiating raw power. He drove the creature to the ground, his teeth sinking into its throat.

Elara stumbled back, her legs finally obeying her. She pressed herself against a tree, her eyes wide as she watched the fight. Kael's movements were a lethal combination of grace and ferocity, his golden eyes burning with determination.

Within moments, the creature went limp, its glowing eyes dimming as Kael released it. His massive wolf form stood still for a moment, chest heaving, before he turned to face her.

She flinched as his glowing eyes locked onto hers, the primal intensity of his gaze sending a shiver through her. But then, the shift began.

His body shimmered, the wolf's form dissolving into light. Within seconds, Kael stood before her as a man again, his dark hair wild, his chest rising and falling with each breath.

"Elara," he said, his voice softer now, but still carrying that edge of urgency.

She couldn't speak. Her mind couldn't form words.

"I told you to stay behind me," he said, taking a cautious step toward her.

"What—what are you?" she managed to whisper, her voice trembling.

Kael hesitated, his expression unreadable. "I'm a guardian," he said finally. "Your guardian."

"That doesn't explain anything!" she snapped, her fear and confusion boiling over into anger. "What were those things? Why are they after me? And how did you—" She gestured wildly to where he'd just been a wolf.

Kael sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know this is a lot to take in, but you need to trust me."

"Trust you? I don't even know you!"

"But I know you," he said, his golden eyes softening. "And whether you believe me or not, I'm here to protect you."

She shook her head, backing away from him. "No. This is insane. None of this makes sense."

Kael's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. Instead, he gestured to the woods around them. "You feel it, don't you? The pull, the connection to this place. To me."

Her breath caught. She hated how right he was, how deeply his words resonated. She'd felt it for weeks now—the dreams, the strange sense that her life was missing something important.

"Elara," Kael said gently, stepping closer. "You're not who you think you are."

Her heart raced. "Then who am I?"

He hesitated, as though the answer was too heavy to speak aloud. "You're part of something much bigger than you realize. Something ancient. And dangerous."

"Stop speaking in riddles!" she snapped, her voice breaking. "I want answers, Kael!"

He opened his mouth to respond, but a sudden rustling in the trees cut him off. His head snapped toward the sound, his body tensing.

"They're coming," he said, his voice low and urgent.

"Who?"

"More of them." He turned back to her, his golden eyes blazing. "We need to move. Now."

He grabbed her hand, his touch sending a jolt through her, and pulled her deeper into the woods.

"Where are we going?" she asked, struggling to keep up with his long strides.

"Somewhere safe," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

They ran in silence, the trees blurring around them. The air grew colder, the shadows deeper. Elara's lungs burned, her legs aching, but she didn't dare stop.

Finally, they emerged into a small clearing. A single stone structure stood in the center, its surface covered in ancient carvings that seemed to glow faintly in the moonlight.

"What is this place?" she asked, her voice hushed.

"A sanctuary," Kael said, leading her toward the entrance.

The moment they stepped inside, a wave of warmth washed over her, the air buzzing with a strange, soothing energy.

Kael released her hand and turned to face her, his expression serious. "You'll be safe here—for now."

"For now?" she echoed, her fear flaring again.

Kael nodded. "The creatures you saw—there are more of them. And they won't stop until they find you."

Her stomach twisted. "Why? What do they want?"

"They want you dead," Kael said bluntly. "Because of who you are. What you are."

Her legs gave out, and she sank onto a stone bench, her head spinning. "I don't understand any of this," she whispered.

"You will," Kael said, his voice softer now. "But first, you need to remember. Everything."

Elara looked up at him, her fear mixing with a strange, inexplicable trust. "How?"

Kael crouched in front of her, his golden eyes locking onto hers. "The truth is already inside you," he said. "I'm just here to help you find it."