Beneath the moonlit sky

The moon hung low in the sky, bathed in an eerie crimson glow. Its blood-red hue painted the clearing in shades of shadowy scarlet, casting a haunting light on the creatures that prowled beneath it. The air was heavy with the sound of guttural growls and snarls, ghouls moving like shadows come to life. Their eyes glowed faintly, pinpricks of pale white in the sea of darkness, and their skeletal forms oozed with tendrils of inky black mist.

Nina stood frozen in the center of it all. Her heart pounded in her chest, but her feet refused to move. She just stood there, confused. Everyone there knew where they had to be and what they had to do but she didn't, she just stood there and watched the ghouls march past her, heading somewhere just beyond the horizon.

Suddenly, A figure emerged from the darkness, its steps slow and deliberate. It was tall, its outline human, but its features monstrous. Fangs glinted in the blood moon's light as it closed the distance between them.

All the other creatures there seemed to ignore her presence but not this one. It seemed to notice her. It walked towards her slowly making her want to run away but her feet refused to move. She just stood there, rooted to the ground, unable to run, unable to scream, unable to fight back.

In one swift motion, it lunged toward her, its fangs bared and claws outstretched, aiming for her chest. Just as the sharp points were about to pierce her skin-

Nina woke with a scream, her body drenched in cold sweat.

Her door burst open, and Lucian stepped in, his silver hair illuminated by the faint moonlight streaming through the window. His blue eyes scanned the room, his body tense. "What's going on? I heard you scream. Are you okay?"

Nina was panting, her hands clutching the blanket as she tried to calm her racing heart. "Don't worry," she finally said, her voice shaky. "It was just a dream."

Lucian sighed in relief, leaning against the doorframe. "That's a relief."

Nina's breathing slowed, but something dawned on her. She narrowed her eyes at him. "Wait... how did you hear my scream? Your room isn't anywhere near mine."

Lucian hesitated for a moment before shrugging nonchalantly. "Super hearing. Perks of being a werewolf and all."

Nina froze, blinking at him in disbelief. "You're... a werewolf?"

Lucian smirked. "Yeah. A werewolf."

"And I'm supposed to believe you now?" Nina said, laughing nervously. "You really joke a lot."

Lucian raised an eyebrow, amused. "I'm serious. How do you think I fended off those wolves the night we met? You think that's normal human strength?"

"It could've been training," Nina replied, searching for logic. "People train for stuff like that, you know."

Lucian sighed and stretched out his hand. "Come with me."

"Why? Where are we going? I should be sleeping. Beauty sleep is important, you know."

Lucian chuckled. "You can't sleep. I can't sleep. So why don't we skip it together tonight?"

Nina gave him a long look before finally placing her hand in his. "Fine. But if you take me somewhere creepy, I'm running back here."

Lucian grinned. "I make no promises."

---

Lucian led Nina to a hidden part of the territory, the glade surrounded by towering trees that swayed gently in the cool night breeze. The moonlight filtered through the leaves, creating a shimmering pattern on the soft grass below. The air felt different here, lighter yet charged with a quiet power.

"So why did you want me to come here?" Nina asked, folding her arms as she glanced around.

"What? The view isn't good enough for you?" Lucian teased, flashing her a playful grin.

Nina rolled her eyes. "Cut to the chase, Lucian."

"Fine, fine," he said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "I didn't bring you here just for the view-which is amazing by the way. I wanted to prove something to you."

"Prove what? That you're a werewolf?" Nina smirked. "What are you going to do, grow claws, show me some fur or maybe even howl at the moon?"

Lucian stepped closer, the distance between them reduced to the extent that she could now hear his heartbeat. His expression suddenly became serious. He looked into her eyes, his blue gaze piercing. "Do you trust me?"

Nina hesitated. "Well... you did save me from those wolves, so I guess, yeah? A little."

Without another word, Lucian wrapped his arms around her tightly. Before she could protest, he leaped into the air, his powerful legs propelling them miles above the ground.

"Lucian!" Nina screamed, her arms instinctively clinging to him. "What are you doing?!"

Lucian laughed, his voice full of joy. "Relax! Enjoy the view!"

As they reached the peak of their jump, they hovered for a moment, suspended in the sky. Nina's fear faded as she looked around. The air sparkled with tiny, glowing blue specks, like ethereal fireflies. Lucian's eyes gleamed in the moonlight making it hard for Nina to look away. There were suspended in the air for only a few seconds although it felt longer.

"It's... beautiful," Nina whispered, her eyes wide in wonder.

They began their descent, the wind rushing past them. When they landed softly in the glade, Nina realized she was still clinging to Lucian.

"Uh, Nina?" Lucian said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Oh! Right, sorry," Nina said quickly, stepping back and smoothing her hair.

"So?" Lucian asked, crossing his arms. "What do you think? Still think I'm not a werewolf?"

Nina looked at him, then at the sky, then back at him. "Okay, fine. You win. But why didn't you just show me claws or something? Any magical creature can jump. Wouldn't fur or claws make me believe faster or something like that?"

Lucian chuckled as they began walking back toward the sanctuary. "I had a feeling you'd like this way better. Was I wrong?"

Nina smiled. "No. You weren't. The view up there was amazing. I was scared to be that high but I can't say I didn't like being there. Thanks for taking me there."

Lucian smiled as they arrived at her door. "Try to get some sleep, Nina. I'll check up on you tomorrow."

"I'll try. Goodnight, Lucian," Nina said, closing the door behind her.

---

The sun rose lazily over the sanctuary, casting golden light over the trees and filling the air with the soft chirping of birds. The warm rays spilled through the small window in Nina's room, waking her slowly. She stretched, rubbing her eyes before heading to wash up.

A faint knock interrupted her morning routine, and a maid stepped inside, bowing politely. "The alpha has sent for you."

Nina froze, her stomach twisting. "The alpha? Why?"

"I wasn't told, ma'am. But he's waiting for you."