Blood Moon Covenant

The forest was restless as the fire's embers dimmed, casting faint shadows that flickered across the faces of the unlikely allies. Selene had hardly slept, her ears twitching at every distant rustle, her claws ready for another attack. Across from her, Lucian rested against a tree, his eyes closed. His stillness unnerved her—it was as if he didn't need to sleep, as if he was always watching even when he pretended not to be.

The hybrids' attack still lingered in her mind. Selene didn't want to admit it, but their arrival felt deliberate. Someone didn't want her and Lucian uncovering the truth behind the covenant.

"Do you always stare this much?" Lucian's voice broke the silence.

Selene startled, narrowing her eyes at him. "You're supposed to be asleep."

Lucian opened his eyes, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. "And you're supposed to be on watch. But since you seem so interested in my sleeping habits, care to share what's on your mind?"

Selene's jaw tightened. She didn't want to engage with him, but his smug attitude grated on her nerves. "You don't seem concerned about the hybrids or whatever mess we've walked into."

Lucian stretched lazily, his movements fluid. "Concern is for those who can't handle themselves. I trust my abilities. The question is—" his gaze flicked to her, sharp and probing, "—do you trust yours?"

Selene scoffed. "I don't need validation from a vampire prince who probably spends more time preening than fighting."

Lucian chuckled, the sound rich and low. "You're feisty. I'll give you that. But if we're going to survive this, you might want to work on your trust issues. Starting with me."

Selene's retort died on her lips as the air shifted. A chill crept through the clearing, and the faint scent of decay wafted in.

"Something's coming," she whispered.

Lucian was on his feet in an instant, his playful demeanor vanishing as he drew a gleaming blade from his coat. "I hope you're ready, wolf."

---

The Hunter's Trap

The forest seemed to hold its breath as they waited, the fire now a dim glow behind them. Selene's claws extended, her wolf senses straining to pinpoint the source of the disturbance.

A low growl echoed from the trees, followed by the rustling of leaves. Then, a figure emerged—a lone werewolf, its fur matted and eyes wild. But something was wrong. Its movements were jerky, unnatural, as though it were being controlled.

"What is that?" Lucian asked, his voice low.

Selene frowned. "Not one of mine."

The wolf lunged, its speed unnatural, and Selene barely had time to dodge. She spun, raking her claws across its side, but the creature didn't flinch. Lucian stepped in, his blade flashing as he sliced cleanly through the wolf's neck.

The body crumpled to the ground, but instead of blood, black ichor oozed from the wound.

"That's not normal," Lucian muttered, kneeling to examine the ichor.

Selene's stomach churned at the sight. "This is dark magic. Someone's controlling these creatures."

As if on cue, more figures emerged from the shadows—half a dozen wolves, each with the same jerky movements and glowing red eyes.

Selene and Lucian exchanged a look.

"Back-to-back?" Lucian offered.

Selene nodded reluctantly. "Try not to stab me."

"No promises," Lucian quipped.

The wolves charged. Selene moved with practiced precision, her claws slicing through fur and flesh. Lucian fought with the grace of a dancer, his blade a blur as he dispatched the attackers with deadly efficiency.

But no matter how many they took down, more kept coming.

"This isn't working," Selene growled, dodging a set of snapping jaws. "We're being overwhelmed."

Lucian's eyes glinted as he parried another attack. "Then it's time to change the game."

He reached into his coat and pulled out a vial of shimmering liquid. Before Selene could ask what it was, he hurled it at the ground. The vial shattered, and a burst of blinding white light erupted, forcing the wolves to recoil.

"Move!" Lucian shouted, grabbing Selene's arm and pulling her into the forest.

---

The Forgotten Path

They ran until the sounds of pursuit faded, the forest growing quieter with each step. When they finally stopped, Selene yanked her arm from Lucian's grip.

"Don't touch me," she snapped.

Lucian raised his hands in mock surrender. "You're welcome, by the way."

Selene glared at him but didn't argue. She hated to admit it, but his quick thinking had saved them.

"What was that?" she asked, nodding toward the vial.

"Holy water," Lucian said casually. "Modified, of course. Useful against dark magic."

Selene frowned. "You carry holy water?"

Lucian smirked. "A prince is always prepared."

Selene rolled her eyes but let the matter drop. She turned her attention to their surroundings. The trees here were older, their gnarled branches twisting like skeletal hands. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something faintly metallic.

"We're close," Lucian said, his tone more serious.

"Close to what?" Selene asked.

"The monastery," Lucian replied. "If the answers we seek are anywhere, it's there."

Selene followed him, her unease growing with every step. The forest felt wrong, as though it were watching them.

When they finally reached the monastery, Selene's breath caught. The structure was ancient, its stone walls covered in moss and vines. The air around it was heavy, as if the building itself held secrets too dark to reveal.

"This place gives me the creeps," Selene muttered.

Lucian smiled faintly. "Good. That means we're on the right track."

---

Uncovering the Past

Inside, the monastery was a labyrinth of crumbling hallways and shadowed alcoves. The faint glow of the blood moon filtered through cracks in the stone, casting eerie patterns on the floor.

"Stay close," Lucian said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Selene snorted. "I'm not afraid of the dark."

As they moved deeper into the monastery, they found a chamber filled with ancient scrolls and tomes. Lucian immediately began searching through them, his movements efficient and focused.

Selene, meanwhile, examined the carvings on the walls. The runes were similar to those on the altar, but these were older, more intricate.

"What do you make of this?" she asked, pointing to a carving of a wolf and a bat entwined in a circle.

Lucian glanced over, his expression thoughtful. "A symbol of unity. But look closer."

Selene leaned in, noticing the faint lines of chains wrapping around the circle.

"It's not unity," Lucian said softly. "It's bondage."

Selene's stomach twisted. "The covenant wasn't meant to unite us. It was meant to keep us imprisoned."

Lucian nodded grimly. "The question is, who would go to such lengths to control us?"

Before Selene could respond, a low growl echoed through the chamber.

They weren't alone.