MOONLIGHT SAVIOR

Aria hops excitedly through the quiet streets, the cool night air tugging at her coat. Her thoughts were miles away, caught up in the last page of her book, the essays she had yet to finish, and the plans for the weekend that felt so distant from the reality of the late hour. The hum of the city felt distant, almost like a dream. Only the sound of her shoes stamping against the ground. (Aria Alexandro, 17-year-old female student residing in a city around the pack)

As the moonlight cast long, eerie shadows across the road, Aria felt uneasy. She quickened her pace, but the deeper into the quiet, residential part of town she went, the more out of place it felt. The quiet was oppressive like the whole world was holding its breath.

She shivered and glanced over her shoulder, but the road was still empty. It's nothing, she told herself, 'just the late hour playing tricks on me, I should have left earlier, oh naughty me, I was engrossed in my essay, mom will be worried now' she murmured to herself.

But then she heard it. A low growl, deep and unmistakable.

Her heart stuttered in her chest as she spun around, instinctively taking a step back. From the darkness of the alleyway ahead, a figure emerged. A man, no, something

More, towered in the shadows, his eyes glowing a menacing yellow that chilled her to the bone.

Before she could react, he lunged. His movements were impossibly fast, a blur of claws and fangs. She barely had time to scream before he slammed into her, knocking the breath from her lungs as his weight crushed her to the cold pavement.

She fought, her fists pounding against his chest, but he was too strong. His growl was a bone-deep sound, like the warning of a predator closing in for the kill. His claws scraped against her skin, digging into her arms as she struggled beneath him, helpless. The sharp edge of his teeth grazed her neck, and panic surged through her veins.

"Please..." she gasped, her voice barely a whisper, but the creature didn't respond. He was focused, intent on his prey.

And then, as she thought her life would end in this dark, forsaken street, she felt a sudden shift. The pressure on her body disappeared as if an invisible force had pulled the creature off her.

In the blink of an eye, the attacker-Viktor-was yanked backward, a loud growl of pain escaping him. His yellow eyes flashed with fury as he scrambled to his feet, but he didn't get the chance to strike again.

A voice, deep and commanding, cut through the night. "Get away from her!"

Viktor snarled, but it was too late. The stranger, a figure of imposing strength, stepped forward. He was tall and broad, and his every movement was fluid and powerful. With a single swipe, he knocked Viktor to the side, sending him stumbling backward into the shadows.

The newcomer knelt beside Aria, his golden eyes locked onto hers in an instant, a deep intensity in his gaze. For a moment, all Aria could do was stare at him, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Who was he? Was he here to hurt her too?

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice rich and calm, with an undeniable authority behind it. "Stay with me."

Aria tried to focus, tried to speak, but her head felt heavy, her vision blurry. She could barely process what had just happened. Was she dead? Had she been saved, or was this all some twisted dream?

The stranger's hands were strong but gentle as he lifted her from the ground, cradling her in his arms with an ease that made her feel safe for the first time since the attack began. His scent was wild and sharp, a blend of earth and something deeper, something... otherworldly.

"Don't worry," he murmured, almost as if speaking to himself. "I've got you now. You're not alone."

She managed to catch a glimpse of his face as he carried her, his expression dark yet determined. There was a spark

Of recognition in her mind, a strange feeling she couldn't place. Who was this man? Why did she feel so... connected to him?

"W-Who... are you?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, her head lolling against his chest as he moved with purpose.

"Ethan," he answered, his name flowing like a quiet promise in the air. "I'm here to protect you."

Her mind raced. Ethan? The name stirred something in her memory, but it made no sense. She had never met him before. She was sure of it. And yet...

Before she could ask more questions, the world around her seemed to blur once again. The cabin came into view- simple, rustic, and nestled within the trees. Ethan moved swiftly, effortlessly, as if the night itself bent to his will.

As he gently laid her down on a soft bed inside, Aria's body felt like lead. She could barely move, the weight of everything pressing down on her. The world around her was spinning, her body battered and broken, but there was something in Ethan's presence, something protective that made her feel as though, maybe, just maybe, she wasn't so alone in this terrifying world.

She looked up at him one last time, her vision fading, and as her eyes fluttered closed, she heard his voice again, soft but certain: "You're safe now. I won't let anything happen to you, Aria."