The Beast Beneath the Moon

t to Haruki, everything felt out of place, as if the trees themselves were watching him, waiting for something to happen. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silve

ough an ethereal world. Her white dress seemed to shimmer in the moonlight, blending seamlessly with the surroundings, almost as if she were part

silver eyes reflected the moon's light, but they held a depth that Haruki couldn't quite

His throat felt dry as if the words he was about to say were foreign to him, and he didn't even know if he would beli

he reached out, her cool fingers brushing against his trembling hand, grounding him. "Because, Haruki," she began, her voice gentle but firm, "you are awakening.

raced, but his body was already betraying him, his hands tightening into fists, his nails di

softer now. "You are the heir to a bloodline that has carried the gift-an

ak, but the questions came tumbling out in a flood of disbelief. "But I don't want this. I never

between them. "You are not a monster, Haruki. What you are becoming is a part of something much grea

is heart raced, the pounding rhythm in his chest almost deafening, as if the very essence of his being was beginn

red, voice hoarse w

adows across the clearing. Haruki stared at her, his breath shallow, trying to make sense of the words she had spoken. She had said he was the heir to a bloodli

sky. "The bloodline is tied to the phases of the moon. Your transformation is a

igh in the sky, more brilliant than he had ever seen it. The light it cast felt heavy, l

s voice trembling with uncertainty. "W

you will try to take control, but it is a part of you, Haruki. You

. His body felt as though it was being torn apart from the inside out. His skin prickled with heat, his m

chaos. "Don't fight it, Haruki. L

anic that had seized him. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, focusing on the sound of his own heartbeat, s

prout from his fingertips. His bones cracked, his muscles burned, and he could feel his very DNA rewriting itself. The ch

f the forest-the rustling leaves, the call of distant animals, the girl's calm breathing-all of it sharpened. His senses had heightened to an unbearable degree.

aruki could feel the power coursing through his veins, the connection to

e pain subsided, Ha

d was di

its of human sight. He could hear the beating of a distant heart, the whisper of the win

l with the remnants of the transformation. His hands-now more clawed, more powerf

with something like pride, but also a tinge of sadness. "But y

m stir once again, but this time, he knew

athed him, Haruki's j