The Night Bound Pact

Nightbound, it was him. Her heart pounded as she approached his house, her footsteps crunching

atching her. And, for the first time since she had arrived in Dunford, she felt a

d to ask him, but she couldn't shake the pull drawing her to his door. The past few days had left her feeling tangled in

ut to turn away, the door opened. Alec stood there, silhouetted against the dim light inside, his f

oice low and cautious.

the words feeling inadequate. "There

his gaze unrea

d to ask him, but she couldn't shake the pull drawing her to his door. The past few days had left her feeling tangled in

ut to turn away, the door opened. Alec stood there, silhouetted against the dim light inside, his f

oice low and cautious.

the words feeling inadequate. "There

his gaze unrea

mix of relief and trepidation. Alec's home was simple bu

choed in the silent forest around her, swallowed by the dense wall of trees encircling Alec's home. She didn't

ay the steps creaked, and a weathered rocking chair sat empty, covered in a light layer of dust. Everyt

and Alec appeared, his expression unreadable as he looked at her. She felt the intens

low, holding a hint of caut

r. Finally, she gathered her courage. "Can we talk? I... I have que

e worry or reluctance-crossing his face, but

ross the wooden floor. It felt as if he lived here with one foot always ready to step back outside, like he didn't quite belo

leather couch. He took a seat across from her, his elbows resting on his knees,

he said, his voice softer now, with a n

her shoulders, and she found herself leaning forward, unable to contain them any longer. "I spoke to H

slightly. "He shouldn't have said anything to

ching me. Something dangerous, lurking just out of sight. And then last night..." She hesitated, her voice trembling. "I sa

and resignation. "Mina, there are things about Dunford that no one talks about," he said

, her heart poun

ded by families who came here seeking solitude. They brought their secrets with them, and those secrets have been kept for generations. The Nightbound curse... i

d. "You're... you're one of them, aren't you?" She whi

d, he looked down at his hands, his expression heavy with something

y way he carried himself, the reluctance to speak to her or anyone else-it all

d, trying to understand. "You're not just a monster that prow

st about changing form. It's about losing control. The wolf takes over, and everything human fades into the background. I remember b

understanding. Alec wasn't just a man who turned into a beast. He was someone who was f

e barely above a whisper. "Because you knew ther

e careful, only changing far from town, where we can't hurt anyone. But others... they give in.

at what's been happening? The attacks.

, but it's difficult. Most of us keep to ourselves, avoid each other to keep things... safer. But there are some who

why Alec had been so distant, so guarded. He was carrying the weight of his own curse, but he

. "Why not just leave, go somewhere far away, wher

me," he said, his voice raw. "And the people here... they're my family, in a way. Even if they

g to hold on to his humanity while fighting a beast within. She felt an urge to reach

me," she said softly. "

eyes. "You're braver than I gave you credit for," he

be terrified, but... I'm not. I don't know why, but I feel

lence, the weight of everything they'd shared settling betwe

are of the Nightbound, once you've crossed that line... there's no

heart racing, but she

s. "Then I'll do my best to protect you. I don't know what's

danger, she felt a strange sense of safety with him. She

e, low and mournful. Alec stiffened, his expression ha

he murmured. "Whoever's be

er heart pounding

ful. I'll track them down, but I need you to stay safe. Don't go out a

find them, yo

r, but also resolve. She wasn't about to ba

re were still secrets he hadn't told her, mysteries that lingered in the shadows

aid, her voice bare

lips. "You too, Mina. And remember-if yo

knew now that danger lurked in the darkness, but she also knew she wasn't alone. As she made her way home, he

wn, that her life wou