The Lunar Bound

se that something was watching her, just outside the thin walls of the house. Sleep came in snatches, disturbed by sounds she

d her. For a moment, she almost convinced herself that last night had been a dream, her imagination running wild after hearing the townsfolk's strang

woods last night. Something th

er grandfather's entries were scattered, jumping between references to creatures, rituals, and vague warnings about

Moonborn grow restless. Soon,

grandfather had left her breadcrumbs to follow. She needed to find more informa

unofficial historian: Jim Thorne, the owner of the local antique shop and her grandfather's oldest friend. She remembered him as a quiet, ecc

eople were gathered in small clusters, speaking in hushed tones. She caught snippets of c

one mis

nd blood by

ver even saw

r was some kind of bizarre, isolated incident, but it was starting to loo

. Lana pushed open the door, and a small bell chimed above her, echoing through the dimly lit space

s perched on his nose as he examined an ancient-looking tome. He

he book aside. "I was wond

r help, Jim. It's about my grandfather

u don't know, things your grandfather tried to keep you safe from." He gestured to a sto

Moonborn?" she asked, feeling a little r

p you in the dark. They're not a tale for children, Lana. They're a bloodl

asked, her voice

creature. The Moonborn are descended from a single line, and they've passed the curse down through generations. For centur

here?" Lana asked. "The attac

ening. They kept the Moonborn in check, drove out the dangerous ones, and maintained a truce with the others. But

u're saying my grandfather spent his whole life

ect you, to give you a chance at a normal life. He hoped the Bound would h

regular person-a city girl who had left Lakeridge and never looke

ht, the creature that had watched her with a terrifying intelligence

ice barely more than a whisper. "

resolve. Finally, he stood and disappeared into the

es on how to track and combat the Moonborn. But be warned, Lana...this isn't something you can walk aw

if she was ready for this, but she couldn't ignore the f

r voice steadying as she spoke

-

d find. The Moonborn were more than just mindless beasts, she learned-they were intelligent, cunning, and capable of

the most effective, but it wasn't a guaranteed defense. The Moonborn were stronger than ordinary werewolves, resistant to most traditional

mination. She knew she was in over her head, but she couldn't shake the feeling

ed her. She froze, her heart pounding as she appro

ered, with dark hair and a rugged, almost wild look about him. She recognized him imme

r gaze steady as she met his eyes. "What are you doing

. "I could ask you the same thing

ing her arms over her chest. "This is my gra

ded slowly. "You're a stubborn one, a

mention of her grandf

was a good man. But he wouldn't

her voice. "I know about the Moonborn, Aiden. I know what's happeni

uth, though his eyes remained wary. "You thi

"But I'm willing to try. Un

ir. "Fine. I'll help you. But you need to understand something, Lana-this isn't a game. The M

ng with a mixture of fear an

ng. "Because once you step into t