ELARA; THE LUNAR ALPHA

There’s something about the smell of old books that I’ve always loved. It’s comforting like a hug you can breathe in. Tonight, I needed that comfort more than ever. The library was quiet, just the way I liked it, with only the sound of my footsteps echoing in the aisles.

I ran my fingers along the spines of the books, stopping now and then to read a title. Some of them looked like they hadn’t been touched in years, their covers faded and dusty. That was fine by me. Books didn’t judge or expect things from you. They just… existed.

The clock on the wall chimed softly. Almost closing time. I glanced out the tall windows, the moonlight pouring in like silver. Beyond the glass, the woods surrounding Black Hollow stretched endlessly, their dark shapes swaying in the breeze. They were beautiful but eerie, the kind of place you’d hear about in ghost stories.

I shouldn’t have stared at the woods for so long.

“Elara, you don’t get paid to stare at nothing,” Mrs. Hawthorne’s voice rang out, sharp and annoyed.

I jumped, spinning around to face her. She was standing by the counter, arms crossed, glaring at me like I’d personally offended her. Her gray hair was pulled into its usual tight bun, and her glasses sit crooked on her nose.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, reaching for a random book to look busy. I didn’t even read the title.

Mrs. Hawthorne sighed, shaking her head. “Just finish locking up when you’re done. I’m heading out.”

She didn’t wait for me to respond, just shuffled off toward the back office. The door clicked shut behind her, leaving me alone in the silence.

I exhaled, leaning against one of the shelves. My eyes drifted back to the window. The woods looked darker now, the shadows deeper under the full moon. They seemed to call to me, though I couldn’t explain why.

That’s when I heard it.

A howl.

Low and mournful, it echoed through the night, sending shivers down my arms. It sounded far away, but something about it made my chest tighten. My heart thudded in my ears as I stared into the forest.

I didn’t move. Couldn’t. The howl wasn’t just a sound—it felt like it reached inside me, tugging at something buried deep.

Then came the heat.

It spread through me slowly, starting in my chest and radiating outward. My skin tingled like static electricity, and I grabbed the edge of the counter to steady myself.

“Elara…”

I whipped around, my breath catching.

Someone had whispered my name, soft and distant. But there was no one there.

“Okay,” I muttered, shaking my head. “Get it together.”

I hurried to pack up my things, throwing my notebook and library keys into my bag. My hands trembled slightly as I locked the front door, the sound of the bolt sliding into place oddly loud in the quiet night.

The cool air hit me as I stepped outside, but it didn’t calm the strange heat still pulsing under my skin. I glanced around the empty street, then at the woods again.

The logical thing to do was go home. But logic didn’t seem to matter right now.

My feet moved on their own, carrying me toward the edge of the forest.

The forest looked darker up close. The trees towered above me, their branches twisting into a canopy that blocked out most of the moonlight. I hesitated at the edge, one foot on the sidewalk and the other on the dirt path that disappeared into the shadows.

“Don’t be stupid, Elara,” I whispered to myself.

But something inside me wouldn’t let me turn back. It wasn’t just curiosity—it was a pull, a need to step into the darkness. My heart pounded as I took another step, and then another, until the sounds of the town faded behind me.

The forest was silent except for the rustle of leaves in the breeze. Every now and then, I heard the snap of a twig, and my breath caught, my eyes darting around. But I didn’t see anything—just trees and shadows.

The deeper I went, the stranger everything felt. The air was thick, almost heavy, like I was wading through water. And that heat inside me? It was getting stronger, making my skin prickle and my chest tighten.

Another howl broke through the silence, closer this time.

I froze, my hands curling into fists. My body wanted to run, but my legs wouldn’t move. Instead, I turned toward the sound, my head tilted slightly, like I was listening for something else.

And then I saw them.

Eyes.

Glowing, golden eyes watching me from the shadows.

I stumbled back, my heart slamming against my ribs. The eyes didn’t blink. They just stared, unflinching, like they were waiting for me to do something.

I opened my mouth to scream, but no sound came out. The creature stepped into the moonlight, and my breath caught in my throat.

It was a wolf—but not like any wolf I’d ever seen in books or movies. It was massive, its fur a sleek black that seemed to absorb the light. Its eyes glowed unnaturally, piercing into me like they could see everything I’d ever tried to hide.

I should’ve been terrified. I should’ve turned and run as fast as I could. But I didn’t.

Instead, I stepped closer.

The wolf tilted its head, studying me. There was something almost human in its gaze, like it was more than just an animal. My hand twitched at my side, an inexplicable urge to reach out and touch it rising in me.

“Elara.”

This time, the voice wasn’t distant. It was clear, deep, and unmistakably male.

I spun around, my eyes searching the trees.

“Who’s there?” I called, my voice shaking.

No one answered.

I turned back to the wolf, but it was gone.

The heat inside me flared, so intense it almost hurt. I pressed a hand to my chest, stumbling forward. My legs felt weak, my vision blurring as I tried to focus.

“Elara Quinn.”

The voice came again, closer now.