Chapter 3

"Hey sweetie, how was your first day at the new school?" my mom asked as soon as I got home.

"It was okay," I replied with a shrug.

"Did your stepbrothers treat you well?"

I nodded. "Yeah, they were nice. Liam even showed me around the school."

"That's great to hear. Your stepfather wants to talk to you when he gets home from work. He said it's important," my mom said, her tone becoming serious.

My heart started racing as I wondered what my stepfather wanted to talk to me about. "Okay, I'll be ready," I managed to say.

"He wants to talk to you about your nightmares," my mom said softly.

I felt a knot form in my stomach as I remembered the nightmares that had been plaguing me for weeks. "Oh," was all I could manage to say.

"He's really worried about you," my mom continued. "He wants to make sure you're okay and that there's nothing bothering you that you're not telling us."

I swallowed hard, feeling a lump in my throat. "Okay," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Don't worry, honey. We just want to help you," my mom said, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.

Later that evening, I made my way to my stepfather's study, where he sat at his desk, surrounded by books and artifacts.

"Hey kiddo," he said, looking up from his work. "Come on in, I want to talk to you about something."

I sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk, my heart pounding with anticipation.

"I've been thinking about your nightmares," my stepfather said, his green eyes locked onto mine. "And I think I might know someone who can help."

"Who?" I asked, leaning forward in my chair.

"A friend of mine, a Lycan sorcerer," my stepfather said. "He's helped people with similar problems before, and I think he might be able to help you too."

My mind raced with questions. A Lycan sorcerer? Could he really help me?

"I'm willing to take you to see him," my stepfather said, interrupting my thoughts. "But I need to warn you, he's not like anyone you've ever met before. He's...different."

I nodded, my heart racing with both fear and hope.

"Are you willing to take that risk?" my stepfather asked, his eyes piercing into mine.

I took a deep breath and nodded again. If there was even a chance that this Lycan sorcerer could help me with my nightmares, I had to take it.

"Okay," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

My stepfather smiled at me, his eyes full of pride. "Good. We'll go see him tomorrow night, after the full moon has passed. And I promise you, everything will be okay."

The next night, my stepfather and I made our way deep into the woods, following a narrow path that wound its way up a mountain.

As we climbed higher, the trees grew thicker, and the air grew colder. My heart pounded with both fear and excitement. Was this really happening? Was I really about to meet a Lycan sorcerer?

Finally, we reached the mouth of a cave, hidden behind a wall of tangled vines. My stepfather pushed them aside, revealing a narrow opening.

"Come on," he said, motioning for me to follow him.

As we made our way deeper into the cave, the air grew musty and damp. My heart pounded in my chest, and I felt a knot form in my stomach.

Suddenly, we heard a growling sound, and my stepfather held up his hand, motioning for me to stay back.

"Who goes there?" a voice boomed through the darkness.

"It's me, Jack," my stepfather said, his voice steady. "I've brought someone who needs your help."

There was a long pause, and then a figure emerged from the shadows. He was tall and muscular, with long, flowing hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to glow in the dim light. His face was chiseled and angular, with sharp cheekbones and a strong jawline. He wore a tattered cloak that hung loosely from his broad shoulders, and his hands were covered in fur that extended up his arms.

The Lycan sorcerer regarded me for a long moment, his eyes piercing into mine. Then, he nodded.

"I may be able to help," he said. "But the solution will not be easy. It will require great strength and sacrifice."

The Lycan sorcerer gathered the herbs and powders he needed, carefully placing them on an altar that sat in the center of his cave. He muttered incantations under his breath, his hands moving with practiced precision.

Suddenly, he turned to me and placed something in my hands. It was a small, crimson gemstone, and as soon as I touched it, it began to glow red.

The Lycan sorcerer's whole demeanor changed in an instant. His eyes widened, and he looked at me with newfound respect.

"You are not like the others," he said softly. "You were born on the day of the red moon. It is said that those born under this moon are destined for great things."

He paused for a moment, his eyes locked on mine. "You are destined to become the mate of the Demon werewolf."

My stepfather's face darkened at the mention of the Demon werewolf. "There must be a way to prevent this," he said firmly. "We cannot allow our own to be taken by such a madman."

He paced back and forth across the room, his brow furrowed in thought. "I know of a few ways to ward off the Demon werewolf's advances," he finally said, turning to me.

He explained that there was a powerful talisman that could repel the Demon werewolf's supernatural charm. It was said to be an ancient artifact passed down through generations of Lycan sorcerers, and it had never failed to protect its wearer.

"We will do everything in our power to keep you safe," he said, his voice unwavering.

He worked for hours, chanting incantations and drawing intricate symbols on the talisman. And as he finished, he placed it in my hands, his eyes meeting mine.

"This talisman will protect you from the Demon werewolf's charm," he said. "But be warned, it is not foolproof. You must still be vigilant, and never let your guard down."

"Do not underestimate the Demon werewolf," he warned. "He is one of the most powerful and cunning creatures in all of the supernatural realm. His charm is strong, and he can manipulate even the strongest-willed individuals."

He paced back and forth, his eyes fixed on the talisman in my hands. "You must always be on guard, and never let your guard down," he said. "Remember, he is a master of deception, and he will use every trick in the book to get what he wants."

I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I will be careful," I promised.

The Lycan sorcerer's expression softened slightly. "I know you will," he said. "But remember, the Demon werewolf is not to be trifled with. If you ever feel like you are in danger, you must come to me immediately."

"Thank you," I said. "I won't forget your words of caution."

The Lycan sorcerer nodded, his eyes fixed on me. "Remember, the Demon werewolf is a formidable opponent," he said. "But with the talisman, you stand a fighting chance."

After thanking the Lycan sorcerer, my stepfather and I made our way back through the dense woods towards our home. The path was treacherous, and we had to navigate through thickets and fallen logs to make our way forward.

As we walked, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The sorcerer's warning about the Demon werewolf still rang in my ears, and I clutched the talisman tightly, feeling its reassuring weight in my hand.

I couldn't help but wonder why everyone seemed to be so afraid of the Demon werewolf. My stepfather had mentioned his madness, but I couldn't imagine what could have made him so feared among the Lycan kingdom.

As if reading my thoughts, my stepfather spoke up. "The Demon werewolf is not like any other Lycan," he said. "He's said to be a madman, consumed by his own power."

I looked at him in shock. "What kind of power?"

"Supernatural charm," he replied. "He has the ability to bewitch anyone with a single glance, and once he has you under his spell, you become nothing but a puppet to do his bidding."

I shuddered at the thought. "How could someone become so twisted?"

My stepfather shook his head. "It's hard to say," he said. "Some say it's a curse, while others believe he was born with it. All we know is that he must be stopped."

As we continued walking, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread settle in my chest. The Demon werewolf sounded like a formidable foe, and I knew that we would have to be careful if we were going to stop him.

As we walked, I turned to my stepfather and asked, "Do you think we should tell my mother about this?"

My stepfather hesitated before responding, "I don't think we should. It will only upset her, and we don't want to worry her unnecessarily."

"But what if something happens to me?" I protested. "Shouldn't she know what's going on?"

I nodded, reluctantly agreeing with his reasoning. The last thing I wanted was to worry my mother, especially since she had already been through so much.

"But what about my friends?" I asked. "Shouldn't they know about the danger?"

"It's better if we keep this between ourselves for now," my stepfather replied. "We don't want to cause a panic, especially since we don't know how much the Demon werewolf knows about our plans."

I understood his reasoning, but a part of me couldn't help but feel like I was keeping a secret from those closest to me. But I knew that the safety of the Lycan kingdom was at stake, and I was willing to do whatever it takes to protect it.

That night, I lay in bed unable to sleep, my mind racing with thoughts of the Demon werewolf and the danger that he posed to the Lycan kingdom. I couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that had settled in my chest earlier that day, and I knew that I wouldn't be able to rest until I had some sort of plan in place to stop him.

I tossed and turned in bed, trying to come up with a strategy to take down the Demon werewolf. But every idea that came to mind seemed too risky or too dangerous. I couldn't shake off the feeling that we were underestimating his power, and that we were not fully prepared to face him.

Eventually, exhaustion overtook me, and I fell into a fitful sleep. But even in my dreams, I couldn't escape the looming threat of the Demon werewolf. His presence haunted me, and I knew that we had to stop him before it was too late.