Chapter four:The Hunter’s Moon

The air outside had grown colder, and I could feel the weight of Ronan’s warning settling deep into my bones. There was no denying it now—something was here in Grey Hollow, something far beyond my understanding. And Ronan seemed to be the only one who knew what it was.

I stood frozen in the doorway, my mind racing as his words echoed in my head. *They know who you are…*

Wolves. Was he serious? How could I be in danger from wolves? This wasn’t some wilderness—this was Grey Hollow, the most uneventful town I had ever known. But the look in his eyes had been dead serious, and the way he stiffened at the slightest sound from the street only made me more nervous.

“What do you mean they’re already here?” I whispered, trying to steady my voice, though fear had already started to twist my insides.

Ronan’s eyes scanned the darkening street behind him, his jaw clenched. “You need to trust me,” he said, stepping closer. “I can explain everything, but right now, we don’t have time. We need to get you somewhere safe.”

I opened my mouth to argue, to demand more answers, but something about the urgency in his voice made me pause. He wasn’t just warning me—he was protecting me. And whether or not I understood what was going on, I knew that whatever he was talking about was real.

“Where?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Anywhere but here,” Ronan replied, his voice tight. “There’s a safe house outside of town. We can go there.”

The words “safe house” sounded too much like something out of a thriller movie, but the way he spoke was so certain, so filled with determination, that I found myself nodding. My instincts were telling me to go with him, to trust that he knew what he was doing.

I grabbed my jacket, quickly stuffing my phone into my pocket, and turned to lock the door behind me. The moment I stepped outside, the cold air wrapped around me, and I felt exposed under the darkening sky. Ronan’s presence was the only thing keeping me steady, and even though I had no idea what I was getting myself into, I followed him down the steps and into the night.

We walked in silence, my mind a whirlwind of questions. Why did I need to leave? What exactly was coming for me? And why did Ronan seem so certain that I was in danger?

The streets were eerily quiet, the usual sounds of the neighborhood muffled by the strange, oppressive calm. I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched, that something unseen was lurking just out of sight. Every rustle of the leaves made my pulse quicken, and my eyes kept darting toward the shadows.

As we rounded the corner near the edge of town, Ronan’s pace quickened. He glanced over his shoulder, his expression growing more tense. It was as if he knew something was close.

“Keep up,” he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. “We don’t have much time.”

I nodded, matching his pace. The streetlights above flickered as we passed beneath them, casting long shadows across the cracked pavement. My heart pounded louder with each step, and the sensation of being hunted grew stronger.

Just then, a low, guttural growl echoed from the trees lining the street. I froze, my breath catching in my throat.

“What was that?” I whispered, my eyes widening as I stared into the darkness.

Ronan didn’t respond. Instead, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me forward, his grip firm and urgent. “Don’t look back. Just move.”

Another growl sounded, closer this time, followed by the unmistakable sound of heavy paws hitting the ground. My mind screamed to run, to get away from whatever was following us, but my legs felt like they were made of lead.

“Lena, now!” Ronan hissed, pulling me into a sprint.

We ran down the street, our footsteps echoing loudly in the stillness of the night. The growls grew louder, more frequent, and I could feel something—no, multiple somethings—closing in on us. My lungs burned as I struggled to keep up with Ronan’s pace, fear driving me forward with every step.

As we rounded another corner, I caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of my eye. Dark shapes, barely visible against the shadows, were darting between the trees, moving with unnatural speed and grace. My heart pounded harder, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

“What… what are those things?” I managed to choke out as we turned down a narrow alleyway.

Ronan didn’t answer right away. He was too focused on getting us out of there, his eyes scanning every direction as we ran. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke.

“Wolves. But not the kind you’re thinking of.”

My mind struggled to comprehend what he meant. Wolves? But these weren’t ordinary wolves—there was something else, something more dangerous, more sinister about them. And they were hunting us.

Just when I thought I couldn’t run any longer, Ronan yanked me to the side, pulling me through a narrow gap between two buildings. The alleyway was tight, barely wide enough for us to fit through, but it provided a temporary shelter from whatever was chasing us.

We stopped, both of us breathing heavily as we pressed our backs against the cold brick walls. My heart was still racing, and I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

“Are… are we safe?” I asked, my voice trembling.

Ronan shook his head, his eyes scanning the alley. “Not yet. But they won’t find us here—not right away.”

I leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath. My mind was reeling, my thoughts racing in every direction. None of this made sense. Why were these wolves after me? What had I done to make them hunt me down?

“Ronan… you need to tell me what’s going on,” I said, my voice shaky but firm. “I deserve to know.”

He hesitated, his jaw tightening as he considered my words. For a moment, I thought he was going to brush me off again, but then he sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“You’re right,” he said quietly. “You do deserve to know.”

He turned to face me, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat.

“You’re not just any girl, Lena,” he said softly. “You’re part of something much bigger than you realize. Something that’s been hidden from you your whole life. And now that they know who you are… they’re coming for you.”

My blood ran cold as his words sank in. I opened my mouth to ask more, to demand an explanation, but before I could speak, a loud howl pierced the air, cutting through the silence like a knife.

Ronan’s expression darkened. “We need to keep moving. Now.”

Without waiting for a response, he grabbed my hand, pulling me back into the night. The hunt wasn’t over—not yet.