Falling for Midnight

PROLOGUE

The forest had seemed peaceful enough when I wandered in—too peaceful. The kind that made you feel like the trees were listening like they had secrets. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, and the canopy above blocked out most of the moonlight, leaving everything in an eerie half-glow.

That's when I heard it.

A low, guttural growl. Too close.

I froze, every instinct screaming at me to run, but my legs wouldn't listen. Slowly, I turned my head, and that's when I saw them—huge, misshapen creatures, lurking between the trees. Their eyes glowed an unnatural red, their bodies rippling with muscle under matted fur. They looked like wolves, but wrong. Far too large, and their mouths... were filled with jagged teeth that didn't fit, like their jaws were too wide.

I took a step back, my foot crunching on a twig. Their heads snapped toward me in unison.

"No," I breathed, my heart slamming against my ribs.

The closest one let out a snarl and lunged.

I turned and bolted, crashing through the underbrush, branches clawing at my skin, snagging my clothes. The creatures were fast—too fast. I could hear their heavy paws pounding the ground behind me, the growls growing louder, and closer.

My lungs burned, my legs trembling from the effort, but it wasn't enough. The first one leaped, and I felt its hot breath on my neck just before it collided with me. I hit the ground hard, the wind knocked from my lungs as claws tore into my back. Pain seared through me, sharp and burning, and I screamed.

Then, a blur of movement.

Out of nowhere, a shadow fell over me, and the creature was yanked off. I gasped, rolling onto my side just in time to see it slammed into a tree with a sickening crack. My vision swam, but I caught a glimpse of him—a man, dark hair falling over his face, and eyes like cold steel, gleaming in the darkness.

Another one of the beasts charged at him, but he didn't flinch. With unnatural speed, he moved, sidestepping the creature, and grabbing it by the throat. There was a flash of purple, and the thing let out a gurgling howl before collapsing in a heap.

He turned to me, his face half-hidden in the shadows, and for a moment, I thought he might be another monster. But those eyes, they were human—haunted but human.

"Can you stand?" His voice was deep, and calm, despite the chaos around us.

It sounded too familiar...

''Kieran?'' I whispered trying to find my voice. He didn't respond but kept is eyes on the creatures.

I struggled to my feet, my legs trembling beneath me. He grabbed my arm, steadying me as the remaining creatures circled, snarling but keeping their distance. They were wary now, watching him with something close to fear.

"What... what are they?" I stammered, wincing as the pain in my back flared.

"Not your problem anymore." He glanced at me, his expression unreadable. "Come on. They won't stay back for long."

He pulled me along, guiding me through the trees with a confidence that unnerved me. The creatures paced at the edges of the darkness, growling but not daring to come closer. Not with him there.

The smell of mint was strong as it hit my nose not in an uncomfortable way but in a calming one, as the forest swallowed us in its depths, I knew one thing for sure: whatever those things were, they weren't the scariest things out here.

Not by a long shot.

3 months ago

 Time they say heals all wounds, We have been programmed by society to believe that by bluring the pain out and moving forward, it all goes away. 

But what happens when every slumber is a near-death experience and the day a prison sentence? What if we get so wrapped up in our pain that we can't move past it? 

Be so deeply invested in the feelings of loss and betrayal that we don't know any different? what if......

It had been six months since I lost everything I'd known. The decision to leave had been driven not by anger, but by the quiet realization that staying would mean surrendering to a life of endless compromises. 

With silence being both a refuge and a reminder of the loneliness that had wrapped itself around my heart like a heavy cloak? Now, in this secluded haven, I was piecing together a version of myself that had been overshadowed for far too long. But even in the sanctuary of solitude, my heart was not entirely at peace. 

There was a disquieting feeling that my past had not finished with me yet. The forest that encircled my house seemed to pulse with hidden energy as if it were waiting for something—perhaps for me to be ready to confront the shadows that had lingered on the edge of my memory. 

Hello, my amazing readers! Thank you so much for reading! 🌟 Your support means the world to me. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you love the story, please consider leaving a comment or a vote—it helps me know what's resonating with you and keeps me motivated.

Stay tuned for the next chapter. Until then, happy reading!

With gratitude and excitement, Kaitlyn.