🌌Chasing My Northern light 🌌

Chapter One: A Night in Girdwood

.....

Luna adjusted the strap of her camera, the cold Alaskan air biting at her cheeks as she stepped into Girdwood Park. The snow crunched beneath her boots, each step echoing her thoughts.

She loved the tranquility of the park at night, illuminated only by the soft glow of the moon. This was her escape—a chance to capture the beauty of the world, even if it was just in her small town.

After a long shift at the 7-Eleven, she craved this solitude. The fluorescent lights of the store faded from her mind, replaced by the serene landscape around her.

She raised her camera, focusing on the delicate frost clinging to the branches of the trees, the way it sparkled like diamonds in the moonlight. Snap. The shutter clicked, freezing a moment in time, a reminder of why she pursued photography.

Luna had always been drawn to the lens, finding solace behind it. Each photograph told a story, a whisper of the world around her that she wanted to share. Yet, in her heart, she harbored dreams of traveling far beyond the borders of Girdwood, of capturing the bustling streets of Paris or the serene beaches of Bali. But her family’s financial struggles loomed large, forcing her to juggle work and her passion.

Tonight was no different; she was exhausted, but the call of the night was too alluring to resist.

As she wandered deeper into the park, the landscape transformed. The shadows of the trees danced under the moonlight, creating a mysterious aura. Luna took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp, cold air. She was about to snap another photo when a movement caught her eye. A figure stood near a cluster of birch trees, tall and striking.

He was impossibly handsome, his dark hair tousled by the wind, and he moved with a grace that seemed almost unnatural. Luna instinctively raised her camera again, capturing the scene before her.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” a deep voice interrupted her thoughts.

Startled, she lowered her camera and found herself staring into the piercing ocean blue eyes of the stranger. He was taller than anyone she had ever seen—at least 6'3"—and every bit as captivating as the landscape surrounding them.

“Uh, yeah. It really is,” she managed, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m Luna.”

“Raven,” he said, a charming smile playing on his lips. The name felt fitting for someone who seemed to have stepped out of a dream.

“Are you from around here?” Luna asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

“I just arrived from France,” he replied, his accent rich and alluring. “I’m here for a modeling assignment, but I had to explore a bit. This place is magical.”

Luna felt a pang of envy. A model. She glanced down at her worn jeans and oversized hoodie, feeling suddenly out of place. “It is. I take photos of the scenery. It’s my way of escaping.”

“Can I see?” He gestured to her camera, and Luna hesitated for a moment before nodding.

She flipped through her photos, showing him a few shots of the park and the nearby mountains. Raven studied them intently, his expression serious yet appreciative. “You have a real talent,” he said, looking up at her. “These capture the essence of the place beautifully.”

Heat crept to her cheeks at his praise. “Thank you. I dream of traveling and capturing the world through my lens.”

“Then you should,” he said, his voice earnest. “Life is too short to stay in one place.”

Luna’s heart raced at his words. Here was this stunning stranger encouraging her dreams, making her feel seen. But she couldn’t shake the reality of her life—bills to pay, a family to support.