Moonbound: Caught Between Mafia and Mate

Chapter 4: Beneath the Moon's Shadow

Luna's heart pounded in her chest as she pressed herself against the door, the low growl on the other side sending chills down her spine. She had heard growls like this before, but only in her nightmares. This was real. There was a werewolf outside her room, and it was waiting for her.

Her mind raced, panic clawing at her as she tried to figure out what to do. Should she call for help? Would Lorenzo come, or would she be left to fend for herself? She didn't even know if Lorenzo was still in the mansion or if he had left her alone with whatever this was.

The growling grew louder, more insistent, and Luna clenched her fists. She had no idea what this thing wanted, but she wasn't about to sit here and wait for it to break down the door. She needed to act—now.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves, and reached for the handle. Her fingers trembled as they wrapped around the cold metal, but she forced herself to turn it. The door creaked open, revealing the dimly lit hallway beyond.

For a moment, Luna saw nothing. The hall was empty, quiet, almost eerily so. Had she imagined it? Was the growl just another part of her growing paranoia, a figment of her imagination as she grappled with her new reality?

But then, from the shadows at the far end of the hall, a figure emerged. It was large, hulking, with broad shoulders and a head of unruly hair. Its eyes gleamed in the darkness, reflecting the light like those of a predator.

Luna's breath hitched. The figure was undeniably human—but there was something off, something feral about the way it moved. It prowled forward, its steps slow and deliberate, like it was stalking prey.

Luna backed up into her room, her pulse racing. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to keep it steady.

The figure didn't respond, but as it stepped closer, Luna caught sight of its face—a twisted, half-transformed visage with sharp teeth peeking out from between snarling lips. It was caught between its human and wolf forms, and it was terrifying.

Before she could react, the figure lunged.

Luna screamed, throwing herself backward just as the creature crashed through the door, splintering the wood. She scrambled to her feet, her heart hammering as she searched for something—anything—to defend herself with. But before she could find a weapon, the werewolf was on her, its massive hand wrapping around her arm.

Pain shot through her as the creature's claws dug into her skin, and she struggled to break free, but it was too strong. She could feel its breath on her neck, hot and rancid, and the growl that came from its throat was enough to freeze her blood.

Just when she thought she was done for, a gunshot echoed through the room.

The werewolf jerked back, releasing her as it howled in pain. Luna stumbled, catching herself on the edge of the bed as she looked toward the doorway. Lorenzo stood there, his gun still raised, his eyes dark and deadly.

"Get away from her," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

The werewolf snarled in response, but it didn't move. It stared at Lorenzo with a mixture of hatred and fear, and for a brief moment, Luna thought it might attack again.

But then, with a final, guttural growl, it turned and bolted out of the room, disappearing down the hall.

Luna collapsed onto the bed, gasping for breath as the adrenaline surged through her veins. Her arm throbbed where the creature had grabbed her, and when she glanced down, she saw the deep, bloody gouges left by its claws. She was bleeding, but it wasn't life-threatening.

Lorenzo moved toward her, his face a mask of barely restrained anger. "Are you okay?"

Luna nodded, though she wasn't sure if that was true. She was alive, but her mind was spinning. "What... what was that?"