Bound by the Moon’s Call

Chapter 3: Rylan’s Arrival

The mist around Ashen Hollow was thicker than usual, a suffocating blanket that seemed to swallow up the town whole. It was a place steeped in secrets, where the shadows ran deep and the air always felt heavy with something unseen. And Rylan Steele had always been good at sensing when something was wrong.

He stood on the edge of the forest, the thick trees at his back, his sharp gaze cutting through the fog that swirled ahead. Ashen Hollow lay just beyond, its outline barely visible through the veil of mist. He could smell the damp earth, the distant scent of wood smoke from the town’s chimneys, and something else—something that set his instincts on edge.

He had been searching for the Morrigan bloodline for months, chasing rumors and traces of old magic. His journey had taken him across countless towns, but Ashen Hollow felt different. The moment he stepped foot near its borders, he could feel the leyline beneath the ground, pulsing faintly, its power thrumming in his bones.

And now, he could feel her.

Lena Morrigan.

He hadn’t seen her yet, hadn’t gotten close enough to make contact, but the pull was unmistakable. It called to him like a beacon, a magnetic force that tugged at something primal deep inside him. He closed his eyes, letting the sensation wash over him—powerful, insistent. His mate. He hadn’t expected the Morrigan heir to be tied to him in such a way, hadn’t anticipated that their fates would be so deeply intertwined. But there was no denying it.

She was the one.

The connection hit him hard, stronger than he had ever felt before. It wasn’t just her magic; it was something deeper, more primal. He could feel it in his chest, a tightness that made his heart race, and in the pit of his stomach, where anticipation churned. He hadn’t even laid eyes on her yet, and already the bond was thrumming beneath his skin, pulling him toward her.

But he couldn’t rush this. Not yet.

Rylan remained at the edge of the town, keeping to the shadows, his wolf senses sharp and alert. He had always been a predator, moving silently, watching his prey from a distance. And now, as he stood there, he felt every nerve in his body attuned to her presence.

It didn’t take long to find her.

Even through the mist, his heightened senses guided him. The scent of her reached him first—faint, but distinct. Earthy, like the forest after a rainstorm, but with something else woven into it. Magic. Power.

She was at the library. He could see the faint outline of the building through the fog, the flicker of movement from within as she moved behind the large arched windows.

Rylan stepped closer, careful to stay hidden behind the trees at the edge of the town. His pulse quickened as he caught his first real glimpse of her.

Lena Morrigan.

She was standing near the window, bathed in the soft morning light that filtered through the fog. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders in waves, and even from this distance, he could see the focus in her eyes as she skimmed the pages of an old book. She had the look of someone lost in thought, her brow furrowed slightly, her lips pressed together in concentration.

There was something about her—something that made his breath catch in his throat. She looked fragile, almost delicate, but Rylan could sense the power underneath. It was subtle, like the hum of energy just beneath the surface of her skin. She didn’t even seem to realize it, but it radiated from her in waves, calling to him like a siren’s song.

He could feel the bond growing stronger with every passing second, as if an invisible thread had tied them together. The air around him thickened, charged with something electric. It took everything in him not to step out from the shadows, not to close the distance between them and let instinct take over. His wolf was restless, pacing inside him, drawn to her in a way he hadn’t anticipated.

But he couldn’t afford to be reckless. Not yet.

There were things she didn’t know—things she would have to learn, and quickly. About who she was, what she was. About the prophecy and the role she played in it. And about him. Her mate.

Rylan clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay still. He wasn’t ready to reveal himself to her. Not until he was sure she could handle the truth. He knew how overwhelming it could be—the bond, the power, the weight of destiny pressing down on her.

His gaze remained fixed on her as she moved through the library, her fingers trailing along the spines of old books, her movements soft and deliberate. Every part of him wanted to reach out, to make contact, to feel the warmth of her skin under his fingertips. But for now, he could only watch.

She paused for a moment, her body stiffening slightly, as though she could sense something. He held his breath, watching as she turned her head, her gaze drifting toward the window. Her eyes, deep and thoughtful, swept over the mist outside, lingering for a beat longer than usual.

Rylan pressed himself closer to the tree, hidden just beyond the reach of her sight. Did she feel it too? The pull? The connection?

Her brow furrowed, and for a moment, she seemed confused, as if she was trying to make sense of something. But then, just as quickly, the moment passed. She shook her head and turned back to her book, the unease fading from her expression.

Rylan exhaled, his breath visible in the cold air. She wasn’t ready yet. Not for him. Not for the truth. But she would be, soon enough.

He had to protect her—whether she wanted it or not.

The Morrigan bloodline was the key to stopping what was coming, and Lena… Lena was at the center of it all. She didn’t know it yet, but everything in her life was about to change. The fragile peace of Ashen Hollow would soon be shattered, and the darkness lurking at its edges would come for her. For them.

Rylan’s jaw tightened as he backed away from the edge of the forest, retreating into the cover of the trees. He would wait. He would watch. And when the time came, he would reveal himself to her.

But not yet.

For now, she was still safe. For now, she still believed she was just a quiet librarian, living an ordinary life in a town full of whispers.

But that would change.

And when it did, Rylan would be there.

He disappeared into the mist, the pull of the bond still thrumming through him, a reminder of what was waiting for him at the heart of Ashen Hollow.

His mate.