Bound by the Moon’s Call

Chapter 4: A Strange Connection

A few days later, Lena was at work when the bell above the library door chimed softly, the sound breaking the quiet rhythm of Lena’s morning. She barely glanced up from the stack of books she was shelving—after all, this was Ashen Hollow, where the day passed with little excitement. But as soon as the door opened, the air shifted.

It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but Lena felt it. Her skin prickled, as if a soft current had passed through the room. For some reason, her breath caught in her throat. She slowly turned toward the door, her heart already quickening for reasons she couldn’t explain.

The man who stepped inside was tall, broad-shouldered, and cloaked in a worn leather jacket. His dark hair was slightly unruly, framing a face that was both rugged and sharp, with amber eyes that gleamed in the dim light of the library. He looked… dangerous. Not in the way that made her want to back away, but in a way that made her want to take a step closer, as though she were drawn to him by something magnetic and primal.

She wasn’t sure why, but he felt familiar.

Her heart thudded in her chest as their eyes met across the room. For a moment, neither of them moved. His gaze held hers, intense, almost searching, as though he was trying to read something in her that she couldn’t see. The room felt smaller, the air thicker, and Lena’s breath came slower, the weight of his presence impossible to ignore.

“Hi,” she managed, her voice steady but soft. “Can I help you?”

The man hesitated, just for a beat, before stepping forward, his movements smooth and deliberate. He walked toward the counter where she stood, every inch of him exuding quiet confidence. Yet there was something else there too—an edge, as if he were holding back something far more dangerous than she could sense.

“I’m looking for a book,” he said, his voice low and deep. It wasn’t a question. It was a statement, calm and sure, like he already knew what he wanted.

Lena blinked, pulling herself out of whatever strange trance she’d fallen into. “Well, you’re in the right place,” she replied, forcing a smile, though her heart still raced. “What kind of book are you looking for?”

He stopped a few feet away from her, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating off him, even in the cool air of the library. His eyes swept over her again, and Lena couldn’t shake the feeling that he was seeing right through her, as if he already knew things about her, she hadn’t shared with anyone.

“I need something about the town,” he said slowly, like he was choosing his words carefully. “Its history. Its… folklore.”

Lena’s stomach twisted, though she wasn’t sure why. There was nothing particularly strange about his request—Ashen Hollow was known for its old stories, and occasionally, someone from out of town came looking to indulge in the legends. But there was something in his tone, a seriousness that made her pause.

“You’re interested in Ashen Hollow’s folklore?” she asked, tilting her head. “Are you researching something specific?”

He held her gaze for a moment before answering, and Lena had the odd feeling he was deciding how much to tell her.

“I’ve heard… stories,” he said, his voice dropping slightly. “About the town. About its connection to certain things.”

Lena’s pulse quickened. Connection. The word sent a shiver down her spine, though she didn’t know why. She swallowed and tried to keep her voice steady.

“Well, Ashen Hollow certainly has its share of old stories,” she said, turning and moving toward a nearby shelf where the town’s historical books were kept. “It’s one of the oldest towns in the region, and people love to pass down tales. Some of them are pretty wild, though. Werewolves, witches… the usual.”

She heard him shift behind her, but she didn’t dare look back just yet. Her fingers skimmed the spines of the books, searching for something suitable, though her mind was only half-focused on the task. The rest of her was still hyper-aware of him, of his presence.

When she finally pulled a book from the shelf, she turned to face him, holding it out between them. “This one covers most of the major legends and superstitions.”

He reached for it, and for just a brief moment, their fingers brushed. It was like a spark of electricity, a jolt that ran through her hand and up her arm, leaving her breathless. She looked up at him, and she knew he felt it too. His eyes darkened slightly, his expression tightening, but he didn’t pull away.

They stood like that for a beat longer than necessary, the air between them humming with something Lena didn’t understand but couldn’t ignore.

“Thanks,” he said, his voice rougher than before. He took the book from her, his fingers lingering on the edge of the cover before letting go.

Lena swallowed, her heart still racing. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, trying to steady herself. “You’re not from around here, are you?” she asked, more out of curiosity than anything else.

He shook his head. “No. Just passing through.”

She nodded, though her gut told her there was more to the story. People didn’t just pass through Ashen Hollow. The town wasn’t exactly a tourist destination, and those who did come rarely stayed for long. But something told her he wasn’t just here for a fleeting visit.

“Do you mind if I ask why you’re interested in the town’s folklore?” Lena asked, hoping to keep the conversation going. There was something about him that made her want to know more, to pull back the layers of whatever he was hiding.

He hesitated again, his gaze drifting toward the window for a moment, as though he were weighing how much he could tell her. “I’m… looking for something,” he finally said, his voice quieter. “Something connected to the town’s history. To its… leyline.”

Lena’s heart skipped a beat. The leyline.

It was a word she hadn’t heard in years, not since her grandmother had whispered stories about the ancient power beneath Ashen Hollow, a power that was said to affect everything—people, animals, the very earth itself. Most people thought it was just superstition, part of the town’s long-forgotten folklore.

But hearing it now, spoken so plainly, in this man’s deep, deliberate voice, sent a thrill of fear and curiosity through her.

“How do you know about the leyline?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

His eyes locked onto hers, and for the first time, Lena saw something flicker across his face—recognition. Understanding. He knew exactly what he was talking about, and it wasn’t just from hearsay or old stories. He knew the leyline was real. And for some reason, she had the sinking feeling that he knew far more than he was letting on.

“It’s why I’m here,” he said softly, his voice steady but laced with an intensity that made her shiver. “I need to find someone who’s connected to it.”

Lena’s throat went dry. Connected to the leyline? What could that possibly mean? Why would he come all this way, looking for someone in a town full of secrets and shadows?

And more importantly, why did she feel like he was talking about her?

The silence between them grew thick, filled with unspoken tension. Lena’s mind raced, trying to make sense of the strange pull she felt toward him—the way her heart seemed to beat faster the closer he stood, the way her skin tingled as though sensing something beyond what her eyes could see.

But before she could ask another question, before she could figure out what was happening between them, he stepped back, breaking the connection.

“Thanks for the book,” he said, his voice gruffer than before, as though he was forcing himself to retreat. “I’ll bring it back.”

He turned and moved toward the door, leaving Lena standing there, the unanswered questions hanging in the air between them. As the door closed behind him with a soft chime, she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

There was something about him—something that had reached inside her and stirred up everything she thought she knew about herself, about Ashen Hollow, about the life she had built in this quiet, eerie town.

And she wasn’t sure she was ready to face what it meant.