Daniel's heart pounded like thunder in his chest.
The black wolf's words echoed inside his mind.
"She was born under the blood moon."
That sentence meant only one thing.
Something ancient.
Something forbidden.
Daniel turned slowly toward Nora.
She looked confused.
Scared.
Completely unaware of the storm surrounding her existence.
"Nora…" he said quietly.
But the wolves had already started moving again.
The circle around them tightened.
The black wolf stepped forward with calm confidence.
"You cannot hide her from us forever," he said.
Daniel's claws dug into the wet ground.
"You will never touch her."
The black wolf smiled.
"You still don't understand."
He looked directly into Nora's eyes.
"The blood moon chooses only one child every century."
Nora shook her head.
"I don't understand anything you're saying."
The wolf's voice became darker.
"You will."
Suddenly the wind grew stronger.
The clouds above them began to move rapidly.
And slowly…
The moon appeared.
But this time…
It wasn't silver.
It was red.
A deep crimson red.
The Blood Moon.
Every wolf in the forest lowered its head.
Daniel's eyes widened in horror.
"No… it's too early."
The black wolf whispered:
"The moon has chosen."
And at that exact moment—
Nora screamed.
A strange heat spread through her body.
Her heart began beating faster.
And her eyes…
For a brief second…
Glowed red.