The night I met Tommy, I thought I was going to die.
I had no idea I was about to meet the man who would change my life forever.
My name is Lily Carter, and until that night, I believed I was completely ordinary.
I was twenty-four years old, worked at a small bookstore in town, and lived a quiet life. I didn't believe in ghosts, witches, vampires, or werewolves.
My grandmother had always told me stories about them.
I had always laughed.
Until my car broke down.
It was nearly midnight when my engine suddenly died on the mountain road.
"Please don't do this to me."
I turned the key again.
Nothing.
I looked at my phone.
One percent battery.
No signal.
"Perfect."
Rain hammered against the roof as I stepped out of the car. The forest surrounding the road was almost completely black.
I pulled my jacket tighter around myself.
Then I heard it.
A growl.
I froze.
Slowly, I turned toward the trees.
Two golden eyes stared back at me.
A massive black wolf stepped out of the darkness.
My heart nearly stopped.
It was enormous—far too large to be a normal wolf.
I took a step backward.
"Easy..."
The wolf stared at me.
For some strange reason, I wasn't as afraid as I should have been.
His eyes were almost... familiar.
Then I heard more growls.
I looked behind him.
Five more wolves emerged from the trees.
Fear finally took over.
I turned to run.
The black wolf stepped in front of me.
He was protecting me.
Before I could understand what was happening, one of the other wolves attacked.
The black wolf lunged.
The forest exploded into chaos.
They fought viciously, snarling and biting as rain poured around them.
I stumbled backward.
Then a voice suddenly came from behind me.
"Don't run."
I screamed and turned.
An elderly woman stood beneath an umbrella.
"Who are you?"
Her eyes were fixed on the black wolf.
"You shouldn't be here."
"What?"
"You need to leave."
The black wolf suddenly looked at me.
The woman's face went pale.
"Oh, no."
"What?"
She whispered, "He found you."
"Who?"
She looked directly into my eyes.
"Tommy."
I frowned.
"The wolf?"
Before she could answer, the black wolf disappeared into the trees.
I looked around.
"Where did he go?"
The woman grabbed my arm.
"You must leave before it's too late."
"Too late for what?"
She opened her mouth.
A howl echoed through the forest.
Her expression changed.
"Run!"
I didn't argue.
I ran.
Branches scratched my arms as I raced through the darkness. My heart pounded as something followed behind me.
Then I tripped.
Pain shot through my ankle.
I tried to stand but couldn't.
Heavy footsteps approached.
I looked up.
The black wolf stood before me.
Tommy.
He slowly walked closer.
I pressed myself against a tree.
"Please don't hurt me."
He stopped.
Instead of attacking, he lowered his head and gently touched his nose to my cheek.
Warmth spread through my body.
I stared into his golden eyes.
Then something impossible happened.
His body began to change.
Fur disappeared.
Bones shifted.
Within seconds, the wolf was gone.
A man stood before me.
He was tall, muscular, and covered only by the darkness and rain. His black hair clung to his forehead, and his golden eyes were exactly the same.
I couldn't speak.
He looked at me.
"Lily."
I stepped backward.
"How do you know my name?"
"My name is Tommy."
I shook my head.
"You're... you're a werewolf."
He gave me a faint smile.
"We call ourselves Lycans."
I stared at him.
"This isn't real."
"It is."
"Why did you save me?"
His expression became serious.
"Because you're my mate."
My heart stopped.
"What did you say?"
"My mate."
I shook my head.
"No. I don't know you."
"I know."
"You can't just say something like that!"
"I understand."
He stepped closer, but stopped when I flinched.
"I won't force you to accept me."
For some reason, those words made me trust him a little.
Then a strange burning sensation spread across my wrist.
I looked down.
A glowing crescent-shaped mark had appeared on my skin.
Tommy stared at it.
His face suddenly changed.
"What is it?" I whispered.
He didn't answer.
"Tommy?"
He looked at me with something that looked dangerously close to fear.
"That's impossible."
"What?"
He grabbed my hand, studying the mark.
"The Moonborn."
I frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Before he could answer, dozens of howls echoed from the forest.
Tommy immediately stood.
"We have to go."
"Why?"
His golden eyes flashed.
"They know you're here."
"Who?"
He looked toward the darkness.
"The enemy pack."
Another howl shook the night.
Tommy stepped in front of me protectively.
Then a man's voice echoed through the trees.
"The Moonborn has awakened!"
Tommy's expression became cold.
He looked down at me.
"Lily..."
"What?"
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"They're not coming for me."
My blood ran cold.
"Then who are they coming for?"
Tommy looked toward the forest.
"You."
And suddenly, hundreds of glowing eyes appeared between the trees.