ZELENA THE MOON GODDESS REBORN

With every step I took through the dense forest, my pain increased. My chest ached like a sharp knife, and my legs felt like jelly whenever I breathed. I could not stop myself as the branches ripped at my skin, leaving angry red marks. No, not just yet. I knew I had to keep moving forward even though I had no idea what I was running from.

It was really cold. The kind that caused pain throughout your entire body and burned like needles through your bones. My body was barely covered by torn clothes, and the damp earth beneath my feet left my feet bare and numb. I had no idea how I'd gotten here, and every beat of my heart hurt. My head was spinning with each heartbeat, warning me of the horrible situation I was in even though I couldn't remember how I got here.

Who I was, I had no idea. Where I was, I had no idea. All I knew was fear.

I was surrounded by long, unsettling shadows as the moonlight crept through the trees. The world slanted and my vision became blurry. I stumbled over a root and fell to the ground, too weak to get up.

Though the wind ate up my voice before it could reach the trees, I managed to whisper, "Help."

I pushed myself to my hands and knees, but then my arms failed me and I fell to the chilly ground. My cheek dug into the dirt, and the surrounding darkness widened. The cold biting through my skin and the soft rustle of the trees overhead like a lullaby drawing me in made me unsure of how long I had lain there.

I heard a growl, low and menacing, just when I thought I might never wake up. Something made a shiver down my spine and my heart race, and it came from somewhere in the darkness. I tried to raise my head and blinked. My body refused to move.

Footsteps. Crushing the underbush as they approached, their steps heavy and deliberate. I opened my mouth to scream, but my voice died. A fear that was chillier than the night air enveloped me. The snarling intensified until I could feel its heat-producing breath on my skin.

I was able to cock my head just enough to see bright blue eyes looking down at me. A shadow loomed, massive and terrifying, but there was something familiar in the way those eyes watched me. Not with hunger, but with... curiosity? No, it was something deeper.

The beast stepped closer, and I felt the warmth of its fur brush against me. Its growling softened, turning into something more like a rumble, as though it was... trying to comfort me.

Before I could process what was happening, a voice cut through the silence. "Shift back."

The figure standing behind the beast moved swiftly. I tried to focus on the man who had appeared by blinking, but my vision became blurry once more. His commanding, low voice resounded through the trees.

The growling stopped. The beast, no, the wolf, took a step back, and I saw its body start to change, the bones snapping and reshaping. My brain found it difficult to process what I was seeing. The wolf... became a man.

I tried to push myself up and gasped, my breath shaky. But my body was too weak, too broken.

"Don't move." The man spoke in a firm but kind tone. His knees were next to mine, and I could hear his footsteps. "You're hurt."

I wanted to respond, to let him know how afraid I was, but I was out of words. My mind was racing, and my throat hurt. His dark hair, those same piercing blue eyes, and a strong jawline were all I could just barely make out. My arm was brushed by his outstretched hand, and a strange warmth filled my body. The pain subsided for a moment, giving way to a deep, bone-deep fatigue.

"You're safe now," he said, murmuring to himself, though I wasn't sure if he meant me or himself. With such ease, he took me into his arms and held me there, treating me like I was weightless. I could feel the heat from his body radiating into mine. His heartbeat sounded strong and steady, like a drum keeping time with the universe, even through the fog of my mind as my head lolled against his chest.

I should have been frightened. Something about this man made me feel safe, even though I had no idea who he was or why he could command wolves. It was as if I had known him my entire life by his touch and presence, even though that didn't make sense. Even my identity was unknown to me.

"What's your name?" With a tone that was both gentle and urgent, he asked. He looked into my eyes, but I could only give him a small headshake. I was ignorant.

His eyebrows were furrowed in worry as he scowled. I'm bringing you along. You're not safe out here."

The warmth of his body and the sound of his voice comforted me as the darkness engulfed me. Something strange happened right before I passed out. A quiet, ghostly voice that wasn't mine echoing in my head.

"You are hers. You belong to the Moon."

Suddenly, I opened my eyes, but it was too late. I was already lost, floating off into the void.

The sound of low murmurs and the crackling of a fire woke me up. I had a blanket under me and warmth all around me as I lay on something soft. Though I was still in pain, it was only a slight throb.

I blinked and I tried to sit up, but a hand gently pushed me back down.

"Easy," the voice from earlier said. It was him-the man with the blue eyes. He was sitting beside me, watching me closely. "You're still weak."

He cut me off before I could say anything else. You're safe now. I'm Gunner. This is my pack's territory. You wandered into it... and now you're one of us."

Before I could process anything he said, another person entered the room. Standing tall and elegant, the woman's silver hair shimmered like moonlight, and her eyes glowed with an unusual light.

"She's the one." Speaking with an air of ancient power, the woman said, "The Moon Goddess has marked her."

My eyes met Gunner's, something flickering in their depths that was dark and unreadable. "It seems like you don't know who you are?"

With my heart racing, I shook my head and continued to stare at him.

"No," I whispered. "I do not."