Claimed Under The Blood Moon

Aria's POV

I am used to being ignored, so I move through the house silent, careful not to draw attention.

My father sits at the dining table, reading the newspaper ignoring me as usual. My stepmother, Elaine, stands by the kitchen counter, sipping her coffee.

"I hope you are not thinking about that school trip," she says without looking at me.

I pause. So she heard.

"To a wildlife reserve," she snaps. "Do you think I am stupid? That place is dangerous."

"It's an educational trip," I argue. "Everyone is going."

She laughs coldly. "That is rich, coming from you. Since when did you have friends?"

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from lashing out.

My father, who has been silent the entire conversation, finally speaks. "Listen to your mother, Aria."

"She is not my mother."

His jaw tightens, but he does not argue. He never does.

I storm up the stairs to my room. They will not stop me. I will go. Even if I have to sneak out.

Elaine scoffs. "You have no business wandering around with those kids." I hear half way up the stairs.

By "those kids," she means my classmates, the ones who make my life miserable.

I say nothing. It does not matter. I have already decided.

At school, all I can hear is everyone talking about the trip. I keep my head down, hugging my books to my chest as I move through the hallway.

I count my steps and focus on my breathing. Just a few more hours, and I will be home. Well, not home, exactly. Just the place where I sleep.

A shoulder slams into me, knocking my books to the ground. The hallway goes wild with laughter.

"Oops," Brielle smirks, tossing her perfect curls over her shoulder. "I did not see you there."

Her friends giggle behind her.

I bend down to pick my books, but she kicks them away.

"Where do you think you are going, freak?" Brielle mocks, blocking my path. "We were just starting to have fun."

"Just let me go." I say, used to this by now.

Her eyes shine with amusement. "But it is so much fun watching you squirm."

One of her friends, Lacey, grabs a fistful of my hair, yanking my head back.

"Maybe if you actually put effort into your looks, someone would notice you," she says. "Oh, wait. No one wants a pathetic loser like you."

I grind my teeth. It was always like this.

"What the hell is going on?" I hear.

It is Ethan, the school's golden boy. He steps between us. "Back off."

The hallway goes silent.

Brielle blinks. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." Ethan's voice is calm. "If you want to touch her, you have to go through me."

The entire school gasps in shock. Brielle's face turns red, but she does not argue. Instead, she lets out a short laugh and flicks her hair.

"Whatever," she says. "Let's go girls."

They leave, but not before throwing me one last glare.

I sigh in relief.

Ethan turns to me. "You okay?"

I nod, unable to find words, but then he kisses me. Right there, in front of everyone.

Ethan, the most popular boy in school. Ethan, my next-door neighbor. Ethan, the only person who has ever been kind to me.

He did it in front of everyone.

His lips are warm, soft, and when he pulls away, he grabs my hand and leads me away.

My heart pounds as I follow him. I know I should ask where we are going, but the words never come.

I had never been alone with Ethan before. Not like this.

The school park was quiet, only the distant chatter of our classmates echoed from the school behind us.

Ethan took me to his car. "Are you okay?" he asked, concerned.

I nod quickly. "Yes, I am fine."

He smiled. "You are always so nervous around me, Aria."

I swallowed hard. "That is not true."

He chuckled. "Oh? Then why can I hear your heart racing?"

My face burned. How could he make me feel this way with just a few words?

"Do you trust me?" he asked suddenly.

"Yes", I say immediately .

Maybe it was reckless, but right now, with him looking at me like I was the only girl in the world, I wanted to.

His eyes darkened, his fingers brushing up my arm slowly. "Good," he murmured.

Then he kissed me.

It was soft at first, hesitant, but when I did not pull away, he deepened it, his lips pressing against mine.

I gasped, and he took the chance to slip his tongue in. A quiet moan escaped me, and that was all the encouragement he needed.

His hands found my waist, pulling me against him.

"Aria," he breathed against my lips. "I have wanted this for so long."

My heart pounded in my chest. "Then take me," I whispered shakily.

For a moment, he froze, as if testing to see if I really meant it.

Then he pushed me gently against the car seat, his lips finding my neck. I gasp as he moved lower, his hands grabbing my breasts. Unfamiliar heat pooled in my stomach, but it felt amazing. I pressed into him, needing and craving more.

He groaned softly. "You are so beautiful."

His fingers traced down my thigh, slipping inside my shorts. I gasped again as his hands slipped in my wet pussy touching and teasing me. Slowly, he brought his middle finger down and slid it gently over my folds. I threw my head back. He did it again, this time with his tongue sucking my pussy.

"Ethan," I moaned.

He moved over me, pressing me into the back seat. I unzip his pants and feel his hard dick, I grab and start stroking it remembering the movies I've watched. Ethan moans my name, sending me over the edge. Then, he slides it in me and I moan forcing him to speed up, moving harder, deeper, shafting and pounding me till I scream his name.

When it is over, he pulls me into his arms, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

"You are mine now," he murmurs.

I want to believe him. I need to believe him.

The next day, I'm on the bus going to the reserve. "I am here. I made it". I whisper.

Ethan slides into the seat beside me. "Excited?"

I nod, unable to hide my smile.

When we arrive, the teachers give us the usual speech about safety and staying in groups. Later, we are assigned into pairs for an activity and Ethan picks me without hesitation.

We are supposed to track animal footprints. It is simple enough, but at some point, I lose sight of him.

I turn, searching the trees. That is when Brielle finds me.

"Ethan is looking for you," she says sweetly. "Come on."

I follow her until we get deeper into the forest.

Then I realize that I am alone. Suddenly laughter echoes behind me.

Brielle and the rest of the class are there and my stomach drops.

"Did you really think Ethan liked you?" Brielle purrs.

I try to step back, but hands grab me, shoving me forward.

I stumble, making everyone laugh. The first punch comes. Pain explodes through my ribs and I gasp, trying to stay on my feet.

A foot slams into my stomach making me collapse.

Brielle kneels beside me, tilting my chin up with her fingers digging into my skin.

"You should have stayed home," she whispers.

Tears blur my vision as they step closer. Hands grab at me, yanking my hair, shoving me back.

I cannot breathe or think.

Suddenly I hear a low growl, something inhuman and I am sure everyone hears it because they stop. Then I see him.

A figure stepping out of the shadows with silver eyes glowing in the darkness.

He walks towards me and grabs my hand, everyone giving way as if in total shock. "Run," he whispers.

I do it without thinking. I run.