Blood moon's shadow's

ket. She had barely slept after the strange dreams and the figure she thought she'd seen outside her window. But

porch of the Ravenwood Inn. The steam curled into the air,

e up e

s made him look like part of the shadows, but his amber eyes caught the light, making them almost gold

said, taking a sip of h

rpened. "What kin

udying him. "Wha

le. He tilted his head slightly. "You don't str

own with a soft clatter. "I think I've just been on edge

idn't quite allow it. "It's quieter here than the city," h

. "You're full of w

fore Lena could respond, he turned and walked away

t her. Who was he, anyway? The town's unoff

weathered charm, like they'd stood untouched for decades. A small bookstore caught her eye, its window filled wi

anything in

ter. She was short and round, with wild gray curl

Lena replied. "

at before. "We don't get many visitors in Blackwoo

"I don't plan

ing back to her work. "Or maybe t

. "What does

again, her gaze st

It wasn't long before she found herself at the edge of the forest. The trees here were taller than any she'd seen before, th

the paint faded but legible: Black

obably just a warning to keep tourists from getting lost

f the fore

e now. Surely, a

ight dimming as the canopy thickened overhead. It was cooler here, the air heavy with the scent of moss and pine. E

st seemed to change. The trees grew closer together, their bark rough and claw-like. The shadows st

wandered

umbling growl that didn't belong to the wind.

though her voice soun

le

iked as she turned, searching the trees. For a mom

een before nearly the size of a man, but hunched and powerful. Its fur was dark

, her mind screami

vibrating through the ground. Its gaze

u

scratched her face and arms as she ran blindly, her breath ragged. She could hear it b

from her lungs. She scrambled to her feet, but it was too late the creature

ears stinging her eyes as she stared at

, deeper and louder, l

merged. This one was tall and human-shaped, but Lena couldn't make out the detai

tain. The figure stepped forward, and the creature turned, sl

vertook her. The figure turned to her, and for a split second, s

" she wh

verything