Page 14 of The Blood Moon Hunt

Ronan snorts. “So what are we doing standing here?”

I grin. “Good question.”

We make our way toward Damien, our approach slow and deliberate. He doesn’t turn as we near, but I can feel the way his magic bristles, as though he senses the confrontation coming. I step closer, standing just beside him, the tension between us thickening.

“Interesting, isn’t it?” I say, keeping my tone casual. “Adrian running off after one of the prey like that. You don’t see him do that often.”

Damien remains silent, but I can feel the weight of his power ripple through the air. He’s holding something back, but what?

Ronan steps up beside me, his eyes fixed on Damien’s clenched fists. “You should’ve seen it, Damien. You looked...distracted.”

Damien’s jaw tightens, the slightest twitch in his expression betraying him.

“What’s this, Damien?” I continue, keeping my voice smooth. “Fixated on one of the prey, are you? Not like you to get so involved.”

“It’s none of your concern, Lucien,” Damien snaps, his voice low, controlled.

Ronan smirks, stepping even closer. “It is when you’re acting like this. What’s the deal with her? Why’s Adrian chasing her down like a dog in heat?”

Damien’s eyes darken, but he doesn’t answer. Instead, he shifts his gaze back to the trees, where Adrian disappeared. The pull he feels toward this prey is obvious now—too obvious for someone trying to remain detached.

I chuckle softly, shaking my head. “You’re slipping, Damien. If you’re not careful, Adrian’s going to claim her before you can even make a move.”

His silence is deafening, but I can feel the power simmering just beneath his calm exterior. It’s rare to see him this unsettled, but the fact that he’s keeping something from us, something about this prey, is undeniable.

“Well,” I say with a grin, “if you’re not going after her, I think I’ll join Adrian. Wouldn’t want to let a rare catch like that slip away.”

Ronan’s smirk widens. “Sounds like a good idea. Can’t let Adrian have all the fun.”

Damien’s fists clench tighter, but he says nothing. His magic hums in the air, but he’s holding himself back—barely. Whatever game he’s playing, he’s not ready to reveal his hand.

I exchange a glance with Ronan, both of us satisfied with what we’ve gathered. Without another word, we turn and head in the direction Adrian went, following the trail of magic that leads deeper into the woods.

As we move through the trees, I can feel the pull of this girl's power growing stronger, more distinct. There’s no doubt about it now—she’s different. Not prey. Not just another human for the Hunt.

“What do you think she is?” Ronan asks, his voice low as we push through the brush.

I shake my head, though the answer is already forming in my mind. “Whatever she is, she’s dangerous. And if Damien’s this rattled by her...then there’s something more at stake than just the Hunt.”

Ronan grunts in agreement, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. “We’ll find out soon enough.”

I can feel the excitement building inside me, the thrill of the chase setting my pulse racing. Adrian may have gotten a head start, but I have no intention of letting him claim her without a fight.

This Hunt is far from over.

Chapter

Ten

SELENE

The forest is closing in around me, the trees blurring as I run, branches clawing at my arms like skeletal fingers. My breath comes in sharp gasps, the cool night air burning my lungs. I have no idea where I’m going—just away. Away from that clearing, from those men. From everything.

The memory of what I just saw flashes through my mind again, sending another shudder down my spine. The way they claimed that woman, the way she looked afterward, like she was a hollow shell of herself. It wasn’t just wrong. It was something far worse. And the hunger in their eyes, the way they looked at me...

I push the thoughts aside, focusing on the sound of my feet hitting the ground, the crunch of leaves beneathme. I need to keep moving, need to find a way out of this nightmare. But deep down, I know. There is no way out.

You’ll be hunted,Damien had said. His voice echoes in my mind, pulling at something inside me, something I can’t understand.

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