Page 1 of Seduced By Moonlight

CHAPTER ONE–WARD

AS NIGHT crept across the land, Ward Tywyll stepped outside his castle walls. The imposing structure loomed behind him, its centuries-old stones a testament to strength and resilience.

A noise made him turn back, but there was nothing but shadows dancing across the surface of the castle, highlighting the scars from previous battles. His blood had also graced those walls.

A sultry breeze teased his hair, and he huffed, turning away.

Summer was finally ending. A faint hint of floral perfume still lingered, even as shades of orange, yellow, and red dominated the landscape as the leaves changed color.

Ward gazed around his home, pride filling his chest. This place had withstood the test of time. It rose from the earth like a beast of ancient legend, its stone walls weathered and worn from centuries of standing tall against the winds of time.

As the Alpha King, it fell upon Ward to protect and promote the well-being of his kin, as it should be, and he fulfilled that duty. Lately, though, restlessness rode him hard, bubbling up and seeping into every aspect of his being.

This restlessness gnawed at him, urging him to move, to do, to find thatsomethingthat was needed. The unknown need ate at him; he couldn’t identify it, and his agitation had intensified, like a wild beast trapped inside him, clawing at the walls of his soul.

Without fail, every evening, as soon as the sun set and stone no longer encased his body, a primal urge surged through him, a deep hunger that demanded satisfaction.

The call to leave—to hunt—was irresistible. But, again, he didn’t knowwhathe was hunting for or where to look. He’d tried ignoring the need, resisting the call, for all the good that did him.

Recently, Ward had developed a habit of strolling through his territory, hoping to find solace. He wasn’t sure what he was trying to achieve, other than maintaining his sanity—and the sanity of his clan.

He huffed again, then glared at the moon. Just like every other night, as soon as he completed his tasks, he couldn’t resist the urge to wander.

Grumbling, he checked his cell to see that it was quickly approaching midnight. Well, he’d lasted longer than usual. With a wave of his hand, Ward cast a powerful glamor to hide his true form—that of a fearsome gargoyle creature.

Even though he was unlikely to encounter humans, given that his territory was far from San DeLain, it didn’t rule out the possibility of a hiker occasionally getting lost in the area.

Concealed in the shadows, he made his way into the forest that surrounded his home. The moon shone down, illuminating the winding path in its silvery glow.

As he walked, he inhaled the scent of pine and earth, the peace of this secluded place flooding through him. He loved his clan, but he still savored these moments alone.

Like the werewolves, his kind had a bond to the land. There were reasons for that, of course. His castle’s construction atop the underground rookery was an important reason.

They hid their eggs in a large, secure room, away from those who would seek to harm them.A communal hatching occurred when Halley’s Comet returned, around every seventy-five to seventy-six years. Astronomers last saw it from Earth in 1986 and expected its return in 2061.

The “it takes a village to raise a child” concept was one that their kind used. Ward had no eggs, and the elders were making noise. They urged Ward to impregnate a female, but he wasn’t sexually attracted to them, and his few attempts had proved unpleasant for all involved.

He preferred males.

Ward smiled faintly as the symphony of crickets, cicadas, and other insects filled the air, their chirping growing louder, almost as if they understood he needed to be distracted from his thoughts.

Nearby, the cry of a raven echoed through the air. Taking a quick glance around, he noticed several birds perched on branches, observing him intently.

A small fox darted out from the underbrush, body submissive as it approached. Its fur glowed softly under the moonlight as it stopped a few feet away, first staring at the birds, then at Ward, its eyes reflecting a cautious curiosity.

Odd.

Intrigued, Ward kneeled slowly, extending his hand toward the small creature. The fox, after another quick glance at the ravens, edged closer, its nose twitching as it sniffed Ward’s outstretched hand. Giving a soft chuff, the fox crept forward to nuzzle Ward’s palm.

Ward’s heart warmed at the contact. It was not uncommon for animals in the forest to recognize him as the Alpha King, and often they approached him, like now.

Could he speak their language? No. Did they seem drawn to him, regardless? Yes. Tonight, however, as Ward looked into the fox’s eyes, he sensed something different—a subtle plea for help. The animal’s body language was tense—not just submissive, but anxious.

“What troubles you, little one?”

The fox’s ears twitched, then it turned its head slightly toward the north before looking back at Ward. Understanding dawned on him—this was not just a chance encounter.

“Something is amiss deeper in these woods, yes? Is that why you seek me out? Okay, then.”

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