Eighteen-year-old Lily Hart had always been fascinated by the supernatural. Growing up in the small, mist-covered town of Silver Pine, she'd spent countless nights with her nose buried in books about mythical creatures—especially werewolves. But that was all fantasy, something to enjoy and daydream about in a world where magic didn't exist…or so she thought.
It was the start of her final year of high school when things began to change. A new teacher had taken over her literature class, replacing Mrs. Finch, who'd retired. Mr. Ryland was nothing like any teacher she'd ever met. He was tall, with a commanding presence, piercing amber eyes, and an air of mystery that left her heart pounding every time he glanced her way. His voice was calm but deep, hinting at a world of secrets.
Over the next few weeks, Lily started to notice things about Mr. Ryland that didn't seem quite…human. He moved with a fluidity that felt almost predatory, and sometimes, when he thought no one was looking, his eyes would glint in the most unnatural way, almost as if they were reflecting the moon. Rumors swirled among the students that he lived alone on the edge of town, near the woods that no one dared to enter. But these rumors only intrigued Lily, filling her with a curiosity she couldn't shake.
One cold evening in October, as Lily walked home from the library, she heard a low growl echo from the edge of the forest. The hair on the back of her neck stood up, and her instincts told her to run. But something kept her there. Heart pounding, she strained her eyes, looking for the source of the sound."Lily," a familiar voice called, breaking through the shadows.
There, half-hidden by the trees, was Mr. Ryland. His expression was intense, his eyes gleaming an unnatural shade of gold. "You shouldn't be out here alone," he said, his voice rough and low.
"What…what are you doing out here?" she managed, her voice trembling.
He took a step closer, and for the first time, she sensed something dark and powerful radiating from him. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
But Lily's curiosity overcame her fear. "Tell me. I…I've always felt like there's something different about you."
He hesitated, his gaze locked on hers, as if searching her soul. Then, he glanced up at the full moon hanging in the sky, and a resigned sigh escaped his lips. "If I show you this, there's no going back."
She nodded, barely able to breathe as he began to change before her eyes. His skin rippled, his form stretching, and his eyes glowed like burning embers. Within seconds, he was no longer human. A towering werewolf, powerful and regal, stood before her, his silver fur shimmering under the moonlight.
Lily didn't run. Instead, she felt an inexplicable pull toward him, a feeling that was both foreign and strangely familiar. She reached out, her fingers grazing the coarse fur of his arm. Her heart thundered in her chest, but it wasn't fear she felt—it was connection, like she was meant to be here, standing beside him.
"You're…not just my teacher," she whispered, her voice trembling with realization. "You're my Alpha."
Mr. Ryland—Caleb—shifted back into his human form, looking at her with a softness she hadn't seen before. "I am," he said, his voice laced with relief. "And you, Lily, are my Luna."