Chapter 1 Into The Shadowed Woods

• The moonlight filtered through the dense canopy of Eldergrove forest, casting long shadows across the ancient trees. Lyra Blackwood stood at the edge of the woods, her heart pounding in her chest. The wind whispered through the branches, carrying with it the faint howls of wolves in the distance. But these weren’t ordinary wolves—they were the Bloodbound, cursed souls bound to the forest, and tonight was the night of the full moon.
• “Lyra, don’t,” came a voice from behind her.
• She turned to see her younger brother, Ryan, standing on the porch of their old house, his face pale in the moonlight. “Mom and Dad would kill us if they knew we were out here. Especially tonight.”
• Lyra swallowed hard, glancing back toward the trees. “Something’s happening, Ryan. I can feel it. The attacks, the disappearances… it’s getting worse. We can’t just sit inside and wait for it to come to us.”
• Ryan's eyes darted nervously between the house and the forest. “What if it’s just wolves? Real wolves? Not the Bloodbound.”
• Lyra shook her head. She knew better. The attacks had been too vicious, too precise. The villagers whispered about the curse, about how it was spreading, but no one dared to speak openly. Fear ruled Eldergrove, and tonight, the fear felt more palpable than ever.
• “I’m going into the forest,” she said quietly.
• Lyra could feel the pull of the forest, a strange energy that had always been there but was now impossible to ignore. The ancient trees, with their twisted branches and thick trunks, seemed to beckon her closer. Despite her fear, something deep inside her stirred, urging her forward.
• “Lyra, no,” Ryan whispered, stepping closer. His voice trembled. “We’re supposed to stay inside during the full moon. You know what Mom and Dad said.”
• “I know what they said,” Lyra replied, her gaze fixed on the darkness ahead. “But they’re not telling us everything. They’ve been hiding things from us for years—about the forest, about the curse. I need to know the truth.”
• Ryan's breath hitched. “The Bloodbound will come for you. They always do.”
• “They’ll come for all of us eventually.” Lyra's voice was cold, laced with the resignation she’d been feeling for weeks. “But I’m not waiting around to be hunted. I’m going to find out what’s happening and why.”
• Ryan hesitated, his eyes wide with fear. “What if you don’t come back?
• Lyra finally turned to face him, her expression softening. “I’ll come back, Ryan. I promise. But if I don’t do this now, we’ll never know the truth. We’ll always be living in fear.”
• Before Ryan could protest again, Lyra turned and stepped into the shadows of the forest. The air grew colder as she walked deeper into the trees, the sounds of the village fading behind her. Every step she took felt heavier, as if the forest itself was weighing down on her, watching her, waiting for her next move.
• The full moon cast an eerie glow through the mist, illuminating the forest floor in patches. The howls of the wolves grew louder, sending chills down her spine. Lyra knew she was taking a dangerous risk, but something in her gut told her that this was where she needed to be.
• As she walked, her mind wandered back to the stories she’d heard as a child—whispers of a curse that had plagued Eldergrove for centuries, turning its people into beasts during the full moon. The Bloodbound, they were called. Cursed souls who roamed the forest, hunting anyone who dared to enter.
• Lyra had never believed the stories. At least, not until recently.
• The attacks had started a few months ago—animals torn apart, villagers disappearing without a trace. The elders said it was the curse returning, the Bloodbound growing stronger. But Lyra had always sensed there was more to it than just old folklore.
• And then there was her family—her parents, who had always been secretive, who had always warned her and Ryan to stay away from the forest during the full moon. They never explained why, only that it was dangerous, that it wasn’t safe. But Lyra couldn’t ignore the feeling that they were hiding something important, something about their connection to the curse.
• As she walked deeper into the forest, the howls of the wolves grew closer. Her heart raced, and for a moment, she wondered if she had made a terrible mistake. But then she saw it—a clearing up ahead, bathed in silver moonlight.
• She stepped into the clearing, her breath catching in her throat.
• In the center stood a massive stone altar, overgrown with moss and vines. The air around it felt heavy, charged with an ancient, dark energy. Lyra had never seen anything like it, but somehow, it felt familiar—as if she had been here before, in a dream or a memory long forgotten.
• She stepped closer, her fingers brushing against the cold stone. The surface was rough, etched with strange symbols that glowed faintly in the moonlight. Lyra traced the patterns with her fingertips, feeling a strange warmth spread through her body.
• Suddenly, a sharp sound echoed through the trees—a low growl, deep and menacing. Lyra froze, her heart beating fast. Slowly, she turned to see a pair of glowing eyes staring at her from the shadows.
• A massive wolf stepped into the clearing, its fur black as night, its eyes glowing amber in the moonlight. It was unlike any wolf Lyra had ever seen—larger, more menacing, with an unnatural presence that sent chills down her spine.
• For a moment, they stood there, locked in a silent stare. Lyra could feel the weight of the creature’s gaze, as if it were studying her, waiting for her next move. She wanted to run, but her feet wouldn’t move.
• The wolf let out a low growl, its eyes narrowing as it took a step toward her.
• “Lyra!” a voice shouted from behind her.
• She spun around to see Kylan, the mysterious young man from the outskirts of the village, standing at the edge of the clearing. His face was tense, his eyes wide with fear
• “You shouldn’t be here,” Kylan said, his voice low and urgent. “It’s not safe.”
• Lyra glanced back at the wolf, her heart racing. “I needed to know—about the curse, about my family. Why are they hiding this?”
• Kylan stepped closer, his gaze never leaving the wolf. “There’s more to the curse than you know. More than anyone in the village knows. But if you don’t leave now, the Bloodbound will find you.”
• Lyra swallowed hard, her mind racing. “I’m not leaving until I know the truth.”
• Kylan's eyes darkened. “The truth isn’t what you think it is, Lyra. The curse runs deeper than your family, deeper than the village. It’s tied to the forest itself, to something ancient and powerful. And if you’re not careful, it will consume you.”
• Before Lyra could respond, the wolf let out a deafening howl, its eyes glowing brighter as it charged toward her.
• Kylan lunged forward, grabbing Lyra's arm and pulling her out of the way just as the wolf leapt, its massive jaws snapping where she had stood a moment before.
• “We need to go,” Kylan said, his voice sharp with urgency. “Now.”
• Lyra hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the wolf, which was already recovering from its missed attack.
• Reluctantly, she nodded, and together, she and Kylan ran back into the shadows of the forest, the howls of the Bloodbound echoing behind them.