Moon bound to a millionaire

Chapter One

The night was silent, save for the rustling of leaves in the wind and the distant howl of a wolf that sent a shiver down Aria Wynne's spine. She had always felt a connection to the moon, something deep in her chest that called to her when the sky darkened, but tonight it felt different. Stronger. More urgent.

She was standing at the edge of Greystone Hollow, where the village met the shadowed expanse of the Thorn Forest. The full moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the landscape, and Aria could feel the pull in her chest growing stronger with every passing moment. The village, small and quiet, was nestled in the hills. She had lived here all her life, surrounded by the quiet hum of nature and the whispers of ancient magic. But something about this night made her feel... out of place. Like she didn't belong.

Her hands trembled slightly as she held a bundle of fresh herbs-lavender, rosemary, sage-her usual trade. She was a healer by nature, using plants and potions to ease the aches and pains of the villagers. Most people didn't know that her remedies were laced with magic, inherited from a line of women who had once been feared and revered. But Aria had never fully understood the weight of her heritage.

Tonight, however, something was different.

The sudden call of the wind made her pause. She turned, instinctively knowing what the gusts were trying to tell her. Thorn Keep.

Her eyes narrowed in the direction of the massive, crumbling estate that loomed on the outskirts of the town. The Thorn family had ruled over Greystone Hollow for centuries, and even now, their name was whispered in reverence and fear. The family had vanished from the public eye over a decade ago, leaving only rumors behind. Some said they had disappeared with the passing of the last patriarch. Others whispered darker tales of curses, secrets, and monsters hidden away in the heart of Thorn Keep.

Aria didn't believe in ghosts or curses, but she had always been drawn to the place. There was an energy there, like a crack in the world itself. She could feel it, every time she ventured near.

And tonight, it called to her.

Her feet moved of their own accord, pulling her toward the foreboding estate. The wind howled louder, almost as if urging her on. As she reached the edge of the Keep's grounds, she saw a figure emerge from the shadows. A man, tall and imposing, leaning against the gates as though he had been waiting for her.

At first, she thought it was just another traveler or a villager, but then she saw his eyes. Silver. Glowing. A wolf's eyes.

The man straightened, and her heart skipped a beat. There was something in him, something ancient, something dangerous. And yet, she couldn't look away.

"Aria Wynne." His voice was low, deep, with an accent that sent a shiver down her spine. He knew her name. She had never seen this man before, but somehow, he knew her.

"What do you want?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. Despite the unease pooling in her stomach, she couldn't deny the pull she felt toward him. It was magnetic, like a force stronger than her own will.

He took a step forward, and her pulse quickened. "I need your help."

Aria's eyes narrowed. "My help? I don't even know you."

The man stepped closer, his movements almost predatory. "You do not need to know me, Aria. The moon has called you here. I have waited for this moment for years."

Aria's breath caught in her throat as his words sank in. The moon. She felt it too, in the pit of her stomach, a strange heat that spread outward from her core.

The man smiled-a small, rueful smile that held a trace of sadness in his silver eyes. "You are the key, Aria. The only one who can stop what is coming."

"Stop what?" she whispered, feeling her heart race.

He didn't answer. Instead, he extended a hand toward her, his fingers long and elegant. "Come with me. There is much to explain."

Aria hesitated. Her feet felt as if they were rooted to the ground, her body torn between a deep, instinctive need to follow him and the logical part of her that screamed to run.

"I..." She swallowed hard, trying to find her voice again. "I don't know who you are, but I can't-"

"You will," he interrupted, his voice firm, yet gentle. "You don't have a choice, Aria. Your blood is bound to this place, to this family. And soon, you will understand why."

A distant howl echoed through the night, and for a moment, Aria felt as if the very earth beneath her feet had shifted. She could feel something dark, something ancient, stirring within the walls of Thorn Keep.

And yet... the man before her was the only thing that made sense in the chaos.

Without fully understanding why, Aria took a step forward, her hand reaching for his.