The Luna's Contract

Aria Hayes had never believed in fairy tales, at least not the kind she'd grown up hearing. The ones with castles, magic, and happily-ever-afters. Her life was much different, rooted in cold, hard reality. She knew the streets of New York better than she knew her own reflection in the cracked bathroom mirror of her tiny apartment. A small space, a cheap bed, and a meager paycheck from the diner where she worked were all that kept her going.

The only dreams Aria had were the ones she kept hidden. They were whispers in her head-soft promises of a life she knew she would never have. Not with the way things were, not with the way her life was. But still, the whispers persisted. Especially when the full moon rose high in the sky.

It was on a night like this, when the moon was heavy and bright, that Aria found herself walking home after a late shift. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of rain, though none had fallen yet. She wrapped her thin jacket tightly around herself, wishing for warmth she couldn't afford. Her shoes clicked on the pavement as she made her way through the streets of downtown Manhattan, the city buzzing with life all around her.

She didn't mind the quiet. Solitude had been a constant companion. But tonight, there was something different. A tension in the air. A feeling that something-someone-was watching her.

She quickened her pace, glancing around, but no one was in sight. The only sounds were the distant hum of traffic and the occasional bark of a dog. It was then that she noticed him. A figure standing in the shadow of an alley, barely visible in the dim light. She stopped, instinctively stepping back, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Aria Hayes," a deep, gravelly voice called out, sending a chill down her spine.

She froze. How did he know her name?

The man stepped forward, his features coming into focus. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a presence that felt almost overwhelming. His hair was dark, cropped short, and his eyes-piercing, silver-gray-shone like polished stones under the streetlights. A sharp jawline, the kind that suggested both danger and power, cut through the shadows.

"Who are you?" Aria demanded, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her insides. She knew this was no ordinary man. There was something... primal about him. Something that tugged at her instincts, something that felt both foreign and familiar all at once.

"My name is Dominic Wolfe," he said, his voice smooth but carrying an edge that made Aria's stomach twist. "I've been looking for you."

"For me?" Aria repeated, incredulity in her voice. "Why? I don't even know you."

His lips curled into a small, almost imperceptible smile, but there was nothing friendly about it. "No, you don't. But I know you. More than you think."

Aria took a step back, her mind racing. What was this about? And why now? Why tonight?

"Listen," she began, trying to sound calm, "I don't know what you want, but I'm not interested in whatever you're selling. I've got enough trouble in my life without adding more." She turned to leave, but something in the air seemed to hold her in place. It was as though the very ground beneath her feet had frozen.

Dominic's gaze locked onto hers, and for a moment, she felt like she was drowning in those silver-gray depths. "You don't understand yet, Aria. You're not just anyone. You're the key to something far bigger than you can imagine."

Her breath caught in her throat. "What are you talking about?"

"You're not just human," he continued, his voice low, almost as though he was telling her a secret. "You're a Moonborn. A lost bloodline."

The words hit her like a physical blow, making her stagger back. She could feel the weight of them, the way they twisted in her chest, but she couldn't make sense of what he was saying. Moonborn? Lost bloodline? The words sounded like something out of a mythology book-something too unreal to be true.

She shook her head, trying to clear the fog that was slowly creeping over her mind. "You're insane."

Dominic didn't flinch. "Am I? Then explain this." He reached into his jacket, pulling out a small, leather-bound book. It was old-ancient, even-and he held it out to her.

With a shaky hand, she took the book, her fingers brushing against his. The touch was electric, sending a strange jolt through her system. She quickly opened the cover, flipping through the yellowed pages. The words inside were in a language she didn't recognize, the symbols foreign and strange. But one thing was clear: it was her name. Written over and over again in a delicate script.

"You've been marked," he said softly. "Marked by the prophecy."

Aria's heart beat faster, the air around her growing heavy with a sense of inevitability. Her fingers trembled as she closed the book. "I don't know what game you're playing, but I'm not interested in being part of it."

Dominic's expression darkened, the playful smile gone. "This isn't a game, Aria. This is your destiny."

Before she could respond, he reached out, grabbing her wrist with an unexpected force. His touch was cold, his fingers like steel, and she gasped as a wave of something-power-crashed over her.

"I've come to offer you a contract," Dominic continued, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "A contract that will change your life. A contract that will bind you to the very world you don't understand."

"What kind of contract?" Aria whispered, her throat dry.

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze intense. "A marriage contract. A contract between you and me."

A marriage? Aria stared at him, her mind reeling. "You're insane."

"No," he corrected softly, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous kind of certainty. "I'm offering you everything. Power. Protection. The truth about who you really are. All you have to do is say yes."

The silence between them stretched, and Aria felt the weight of his words settle deep inside her. This was madness. But something in her-the part of her that had always felt out of place, the part that had always wondered about her true origin-seemed to stir, answering Dominic's call in a way she didn't fully understand.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she spoke.

"And if I say no?"

Dominic's smile returned, but this time, it was colder. "Then I'll walk away. But I don't think you will."

Aria hesitated. This wasn't the life she'd imagined, but there was something about him, something that pulled her in. She had questions-too many questions-and for the first time, she wasn't sure if the answers were worth the price she'd have to pay.

"I don't know who you think I am," she said softly, "but I'm no one's puppet."

"Then you'd better get used to the idea of being someone's Luna," Dominic replied, his voice both soft and commanding. "Because whether you like it or not, that's what you were born to be."

And with that, the world seemed to shift. The weight of the moon above them was no longer just a celestial body in the sky. It was a symbol. A promise. A curse.

And Aria's fate had just been sealed.