PROLOGUE – THE LUNA HUNTERS

NORTH COLORADO

“Wake up, Ora! Please, wake up!”

I am dreaming about him again, the faceless, nameless Lycan who always chases me in my sleep. Fear seizes my thumping heart as I run through a thick, dark forest. The only audible sounds are my harsh breathing and his loud, angry roars.

Then I trip and fall. A pained moan escapes me and my head snaps up. Sure enough, he is bearing down on me with break neck speed. The fear that twists my insides feels so volatile, so real, I could taste it.

He smells like…man and beast both at the same time. A nice, musky scent which doesn’t make any sense.

I’m about to let out a scream when a jarring shake finally hauls my subconscious into the land of the living.

“They found us! Wake up, Ora. They found us!”

I jerk awake in a pool of my own sweat, still panting. It takes a few seconds of slight disorientation for it to dawn on me that I’m in our latest safe house. A rusty, run down shack.

I grip the straw covered bed in a futile attempt to still my raging breath.

Then it dawns on me.

Something’s not right. Something has gone very horribly wrong.

I look up and sure enough, a shadow I recognize as my mother currently flits around the room, stuffing clothes into a tiny backpack with urgent, jerky movements.

The horrible knot at the pit of my stomach tightens further, and I’m beginning to feel queasy from fear.

“Mum? What’s going on?”

She turns in my direction and the moonlight steaming from a crack in the window above illuminates her pale face and tear streaked cheeks.

Mum grabs a whimpering Sophia, my nine year old sister, as she continues moving about.

“The Luna hunters are here. I have no idea how they got past the border, but your father received word that their Oracle traced your powers down here. We have to leave. Now!” Her words are quick and jumbled.

I sit there for a second my thoughts scattered in a million different directions. I almost feel dizzy.

“Ora!” Mum exclaims. That spurs me into action.

I leap from the bed and search blindly for my old tennis shoes. I grew out of them a year ago and mum and dad still haven’t been able to get me a new pair. We barely have enough to feed as it is.

Ah, found it! I shove my feet into the sneakers.

“But the Queen Luna’s oracle said….” I begin.

“The Queen Luna’s oracle was clearly wrong.” Mum cuts in. “Our eyes at the border says the hunters are moving east, and we are east. We have to get going before they catch up with us.”

I keep my mouth shut, running my sweaty palms over the power amulet around my neck as I try to calm a now sobbing Sophia.

Something niggles at the back of my mind. No matter how hard I try, I cannot brush it off.

Then it hits me.

It is so quiet…too quiet. Our safe house is located in the almost swampy areas of Northern Colorado, so it is normal to hear the chirps of crickets and other insects. But right now, the atmosphere is as silent as a tomb. My stomach tightens.

Something’s wrong.

A strange dizzy spell assails me and I sway on my feet, clutching the metal frame of the bed for balance.

The vision hits me out of nowhere, sending me straight to my knees. Goosebumps rise on my skin and the world becomes a blurry mess.

Images of three gigantic Lycans attacking a lone wolf invade my subconscious. The wolf screams and howls in pain, but the Lycans ignore him, biting and tearing at his flesh until nothing is left.

“Ora? Sweetheart, what happened?”

Mum’s panicked voice intrudes in my vision and I slowly drift back to consciousness.

I stare blindly at her, willing the pounding in my skull to abate a bit.

“It always feels like I’m dying…” I whisper.

Mum sinks to the ground and wraps trembling arms around me, crying into my hair. She understands.

“No. No! The prophecy cannot be manifesting so soon. You’re still so young! You will never survive it.”

I’m about to remind her that we might come under attack any time soon and now isn’t the time for tears when a bloodcurdling howl pierces the night air.

Goosebumps cover my skin and I go rigid in mum’s arms. That howl. It sounds exactly like the one I just heard in my vision.

Realization dawns on me, stopping me cold.

Dad!

I push away from mum and run past the bedroom door and into the hallway, fear and adrenaline giving me the strength I need.

“Dad! Dad!” I scream.

He doesn’t answer, and the house is completely empty. I feel a cold hand wrap around my throat, choking me. Dad’s in trouble. I can feel it.

I run out of the house and into the cold night air, tears already streaming down my cheeks. My father has already endured too much for me. It would totally kill me if something were to happen to him.

I run to the back of the shack, searching frantically. Still nothing. For a moment, I contemplate breaking my amulet so my Lycan powers can flow freely and I would be able to scent him. But that could be dangerous. Too dangerous.

“Dad, where are you? Please answer me!”

“Over here, princess.”

I freeze.

I feel a presence behind me…a volatile presence. There’s something in the air here. It cackles with strange, dangerous power.

I turn slowly and the sight that greets me almost sends me to my knees. I stumble back on a burst of fear.

Three tall figures stalk towards me from the shadows.

I watch, wide eyed as they come into the moonlight, fear paralyzing me to the spot.

The light finally illuminates their leader and I suck in a terrified breath as I stare up at the monstrosity before me.

Standing over eight feet tall in Lycan form, he spots glowing green eyes and muscles built like a goddamn tank.

I do not need anyone to tell me that these are the Luna Hunters from Blood Moon Creek.

They look like they’re out for blood…my blood.