Chapter One — The Girl the World Forgot

Something was watching her.Tyra felt it the same way she felt weather changing. Not with her eyes. Not with her ears. Something older than both. A slow pressure at the back of her neck, warm and deliberate, like a gaze that had settled there and decided to stay.She had been feeling it for weeks.She shifted her basket to her other arm and kept walking through the Grimwall morning market, chin up, brown curly hair falling loose around her shoulders, her light brown eyes scanning the crowd the way they always did. Sharp. Careful. Missing nothing."Flowers! Two copper a bunch! Fresh this morning!"A woman in a green shawl slowed down.Tyra turned her full smile on her like a weapon. "White roses ma'am. Best ones in the market today I promise you that."The woman looked at the roses. Looked at Tyra. "They look a little tired.""They have had a long morning," Tyra said. "Haven't we all."The woman laughed and bought two bunches.That was the trick. Make them feel something. People buried

Last Updated : 2026-03-23

Chapter Two — Something More Than Wild

She brought bread.Not scraps. Not leftovers. Actual bread. The good half of her morning roll that she had been saving since sunrise, wrapped carefully in cloth and tucked into her basket under the unsold roses like something important.Tyra told herself it was practical.The wolf was going to come anyway. She had seen the tracks. Months of them pressed into the mud outside her door. Whatever this animal was it had already decided her alley was its territory. Feeding it was simply damage control. A way of keeping it calm. Manageable.She was lying to herself and she knew it.The truth was she had thought about those gold eyes three separate times during the market that day. Had caught herself wondering if it would come back. Had packed the bread before she even realized she was doing it.She turned into the alley at dusk.It was already there.Same spot. Same stillness. That massive dark shape crouched at the far end where the lamplight barely reached, those gold eyes burning through

Last Updated : 2026-03-23

Chapter Three — The Stranger Who Stayed

The trouble started before Tyra even finished setting up her stall.She was arranging her white roses at the front, fingers moving quickly through the bunch, when she heard them. Two men. Loud in that particular way that wanted an audience. She did not look up. Looking up was an invitation and she did not do invitations."Nice flowers," the first one said."Two copper a bunch," Tyra said without raising her eyes. "Which would you like?""How about that one." He pointed directly at her.His friend laughed like that was the most original thing anyone had ever said.Tyra kept her hands moving through the roses. Her face showed nothing. She had a system for moments like this. Keep the voice light. Keep the eyes steady. Give them nothing to feed on. Men like this fed on reaction. She refused to be food."Just flowers today," she said pleasantly. "Two copper. Best offer."The first man leaned against her stall. He was big. Red faced. The kind of man who had never once been told no by someon

Last Updated : 2026-03-23

Chapter Four — The Boy Who Kept Showing Up

He was at the bakery when she arrived.Tyra saw him the moment she turned onto Piet's street. Troy was leaning against the counter with a roll in one hand, talking to Piet like they were old friends, that dark hair falling across his forehead, those gold eyes catching the morning light and throwing it straight back.She turned around immediately.She was not running.She was making a strategic decision about her morning.She bought her stock from Marta using the back entrance, arranged her basket quickly and set up near the fountain instead of her usual spot. Different location. Fresh start. Completely Troy free morning.She sold three bunches in twenty minutes.She was reaching for a fourth when a cup of tea appeared on the edge of her stall.She stared at it."It is getting cold," Troy said from beside her.She closed her eyes briefly. "How.""Piet's back entrance," he said pleasantly. "Same one you used."She turned to look at him. He was standing close enough that she could see th

Last Updated : 2026-03-23

Chapter Five — The Blood That Answered

Troy was already at her stall when she arrived.No tea this time. He was standing with his back to her watching the crowd, hands in his coat pockets, that slim frame tight in a way she had not seen before. Like something underneath his skin was pulled too close to the surface.She dropped her basket on the stall. "You look terrible.""Good morning," he said without turning."I am serious. Did you sleep.""I am fine.""Troy.""Tyra." He finally turned and those gold eyes found her face and moved over it quickly. Checking something. Then he relaxed by a fraction. "How are the flowers.""Same as always." She started arranging her stock, watching him from the corner of her eye. "Why are you here so early.""I felt like it.""You always feel like it.""Is that a problem."She looked at him. He looked back. That easy unbothered expression that gave nothing away and somehow gave everything away at the same time."No," she said finally. "It is not a problem."She almost meant it.She turned b

Last Updated : 2026-03-23

All Chapters of BENEATH THE CRIMSON MOON : Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

Chapter One — The Girl the World Forgot

Chapter Two — Something More Than Wild

Chapter Three — The Stranger Who Stayed

Chapter Four — The Boy Who Kept Showing Up

Chapter Five — The Blood That Answered