Lucien was in the middle of taking off his clothes, preparing to retire for the night, when the first howl pierced through the stillness of the palace. It was not an ordinary howl, it carried with it a sharp, shattering pain that struck straight through his chest, forcing the air out of his lungs. His hands froze mid-motion, his heart skipping violently as dread crept in.
His eyes widened in fright.
Instinctively, he turned toward the window, pushing the curtains aside to check the sky. The moon was still hidden behind thick clouds, its glow barely visible. It was not a full moon.
That alone made everything worse.
Lucien's breath quickened as unease settled deep within him. If it was not the full moon, then there was only one explanation for a howl like that, and none of them were good.
