Chapter 1
The moon was enormous that night.
Mike Carter stood alone in the middle of the forest, staring up at it.
He didn't know why he'd come there.
He only knew that something had been calling him.
For three nights, Mike had dreamed about the same forest.
The same silver moon.
And the same voice whispering his name.
Mike...
He had tried ignoring it.
Tonight, he couldn't.
A cold wind moved through the trees.
Mike shivered.
"Hello?"
Nothing.
He turned around.
The forest was empty.
Then he heard it.
A growl.
Deep.
Close.
Mike's heart stopped.
"Who's there?"
Two glowing yellow eyes appeared between the trees.
Mike stumbled backward.
A huge wolf stepped into the moonlight.
But it wasn't an ordinary wolf.
It was almost as tall as Mike's chest.
Its teeth were enormous.
Its eyes burned like fire.
Mike ran.
Branches slapped against his face as he sprinted through the darkness.
Behind him came the sound of heavy footsteps.
It was following him.
Faster.
Faster.
Mike looked over his shoulder.
The wolf was gone.
He stopped.
His breathing was heavy.
"Did I lose it?"
A howl exploded through the forest.
Mike screamed.
Pain suddenly tore through his body.
He dropped to his knees.
His fingers tightened against the ground.
His heart began pounding violently.
Something was happening to him.
His bones felt like they were breaking.
His vision changed.
Suddenly, he could see everything.
Every tree.
Every leaf.
Every movement in the darkness.
He could hear insects crawling beneath the soil.
He could hear animals miles away.
Then came another sound.
A heartbeat.
Not his.
Mike slowly raised his head.
Someone was standing behind him.
A young woman wearing a long black coat.
She looked strangely calm.
"You finally awakened," she said.
Mike stared at her.
"Who are you?"
She stepped closer.
"My name is Headmistress Raven."
Mike tried to stand.
His legs shook.
"What happened to me?"
The woman looked into his eyes.
"You've become what your family spent years hiding."
Mike froze.
"My family?"
Before she could answer, another howl echoed through the forest.
This one was different.
It sounded almost like a warning.
Headmistress Raven looked toward the trees.
Her expression changed.
"He's found you."
"Who?"
She grabbed Mike's arm.
"We have to leave."
Mike pulled away.
"Tell me what's happening!"
The trees behind them suddenly exploded.
A dark creature jumped from the shadows.
Headmistress Raven raised her hand.
A wall of blue fire appeared between them.
The creature slammed into it.
Mike stared in horror.
"You're a witch?"
She smiled faintly.
"No."
The creature attacked again.
Raven's eyes began glowing.
"I'm something much older."
The creature screamed and disappeared into the darkness.
Raven turned toward Mike.
"If you stay here, more of them will come."
"Where are we going?"
She looked toward the moon.
"Nightfall Academy."
Mike frowned.
"What is that?"
Raven's expression became serious.
"The school where supernatural children learn how to control what they are."
Mike stared at her.
"Supernatural?"
Raven looked directly into his eyes.
"You're a werewolf, Mike."
Silence.
Mike laughed nervously.
"That's impossible."
Raven didn't laugh.
Then Mike heard another howl.
But this time, he understood it.
It wasn't coming from the forest.
It was coming from inside him.
His eyes flashed gold.
Raven stepped backward.
For the first time, she looked afraid.
"That's impossible..."
Mike's hands began shaking.
"What?"
Raven whispered:
"You're not supposed to have those eyes."
Before Mike could respond, the entire forest went dark.
And somewhere far away, beneath an ancient castle, something opened its eyes.
A man's voice echoed through the darkness.
"The Moonborn has awakened."
Mike didn't hear him.
But Phoenix did.
And somewhere inside Nightfall Academy, a mysterious girl with fire in her eyes suddenly woke from her sleep.
She looked toward the window.
The moon was turning red.
TO BE CONTINUED...
