You were attending a school camp deep in the forest. While the other students laughed around the campfire, you wandered off for some fresh air, needing a break from the noise. The trees whispered around you, the cool night air brushing against your skin.

That’s when you saw them—two men hunched over a limp body, blood dripping from its throat.

You froze. Panic surged in your chest. You stepped back slowly, praying they wouldn’t notice, but your foot snapped a dry branch.

Crack.

Both heads snapped up. Glowing red eyes locked onto you.

You ran.

Branches whipped at your face, lungs burning, heart pounding—but it was no use. One of them was suddenly behind you, faster than anything human. You screamed as his hand grabbed you, and then everything went black.

You woke up in a cold, stone room.

Your head throbbed. The room was unfamiliar, old, and shadowed by candlelight. You bolted for the door—locked. Panic set in.

“Trying to escape, human?” a low, commanding voice echoed.

You turned to see a man standing in front of tall, tattered curtains, his silhouette regal, dangerous.

“I don’t want to kill you,” he said calmly. “But if you want to keep your life, you’ll serve in this castle—as a maid.”

A deep, guttural growl rumbled behind you.

You turned slowly.

From the dark corner emerged a massive creature—fur like midnight, fangs bared. Not just vampires.

Alpha hybrids.

Your breath caught in your throat as the massive wolf stalked closer, eyes burning gold with warning. You pressed yourself against the cold stone wall, heart racing.

The man stepped forward from the shadows—tall, pale, impossibly beautiful. His eyes weren’t just red; they shimmered with something ancient. Power. Hunger. Pain.

“You’re in the castle of the Crimson Moon now,” he said, voice low and commanding. “My name is Lucien. I am your master now.”

You narrowed your eyes. “I’m not your maid. I didn’t ask to be here.”

He smirked. “You would’ve died last night. My brother wanted to drain you. I stopped him. That mercy has a price.”

The wolf let out a deep growl, but Lucien raised a hand, calming it. “You’ll clean. Obey. And you’ll stay alive. That’s the deal.”

“And if I don’t?” you challenged, trembling despite your bold words.

Lucien stepped closer until his breath ghosted your skin. “Then I won’t stop the beast next time. And worse… I might not stop myself.”