Vale's POV
The sound of helicopter blades cutting through the air made us both freeze.
"They're searching for us," Dante whispered, pulling me deeper into the cave as the noise got closer. "We can't stay here."
Through the crack in the rocks, I could see bright lights sweeping back and forth across the forest. The helicopter was flying low, probably using heat sensors to track us. My hands shook as I realized how serious this was. These people had military equipment and they wanted me badly enough to bring out helicopters in the middle of the night.
"Why are they trying so hard to find me?" I asked as the helicopter moved away from our hiding spot.
"Because you're more important than you know," Dante said grimly. He was checking his wounds, making sure the bleeding had stopped. "We need to move while they're searching the other side of the mountain."
"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what a moon child is," I said firmly. "That dying man knew something about me that even I don't know. And you know what it means too. I can see it in your eyes."
Dante sighed and leaned back against the cave wall. "Your family isn't just involved in regular crime, Vale. They've been connected to the supernatural world for generations."
"What does that mean?"
"It means your father doesn't just work with human criminals. He has deals with vampires, witches, and werewolf packs. That's how he's stayed in power so long. Normal police can't touch someone who has supernatural protection."
My head spun as I tried to understand what he was telling me. "You're saying my father works with monsters?"
"We're not all monsters," Dante said quietly. "Most of us just want to live our lives in peace. But some supernatural beings use their powers for evil, just like some humans do."
The helicopter was coming back, its lights sweeping closer to our cave. Dante stood up carefully, testing his injured leg.
"We have to go now," he said. "There's an old cabin about three miles from here. We can hide there until morning."
"But my questions—"
"I'll answer them while we walk. But if we don't move right now, we won't live long enough for it to matter."
He was right. I could hear voices in the distance, men calling to each other as they searched the forest on foot. Soon they would find the cave and our hiding place would be useless.
We slipped out through a back entrance I hadn't noticed before. The night air was cold, and every shadow could be hiding an enemy. Dante led me through the trees, moving as quietly as a ghost despite his injuries.
"Keep talking," I whispered as we walked. "Tell me about moon children."
"Moon children are born from families with ancient magic in their blood," Dante explained in a low voice. "They're rare and powerful. Most people think they're just stories now."
"What kind of power?"
"They can heal supernatural creatures with their touch. They can call down moonlight to use as a weapon. Some of them can even bring the dead back to life if they're strong enough."
I stumbled over a root, remembering how my touch had healed Dante's wounds when he was in wolf form. "Is that why those men want me? Because I can do magic?"
"Partly. But there's more." Dante helped me over a fallen log. "Moon children can also control supernatural beings. If someone evil got hold of you and learned how to use your power, they could force vampires and werewolves to do whatever they wanted."
The thought made me sick to my stomach. "Like slaves?"
"Exactly. An army of supernatural slaves would be unstoppable. They could take over everything."
We walked in silence for a while, both of us listening for sounds of pursuit. My mind raced with everything Dante had told me. If I really was this moon child thing, then I wasn't just a kidnapped mafia princess. I was something much more dangerous.
"How do you know so much about this?" I asked.
"My mother was a pack healer. She taught me about the old stories and ancient magic. When I saw you heal my wounds, I started to suspect what you might be."
"But I don't remember being able to do magic. I don't remember anything supernatural at all."
"That's probably because your father hid the truth from you. He was trying to keep you safe by making you think you were normal."
We reached the old cabin just as the first hints of dawn appeared in the sky. It was smaller than the other one and looked like it had been empty for years. But it had a roof and walls, which was all we needed.
Inside, Dante collapsed onto an old couch, exhausted from walking on his injured leg. I found some dusty blankets in a closet and tried to make him more comfortable.
"Get some sleep," he said. "We'll figure out our next move after you rest."
But sleep was the last thing on my mind. Too many questions buzzed in my head, and every time I closed my eyes, I saw those men with guns trying to capture me. I lay down on the floor next to the couch, but my brain wouldn't shut off.
Eventually, exhaustion won and I drifted into an uneasy sleep.
The dreams started immediately.
I was running through a dark forest, but this time I wasn't afraid. Moonlight streamed down between the tree branches, and I felt strong and free. My feet barely touched the ground as I ran, like I was floating instead of walking.
Other shapes moved through the trees with me. Wolves, but friendly ones who ran beside me like companions. We were all heading toward something important, something that called to us with a voice made of starlight and ancient songs.
In the dream, I held up my hands and silver light poured from my palms, bright as the full moon. The light chased away shadows and made the flowers bloom. Animals came out of hiding to touch the glow, and their injuries healed instantly.
I felt powerful. I felt like I belonged to something bigger than myself.
Then the dream changed.
Dark figures were chasing me through the forest. They wanted to capture the light in my hands and use it for terrible things. I ran faster, but they were gaining on me. Just as they reached out to grab me, I woke up.
My heart pounded as I sat up in the dim cabin. Early morning light filtered through dirty windows, and Dante was still sleeping on the couch. Everything seemed normal.
Then I looked down at my hands.
They were glowing.
Soft silver light poured from my palms, just like in the dream. It wasn't painful, but it was definitely not normal. I tried to make it stop by shaking my hands, but the glow only got brighter.
"Dante," I whispered, but I was too scared to speak louder.
The light was getting stronger. It lit up the entire cabin, and I could feel strange energy flowing through my body. This wasn't just a dream anymore. The magic was real, and it was happening to me right now.
"Dante!" I said louder, panic rising in my chest.
He woke up instantly, his silver eyes scanning for danger. When he saw me sitting on the floor with my hands blazing with moonlight, his mouth fell open.
"Vale," he said carefully. "Don't panic, but whatever you do, don't let go of that power. If you lose control of it now, every supernatural creature within fifty miles will know exactly where we are."
The silver light pulsed brighter with my fear, and I realized I had no idea how to turn it off.
"I can't stop it," I whispered. "Dante, I don't know how to make it stop."