Hunted by the Moon

Shadows and Obsessions

✰Trenton✰

The city lights faded behind me as I followed Caitlin’s car down the empty stretch of road that led to her home. I kept a safe distance, my headlights dimmed, and my senses heightened. Every move she made, every turn she took, I tracked with an intensity I couldn’t control. She was my mate. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. It wasn’t just attraction. It was something deeper, something primal. A force that pulled me toward her. A demand that I watch over her and protect her, even when she had no idea I was there. Caitlin pulled into the driveway of a small house just outside the city, a modest place surrounded by a white picket fence. A porch light flickered to life as she stepped out of her car and locked the doors with a beep. She rolled her shoulders and stretched slightly before she headed up the steps. I remained hidden in the shadows across the street, as I leaned against a tree, my breathing was controlled, and my ears tuned to the sound of her keys jingling as she unlocked the door. Then I heard her voice.

"Hey, Mom. Yeah, I just got home,” I adjusted my stance, my enhanced hearing allowed me to catch every word as she stepped inside, her voice soft, and tired. "No, it was a long day, but we got a break in the case," I frowned, my curiosity flared. A break? What kind of break? "I don’t know yet. We are going to follow up tomorrow. I just…I can’t shake the feeling that we are missing something," neither could I. And that something was putting her in danger. I tensed as I heard a rustling behind me. I spun around to see Milo step into view.

"Are you serious right now?" he hissed. "You are actually standing outside her house? Watching her? Listening in?" I didn’t respond immediately. Instead, I kept my eyes on Caitlin’s window, as I waited for her silhouette to pass. Milo exhaled sharply. "Trent. This is some next-level stalker s**t,"

"It’s not stalking,” I whispered as I clenched my jaw.

"Oh really? What would you call it? Because standing in the dark, hiding behind a tree while you eavesdrop on your human mate definitely fits the definition," Milo stated, and I turned to glare at him.

"I need to keep her safe,"

"Yeah? And does she know that? Or are you just planning on watching her from the shadows forever?" he questioned, but I didn’t answer. Because deep down, I knew he was right. This wasn’t normal, even for our kind. Milo’s face softened slightly. "Look, man. I get it. The bond is messing with your head. It’s making you reckless. You can’t let it control you,"

"I’m not reckless," I snapped. "I just…can’t stop thinking about her,” I admitted as I lowered my tone of voice. Milo groaned.

"Of course, you can’t. She is your mate. But you are walking a fine line, Trent. If she finds out you have been following her like this, she is not going to see it as romantic. She is going to see it as creepy," Milo said, and I knew he was right. I ran a hand through my hair, as frustration clawed at my chest.

"I don’t know what else to do. The second I recognized her as my mate…everything changed,” Milo gave me a long look before he shook his head.

"You need to talk to her. Actually, talk to her. This whole lurking in the dark thing? It’s not you,” his suggestion made me pause, but then I sighed as I looked back at her window.

"It’s not that simple,”

"It never is," Milo muttered. "But you have to decide what you are going to do. Because this? This isn’t sustainable…and it is creepy," before I could respond, Caitlin’s voice caught my attention again.

"Yeah, Stanley, I’m listening. What did you find?" I went still. Milo did too. Caitlin had put her mother on hold and was now on the phone with her partner. "Wait, you are telling me Rodriguez found more footage?" she asked, her voice sharp with interest. "From another crime scene?" I exchanged a glance with Milo. This was important. "And the van was there again? Damn it. We were right. These guys are using the same vehicle," A chill crept over me. The van. The same one from all the disappearances. "What about plates? Any identification?" Caitlin asked. I leaned in closer, my heart pounding. "Nothing? Figures. But at least we know they don’t swap vans between jobs. That means we can track it,”

"s**t. If they get too close—" he whispered, but I hurriedly cut him off.

"They will end up in over their heads," I finished. Caitlin was moving too fast. She was smart, but she was human. She didn’t understand what she was really up against. She thought this was just another case. But it wasn’t. This was bigger. Darker. And the closer she got, the more dangerous it became.

"We need to stop them before they take another person," Caitlin continued. "Rodriguez is running more footage now. We will check for any potential sightings of that van in the last month,” my hands curled into fists. She was getting too close. Milo nudged me.

"You know what this means, right?"

"Yeah," I murmured. "She is not going to let this go,"

"Nope," Milo crossed his arms. "So, what’s the plan? Because if she keeps pushing like this, she is going to walk right into something she can’t handle," I took a slow breath.

"Then I won’t let that happen,” I stated firmly, and Milo arched a brow.

"And how do you plan on stopping her?" he asked, but I didn’t know yet. But one thing was certain – Caitlin wasn’t backing down. And neither was I. I couldn’t stay in the shadows anymore. It was time to step into her world. Before it was too late.