Moonbound: The Alpha's Chosen

"So, you're here digging for truth?" Lucas leaned against the bar, a half-sarcastic smile playing on his lips. The whiskey swirled in his glass, like the mysterious light flowing in his eyes.

Emily straightened her back, looking directly into his eyes: "To be precise, I'm looking for facts. Five fatal attacks in three months, officially reported as 'wildlife,' yet no beast has been captured. Don't you find that strange?"

"Perhaps because it's not an ordinary 'beast'," Lucas's voice dropped to nearly a whisper, he leaned closer, his breath brushing her ear like a feather, "Some things the public doesn't need to know, Emily."

She ignored an inappropriate shiver inside: "Who decides what the public should know? You? Or the A Group behind you?"

Lucas raised an eyebrow: "You've researched me?"

"Basic homework," Emily sipped her drink, enjoying the burning sensation in her throat, "A Group controls all the land in this forest, and after the attacks increased, you strengthened security, restricting outsiders. Hard not to be suspicious."

"You're much smarter than you look, Grey," Lucas's gaze sharpened, as if reassessing her, "But this isn't some corporate conspiracy, it's... protective measures."

"Protecting what?"

"Innocent people," Lucas captured her gaze, "Including you."

Emily felt a touch of unease, but professional instinct prevailed: "If there's real danger, the public should be informed. Unless..." she suddenly realized, "Unless A Group is connected to these attacks?"

Lucas's expression turned dangerous, he suddenly grabbed her wrist, his grip just at the edge of pain: "Be careful with your accusations, reporter."

Emily tried to break free without success, feeling a contradictory stimulation—fear and excitement intertwined: "Let go, Stone! This is intimidating a journalist!"

"This is saving your life!" Lucas growled, then realizing his loss of control, released her, "Sorry."

Emily rubbed her wrist, surprised by his strength and temperature: "Why do you care so much about my report?"

Lucas took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with emotion Emily couldn't read: "My father... he's injured, severely. People inside the company want to use these incidents to seize power. If the truth comes out..."

Emily saw rare vulnerability in his eyes, and for a moment she wanted to reach out and comfort him, a impulse that surprised even herself.

"I can help," she offered, her voice softening, "Truth is always better controlled than rumors."

"Not this time," Lucas shook his head slightly, his fingers unconsciously tracing her palm, leaving a burning sensation, "Some secrets, once revealed, can't be taken back."

Before leaving, he left a business card on the bar, his fingertips lingering on the paper: "If you run into trouble, contact me anytime. Regardless of the past, I don't want to see you hurt."

Emily watched his retreating figure, filled with confusion, doubt, and an inappropriate sense of loss. She picked up the card, feeling the warmth he left behind, the bartender's words echoing in her mind: "Well-dressed, spoke with an accent... not the type to mess with."

Outside, the moon climbed the night sky, rounder than the previous night. Emily touched the wolf-head necklace, feeling the strange pulsing of the metal beneath her fingertips, as if it were alive.

Back at the inn, as she was organizing her notes, her phone vibrated, showing an unknown number: "Leave town, before tomorrow. Some prey, once marked, can never escape."

Emily stared at the message, feeling a chill climb her spine. She looked outside, the moonlight casting eerie shadows, like the silhouette of some creature. In the distance, a wolf's howl cut through the night, long and beautiful, as if calling her name directly.