*Nyla – POV*
Moonshade had a pulse of its own—quiet, intense, and watchful. It wasn't just the woods that hummed with secrets; it was the people too.
By mid-morning, I'd managed to get a job at a cozy café on Main Street. That's where I officially met *Talia*, the razor-sharp barista who already knew more about me than I was comfortable with.
"So, city girl moves into a haunted town," she said, handing me an apron. "Plot twist: the town bites back."
"Is this your version of a welcome?" I asked.
She winked. "Better get used to weird. Here, weird's just Tuesday."
Then there was *Kaden*, the town's silent protector. He didn't speak much—just stood outside the sheriff's office like a statue with teeth. But when his eyes flicked to me, I could swear he knew something.
*Mara*, my next-door neighbor, was wild, chaotic, and wore moon-shaped earrings like badges of honor. She barged into my cottage without knocking.
"I brought sage and cupcakes," she said. "One is for cleansing energy, the other for surviving the bakery owner's attitude."
I couldn't help but laugh. "You break into people's homes often?"
"Only the interesting ones."
And then… Damon.
He hadn't spoken to me since the woods. But I saw him everywhere. In town. In the shadows. Watching, guarding, waiting.
Later that evening, I wandered to the edge of the forest again. I didn't know why—only that something called me there.
"Curiosity kills," a voice said behind me.
I turned. Damon.
"But I'm not a cat," I replied.
He stepped closer. "No. You're something else."
The wind shifted. His eyes… they shimmered again.
"What am I?" I asked.
He looked at me like he already knew.
"You're the storm that doesn't realize it's lightning yet."
And with that, he disappeared into the night.
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