Chapter Seven: The Blood Moon Pact
The morning after felt unreal.
Ava awoke tangled in silk sheets, sunlight spilling across Damon's penthouse like a slow confession. His side of the bed was empty. Still warm.
The memory of last night lingered on her skin.
And on her lips.
But as she sat up, stretching, she saw it—an envelope on the nightstand.
Her name, written in sharp, black ink.
Inside, a single note:
> "Leave while you still can."
It wasn't Damon's handwriting.
---
❖ The Meeting
Downstairs, security was tighter than usual. Ava found Damon in his study, phone pressed to his ear, his voice low and edged with fury.
"I said no contact. Not through her. That was the deal."
He ended the call and turned to her, jaw tense.
Ava tossed the envelope on the table.
"Someone broke the deal."
His eyes narrowed.
"Pack a day bag. We're going to Blackthorn Estate."
She blinked. "Your family's estate? I thought—"
"I swore I'd never go back," he said darkly. "But if they're breaking rules, I'm breaking them first."
---
❖ Blackthorn Estate
The drive took two hours. The air grew colder, the trees older. The Blackthorn Estate wasn't a home. It was a fortress hidden in the woods—a place built on secrets and sealed by blood.
Guards opened the wrought iron gates as soon as Damon's car pulled up.
Ava stayed close to his side as they entered the ancestral house.
Inside, it was like stepping into another world. Ornate halls, oil portraits, thick silence.
A man stood at the far end, waiting.
"Brother," Damon said tightly.
The man smiled. "Welcome home."
---
❖ Truth Revealed
His name was Lucien Blackthorn—Damon's older half-brother. He wore tailored suits like armor and spoke with a voice dipped in charm and venom.
"I assume you're here about the girl," Lucien said, glancing at Ava. "She's... surprising."
"She's off-limits," Damon growled.
Lucien's smile widened. "She is very much the reason you're here. Don't pretend otherwise."
Ava frowned. "Why are you threatening me?"
Lucien looked amused. "Oh, darling. This isn't about you. It's about control."
He turned to Damon. "Our father's blood moon pact—remember it?"
Damon stiffened.
Ava's eyes darted between them. "What pact?"
Lucien poured himself a drink. "A vow. Made before either of us were born. To protect the Blackthorn legacy, one heir would rule the company, the other… the shadow."
"I walked away from all that," Damon growled. "I built my own legacy."
"But you brought her into it," Lucien said softly. "She's your weakness. And in our world, weakness is fatal."
---
❖ Chapter Ending Hook
As they left the estate, Ava turned to Damon in the car.
"What aren't you telling me?"
Damon didn't answer right away.
Then, in a low voice:
> "If I don't claim the pact… my brother will. And he'll start with you."