The moon hung low, casting an ethereal glow over the kingdom of Lunaris. Its silvery light filtered through the grand windows of the palace, illuminating the halls with a soft glow.

Princess Elara stood on her balcony, gazing at the moonlit landscape, feeling the weight of her royal duties pressing down on her shoulders. She was to be married in two days to a prince she hadn't seen at all.

How could she even do it? She had always wanted to fall in love with someone, marry him, have children, see them grow old and die alongside her loved ones.

Elara had always felt out of place in the palace, her spirit yearning for adventure beyond the gilded walls and elaborate gardens. Tonight, the longing was unbearable. The stories her late mother, Queen Selene, had told her as a child about the Old Town Road and its secrets stirred her restless heart. She knew it was time to seek the freedom she so desperately craved.

She wore a simple cloak, tucking her silver hair beneath its hood, and slipped out of her chambers.

The palace was quiet, the guards unaware as she made her way to a hidden passage her mother had shown her years ago. Elara's heart raced with anticipation and fear as she navigated the darkened corridors, finally emerging outside the palace grounds.

The night air was eerie and chilling.

With one last glance at the palace, she moved quickly, her footsteps light on the cobblestone path that led to the Old Town Road. As she ventured further from the palace, the surroundings grew wilder and more untamed, the road lined with twisted trees and shadowy buildings. The moonlight seemed to guide her steps, casting an almost magical glow on the path ahead.

It was simply magical.

She walked for what felt like hours, the thrill of her escape mingling with a sense of unease. With each step, she felt a pang of fear swirling in her chest. Even though she was scared, she knew she couldn't stop now. The Old Town Road was said to be a place of mystery, where the boundaries between the natural and supernatural blurred. She was drawn deeper into its enchantment, her senses heightened by the sounds of the night.

Suddenly, she heard a rustling in the underbrush. Elara froze, her heart pounding inside her chest.

What could that be?

Could it be a wild animal?

Will I die today?

No, Elara, you cannot. You should protect yourself. What's the point of going through the trouble of escaping if you cannot protect yourself? Pick that stick up and fight.

She quickly picked up a stick and clutched it tightly, determined to defend herself. She waited for a few minutes but there was no sound. Not even a motion.

Then, from the shadows, a pair of glowing eyes emerged. They were large and unblinking, fixated on her with an almost predatory intensity. The figure stepped into the moonlight, revealing itself to be a large wolf, its fur matted and stained with blood.

Elara's breath caught in her throat. The wolf was injured, limping slightly as it approached her. Despite its fearsome appearance, there was something almost human in its eyes, a plea for help that tugged at her heartstrings. She lowered the stick slightly, her fear giving way to compassion.

"Are you hurt?" she whispered, taking a tentative step forward. The wolf's ears perked up, and it let out a low, pained whine. Elara glanced around, searching for any sign of danger, but the road was deserted.

She knelt beside the wolf, examining its wounds. It had a deep gash on its leg and several smaller cuts along its body. Elara tore a strip of fabric from her cloak and gently bandaged the largest wound. The wolf watched her intently, its glowing eyes following her every move.

"There, that should help," she murmured, patting the wolf gently on its side. As she stood up, the wolf tried to rise but stumbled, too weak to support itself. Without thinking, Elara wrapped her arms around the creature, helping it to its feet. It leaned heavily against her, its fur warm and coarse under her hands.

"Come on," she whispered as she slowly patted the wolf's head urging the injured wolf to follow her. The wolf followed her down The Old Town Road and after what felt like an eternity, they reached a small, abandoned cabin nestled inside the woods.

Elara, pushed opened the door, and both of them stumbled inside. She helped the wolf onto a makeshift bed of old blankets and sat down beside it, her exhaustion finally catching up with her.

As she tended to the wolf's wounds, she couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter was more than a mere coincidence.

The strange markings on its fur, the almost human intelligence in its eyes-everything pointed to something far more significant. Her mother's stories about the Old Town Road and the ancient prophecy echoed in her mind.

Elara drifted into a fitful sleep beside the wolf, her dreams filled with images of glowing eyes, moonlit forests, and a mysterious prince trapped in a beast's body.

When she awoke, the first light of dawn was filtering through the cabin's broken windows. The wolf was gone. Panic surged through her, but then she noticed fresh tracks leading away from the cabin. She followed them, her heart pounding with a mixture of hope and fear.

The tracks led her to a clearing where, to her astonishment, stood a man.

He was tall and handsome, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. His clothes were torn, and he bore the same injury on his leg that the wolf had.

"I am Caelan," the man said, his voice deep and filled with gratitude.

"You saved me yesterday. I am bound by a curse, one that transforms me into a wolf under the moonlight. And I believe you are the one who can......."

He was cut off by Elara, "You're the cursed prince," she whispered under her breath.

"Excuse me," he said to which Elara shook her head.

She stared at him, her mind racing with disbelief and intrigue. The ancient prophecy her mother had spoken of, the one she thought was just a story, now seemed all too real.

"Yes, I am the cursed prince," he said. "And by the mark on your shoulder I'm assuming you're Princess Elara of Lunaris."

"Yes, I am," she mumbled softly staring at his eyes which was beautiful.

"I knew your mother. Selene, she was a brave and a kind-hearted woman who tried to help me to free myself from the curse. But unfortunately, she failed. She wasn't destined to help me but now I'm having second thoughts by seeing you. Maybe you can help me...," he said, his gaze searching hers.

As for Elara, she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

The stories her mother told wasn't merely bedtime stories. They were all real. The adventures of the unknown girl and a wolf was of her mother's adventures along with the Cursed Prince.

This was all destiny unfolding before her eyes.

Escaping from the palace, meeting the wolf, helping it and finally this. She and Caelan were linked by fate, and their journey together was only beginning.

Determined and curious, Elara replied. "We'll break this curse together. Caelan, I'll help you."

As they set off down the Old Town Road, the first light of day breaking through the trees, Elara couldn't shake the feeling that her life was about to change forever.

Little did she know, their journey would uncover secrets that could alter the fate of their kingdoms and test their growing bond in ways she never imagined.

───⋆·✦·⋆───•───⋆·✦·⋆───•───⋆·✦·⋆───•───⋆·✦·⋆───

Hello everyone,

I hope you enjoyed Chapter 1 of "The Royal Moon."

This chapter is inspired by the song "Old Town Road," and this chapter sets the stage for Elara's journey into a world of mystery and destiny. From the moonlit palace to the untamed Old Town Road, every step reflects the song's spirit of adventure and unexpected encounters.

Thank you for joining me on this magical journey!

Warm regards,

Lupe

───⋆·✦·⋆───•───⋆·✦·⋆───•───⋆·✦·⋆───•───⋆·✦·⋆───