Moonlight In Chains (Trinity and Asher) novel Chapter 101

CHAPTER 101

Returning to the packhouse, a heavy, oppressive atmosphere hung over the entire place. The air was thick—not just with the lingering scent of smoke and metal but also with an unspoken tension that pressed down on everyone present. The usually bustling halls were subdued, footsteps quiet and measured, as if each person carried the weight of the recent fight and the unsettling revelations in Stonebridge.

Without wasting a moment, we made our way directly to the war room. The long wooden table there was already cluttered with everything we had brought back: scattered papers, various stones, jagged pieces of metal, and the curious objects Arlo had gathered from the energy lines. Arlo was meticulously unpacking his bag, his movements deliberate and precise, eyes scanning everything with sharp focus as he arranged the items into neat, orderly rows.

I stood close to Asher and Gage, my clothes still smeared with dirt and my body aching from the long journey. Fatigue tugged at me, but rest was impossible for now. I needed to understand the threat we faced.

Arlo held up a few ancient coins and a cracked charm. “These contain traces of energy,” he said, his voice steady and concentrated. “But whatever was powering them has shifted. The pull is weaker now. Someone is using the ley lines like veins—spreading shadow through them.”

Dennis leaned in, his brow furrowed. “That kind of magic is dangerous. It requires both knowledge and power.”

Arlo nodded in agreement. “And someone who knows exactly where the ley lines run. Not many do.”

A cold shiver ran down my spine. “So whoever’s behind this has been watching us for a long time.”

Arlo’s gaze flicked toward me, his expression confirming my fear. “Exactly.”

He reached back into his bag and carefully pulled out a small object wrapped in cloth. “This,” he said slowly, “was buried near one of the strongest ley line points. Unlike the others, it’s not broken or burned. It looks like it was deliberately placed—a kind of anchor.”

As he unwrapped the cloth, my breath caught in my throat.

In his palm rested a white gold ring, gleaming and immaculate. A pale blue stone caught the light, its glow soft but captivating. The design was simple yet unmistakably familiar—a delicate swirl encircling the gem like a twisting vine.

Before I could control myself, I snatched it from his hand. “Where did you find this?” I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended.

Arlo blinked, clearly surprised by my reaction. “I told you. It was buried near the ley line intersection, about a mile east of the border. Why? Do you recognize it?”

Turning the ring over in my fingers, a tightness squeezed my chest. “It’s hers,” I whispered. “My mother’s.”

Asher stepped closer, concern etched on his face. “Are you certain?”

I nodded. “She wore it every day. Never took it off. When I was a child, I remember her tapping it on the kitchen counter whenever she was angry. That sound—sharp and hollow—it’s burned into my memory.”

The recollection hit me hard, like a sudden blow to the stomach. That cold, hollow tapping echoing through the kitchen, always before her voice would rise, before the fear would return.

Gage frowned, breaking the silence. “But your parents were banished, weren’t they?”

“Yes,” I whispered, voice barely audible. “They were. My mother, my father, and my brother. The council sent them away after everything happened. No one was supposed to ever see them again.”

Arlo’s voice was low but resolute. “If this ring was buried near the ley line, it means one of them has come back. Or at least someone linked to them.”

My stomach churned uneasily. “They’re behind this,” I said, the conviction in my voice hardening like steel. “My parents. My brother. They’re the ones calling the shadows forward. They always craved control. They wanted me gone—they hated that I was different. Now, they’ve found a way to weaponize that hatred.”

Asher placed a steadying hand on my shoulder, his touch grounding me. “We’ll find them,” he said softly. “And we’ll stop them. You’re not alone anymore.”

I nodded, but beneath the surface, anger flared fiercely. The thought of them out there, wielding dark power to harm others—and to hurt me again—stirred a fire within me that refused to be quenched.

Dennis studied the map Arlo had spread across the table. “If they’re summoning shadows, more attacks are inevitable,” he said grimly. “We need to prepare. The next few nights will test every member of this pack.”

The conversation continued, filled with talk of patrols, defenses, and watch schedules. Yet my mind kept drifting back to the ring. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from it. Every fiber of my being screamed that it was more than just a clue—it was a message. They were telling me they were still out there.

Across the table, I noticed Gage and Lilly sitting close together at the far end. Lilly leaned in, whispering something that made Gage smile. Her hand rested possessively on his arm, her fingers lightly brushing his skin as if to claim him.

Something twisted painfully inside me—not jealousy, not anymore—but a deep unease.

When dinner was finally served, hunger overtook the room. The dining hall filled with inviting aromas—fresh bread, roasted meat, fragrant herbs, and rich stew. The chatter rose, but beneath the lively noise, the tension simmered like a storm on the horizon, waiting to break.

Asher sat beside me, while Gage took his place across the table with Lilly. Arlo joined us too, his notebook open but untouched as he scribbled notes, barely eating.

Dennis resumed the discussion. “We need to prepare for the possibility that the shadows return in full force,” he said. “Last time, they came in waves. If Trinity’s parents are behind this, they’re gathering energy from somewhere. The ley lines could provide enough power to send hundreds.”

Petra nodded in agreement. “We’ll have to strengthen the barrier spells. Maybe move the pups and elders deeper inside the packhouse for safety.”

Arlo looked up from his notes. “There’s something else,” he said. “These shadows aren’t random. They’re drawn to the bond energy—to Trinity, Asher, and Gage. Whoever’s summoning them understands exactly how the bond works.”

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