Moonlight In Chains (Trinity and Asher) novel Chapter 104

CHAPTER 104

The night air around the packhouse was thick and oppressive, unlike anything we’d felt all week. Above us, heavy clouds gathered, dull and gray, blotting out the stars that had shone so brightly just days before. The weather had been clear, calm—too calm. Now, a storm was brewing, but this was no ordinary tempest. It carried with it a dark, sinister energy, something ancient and malevolent that sent a chill through my bones.

Asher stood silently at my side, his presence steady and unwavering as we packed our gear. His movements were deliberate, calm, but I could sense the tension vibrating through the bond that connected us. Gage was unusually quiet, his dark eyes brooding with unspoken thoughts. Arlo moved briskly, checking weapons and energy stones with a serious expression etched across his face.

We spoke little, not needing words to understand the gravity of what lay ahead. Each of us knew exactly what we were about to face.

After sunset, Arlo had traced the ley line once again. The energy led us to the ridge—a jagged, rocky stretch of forest that bordered the edge of our pack’s land. The place was steeped in history, heavy with tales of magic and bloodshed. It was the kind of ancient ground my parents would have been drawn to, a place where power lingered in every stone.

Under the rising moon, we set out. The path was narrow and flanked by towering trees whose leaves whispered secrets as the wind passed through them. Shadows flitted between the trunks—silent watchers rather than attackers this time.

After an hour of steady walking, Arlo came to a halt. He knelt down, pressing his palm firmly against the earth. “We’re close,” he said quietly. “Do you feel that?”

I did. The air around us was warm and alive, humming with energy that pulsed beneath our feet, beating in rhythm with my own heartbeat.

Asher’s voice was low, almost reverent. “It’s like it’s calling to you.”

I nodded slowly. “It always has.”

We followed the vibrant pulse deeper into the forest until we reached a clearing. The ridge towered above us—black stone jutting sharply from the earth like broken teeth. At its center was a circle of glowing runes etched into the rock, radiating the same dark light I had seen flicker in Lilly’s pendant.

Arlo stepped forward, eyes narrowing as he examined the symbols. “This is blood magic,” he said. “Ancient and dangerous. And it’s connected to you, Trinity.”

My throat tightened at his words. “Connected to me?”

He nodded. “Your bloodline is tied to these runes. That’s why the shadows obey them.”

Asher moved protectively closer. “So they’re using her blood to open something?”

“Not exactly,” Arlo replied. “They’re attempting to complete a ritual that binds life and death together. If they succeed, they’ll become unstoppable.”

CHAPTER 105

I stared at the glowing markings, memories flooding back of the rituals my adoptive parents forced me to witness as a child—the flickering candles, the cryptic symbols, the haunting chants. At the time, I never understood their meaning. Now, it all made terrifying sense. They had been preparing me, shaping me for this moment for years.

Gage kicked a loose stone, jaw clenched tight. “So what’s the plan? We can’t just storm in and hope for the best.”

Arlo pulled a small crystal from his pocket, its surface shimmering faintly. “We break the circle. The moment we do, this place will shatter. But we have to be quick. The moment we touch it, they’ll know.”

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “Then let’s get it done.”

We spread out around the circle. Arlo began whispering a counter-chant, his hands glowing with a soft, ethereal light. Gage and Asher took positions on opposite sides, ready to defend against anything that might emerge. I stepped into the center, feeling the familiar burn of my mark beneath my skin.

The runes flared brighter as I neared, responding to my presence. The pulse grew stronger, resonating deep within my bones.

And then, a voice echoed through the clearing.

“You finally came home.”

Time seemed to freeze. The voice was soft, female, but chillingly familiar.

I turned—and there she was.

My adoptive mother stood at the ridge’s edge, her pale face half-shrouded in shadow. Her eyes glimmered with an eerie silver light, sharp and cruel—not the red glow of the others. Beside her stood my father, tall and broad, wearing the same cold, calculating smile. Behind them was a figure I hadn’t seen in years—my adoptive brother, Eli. He looked older now, hardened by time, but his sneer remained unchanged.

“Hello, little wolf,” he said with a mocking tone. “Miss us?”

My chest burned with fury. “You should’ve stayed gone.”

My mother smiled sweetly, but there was poison in her words. “We could never leave you, darling. You’re our greatest creation.”

Asher stepped forward, growling low. “You touch her, and I swear—”

She raised a hand, and the shadows stirred like a living storm. “You think you can stop her? You don’t even understand what she is.”

Arlo’s voice cut through the tension. “Don’t listen to them, Trinity. Stay focused. They feed off your anger.”

But it was too late. My blood was already boiling.

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