Moonlight In Chains (Trinity and Asher) novel Chapter 105

CHAPTER 105

The following days slipped by in a whirlwind of relentless training, long, sleepless nights, and an undercurrent of quiet unease. Ever since our confrontation at the ridge, the entire pack felt the atmosphere shift. The shadows had temporarily retreated, but the silence that settled wasn’t peaceful—it was like the calm before a brewing storm, heavy with anticipation and dread.

Each morning began the same way. Before dawn, Arlo would meet us on the training grounds, the air cool and thick with mist. We pushed ourselves through exhausting drills until our muscles screamed in protest, then shifted our focus to mastering the control of our energy.

Most of the time, Asher and I trained side by side. Our connection made synchronizing our movements feel almost effortless, allowing us to channel our powers more swiftly and smoothly. I could sense his energy flowing through me like a steady, warm current—calm, grounding, and reassuring.

Sometimes, away from the rest of the pack, we would steal quiet moments beside the lake that lay just beyond the training fields. The water was still, reflecting the sunlight in shimmering silver hues, offering a brief respite from the tension that clung to everything else.

One afternoon, after Arlo unexpectedly cut our session short, Asher and I found ourselves sitting by the water’s edge. I rested my head against his shoulder, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath me.

“You’re getting stronger,” he murmured, his thumb gently tracing the back of my hand.

I smiled softly. “So are you. That energy wave move you pulled off nearly knocked me off my feet.”

He chuckled. “That was kind of the idea.”

We sat there in companionable silence, watching the gentle ripples spread across the lake’s surface. For the first time in days, a rare sense of peace washed over me.

But peace was fleeting these days.

Less than an hour later, Dennis found me. He stood at the edge of the clearing, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. “Trinity,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “I need to speak with you. Alone.”

Asher’s concern flickered through our bond, his gaze searching mine. I squeezed his hand reassuringly. “I’ll be fine. Go on.”

Dennis led me back to the packhouse, guiding me into his office. The room was quiet, filled with the scent of old books and cedarwood. Neatly stacked papers sat atop the desk, while sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting thin stripes of light across the floor.

He took his seat behind the desk and gestured toward the chair opposite him. I remained standing, crossing my arms instead.

He exhaled heavily. “You’re still angry with me.”

I met his gaze steadily. “You kept too many secrets, Dennis. About my parents. About Amy. You don’t get to act surprised.”

He leaned back, exhaustion shadowing his eyes. “I did what I thought was best. You weren’t ready to know who they truly were—or what they were capable of.”

My voice was quiet but sharp. “I had a right to know. You said you were protecting me, but it was just self-protection. You didn’t want me to see how bad it really was.”

He didn’t argue. For once, Dennis didn’t try to steer the conversation. Instead, he looked at me with a flicker of guilt in his eyes. “You’re right,” he admitted. “I thought if I kept it buried, it would stay that way. But secrets never stay hidden forever, do they?”

I shook my head slowly. “No. They fester until they explode. And now, your sons and I are paying the price.”

He rubbed his forehead, releasing a long, weary breath. “I never wanted you caught up in this. You’ve already endured too much.”

I frowned. “You think I don’t know that? I’m trying to manage it, Dennis. Trying to stay calm, to train, to be useful. But you can’t expect me to trust you overnight—not after everything.”

“I’m not asking for that,” he said quietly. “I just needed to hear it from you—that you still don’t trust me—so I can begin to make things right.”

His voice held an honesty I hadn’t heard in a long time. For the first time, I believed he truly meant it.

“I don’t hate you,” I said slowly. “But forgiveness… that’s something I can’t give yet. Maybe someday. But not now.”

Dennis nodded in understanding. “Fair enough.”

Silence filled the room for a moment before he added softly, “You’ve grown stronger than I ever imagined, Trinity. You’ve made the bond your own—not just something inherited from your parents, but something you’ve built yourself.”

I had no words to respond, unsure how to reply.

After a pause, I turned toward the door. “I’ll be at training if you need me.”

He didn’t stop me.

Outside, the packhouse buzzed with renewed energy. Warriors paired off, their punches and growls echoing across the yard. Arlo stood near the edge of the field, arranging a circle of stones on the ground. His brow was furrowed, eyes fixed intently on the earth beneath him.

I approached him. “Any progress?”

He sighed. “Some. I’ve been trying to trace the pathways connecting to the shadow realm. But the realm itself… it’s alive. It shifts and changes whenever we get close.”

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