Moonlight In Chains (Trinity and Asher) novel Chapter 133

**The Day He Forgot He Hated Me by Evangeline Marrow**

Morning unfurled gently, yet there was a weight in the air that felt almost suffocating. The forest still clung to the scent of smoke from the previous night’s battle, and the packhouse buzzed with hushed conversations and the careful movements of its inhabitants. Each member of the pack was acutely aware of Eryx’s ominous words from the night before: the true fight had not even begun.

Asher and I found ourselves standing just outside the training field, the first light of dawn casting a soft glow through the trees, while mist curled around our boots like a living entity. My muscles throbbed with fatigue, remnants of our last grueling session, but Eryx had left us no room for dissent. He had declared that if we were to survive the impending eclipse, we must learn to harness its power collectively—as one unified force.

Arlo was the first to arrive, clutching a notebook in his hands, his eyes still heavy with sleep. “I don’t know about you,” he muttered, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, “but I’d trade anything for a normal day. You know, one that doesn’t involve dodging death.”

Gage, who approached from behind, chuckled heartily, giving Arlo a friendly clap on the shoulder. “You’d be bored out of your mind in two hours,” he teased, a playful glint in his eye.

Arlo managed a weak grin in response. “Probably true.”

Just then, Eryx emerged into the clearing, and an immediate hush fell over us. Even the birds ceased their morning melodies, as if the forest itself paused to acknowledge his presence. His aura was commanding, heavy with authority, as if the very trees bowed to him.

“Good,” he said, his gaze sweeping over the gathered group. “You’re all here. This will not be easy, nor will it be quick. But if we can channel the Eclipse energy as one, the shadows will not be able to break us next time.”

My heart sank slightly at the mention of shadows. Lupa was conspicuously absent. I had felt her absence keenly since dawn. She hadn’t trained with us, nor had she spoken much since Eryx’s return. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was guilt, fear, or perhaps a mixture of both that kept her silent. Maybe she was simply at a loss for how to interact with the man she had once thought was lost forever.

Eryx gestured for us to form a circle. “You all share one crucial thing now: the mark of the bond. This mark serves as a bridge between your souls. However, to wield the Eclipse power effectively, it must evolve beyond mere connection. It must embody harmony.”

I frowned, confusion etching my features. “Harmony?”

“Your powers, your instincts, your energy—they must move as one,” he explained, his voice steady. “If one of you resists, the rest will falter. Imagine it as music. Each of you represents a note. Alone, you possess strength. But together, you create something far greater—something unbreakable.”

Gage crossed his arms, skepticism etched on his face. “And what happens if we hit a wrong note?”

Eryx’s eyes glinted with a silvery intensity. “Then the Eclipse will consume you rather than work alongside you.”

A heavy silence enveloped us; no one dared to voice another question.

He began with the fundamentals of breathing. It seemed deceptively simple, yet it proved to be anything but. We closed our eyes, concentrating on the flow of energy that connected us through the marks on our skin. Initially, it felt like chaos. Arlo’s focus wavered, Gage’s energy surged too fiercely, and I struggled to maintain my concentration, especially with Asher’s steady pulse resonating beside me.

“Control,” Eryx instructed softly as he circled us like a hawk. “Do not resist one another. Embrace the rhythm that lies beneath it all. The Eclipse will follow the one who leads with calm.”

Hours passed before I finally sensed a shift in our connection. The pull in my chest transformed into a steady, almost melodic thrum. The energy coursed through me, binding us together, allowing me to feel their emotions—Asher’s protective warmth, Arlo’s anxious determination, Gage’s fierce fire. It was an odd sensation, yet oddly comforting.

When Eryx finally instructed us to open our eyes, I noticed that the silver marks on our wrists glowed faintly, pulsating with life.

“That is merely the beginning,” he stated, his tone grave. “When the next eclipse arrives, that light must burn brighter than the shadows.”

Asher wiped sweat from his brow, a hint of concern in his voice. “And how do we ensure that happens?”

Eryx allowed a faint smirk to cross his lips. “By surviving my training.”

In the days that followed, training consumed our lives entirely. From dawn until dusk, we pushed ourselves to the brink of exhaustion. Eryx taught us how to balance our powers, drawing on one another’s strengths whenever one of us faltered.

We trained in pairs, then in groups of three, our movements gradually synchronizing until we resembled a single entity rather than four distinct bodies. Whenever one of us hesitated, the others could feel it. When we fought in perfect harmony, the air shimmered with energy, causing the trees around us to tremble in response.

Eryx was relentless. He pushed us harder than anyone ever had, yet with each barrier we broke through, each time our energies aligned seamlessly, I caught glimpses of pride flickering in his eyes.

Between our training sessions, he observed us quietly, studying our dynamics. Sometimes, I noticed him watching Lupa from a distance. She often lingered at the edge of the field, arms crossed, her expression inscrutable. She remained silent, but her gaze followed him, tracking his every move. Each time their eyes met, something flickered between them—an old connection, fragile and filled with unspoken words.

That night, after yet another grueling day of training, I stepped out into the courtyard seeking respite. The moon hung low in the sky, a delicate silver crescent. The soft murmur of voices drifted from the garden’s edge, drawing my attention.

I paused, catching sight of Eryx and Lupa standing close together, cloaked in shadows.

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