Moonlight In Chains (Trinity and Asher) novel Chapter 135

The morning sun broke through the clouds, casting a warm golden hue across the training field, but the atmosphere was anything but warm. It felt heavy, thick with a palpable tension that hinted at an impending storm. Even the younger wolves, usually so lively and playful, had fallen silent, their laughter replaced by an anxious stillness as the drills approached.

Lupa stood at the edge of the clearing, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her gaze fixed on us. For days, she had refrained from discussing the revelations that Eryx had shared, but now, something was different. There was a flicker of resolve in her eyes, a determination that suggested she was finally ready to unveil the truth that had been hidden for too long.

Eryx lingered nearby, a silent sentinel. He made no move to intervene this time, his expression unreadable.

“Asher,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “She’s going to tell us, isn’t she?”

He nodded, his jaw clenched tightly. “Yeah. And judging by her demeanor, it’s not going to be easy to digest.”

As the pack gathered, Lupa stepped forward, her eyes locking onto mine first. When she began to speak, her voice trembled slightly, betraying the weight of her words.

“I owe you all the truth.”

A profound silence enveloped us. Even the wind appeared to hold its breath.

“The Eclipse power didn’t originate with me or Eryx,” she began, her tone steadying. “It traces back to a time long before our packs even existed. It emerged from the void between life and death—the Shadow Realm. Our ancestors weren’t born with this power; they seized it.”

Arlo frowned, confusion etched on his face. “They stole it?”

Lupa nodded slowly, the gravity of her admission sinking in. “Yes. A faction of wolves from the first Eclipse Pack discovered a method to draw energy from the other side, tapping into something ancient and formidable. They sought strength, but what they returned with was never intended for our world. It altered their bloodline forever. They achieved their desires… but it cursed every generation that followed.”

My heart raced as I processed her words. “So that’s what’s coursing through my veins? Something that was taken?”

Lupa’s eyes softened, a hint of empathy shining through. “Yes, something stolen. But it’s also something born anew. You are different, Trinity. You were never meant to bear both halves—life and shadow—but you do. That’s why the energy responds to you more powerfully than to anyone else. You are the last true heir of that original bloodline.”

Eryx’s expression remained inscrutable. “And the last who might be able to find balance within it.”

A murmur rippled through the pack, uncertainty hanging in the air like a thick fog. Some gazed at me with curiosity; others, with apprehension.

Lupa noticed the shift in atmosphere, her voice gaining strength. “She’s not a threat. Yes, the bloodline runs deep, but it can be mastered. It requires unity, not fear.”

I held her gaze, searching for understanding. “And you? What about you?”

She hesitated, a flicker of vulnerability crossing her features. “I tried to halt it. I wanted to end the curse of the bloodline by keeping you safe—away from all of this. But your adoptive mother ensured I couldn’t. When she told me you’d been killed by rogues…” Her voice faltered, and I could see the pain etched in her expression. “I believed her. I thought I had failed you.”

The clearing fell into another heavy silence, the weight of her confession hanging in the air. Even Eryx turned his gaze away, lost in thought.

Asher reached for my hand, offering a grounding presence. My throat tightened, but I managed to whisper, “You didn’t fail.”

Lupa offered a weak smile, a flicker of hope in her eyes. “Maybe not. But I fear I will fail you now. The Eclipse energy… it reacts to fear and doubt. If I remain here, it could hinder your growth. You need clarity to control it, and my guilt won’t aid you.”

I shook my head vigorously. “You can’t just leave, not after everything you’ve shared.”

Eryx’s frown deepened as he regarded her. “Lupa, please reconsider what you’re saying.”

She met his gaze, and in that moment, a torrent of unspoken emotions passed between them—years of distance, pain, and an undeniable bond of love. “I have thought it through. You can guide her better without me here. My presence will only slow her progress.”

Before anyone could voice their objections, a commotion erupted from the far side of the packhouse.

“Asher!” Jace sprinted toward us, breathless. “It’s Rafe—he’s stirring up trouble again.”

Asher cursed under his breath, his expression hardening. “What now?”

“He’s gathered a few others with him,” Jace replied, urgency lacing his words. “He’s claiming we shouldn’t take orders from ‘the cursed one.’”

All eyes turned toward me, and the sting of his words pierced through the air, but I steeled myself against the onslaught of emotions.

Asher moved forward, protective instincts kicking in. “Stay here,” he commanded.

“No,” I interjected, my voice steady and resolute. “If this is about me, I’m going too.”

We followed Jace to the central yard, where a small crowd had formed, tension crackling in the air. Rafe stood defiantly at the center, flanked by two pack members who mirrored his hostility.

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