Moonlight In Chains (Trinity and Asher) novel Chapter 154

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**CHAPTER 154**

The moon hung low in the sky, a brilliant orb casting its silvery glow over the packhouse, illuminating the clearing as if it were drenched in liquid metal. The atmosphere was charged, thick with an energy that thrummed through me, resonating deep within my bones. The Eclipse had arrived; it was no longer a distant threat—it was here, enveloping us in its ominous embrace. I felt its presence before anyone else, the bloodline within me vibrating with urgency, tugging at my very essence, warning me, demanding my attention.

Asher’s grip on my hand tightened, his warmth a reassuring anchor in the tempest of emotions swirling around us. “Trinity… stay close. Don’t let go of the bond,” he urged, his voice steady yet laced with an undercurrent of tension.

I nodded, attempting to quell the frantic beating of my heart. Kaelen and Kaelric, my brothers whom I had only just begun to know, flanked me on either side, their energy shimmering faintly, a protective aura surrounding them. Gage’s golden light flared softly, a beacon of readiness as he flexed his hands, poised for action. Beside him, Arlo’s blue glow flickered uncertainly, a stark contrast to the confidence radiating from the others. Eryx and the rest of the pack began to form a defensive line behind us, the relics secure, the boundaries drawn, yet we all understood that the true peril lay beyond our sight.

A whisper of movement caught my attention—a rustle in the treeline—and suddenly, the shadows erupted forth.

These shadows were unlike the ones we had faced before. They were darker, more substantial, and as they materialized from the depths of the blackness, their eyes glowed with a fierce hatred, teeth and claws glinting ominously in the moonlight. They surged toward us in waves, faster than I could even count, and I felt the Eclipse’s pull intensifying in their presence. They recognized the bloodline. They sensed me.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes for a fleeting moment, grounding myself amidst the chaos. The hum in my chest grew louder, the mark on my skin glowing faintly beneath my shirt. My bondmates—Asher, Gage, Arlo—were here with me, their energy intertwining with mine, steadying the tempest within and sharpening my focus.

Then, the first wave struck.

A sharp cry escaped my lips as I pushed with every ounce of strength I possessed, unleashing the energy of the Eclipse outward. The shadows screamed, a cacophony that sounded like metal being torn apart and glass shattering simultaneously. They collided with the energy barrier I had created, dissolving before they could reach the pack. The shockwave sent leaves and dust swirling into the air, causing the pack to stumble but remain resolute.

Kaelen and Kaelric moved with agility, slicing through the smaller shadows with precision and skill. Gage’s golden light blazed brightly, incinerating the creatures in his path, the bond amplifying his power in a way I could feel deep within me. Asher stayed close, his energy merging seamlessly with mine, pushing the encroaching darkness back and shielding me from a shadow that lunged at my chest.

“Trinity, focus!” Eryx shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. “You feel it! You control it! Don’t let it consume you!”

I fought to maintain my composure, but the energy surged wildly, too potent and untamed. The Eclipse reacted to my emotions, and my fear caused it to pulse in jagged, uncontrolled bursts. One shadow, larger and more menacing than the rest, broke through our defenses, its eyes locked onto me, claws reaching out as if heralding the end of the world.

Asher sprang into action, positioning himself between me and the encroaching threat. “Not today!” he declared fiercely, his gray aura flaring as he collided with the creature, forcing it back.

Clenching my fists, I concentrated, forcing the raw power down and letting it flow outward in a controlled wave. The shadows shrieked again, retreating a step, but I could feel more of them closing in. Wave after wave crashed against us.

“Hold the line!” Dennis bellowed, rallying the pack. They drew upon every ounce of training, every bond, every scrap of energy they had left. Even Arlo’s small bursts of blue energy contributed, stabilizing our defenses against the larger waves.

The pull of the Eclipse grew stronger, not just at the packhouse but within me—a storm coiling tightly around my chest. The energy from my brothers mingled with mine: Kaelen’s calm precision, Kaelric’s explosive bursts, all amplified by the bond we shared. I could feel the weight of the bloodline pressing against me, testing my resolve, demanding that I prove my worth.

And then, I saw him.

Rafe.

He had returned, dark energy swirling around him like a living shroud. His eyes sparkled with a mix of greed and hatred. “You think this is yours?” he hissed, his voice dripping with malice. “It all belongs to the strongest. And I will take it!”

Eryx stepped forward, his voice a thunderous roar. “Rafe dies tonight!”

Rafe lunged, faster than any shadow, aiming straight for me. Asher and Gage intercepted him, their energies clashing in a tempest of light and shadow. Kaelen and Kaelric engaged the waves surrounding us, holding them at bay, but Rafe was relentless.

I felt the Eclipse surging within me, roaring to be unleashed. I forced myself to concentrate on the bond, on the pack, on everything that anchored me. I had to maintain control. One misstep, one uncontrolled pulse, and the entire clearing could collapse under the weight of chaos.

“Trinity! Now!” Asher shouted, pulling me close.

With every ounce of power I possessed, I pushed through the bond, letting it radiate outward, connecting with Asher, Gage, Kaelen, Kaelric, and Arlo. The ground trembled beneath us, the air shimmered with energy, and the shadows screamed as the force struck them head-on. Rafe staggered, the dark energy surrounding him wavering.

“Go!” Eryx commanded, and the pack surged forward in unison.

Together, we struck. Kaelen’s blades of energy sliced through the shadow masses, while Kaelric’s bursts scattered them like leaves caught in a tempest. Gage’s golden aura blazed brighter, maintaining the stability of the bond, while Asher’s power formed a protective shield around me, blocking the dark claws that still sought to reach me.