Moonlight In Chains (Trinity and Asher) novel Chapter 155

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

**CHAPTER 155**

At the boundary of the forest, a figure loomed, not moving like a typical wolf or even a mere shadow. It shimmered with an otherworldly glow, its form indistinct, an energy crackling around it as if lightning were suspended in liquid. A chill ran down my spine, and every hair on my body bristled with an instinctive alarm. My bondmates—Asher, Gage, Kaelen, Kaelric, and even the steadfast Arlo—tightened their stances beside me, each of them acutely aware of the unsettling power emanating from this being.

“Trinity…” Eryx’s voice was low, almost a whisper, yet it carried the weight of urgency. His gray eyes were locked onto the shadow, a mixture of fear and recognition flickering across his features. “This isn’t Rafe. This is… something ancient. Something entwined with the very essence of the Eclipse itself.”

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest like a war drum. The initial wave of the Eclipse had been fierce, a force to be reckoned with, but this was different. I could feel the bloodline thrumming within me, pulsing faster than I had ever experienced, tugging at my consciousness, demanding my full attention.

Asher stepped closer, his hand finding mine, grounding me. “Whatever it is, we face it together,” he reassured me, his voice steady and calm.

I nodded, allowing the bond to flow through me like a warm current. His tranquility steadied my racing thoughts, while Gage’s golden energy hummed reassuringly at my side. Kaelen’s precise control and Kaelric’s explosive power melded into a unified stream of energy that I could draw from. Even Arlo, though small, was a steady anchor, channeling his part of the bond with unwavering determination.

Then, the shadow shifted, coalescing into a form that was almost human, almost wolf, yet entirely something else. Its eyes, like liquid silver, glinted under the moonlight, and its presence weighed heavily on my chest, as if pressing down with the force of a thousand burdens.

“You… you are the bloodline,” it hissed, its voice echoing in my mind, bypassing the need for sound. “The last heir… the one who holds it all. Your power will be mine, or I will burn this world to claim it.”

Gritting my teeth, I shot back defiantly, “Not while I’m standing.”

The first strike came swiftly, a wave of darkness so dense it felt as if it could crush the very ground beneath us. The pack scattered, instinctively rolling into defensive positions, shields and relics igniting with a brilliant glow, energy flowing outward in desperate bursts. The Eclipse pulsed in response, mirroring my fear, my anger, my unwavering resolve.

“Focus!” Eryx shouted, his hands glowing with a faint silver energy that seemed to cut through the chaos. “Let the bond stabilize it! Hold it steady!”

I concentrated, drawing on the deep connection I shared with Asher, Gage, Kaelen, Kaelric, and even Arlo. The energy between us formed a net, a lattice of light and power that encircled the clearing like an impenetrable barrier. The shadow slammed into it, and the ground trembled violently, leaves and debris swirling into the air.

Kaelen sliced through a smaller surge of shadows, his blades of energy carving clean paths through the darkness. Kaelric unleashed bursts of energy that exploded outward, scattering the creatures and shielding our pack. Gage’s golden aura flared, reinforcing the lattice, while Asher’s gray light kept me anchored to the ground. Arlo’s blue energy flickered with intensity, stabilizing the weak points in our bond.

The shadow hissed and recoiled, but it did not retreat. Instead, it advanced, moving with a speed and intelligence that was unnerving, striking at the points where our lattice was weakest.

I clenched my hands, calling upon the bloodline, forcing it to flow evenly through the bond. The mark on my chest burned hotter than ever, a reminder of the legacy I carried. The pack’s combined energy pulsed in sync with mine, and I could feel every heartbeat, every breath, every intent flowing into me.

It was overwhelming.

“Trinity!” Eryx called out, urgency lacing his voice. “You can hold it! Don’t let it break!”

I screamed, pushing outward with every ounce of strength I possessed, and the shockwave struck the shadow directly. It staggered back, emitting a sound that twisted my stomach into knots. But then, in a horrifying display, it split apart. Multiple forms erupted from it, smaller but no less dangerous, each one targeting a different member of our pack.

“Gage!” I shouted as he blocked two of them at once, his golden energy flaring around him like a shield. Kaelen and Kaelric moved in tandem, cutting a path through the swarm of shadows. Asher remained glued to my side, his protective shield enveloping me while he fed energy into the bond.

Arlo, though visibly exhausted with sweat trickling down his face, pressed on. “It’s… it’s learning,” he panted, his voice strained. “It’s adapting! Every attack we make, it… adjusts!”

A cold dread washed over me. The Eclipse was more than just a surge of power; it was sentient, aware, responding to our every move. And it wanted me.

“Stay with me,” I whispered to the bond, my voice barely audible over the chaos. “All of you. Together, we can hold it.”

The lattice of energy pulsed, bright and sharp. The shadows screamed as the power hit them again, staggering and dissolving. But more kept coming, flowing out of the forest like water through cracks in a dam.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed movement at the edge of the clearing. A figure—human, wolf, impossible—rushed in, cloaked in an energy that radiated confidence and strength. My heart skipped a beat.

“Who is that?” Kaelen shouted, slashing at a shadow that lunged toward him.

The figure struck with precision, targeting the shadows rather than the pack. Each blow was deliberate, each movement calculated. Shadows shattered before they could reach anyone.

“Dad…” I whispered, disbelief and relief intertwining within me.

Eryx’s eyes widened, recognition dawning. “You… you’re…”

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