Moonlight In Chains (Trinity and Asher) novel Chapter 95

CHAPTER 95

The next morning, the packhouse carried an unusual heaviness, as if the very air was charged with an unspoken tension. Though sunlight streamed softly through the windows, it failed to lift the oppressive atmosphere that clung to every corner. Everyone sensed it—something inevitable was approaching, and none could deny the growing unease.

I stood at the edge of the training yard, stretching my arms above my head, trying to shake off the restless energy coiling inside me. Asher was right beside me, his presence steady and reassuring. Occasionally, his fingers brushed against mine, a subtle but grounding connection amid the uncertainty. Despite the turmoil swirling around us, his nearness was a quiet reminder that I was not facing this alone.

“I feel it too,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “There’s a shift happening—something different this time. It’s… more intense.”

Asher’s sharp gaze swept over the yard, eyes alert and calculating. “The bloodline’s stirring again,” he said, his tone low but serious. “I’ve felt it, just like you. But this time, it’s stronger, more urgent. It’s like something trapped is trying to break free.”

A chill ran down my spine as I sensed the pulse of energy flowing through our bond. “We’ve trained so hard, but I’m not sure we’re prepared for whatever’s coming,” I admitted, a tremor of doubt slipping into my voice.

He drew me closer, wrapping an arm around my waist, his chest warm against mine. “We’ll face it together,” he promised firmly. “You, me, Gage—whoever we need. We survive. That’s what we always do.”

I leaned into his embrace, allowing myself a moment of calm in the storm. “I don’t know what I’d do without you,” I whispered, the weight of my fears momentarily lifted by his steady presence.

“You’d survive,” Asher replied softly, his thumb tracing a gentle path along my cheek. “But I’d never forgive you if you tried to do it alone.”

A small smile tugged at my lips as some of the tension eased, even though the forest beyond the yard seemed darker, more foreboding than usual.

Inside the packhouse, hushed conversations and anxious whispers echoed through the hallways. Everyone was noticing the subtle changes—the faint glow of trees along the borders at night, shadows flickering where there should have been none, and an eerie hum that seemed to vibrate deep within their bones. Alpha Dennis maintained a calm exterior, but the unease among the pack was steadily growing.

That afternoon, I joined Asher in the main hall where Dennis was holding yet another meeting. The room was packed, the air thick with tension and anticipation. Dennis stood tall and commanding at the front, his gray eyes sweeping over the gathered pack members. “I know many of you have questions,” he began, his voice steady and measured. “Some of you are worried about recent events. That is natural. But the answers you seek are not yet within our grasp. Patience is essential.”

Murmurs of frustration rippled through the crowd, but Dennis remained unmoved, his gaze unwavering.

Petra stepped forward, her eyes clear and determined. “Alpha Dennis, the pack is scared. The shadows, the glowing trees, the strange noises—this isn’t normal. You know something is happening. We need answers before someone gets hurt.”

Dennis tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. “You perceive danger because you are aware of it. That does not mean it truly exists. The forest has always been alive. The bloodline has always been powerful. There is nothing new here. Control your fear, and you will survive.”

“Which bloodline?” someone called out, frustration creeping into their voice.

His words did little to soothe the restless pack. Some grumbled openly, while others shifted uneasily, weighed down by a nameless dread.

Raising a hand to silence the crowd, Dennis continued, “Obedience and discipline keep a pack alive. Knowledge without control is dangerous. Trust in me and in the strength of this pack.”

His calm, unshakable demeanor made it clear that no further answers would be given today.

After the meeting, I stepped outside to catch my breath. Asher followed closely, his hand briefly touching mine, steadying me.

“They’re getting restless,” I observed quietly, watching pack members exchange worried glances toward Dennis’s office.

Asher’s eyes darkened with concern. “They’re sensing the changes. The bloodline’s power is growing. And whatever it’s awakening… it’s not waiting for us.”

I swallowed hard. “I thought we could train fast enough, control it, be ready. But what if we can’t?”

He pulled me close, pressing a gentle kiss to my temple. “Then we fight. Together. Always.”

His touch sent a wave of relief through me, mingling with the love I felt. Even as the threat loomed larger, our bond remained a constant.

That night, an unnatural energy thrummed through the packhouse. A storm brewed outside—winds whipped fiercely, lightning cracked across the sky—but this tempest felt different, as if the elements themselves were responding to something darker. Dennis called an emergency meeting, and the room crackled with fear, anticipation, and anger.

His face was grim as he addressed us. “The disturbance is growing. Something is moving within our territory. I have felt it, and so have you. Control is crucial. Panic will only lead to ruin.”

Mara, a young pack member, stepped forward, her voice trembling. “Alpha Dennis, it’s not just feelings. Trees are shifting, animals are fleeing, shadows are attacking the outer patrols. We have seen them. This is dangerous!”

Dennis’s eyes narrowed. “The patrols were careless. Shadows respond to fear and energy. Act with control and caution, and you will remain safe. Otherwise… you will suffer.”

His calm words barely concealed the tension beneath. I could feel the bloodline stirring more powerfully within me and Gage.

Later, Asher and I ventured to the forest’s edge to test the bond. Gage joined us, his eyes sharp and golden, glowing faintly in the dim light.

“The energy is thick,” Gage said, scanning the trees with a wary gaze. “Something’s moving, but it’s hiding.”

I focused on the bond, sending warmth through it. It pulsed stronger than ever, yet a strange, dark force tugged from deep within the territory—impatient, unnatural.

Asher’s eyes narrowed as he surveyed the shadows. “The guardian’s power was only the beginning. Something bigger is waking. And it knows we’re ready.”

A shiver ran through me. “Are we really ready?”

He pressed his hand reassuringly to my back. “We don’t get the luxury of being ready. We survive anyway.”

I gave a faint smile, letting his reassurance wash over me. Even as the shadows pressed closer, the warmth of our bond reminded me that we were not alone.

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