Moonlight In Chains (Trinity and Asher) novel Chapter 99

The following morning, the forest carried a different energy. The air was still, yet charged with a quiet vigilance, as if the woods themselves were holding their breath in anticipation. The packhouse stood calm and undisturbed, but the lingering memory of those dark shadows weighed heavily on everyone’s minds, casting a shadow of unease beneath the peaceful exterior.

Dennis called together the alpha pack and the warriors at the training grounds. “We can’t afford to wait for another attack,” he said firmly. “We have to be prepared. That means training every part of ourselves—mind, body, and bond. Trinity, Asher, Gage—you three especially. Your combined strength is unmatched, but raw power won’t be enough this time.”

I swallowed hard, glancing between Asher and Gage. The idea of training wasn’t intimidating—it was absolutely essential—but the recent encounter with the shadows had shown me just how perilous things had become.

“We’ll do it,” I said, determination steadying my voice. “We have to be ready.”

Dennis gave a curt nod. “Good. Start by focusing on your bond. Work on control, precision, and clear communication—not just unleashing raw energy.”

We moved to the center of the clearing, the quiet hum of the forest surrounding us. The bond between us pulsed with renewed strength, more vibrant than before. I could sense Asher’s steady heartbeat, calm and reassuring. Gage’s energy shimmered golden and eager, full of restless curiosity.

“First exercise,” Dennis instructed. “Control the energy without letting it escape your body. Don’t push it outward. Hold it, shape it, move it deliberately.”

Closing my eyes, I concentrated. The warmth of the bond’s energy flowed through me, steady and comforting. Asher’s gray pulse merged with mine, protective and unwavering, while Gage’s golden spark flickered with eager anticipation. Slowly, we began to mold the energy, twisting it into spirals and coils that moved like living threads in our hands.

Asher’s fingers found mine. “Feel it,” he whispered softly. “Don’t fight it. Guide it.”

I nodded, and the energy responded, glowing brighter as we moved in sync—twisting, spinning, shaping. Gage mirrored our movements on the other side, and suddenly, the three of us became a single, unified force—controlled, focused, precise.

Dennis stepped forward, nodding approvingly. “Good progress. Now, take it further. Push the energy beyond yourselves—create barriers, pulses, attacks—but only when you’re ready. Control first, power second.”

Hours slipped by. Sweat trickled down our faces, muscles ached, and the energy surged and pulsed through us. The forest itself seemed to tremble faintly under the force of our training. But with each passing moment, we improved. We learned how to extend the energy without losing balance, how to draw it back without burning out, and how to direct it with exact precision.

By midday, exhaustion was setting in, but so was progress. I could feel Asher’s energy shifting—it was no longer solely protective but sharp and purposeful. He could strike or shield with the bond as naturally as I could. Gage was learning to focus, releasing his fears and allowing his golden energy to flow exactly where it needed to go.

“Take a break,” Dennis finally commanded, waving us off. “But not for long. The shadows will be back before we even realize it.”

We sank to the ground, leaning against one another. My heart still raced, the bond between us vibrant and alive.

“Do you think they’ll come back soon?” Gage asked quietly, his golden eyes flickering with unease.

“I don’t know,” I admitted honestly. “But I do know we’ll be ready next time.”

Asher brushed a strand of hair from my face and nodded. “We have to be. No one else can fight them like we can.”

While we rested, Arlo approached with a small satchel heavy with papers and maps. His expression was tense but resolute. “I’ve been investigating the shadows,” he said. “Trying to understand where they came from and what they want.”

I sat up, alert. “And? Did you find anything?”

Spreading the papers on the grass, Arlo explained, “Not everything yet, but there are clues—patterns. The attacks weren’t random. They’re connected to something—energy lines beneath the forest, older than any of us, tied to the bond itself.”

Asher frowned. “Energy lines?”

“Yes,” Arlo confirmed. “They run beneath the forest, across the land. Wherever the bond is strongest, these lines converge. The shadows are drawn to those points. And it’s not just our bond—they can sense others with strong marks, other heirs, even weaker connections. That’s why they came here. They were hunting, testing, seeking weaknesses.”

A chill ran down my spine. “So it wasn’t just an attack—it was a test?”

Arlo nodded gravely. “Exactly. And the voice you heard—that wasn’t part of the shadows. It’s someone or something controlling them. Something intelligent. It knows the heirs exist. It knows about the bonds. And it either wants them… or fears them.”

Gage’s eyes widened. “Fears them? Or wants to destroy us?”

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