Moonlight In Chains (Trinity and Asher) novel Chapter 132

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

**CHAPTER 132**

The forest was enveloped in a delicate silver glow, a surreal light that seemed to breathe life into the fading shadows. The echoes of their piercing shrieks lingered for a fleeting moment before dissolving into the stillness of the night. The clearing around me felt eerily serene, a silence that was not born of fear, but rather of triumph. We had emerged victorious, and the air hummed with the residual energy of our battle.

I found myself standing at the center of the field, my chest rising and falling rapidly, every muscle in my body trembling from sheer exhaustion. The remnants of the fight hung in the air, and wisps of smoke spiraled upward from the trees where the shadows had once lurked, now nothing more than memories of a dark past.

Asher’s arm wrapped around my shoulders, a steadying presence amidst the chaos of my thoughts. His shirt bore the marks of battle—torn fabric and blood staining the hem of his sleeve—but his eyes sparkled with a fierce life, intensely focused on me. “It’s over,” he whispered, his breath warm against my ear. “We did it.”

A soft, hoarse response escaped my lips. “We did.”

Not far from us, Arlo stood, one hand clutching his notebook while the other pressed against his side, where a shadow had grazed him. Despite his injury, he managed a weak grin, the corners of his mouth lifting in a way that spoke of camaraderie. “Remind me… never to doubt your bloodline again,” he said, his voice laced with both admiration and fatigue.

A tired laugh bubbled up from within me. “Noted.”

With a deep breath, I turned my attention toward Eryx.

He stood at the edge of the treeline, his posture unwavering despite the toll of the battle. Ashen streaks marred his dark hair, and his sharp eyes glimmered faintly, remnants of the power that had surged within him. Even in stillness, he radiated an energy that felt as if it could summon storms at any moment.

When our gazes locked, time seemed to freeze. The realization hit me like a tidal wave—he was my father. The same energy coursing through my veins mirrored in his, a connection that was undeniable. The silver fire that had ignited within me during the fight flickered softly in his eyes, a shared legacy.

He stepped closer, his voice calm yet weary. “You handled yourself well.”

“I had help,” I replied quietly, my gaze drifting to Asher, Gage, and Arlo, each of them standing as pillars of support.

Eryx nodded, his expression softening just a fraction. “You fought like someone who understands what they’re protecting. That’s more than I can say for most.”

Asher’s arm remained protectively around my shoulders as we approached him, my heart thrumming with hesitation. A thousand questions swirled in my mind, each one more pressing than the last since Eryx had re-entered my life.

“What are they?” I finally asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “The creatures—the shadows. Why are they after us?”

Eryx’s expression shifted, hardening as he spoke. “They’re not just shadows.” His tone was grave. “They are something far older. Something born from what my ancestors attempted to control but ultimately failed.”

Arlo straightened, his fatigue momentarily forgotten as curiosity sparked in his eyes. “You mean they’re linked to the Eclipse bloodline?”

Eryx nodded slowly, the weight of history in his gaze. “Yes. Long ago, before your packs divided, my family sought to harness the power of the moon’s dark phase—the Eclipse. They believed they could wield that energy to protect our kind, but instead, it corrupted them. The energy birthed something twisted… something that feasted on life and power. When they lost control, they sealed it away in the Shadow Realm.”

“That doesn’t make sense,” I interjected, furrowing my brow. “My parents—my adopted parents—they created the Shadow Realm.”

Eryx’s eyes narrowed slightly. “That’s not the true Shadow Realm. It’s an illusion they crafted. It exists, yes, but it was designed solely for what they sought to control—shadows of their own making, power they could manipulate.”

Arlo nodded thoughtfully. “That does make more sense. It takes immense power to create an actual realm.”

Eryx paused, the flickering firelight dancing across his features. “But seals weaken over time. When the bloodline was fractured—when I was forced to leave and your mother fled—the balance shattered completely. The shadows began to seep back through.”

“So they’re here because of us?” I asked, my voice trembling with the weight of that realization.

Eryx met my gaze with unwavering intensity. “Because of what you carry. You are the last true heir of that line. The power that was split, stolen, and hidden—it resides within you. That’s why they want you. You are the key to either sealing them away forever… or unleashing them completely.”

His words struck me like a blow, knocking the breath from my lungs. I felt Asher’s grip tighten around me, anchoring me to the present.

Arlo frowned, flipping through the pages of his notebook. “You mentioned the seal weakening. Is there a way to restore it?”

Eryx turned his gaze toward the horizon, where the first hints of dawn began to paint the sky. “Yes. But it requires all pieces of the bloodline to unite. I’ve spent years searching for what was lost—fragments of the original Eclipse relics, pieces of energy that can be used to restore the seal. The shadows are drawn to them, so wherever they appear, attacks follow.”

The weight of his words hung in the air, heavy and foreboding. I felt Asher tense beside me, his protective energy radiating like a shield. “So either I fix this,” I murmured, “or I die trying.”

Eryx’s gaze pierced through me, sharp yet filled with pride. “You don’t die. You lead. That’s what you were born for.”

The truth of his statement settled deep within me. I had fought, trained, bled—but this felt different. This was the essence of who I was: the last heir of the Eclipse bloodline, the only one capable of halting the impending darkness.

Asher turned to Eryx, his voice low and resolute. “Then teach us. Show us what we need to do before the next attack.”

Eryx gave a single, decisive nod. “We start at dawn. The relics must be located, and your bond must be fortified until it can withstand the Eclipse energy without breaking. If we fail, the shadows won’t just return—they’ll consume everything.”

He stepped closer to me, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. “You’ve already accomplished more than anyone could ask. But the hardest part lies ahead. The final eclipse is approaching swiftly. When it arrives, you’ll either seal them away forever… or become what they intended you to be.”

A cold shiver coursed through me at his words, yet I stood tall, determination igniting within. “Then we’ll make sure it’s the first one.”

Eryx smiled faintly, a rare warmth flickering in his eyes. “Good. That’s my daughter.”

Asher squeezed my hand, grounding me once more. “We’ll face it together. All of us.”

I nodded, casting my gaze toward the dark sky above, where the faint shadow of the moon still lingered. The fight was far from over, but for the first time, I felt a flicker of hope.

We had Eryx’s knowledge. We had each other. And most importantly, we had a purpose that transcended blood or power.

The night that had begun in fear concluded with a renewed sense of purpose.

Yet, as the last embers of the battle faded into the earth, a nagging feeling crept over me—a sense that something was still watching us from the other side of the veil, biding its time for the next move.

And when that moment arrived, we would be ready.