Moonlight In Chains (Trinity and Asher) novel Chapter 161

**TITLE: The Day He Forgot He Hated Me by Evangeline Marrow**
**CHAPTER 161**

The rich aroma of roasted meat mingled with fragrant herbs wafted through the packhouse, teasing the senses long before dinner was officially served. It snaked its way down the corridor, intertwining with the cozy warmth radiating from the crackling fire that Asher had kindled earlier. For the first time in what felt like ages, the dining room buzzed with life. Laughter echoed joyfully, and the sound of footsteps reverberated through the halls as Gage and Arlo busied themselves helping Emily find her place among us.

Meanwhile, Asher and I were upstairs, preparing for the evening. I stood before the mirror, brushing my hair and stealing glances at him as he meticulously buttoned up his black shirt. It fit him perfectly, hugging his chest in all the right places, and an involuntary smile crept onto my lips.

“Are you staring at me?” he asked, a smirk playing on his lips as he caught my gaze in the reflection.

“I’m merely admiring,” I replied, standing up to smooth down the fabric of my dress. It was far from extravagant—just a simple, soft dark green number with long sleeves that harmonized beautifully with the earthy tones of the packhouse.

He stepped closer, his hands resting gently on my waist. “You look stunning,” he said, his voice low and sincere.

“And you look way too pleased with yourself for someone merely going to dinner,” I teased back, arching an eyebrow.

He chuckled lightly, pressing a brief kiss to my cheek. “After everything we’ve endured, we deserve a night of normalcy. Just dinner. No shadows lurking, no relics to haunt us, and certainly no explosions.”

“I’ll gladly accept that,” I replied, my smile softening.

Together, we descended the staircase, the tantalizing scent of food growing more pronounced with each step. The long wooden table was set with care, adorned with flickering candles that cast a warm glow, surrounded by lush greenery and small bowls brimming with berries and fresh bread. The chef, a seasoned wolf from our pack, stood proudly as he placed the final dish on the table.

“This looks magnificent,” I said, beaming at him.

His face lit up with a grin, his gray hair shimmering in the firelight. “It’s been too quiet around here lately, Luna. Tonight felt like a celebration was in order, especially with new faces joining our family.”

“Thank you,” I replied, my heart warming at his kindness.

Emily was already seated, sandwiched between Gage and Arlo. I could sense her apprehension, even though she tried to mask it. Her light brown hair was loosely gathered at the nape of her neck, and she wore a soft blue dress that seemed to have been borrowed from Petra’s old wardrobe. Her eyes flitted between us, revealing uncertainty yet a desire to be polite.

“Hey, you two finally decided to grace us with your presence,” Gage joked, gesturing for us to take our seats.

“We were waiting for the royal invitation,” Asher quipped as he pulled out my chair.

The atmosphere soon filled with the gentle clinking of cutlery and soft conversations as everyone began to fill their plates. The fire crackled behind us, casting golden light that danced across the table.

“So,” I began gently, turning my attention to Emily with a warm smile. “How did you three come to meet?”

Emily looked up, clearly caught off guard by the question. “Oh… um. It’s a bit of a long story,” she stammered.

Arlo interjected quickly, “It’s really not that long.”

She shot him a sharp glance, and he raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

Asher glanced between them, sensing the tension. “You don’t have to share if it makes you uncomfortable, but we genuinely want to know more about you. You’re part of the pack now.”

Emily hesitated, her fork hovering in mid-air. “I just… don’t like discussing my past. It’s not exactly a pleasant topic.”

“That’s understandable,” I said softly, trying to bridge the gap. “I completely get it.”

But the silence that followed hung heavily in the air, awkward and palpable. Gage attempted to fill the void with stories of their recent trip, recounting how they had stumbled upon a few of the old relic sites, but I could tell that Asher shared my concern. Emily was skillfully dodging every inquiry about herself.

After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Asher ventured, “Do you still have any family out there?”

Emily froze, her fork pausing mid-motion. “No,” she replied, her tone sharp and final.

“Sorry,” I said quickly, sensing the tension. “We didn’t mean to pry. We just…”

“It’s fine,” she said, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It’s all behind me now.”

I noticed Gage’s jaw tighten slightly, a telltale sign of his growing discomfort. He always had a fierce protectiveness towards those he cared about, and I could see he was struggling with this conversation.

Asher softened his approach. “We just want to get to know you, that’s all. You’re important to both of them, which makes you important to us.”

“I know,” Emily replied, her voice steady but laced with uncertainty. “And I really appreciate it. I just… I don’t talk about my past. Not anymore.”

An uneasy silence settled over the table like a heavy blanket. Arlo shifted in his seat, stabbing at his food with a bit more force than necessary.

“Emily’s past isn’t really the point,” Gage interjected flatly. “She’s here now. That’s what matters.”

I nodded in agreement. “You’re right. But I also believe that our pasts shape who we are. You don’t have to divulge everything, just enough for us to understand.”

Emily slowly sank back into her chair. “Thank you,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

The mood lightened slightly after that, though an undercurrent of unease still lingered in the air. The twins remained close to Emily, as if silently daring anyone to judge her.

To ease the tension, Asher leaned back, a playful glint in his eyes. “So, Emily. Aside from babysitting these two, what do you enjoy doing?”

Her lips curled into a slight smile. “You mean when I’m not rescuing them from getting lost or picking fights?”

“Exactly that,” he replied, chuckling.

She laughed softly, and the sound eased some of the tightness in my chest. “I like to read. I used to sneak into old libraries before I met them. It was the only safe place I knew.”

Arlo beamed. “See? She’s smarter than both of us combined.”

Gage groaned, rolling his eyes. “I already knew that.”

By the time dinner came to a close, the tension had dissipated, replaced by laughter and playful banter. It wasn’t perfect, but it felt genuine. For the first time since her arrival, Emily’s smile reached her eyes, illuminating her features.

As we began to clear the dishes, I caught Asher’s gaze across the table. He gave me a small, approving nod. The night hadn’t unfolded perfectly, but it had gone better than I could have hoped.

Once everyone had left the table, I lingered behind for a moment, watching the candlelight flicker across the polished wood. The shadows danced softly, reminiscent of old memories drifting away into the ether.

Asher slipped an arm around my shoulders, drawing me close. “See? No explosions tonight.”

“Not yet,” I replied with a quiet smile. “But something tells me peace is never a long-lasting affair for us.”

He pressed a gentle kiss to my temple. “Then let’s savor it while we can.”

Outside, the night wind whispered through the trees, a haunting melody that sent a shiver down my spine. Somewhere deep within the forest, something stirred, a reminder that tranquility was merely temporary.

In the stillness that lingered after dinner, a faint metallic scent wafted into my senses. Blood. Not from within the packhouse, but from the treeline.

And it wasn’t human.