Moonlight In Chains (Trinity and Asher) novel Chapter 166

CHAPTER 166

The moment I was guided upstairs, I collapsed onto the bed, muscles stiff and sore from the long day. Asher crouched beside me for a few seconds, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Sleep.” He murmured, voice low, firm. “You’ve earned it. No excuses.”

I let myself melt into the mattress, grateful for the brief reprieve. The soft hum of the packhouse around me, footsteps in the halls was oddly comforting. But even as I drifted, part of me remained alert, thinking of the massive wolf in the pen.

Downstairs, the night watch began in earnest. The twins, Gage and Arlo, took shifts near the pen, Emily perched nearby on a chair, legs tucked under her, blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She wasn’t silent, not exactly, but her presence carried weight. Even without saying much, the twins were attuned to her

every look, every gesture.

“I don’t like leaving it alone for more than a few minutes.” Gage muttered, pacing near the edge of the pen. Emily didn’t respond verbally, but she shifted in her chair, and he froze mid–step, glancing back at her.

“Just… stay calm.” She whispered finally, not looking directly at him. “It’s not going to move on its own. Not

unless it wants to.”

Arlo groaned. “That’s helpful, Emily. Really.” He flopped into the folding chair opposite hers. “You’ve basically turned into some sort of… wolf–whisperer. I don’t like it.”

Emily’s lips curved faintly, but she didn’t speak. Gage ran a hand through his hair and muttered, “She’s right. It’s calm. We just… have to keep calm too.”

Even from upstairs, I could feel it. The subtle shift in the twins‘ energy, their posture softening, alertness sharpening. Emily had that effect on them. Not in a commanding way, but in a quiet, unspoken influence. They moved differently around her, spoke less, waited on her cues.

I drifted off for a few hours, the weight of exhaustion finally catching up to me. When I woke, it was later

into the night, and the packhouse was quiet again. Asher had left the door ajar, letting in the faint chill of the evening air. I padded softly into the hallway and peeked downstairs.

The wolf was still awake, lying on its massive paws, eyes half–closed but scanning the shadows. The twins were near the fence, Gage’s hand resting lightly on the rail as he watched, and Emily… she was closer than usual, her knees pulled up, leaning slightly forward. She whispered something, almost inaudible, and Gage

nodded. Arlo, sitting back a few steps, looked mildly annoyed but attentive.

I couldn’t hear her words, but I could feel the subtle pull she had. Even through the distance, her calm, deliberate energy seemed to flow into Gage and Arlo, steadying them. It made my chest tighten slightly, realizing just how much influence she had over them. Not in a controlling sense, but in a way that made

them mirror her calm, focus on the task.

Asher appeared behind me quietly. “You awake?” He asked, voice low.

< CHAPTER 166

+25 Points

“I couldn’t sleep.” I admitted, resting my head on his chest for a moment. “They’re… different tonight. Gage and Arlo. And Emily… I didn’t know she had that effect.”

He chuckled softly, one arm around my shoulders. “Yeah, she does. Don’t worry, it’s harmless. Just…

makes them pay attention, stay sharp. Not that I don’t appreciate a little help.”

I smiled faintly, pulling away. “I get it. But it’s… noticeable. I’ve never seen them act like that around anyone

before.”

Asher glanced down at the clearing, eyes narrowing slightly. “She’s smart, and she’s careful. She knows her influence, even if she doesn’t want to admit it.”

I nodded, glancing back at the pen. The wolf shifted slightly, head tilting as if it noticed me watching. Its eyes were sharp, calculating, but calm. Not threatening, but aware. Every movement it made was deliberate, measured. And Emily was watching it just as intently, her hands gripping the blanket around

her.

“Do you think it knows something?” I asked quietly.

Asher shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. Or maybe it’s just aware of energy. Wolves can sense a lot. But we’ll

find out.”

I moved closer to the railing, the floorboards quiet beneath my feet. Gage and Arlo both straightened slightly as I did, almost reflexively. Emily’s gaze didn’t leave the wolf, but it flicked toward me briefly. Her eyes were wide, calm but intense.

“Morning’s coming soon.” I murmured. “We’ll need to start the day carefully. Keep the pen secure. And… maybe check the perimeter again. Just in case.”

Gage grunted. “I don’t think we’re going anywhere. Not without Emily’s say–so anyway.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You trust her that much, huh?”

He shrugged, not meeting my eyes. Arlo muttered something under his breath about “too many variables to risk it,” and I knew exactly what he meant. Emily’s influence wasn’t just subtle charm. It was respect,

careful observation, and a way of projecting calm authority that made them respond naturally.

By sunrise, the packhouse was bathed in soft orange light. Breakfast was quiet. The wolf was lying down again, head resting on its paws, breathing even. Emily still kept close to the pen, wrapped in her blanket,

quiet but alert.

“We’re going to have to decide what to do with it.” Asher said as we ate. “It’s clearly not going anywhere,

but we don’t know its limits, and we can’t keep it caged forever.”

“I agree.” I said, biting into a piece of toast. “But it’s calm. It’s not aggressive. We just… need a plan.”

Emily’s gaze lifted toward me. “I think it’s safe… for now. But I don’t think it’s normal. It won’t shift into

human form. It’s… different.”

“I know.” I said softly. “We’ve seen that. And we need to figure out where it came from.”

< CHAPTER 166

425 Points?

The twins exchanged glances. I could see them leaning slightly toward Emily without realizing it. Her presence had shifted their energy again.

Gage finally spoke. “We’ll watch it. Keep the perimeter clear. Don’t touch it unless necessary. And we’ll try

to figure out its origin.”

Arlo scribbled notes furiously, muttering to himself. “I need to record everything: posture, breathing, reactions, energy levels…”

Emily didn’t say anything but nodded slightly. I caught her eyes on me, a faint expression of concern hidden behind the blanket. She was scared, but she wasn’t showing panic.

The rest of the day passed quietly but with constant observation. Patrols moved carefully around the property, checking for tracks, disturbances, anything unusual. The wolf remained in its pen, shifting occasionally but never aggressive. Emily stayed close, silent and watchful, and the twins followed her lead

almost instinctively.

By evening, we gathered near the pen again, preparing to rotate the night watch. I could feel the tension coiling lightly in the air. Even without any supernatural threat, the presence of such a massive, unusual wolf created a weight. Something primal and powerful that demanded respect.

“Alright.” Asher said, arms crossed. “Gage and Arlo, you’ve got the night shift. Emily, stay close. Trinny and I are going to make sure the packhouse stays quiet.”

The twins both nodded, glancing at Emily. She gave a small, almost imperceptible nod back, and they

relaxed just slightly.

“Don’t let it get too comfortable.” I added. “We don’t know what it’s capable of. And if it wakes suddenly….

we need to be ready.”

Emily whispered, “It’s aware. But it won’t hurt anyone unless provoked. I can feel that.”

Gage blinked at her. “You’re saying it’s harmless… because you say so?”

She didn’t answer, just leaned slightly forward, eyes never leaving the wolf. I could feel the twins‘ tension easing, their focus aligning with hers.

I let out a soft sigh, resting my hands on the railing. “Alright. Let’s see how the night goes. Stay alert, but

calm. That’s our best chance.”

As the sun dipped below the horizon and the first stars appeared, the wolf’s eyes reflected the fading light. Its breathing was steady, deliberate, calculated. And Emily’s calm presence seemed to soothe the tension

in the twins as much as it did in me.

The night stretched on quietly, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wolf. Something about its appearance, its size, and the way it watched us hinted at challenges we hadn’t yet seen..

And yet, for now, the pack held together. The twins stayed alert but steady, Emily’s quiet influence guiding them, and Asher’s presence grounding me.

CHAPTER 166

We would face whatever came next, but the forest was alive, and we were ready.

The wolf was awake. And tonight, we would watch.

Kylie K

CRESCENT RIDGE ECLIPSE*

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