Moonlight In Chains (Trinity and Asher) novel Chapter 182

CHAPTER 182

The forest was quiet now. The shadows that had lingered just beyond the clearing were gone, or at least, I couldn’t sense them anymore. For the first time since leaving Moonflare, I allowed myself a moment to breathe.

Elias, the former alpha of Redwater Falls, stood a few feet away, relaxed but alert. Dane lingered closer to the wolf, studying it as carefully as I had the first time I saw it. The massive creature sat just beyond the fire–scarred clearing, its dark fur glinting in the moonlight. It didn’t move or growl. It simply observed, patient and aware.

I tightened my grip on my backpack strap. My heart was still hammering from the run from Moonflare, but urgency had replaced fear. I had questions. And I was going to get answers.

“Elias.” My voice was steady, though excitement trembled beneath. “I need to know about someone. Emily Stone.”

Elias’s brow furrowed, but he shook his head. “Never heard of her.”

I frowned. “Not her real name. I need someone who knows her history, the type of people she’s connected to. She’s causing problems in my pack.”

Elias’s eyes narrowed. “Trinity, I don’t…”

“Wait. Lydia Keene.”

The words hung in the air. Elias froze. His eyes widened, and his hand tightened on his knife.

“Lydia Keene?” he said slowly, voice tight. “You said… Lydia Keene?”

I nodded. “Yes. Emily Stone is a false identity. She’s at my pack. She’s… mated to my brothers–in–law.”

Elias’s chest rose and fell rapidly. “She… she’s… here?”

“No. She’s at Moonflare.”

“Who are your brothers–in–law?” Dane asked.

“Gage and Arlo.”

“Wait. You’re mated to Asher!” He practically yelled.

nanned before turning back to

CHAPTER 182

*20 Points

I glanced at the wolf. Its gaze flicked to me, then back to the treeline, grounding, strangely reassuring.

“Yes.” I said. “And I don’t trust her. Not for a second. She’s manipulative, dangerous, and she’s trying to drive a wedge through my pack. I need to know everything. Her past, her connections, what she’s capable of.”

Elias’s jaw tightened. “Lydia Keene…” He muttered, the name heavy on his tongue. “I knew her. Before everything changed at Redwater Falls.”

I leaned closer. “What do you know?”

He ran a hand over his face. “She was calculating. Could manipulate anyone. And she knew it. Even young, she had this… pull over people. It’s why we had to remove her from Redwater Falls. Her presence was toxic.”

“That’s exactly what I’ve seen.” I said. “She’s turning my brothers–in–law against me. She’s even started with Asher.”

Elias’s eyes hardened. “Then stay cautious. Don’t let her know you’re onto her. She’ll use any weakness against you.”

I glanced at Dane, who gave a subtle nod. “I think she already knows.” I said quietly. “But I won’t let her ruin everything.”

Elias’s expression darkened. “You’ve got to be careful. People like her… they’re patient. They wait for the cracks, the moments when someone doubts themselves. Then they exploit it. And she knows she can’t touch you directly, so she’s using everyone else around you to destabilize the pack. It’s classic.”

I swallowed, heart pounding. “Classic manipulative alpha behavior?” I asked, trying to keep my voice level.

Elias’s lips twitched in a grim smile. “More like manipulative predator behavior. She knows the rules of the pack, of human interaction, and she bends them to her advantage. You’ve seen it firsthand, haven’t you?”

I nodded. “Every day. She’s excellent at it. Too good. And I’ve never dealt with anyone like her before.”

The wolf shifted slightly, almost as if it were listening to our conversation, its massive head tilting toward me. Its golden eyes held mine, intelligent and steady, almost approving. It seemed to understand the gravity of the situation, as though it were silently agreeing with my assessment.

CHAPTER 183

P25 Points

I exhaled slowly, leaning against a broken beam of the ruined meeting hall. “I need to know more.” I said quietly. “If she’s at Moonflare, if she’s manipulating everyone… how far back does this go? What do I need to prepare for?”

Elias hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he thought. “Lydia… Emily… whatever she’s calling herself now. She’s clever, but she’s reckless when she underestimates someone. She’s… ambitious. Dangerous. And she will push boundaries if she thinks she can get away with it. You need allies, and you need strategy. Otherwise…” His words trailed off, the unspoken warning heavy in the air.

I clenched my jaw, determination flaring. “I’ll need allies.” I admitted, voice tight. “And I’ll need to protect everyone in the pack. But I can’t confront her directly. Not yet. She knows too much about me and Asher already. She’ll see through anything I try.”

Dane shifted, crossing his arms. “And if she’s already influencing the twins? That complicates things.”

“It does.” I agreed, watching the wolf carefully. Its posture remained calm, but its awareness was palpable, like a shield around us. “But I have to start somewhere. And that somewhere is understanding who she really is, what she’s capable of, and how far back her manipulations go. If I know her history, maybe I can predict her next move.”

Elias studied me for a long moment. “Then you’ve made the right choice in coming here. But be careful, Trinity. You’ve stirred something that can’t be contained by just a warning or a conversation. She’ll notice your investigation eventually.”

I nodded, already thinking ahead. “I don’t care if she notices. I just can’t let her win. Not now. Not ever.”

The wolf let out a low rumble, its massive body shifting slightly closer, like it was acknowledging my resolve. I reached out instinctively, running a hand along its fur. The sensation grounded me, calmed the rapid thudding of my heart. I could feel its strength, its patience, its intelligence. It wasn’t just a wolf. It was an ally, a guide, a protector in ways I didn’t yet fully understand.

And as I stood there, the shadows of the past and present seemed to fall away for a brief moment, leaving only clarity. I had questions, and now, I had direction.

But just as I started to breathe easier, a sound cut through the air. A familiar voice, sharp, urgent, and panicked.

“Trinity!”

My heart leapt, and I spun around.

C CHAPTER

426 Points

Asher stepped into the clearing, eyes wide, scanning the forest like he’d been running for hours. His expression was a mix of relief, panic, and something I couldn’t quite read. Anger, maybe, or fear.

“Baby, I am so sorry. I’m sorry for everything I did. Everything I said. I don’t know what the hell came over me.” Asher said, running up to me.

Linstinctively stepped away from him and closer to Elias and Dane.

“How did you find me?” I asked.

“I followed your trail. It wasn’t easy but after all the research we did, I knew you’d start here.” He said.

“And why did you come? You said you wanted space. What fucking mate tells the other mate that they need space? That they don’t want to even see them for a couple of days.” I yelled.

“I know. I don’t know what I was thinking. I wasn’t myself…Dane.” He said, shocked as he looked at Dane and Elias beside me.

Asher and Dane were best friends as kids and he also thought Dane was dead. But that’s beside the point right now.

“Why are you here? Who’s taking care of the pack?” I asked.

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