Bound by the Moon

Chapter 27

Astrid sat in the stillness of the forest, her pulse still racing from the surge of power. Her thoughts churned, as restless as the energy within her. She couldn't keep running from this, from herself. She had been fooling herself thinking that she could handle it on her own.

But who could she trust?

The thought of going back to Lucien made her heart ache. She had seen the fear in his eyes, however fleeting. His distance spoke volumes, and Astrid couldn't shake the feeling that he was holding back, unsure of what to do with her. Ryker had been right, though. This wasn't just strength—it was something else entirely. Something no amount of sparring could tame.

The crackle of dried leaves caught her attention, her instincts flaring as she quickly wiped her eyes and stood, fists clenching out of habit. Her senses stretched out into the forest, but she couldn't pinpoint who—or what—was approaching.

Then, a familiar scent reached her. Lucien.

"Astrid." His voice came from the shadows, calm but firm.

She turned to find him standing at the edge of the clearing, his silhouette barely visible in the fading light. He stepped forward, his gaze locked on her as though trying to read every unspoken thought.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked, though his tone suggested he already knew the answer.

"I needed space," she replied, her voice tight. "I needed... to think."

Lucien nodded, his expression unreadable as he came closer. "I felt it," he said quietly, his eyes glancing around the clearing as if searching for remnants of the power she had unleashed. "The energy. It was strong."

Astrid's breath caught. "I didn't mean to—I wasn't trying to—"

"I know," he interrupted, his voice softening. "But that's exactly the problem, isn't it?"

She bit her lip, trying to hold back the frustration bubbling inside her. "I don't know what's happening to me, Lucien," she admitted, her voice shaking. "I can't control it. No matter how hard I try, it's like this... thing inside me is too strong. It just keeps building and building, and I don't know how to stop it."

Lucien stepped closer until they were only a few feet apart. He reached out, his hand hovering near her arm as if unsure whether to touch her. "We can figure this out together," he said. "But you have to let me in."

Astrid closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath. The tension between them was palpable, an unspoken understanding hanging in the air. She wanted to trust him, wanted to let him help, but something inside her resisted.

"I don't know if I can," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Lucien's hand finally made contact, gently resting on her shoulder. "You can," he said softly. "You're not alone, Astrid. I won't let you face this alone."

For a moment, the warmth of his hand was grounding, soothing the storm inside her. But then, another thought crept in, a flicker of doubt she couldn't shake. What if it wasn't just the power? What if it was something worse?

"What if I'm dangerous?" she asked, her voice trembling. "What if this is something... evil?"

Lucien's grip on her shoulder tightened slightly, and he shook his head. "You're not evil, Astrid. Whatever this is, it doesn't define you."

Astrid opened her mouth to protest, to argue that he didn't understand, but the look in his eyes stopped her. There was something there—something deeper than fear. Concern, yes. But also something else. Resolve.