Bound by the Moon

Chapter 37

The dawn broke over the forest, casting a soft golden light across the treetops. Astrid stood in the clearing where everything had started, the place where she had first tasted the raw power of the shadow within her. The memory of that surge of darkness—the intoxicating rush of it—still made her pulse quicken, her body tensing at the mere thought of losing control again. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, grounding herself in the earthy scent of the forest and the cool bite of the morning air. Today would be different. Today, she would learn control.

Lucien stood nearby, his sharp golden eyes never leaving her. His posture was tense, as if every fiber of his being was coiled and ready to spring into action. She felt the heat of his worry, his unwavering concern for her safety. It was a comforting anchor, knowing he was there, but she also sensed something else simmering beneath the surface. Doubt. Doubt in Kael. Doubt in the entire situation.

Kael, for his part, was as composed and unreadable as ever. He stood opposite her in the clearing, his tall, imposing figure cloaked in shadows, even though the light was already creeping across the landscape. His icy blue eyes were fixed on Astrid, studying her like she was some kind of puzzle that needed to be solved. He radiated calm control, but there was something else lurking in those eyes—something darker. A knowledge he hadn't yet shared.

"Today, Astrid," Kael began, his voice slicing through the early morning stillness, "we go deeper."

Astrid swallowed hard and nodded. She had barely been able to handle the last session, the sheer magnitude of the shadow's power had almost consumed her. But today, she felt a strange sort of resolve. She wasn't going to let the shadow control her—not again.

"You're stronger than most who encounter this kind of power," Kael continued, pacing slightly as he spoke. "The fact that you didn't completely lose yourself to it last night is a testament to your strength, but what you need to understand is that the shadow inside you doesn't operate on the same principles as the bond you share with your wolf."

Kael stopped pacing and fixed her with a sharp look, his voice lowering, as if imparting a great secret. "The shadow is not a companion. It's not something you control. It is a force, a primordial energy, that predates any of the magic in this world. It's raw chaos, Astrid. And chaos... can only be survived, not tamed."

His words sent a chill through her, but she squared her shoulders, refusing to back down. "Then how do I survive it?" she asked, her voice steady despite the gnawing fear coiling in her gut.

Kael's expression softened—barely—but enough that Astrid noticed it. "You become part of it. You allow it to become part of you."

Lucien, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up, his voice tight with frustration. "This sounds like madness, Kael. If the shadow is as dangerous as you claim, why would she risk becoming part of it? You're asking her to invite chaos into her soul."

Kael didn't look at Lucien, his attention still firmly on Astrid. "Because if she doesn't, it will consume her anyway. The shadow isn't something you can fight. You must embrace it—or be destroyed by it."

Astrid felt Lucien bristle beside her, his protective instincts flaring like a wild fire, but she held up a hand, silencing him. She understood his concern—she felt it too—but something about Kael's words resonated with her. The shadow was already a part of her. She had felt it inside her, coiling and twisting, waiting for her to slip. Trying to fight it would be futile, but if she could learn to live with it, to coexist with that darkness...

"I'm ready," Astrid said, her voice firm.

Lucien's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. His eyes, however, were filled with a silent plea, begging her to be cautious.