Moonlit Bound

Unleashing The Storm

The creature's growl echoed through the clearing, its eyes fixed on them with malicious intent. Liam stood firm, sword raised, his body tense as he prepared to face the hunter. But Emily could feel the weight of the moment—the rising pressure inside her, her heartbeat syncing with the thrumming energy in her veins.

  She couldn't let Liam fight this battle alone. Not after everything he'd done for her.

  "Emily, no!" Liam shouted, but his warning came too late. The moment the creature lunged, her instincts took over. Her hands shot out, the golden light flaring to life as the energy within her surged in response to the danger.

  The power was different this time. It wasn't just warmth; it was raw, untamed—like a storm threatening to burst free. Her body hummed with the force of it, the golden light intensifying until it almost blinded her.

  The blast shot from her palms in a brilliant arc, striking the creature square in the chest with a force that sent it stumbling back. The creature let out a howl of rage, its claws slashing at the air in a futile attempt to regain balance.

  Liam's eyes widened in shock as he watched the creature reel, a mixture of surprise and something else—relief? Admiration? Emily couldn't tell.

  "Damn it, Emily," Liam muttered under his breath. He didn't look angry, though. Instead, he seemed... impressed.

  The hunter recovered quickly, snarling as it adjusted its stance. Its eyes flashed brighter, and for a moment, Emily could feel the shift in the air. It was studying her, evaluating her powers like a predator circling its prey.

  "You're not ready for this," Liam warned, his voice low and intense. "You need to control it, or it will consume you."

  But Emily wasn't listening. She felt an undeniable rush of power coursing through her, and the urge to use it—to take control—was overwhelming. The energy thrummed in her chest, and without thinking, she summoned another bolt of light.

  This time, it was stronger. The force of it sent the creature crashing into the nearby trees, snapping branches as it howled in pain.

  For a moment, everything was still.

  The hunter struggled to rise, shaking off the impact, its glowing eyes narrowing in fury. But Emily could feel its resistance—it was stronger than the others. It wouldn't be put down so easily.

  Liam stepped forward, his hand reaching out to her. "Enough, Emily! You have to stop."

  She shook her head, her chest heaving with each breath. The power inside her had a mind of its own, pulling her further into its grasp. The golden light flickered again, more erratic this time.

  "I won't let it kill us," she said, her voice low and fierce.

  Liam's gaze softened, but there was urgency in his eyes. "It won't kill us, but it will destroy you if you're not careful. Your power... it's volatile. You have to learn control."

  "Control?" Emily spat, frustration rising. "How am I supposed to control something like this?"

  He took a step closer, his hand gently brushing hers, his touch grounding. "You don't control it by fighting it, Emily. You control it by understanding it—by learning to channel it without letting it control you."

  The hunter's growl broke through their moment of connection, and Emily turned just in time to see it charging again, faster than before. She wasn't ready.

  Liam reacted instantly, drawing his sword and stepping in front of her. "Stay behind me."

  Emily clenched her fists, the energy still pulsing in her chest. No. She wasn't going to hide anymore.

  Without thinking, she called the energy to her again. This time, however, it didn't just come from her hands. The power surged through her whole body, radiating out from her in a wave of golden light.

  It was unlike anything she'd felt before. The air around her crackled with electricity as the light enveloped her, blinding in its intensity.

  Liam's eyes widened in shock as Emily stepped forward, her body glowing like a beacon in the night. "Emily, no! Don't—"

  But she wasn't listening anymore.

  The energy pulsed in a violent burst, rippling through the forest like a shockwave. The force of it sent the hunter flying back, crashing into the ground with a violent thud. The trees around them groaned as the energy reverberated through the air, bending under the weight of the magic Emily had unleashed.

  When the light faded, Emily was breathing heavily, her body trembling from the exertion. The air around her was still charged with a strange, unfamiliar energy, and she could feel the power within her like a wild animal, ready to break free again at any moment.

  The hunter was gone, its body crumpled and still in the distance.

  Liam stood in stunned silence, his gaze fixed on her. There was awe in his eyes, but also something darker.

  "That was... too much," he said finally, his voice rough. "You nearly tore this place apart, Emily."

  "I—I didn't mean to," she stammered, still trying to catch her breath. "It just... happened."

  Liam exhaled slowly, his expression hardening. "You're right. It just happened. And that's the problem. You can't afford to let it happen again."

  Emily's heart dropped as his words sank in. I can't afford to lose control. The weight of what she'd just done settled over her, and the fear of what she might do next gripped her heart.

  Liam took a step toward her, his eyes softening. "I'm not trying to scare you, Emily. But this is bigger than you think. You can't let your power control you. You have to learn how to channel it, how to focus it before it consumes you."

  She nodded slowly, her body still shaking from the aftereffects of the blast. "I—I don't know how to do that."

  "That's why I'm here," Liam said, his voice gentle but firm. "And we're going to start by training. Every night, until you get it right."

  Emily met his gaze, the weight of his words settling in. She wasn't sure she was ready for this kind of responsibility, but she knew one thing for certain: she didn't want to lose control again.

  She turned her gaze to the clearing, the remnants of the battle still fresh in the air. The hunter's body was nowhere to be seen, but the danger was far from over. Emily wasn't sure how long they could keep running or hiding.

  The curse on her bloodline was only the beginning.

  And with it came a darkness that she wasn't sure she could outrun.

  "We need to go," Liam said, his voice low but urgent. "Before something worse shows up."

  Emily nodded, her mind reeling with everything she had just learned. She had powers she couldn't control, a curse she didn't understand, and a future that seemed darker than ever.

  But she wasn't alone. And for now, that was enough to keep her going.

  Liam held out his hand, and after a brief hesitation, Emily took it. The forest around them felt ominous, but the connection between them felt stronger.

  Together, they would face whatever came next.