Chapter 359
Elyra sat in her quarters, her body still aching from the wounds sustained during the ambush. The pain was sharp, but it was nothing compared to the turmoil inside her. She had barely slept since the battle in the Moonlit Forest, her mind racing with the weight of her choices. The moonlight filtered through the window, casting long shadows across the room, a reminder of the dark forces at work.
The silence was broken by a soft knock at the door. Elyra barely acknowledged it as Selene entered, her presence commanding and calm. The older Luna had been a constant source of guidance, but even Selene’s steady demeanor couldn’t quell the storm inside Elyra.
“You need to rest,” Selene said, her voice gentle but firm. She walked over to the window, her gaze sweeping across the camp. “But you also need to prepare. The time for hesitation is over.”
Elyra met her eyes, her heart heavy with doubt. “How do I fight him, Selene? How do I face my brother? He’s not just my enemy; he’s my family. How can I save the packs without destroying him?”
The question hung in the air, heavy with grief. Selene paused, her expression softening for a moment before she answered.
“You cannot save him if you cannot fight him,” Selene said, her voice low. “You must choose, Elyra. The longer you wait, the more people will suffer. Dain has already chosen his path.”
Elyra looked down at her hands, the weight of her decisions pressing on her chest. She had always believed there was a way to bring Dain back from the brink. But with each passing day, it felt more impossible. The shard’s grip on him was growing stronger, and she feared there was nothing left of the brother she once knew.
“I don’t want to lose him,” Elyra whispered, her voice breaking. “But I don’t know how to stop him without losing everything.”
Selene’s eyes softened with understanding. “Sometimes, the only way to save someone is to let them go. You cannot save everyone, Elyra. But you can save what remains.”
Elyra looked out the window, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The forest was quiet now, but she knew that Dain’s shadow was spreading further each day. Packs were falling under his influence, and the fear of what would come next gnawed at her.
Meanwhile, Dain was growing stronger. His influence was reaching farther, his control over the shard making him more dangerous with each passing hour. He no longer hid in the shadows—he stood in the light, confident in his power and determined to bend others to his will.
In the days that followed, news arrived of more packs falling under Dain’s sway. He had used shadow magic to manipulate their leaders, promising strength, unity, and protection in exchange for their loyalty. The packs that had once stood by Elyra’s side were now under his control. Dain was no longer just a threat—he was an unstoppable force, consolidating his power.
Elyra’s thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.
“His power is growing,” Fenrir said, his deep voice laced with concern. He stepped into the room, his expression hard. “The Riverstone Pack, the Silver Hollow… even the Thornclaw Pack—Dain has them all now. He’s taking everything, and we’re running out of time.”
Elyra’s chest tightened as she stood. “I can’t let him do this, Fenrir. I can’t let him tear apart everything we’ve worked for.”
Fenrir’s gaze softened, but his voice remained firm. “Then we need to act. I’m not asking you to give up on him, but we need a plan. We can’t wait much longer.”
Elyra nodded, her resolve hardening. She couldn’t let Dain’s shadow consume everything. But the weight of her decision pressed on her—how could she fight him without losing herself?
The next day, news arrived that Dain had approached another pack—this time, the Ironfang Pack. Elyra’s heart sank as she heard the reports. Dain was methodically taking control of the region, one pack at a time. He was using the same tactics, promising power, security, and protection. And one by one, they were falling.
Elyra paced the room, her mind racing. “How much longer before he comes for us? How much longer before he decides the packs that are left aren’t enough?”
“You know he won’t stop until he has everything,” Cassian said, entering the room with a grim look on his face. “It’s time to act.”
Elyra turned to him, her eyes steely with determination. “We will act. But we need to be ready. We need to strike before he grows too powerful.”
As Elyra prepared for the coming war, Dain’s power continued to swell. He was no longer the boy she had once known. He was something else now—something dark and unstoppable.
Fenrir stood before Dain, trying one last time to reach the man he had once considered a son. The Warden of Shadows stood silently in the background, watching the exchange with cold eyes.
“You are my son, Dain,” Fenrir said, his voice filled with raw emotion. “You’re not a weapon. You never were. Please, remember who you are.”
Dain’s crimson eyes flickered with something—something that resembled doubt—but only for a moment. He smirked, stepping closer to Fenrir.
“I am more than your son,” Dain said, his voice low and filled with finality. “I am the future.”
Fenrir took a step back, his heart heavy. He knew then that Dain was lost. The boy he had raised, the boy who had once been his son, was gone. And in his place stood a monster, fueled by the darkness of the shard.
-: As Dain turned his back on Fenrir, the Warden’s voice echoed in the air. “The time for mercy is over. The future belongs to those who embrace the shadow.”
~
