Luna Aurora novel (Alpha Fenrir)

Elyra stood at the edge of the clearing, staring out into the moonlit forest. The cold wind brushed against her face, but she barely noticed. Her thoughts were with Dain-where he had gone, what he was doing, and why she could no longer feel the bond between them as strongly as before.

"He's slipping away from me," she murmured, clutching the shard in her hand. Its faint glow pulsed in rhythm with her heartbeat, a constant reminder of the power that had brought them to this point-and the danger it posed.

Cassian stepped up beside her, his usually lighthearted demeanor subdued. "He'll come back," he said, though his tone carried more doubt than reassurance.

Elyra shook her head. "You didn't see the look in his eyes the last time we spoke. It's like... he's already given up on us."

Cassian hesitated, then placed a hand on her shoulder. "Dain's always carried more weight than he lets on. He's probably out there trying to figure things out in his own way. You know how he is he doesn't like anyone seeing his struggles." "That doesn't mean I should just stand here and do nothing," Elyra snapped, pulling away. "I need to find him before it's too late."noveldrama

Before Cassian could respond, Althea emerged from the sanctuary. The silver-haired guardian's serene expression betrayed none of the tension that Elyra felt. Her presence alone seemed to calm the air around them, but Elyra's frustration remained. "Elyra," Althea began, her voice steady, "you cannot chase after him without understanding what he is facing. Dain's struggle is not just with the shard or the shadows-it is with himself."

Elyra turned to face her, her fists clenched. "And what am I supposed to do? Just wait here while he tears himself apart?"

"You must strengthen yourself first," Althea replied, stepping closer. "The shard has shown you visions, has it not? Warnings of what may come?"

Elyra hesitated. The visions were becoming harder to ignore the flashes of darkness, the sense of loss, and above all, the image of Dain consumed by shadow. "Yes," she admitted quietly. "But what am I supposed to do about it? How do I save him if he won't let me?" Althea's gaze softened. "You cannot save him, Elyra. Not in the way you wish. Dain must choose his path, just as you must choose yours."

"That's not good enough," Elyra said, her voice breaking. "I can't let him fall into darkness. There has to be another way."

"Perhaps there is," Althea said, her tone thoughtful. "But it will require great strength and great sacrifice. Are you prepared for that?"

Elyra didn't answer immediately. Her mind raced, replaying every moment she and Dain had shared-their triumphs, their struggles, and the bond that had always held them together. Could she really stand by and watch him slip away?

The shard in her hand pulsed again, the light growing brighter for a brief moment. She looked down at it, frowning. The energy felt different this time, more insistent, almost as if it were trying to communicate something.

"Elyra," Althea said sharply, pulling her out of her thoughts. "The shard is reacting to your emotions. You must control it before it overwhelms you."

"I'm fine," Elyra said, though her voice lacked conviction. She tightened her grip on the shard, determined to prove her strength.

But as the shard's glow intensified, a searing pain shot through her palm. Elyra cried out, dropping the shard to the ground. It landed with a dull thud, its light dimming slightly but still pulsing with energy. "Elyra!" Cassian rushed to her side, his eyes wide with concern. "What happened?"

Elyra stared at her hand, the skin red and raw where the shard had burned her. The pain was sharp, but it was nothing compared to the vision that had flashed through her mind at the moment of contact.

"I saw him," she said breathlessly, her voice trembling.

"Dain?" Cassian asked, his brow furrowing.

Elyra nodded. "He was... different. He was surrounded by shadows, and his eyes... they were filled with darkness. He looked..." She hesitated, struggling to find the right words. "He looked like he'd already given up." Althea stepped forward, her expression grave. "The shard has shown you a possible future. A warning of what may come if Dain continues down this path."

Elyra's heart sank. The vision had felt so real, so vivid. She could still see the way Dain had looked at her in the vision-cold, detached, as if he no longer recognized her.

"No," she said firmly, shaking her head. "I won't let that happen. I won't lose him."

Althea placed a hand on her shoulder, her grip firm but not unkind. "If you wish to save him, you must first master the shard's power. Only then will you have the strength to face what lies ahead." Elyra took a deep breath, her resolve hardening. She picked up the shard once more, ignoring the lingering pain in her palm. "Then teach me," she said. "Teach me how to control it."

Althea nodded, but her expression remained serious. "Remember, Elyra-strength alone will not be enough. You must also have clarity of purpose. If your heart wavers, the shard will turn against you." "I understand," Elyra said, though a part of her still felt uncertain. She glanced at the shard, its light casting eerie shadows across her face. For Dain, for herself, and for the packs, she had to succeed. But as the shard pulsed in her hand, another vision flashed before her eyes: Dain, standing at the center of a shadowy void, his expression unreadable as the darkness swirled around him.

-: The shard burns Elyra's palm, showing her an image of Dain embracing the shadow.