Chapter 35 . "Moonlight and Shadows" –
The silver light faded slowly, leaving warmth in its place. Luna stepped back into the moonlight, then disappeared, as if the very night had carried her away, leaving behind only peace, guidance, and purpose.
Amber stood frozen, her chest tight, her throat aching. The world felt quieter without her mother standing there. Zach moved closer, his hand finding hers, grounding her against the heaviness pressing inside.
Their eyes met—no words, only the exchange of pain, relief, love, and joy in a single gaze. Zach gently brushed his thumb against her palm. "She didn't leave you, Amber. She only went back to where duty called her. But her heart—her heart stays with you."
Amber exhaled shakily, tears brimming. "I know. It just feels unfair to finally hold her, only to let go again."
Zach smiled faintly and lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss. "Then let me be the one you don't have to let go of. I'll stay right here, no matter where fate drags us."
Amber leaned into him, the warmth of his body pressing against hers, comforting and familiar. Her heartbeat seemed to sync with his, steadying the storm of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. She felt the subtle brush of his chest against her own, the slow, steady rise and fall, grounding her.
"You always know what to say," she whispered, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw, soft and tentative.
"And you always make it impossible to stay away," he murmured, letting his hand travel to her waist, drawing her gently closer. Amber shivered, a small laugh escaping her lips, her breath mingling with his.
______
Later that evening, they returned to the Northern Region, the ride silent but filled with the weight of unspoken longing. By the time they arrived at Zach's mansion, exhaustion had settled deep, yet there was also a peace neither had felt in a long time.
Inside the room, Amber stood by the window, moonlight spilling across her hair. Her gaze drifted toward the horizon, where shadows met the glowing heavens.
"It was such a tiring day," she whispered softly, hand resting on the glass. Then she smiled faintly. "But I'm happy... happy that I finally saw Mom. I'm relieved she's alive."
Zach leaned on the doorframe, his eyes never leaving her. His voice carried weight, softened by emotion. "Me too. After all those years of carrying the guilt... believing I was the reason she was gone... tonight, all of it fades."
Amber turned slowly, her eyes searching his. "So that's what you meant back then... when you told me there were truths I wasn't ready to know yet."
She stepped closer, the air between them thick with tension and longing. Zach reached for her, fingers brushing her cheek before sliding to the nape of her neck, pulling her gently closer. Amber tilted her face, letting him guide her.
Zach's lips found hers again—this time deeper, slower. His hands framed her face, thumb stroking her cheek as their breaths mingled. Amber responded instinctively, leaning into the kiss, her hands tangling in his hair, the heat between them simmering but never rushing.
She pulled back slightly, her forehead resting against his, eyes closed. "You... you can just take a kiss whenever you want now?" she whispered, breathless.
"I can't help myself," he murmured, lips brushing hers again. "Every time you're near... it's like I'm drawn to you. Like fire, Amber... and only your touch can calm it."
She laughed softly, a sound full of relief and warmth. Her fingers traced his jaw, sliding down to his shoulders, savoring the safety of his strength. Zach's hands roamed slowly, reassuringly, holding her as though she could vanish in a blink—and he'd never let go.
_______
Outside, deep in the forest, unseen eyes gleamed, watching, silent. Yet Amber remained unaware, pressed against Zach, giggling lightly as she whispered, "Then I guess you'll just have to keep melting."
Zach tightened his hold, pressing her gently against him, whispering into her hair, "And I will... for as long as I can."
The night stretched around them, quiet except for the subtle rustle of the trees. In that shared warmth, in the tender touches and lingering kisses, Amber and Zach found not just comfort—but a promise: that whatever storms may come, they would face them together, hearts entwined, body and soul.
Amber leaned against Zach, her body pressed close, feeling the steady warmth of him grounding her. His hands trailed over her arms, lingering on her back, pulling her closer until their foreheads rested together.
"You're warm," she whispered, voice soft, almost trembling. "I never want to let go."
"You don't have to," he murmured, brushing his lips over her temple, then down her cheek, lingering at the corner of her mouth. "Not tonight."
Amber's breath hitched as he leaned in, lips brushing hers with slow, teasing pressure. Her fingers threaded through his hair, pulling him closer, needing more than just proximity. The kiss deepened—soft, deliberate, full of the longing they had held back all these years.
Zach's hands roamed gently over her shoulders and down her waist, holding her as though she could vanish at any second—and he'd never let her go. Amber shivered, a soft sigh escaping her lips, letting herself be enveloped in him completely.
"Every time I touch you," he whispered against her lips, "it feels like I'm home... like nothing else exists but this moment."
Amber smiled against him, closing her eyes, savoring the intimacy. She pressed herself closer, their hearts beating together as the night stretched around them. Their breaths mingled, slow and deliberate, each kiss a promise, each touch a vow of trust and desire.
They moved together toward the bed, hands still entwined, foreheads resting against each other. Zach's arms circled her, pulling her fully into him, as Amber let herself melt against his warmth. Their closeness spoke louder than words—every brush of skin, every soft sigh, every lingering kiss deepened the bond between them.
Amber giggled softly, nuzzling his neck.
Wait, I need to calm down," she said with a smile.
"I wouldn't want you to," he murmured, smiling against her hair. "Tonight, you're mine... and I'm yours."
She pressed closer, letting herself be enveloped by him completely, her hands sliding under his shirt to feel the warmth of his skin. Zach's lips trailed down her neck, and Amber let out a soft, breathless laugh, leaning into him as though she could disappear into his arms.
"I... I could stay like this forever," she whispered, her voice trembling with need and affection.
"Then we will," he replied, his voice thick with emotion. "Tonight... the world can wait."
Zach held her against him once again and Amber let herself melt into the comfort and passion of their closeness. Every laugh, every sigh, every gentle caress deepened the bond between them—body and soul connecting in a perfect, quiet intimacy.
"You make it impossible to stay calm, Zach."
"I said I wouldn't want you to," he murmured, brushing her hair from her face and kissing her forehead. "I'm yours. All of me, tonight."
Just as the warmth and closeness between them reached its peak, Zach pulled back slightly, his hand moving to the window. "I better close this before someone decides to peek," he said with a small, amused grin.
Amber laughed softly, but her gaze followed his hand—and froze. Through the dark trees of the forest outside, a pair of watchful eyes had lingered on them, glinting faintly in the silver moonlight. The figure was silent, still, observing every movement. Then, as Zach closed the window firmly, the shadow melted into the darkness, footsteps fading until the forest was quiet once more.
Amber pressed against Zach, shivering slightly, a mixture of thrill and unease running through her. "Someone was out there..." she whispered.
Zach tightened his hold around her, brushing his lips over her temple. "It's okay. Whoever it was... they won't touch us. Not here, not like this. You're safe with me."
Amber let herself relax again, nuzzling into him, heart still racing but reassured. The night outside might hold shadows and watchers, but inside, in Zach's arms, she felt warmth, safety, and an intimacy that was theirs alone—unshakable, unbroken, and entirely consuming.
The night outside the mansion had grown still, the only sounds the occasional rustle of leaves and the soft chirp of distant insects. Inside, Amber rested against Zach, her fingers interlaced with his, savoring the closeness that felt almost sacred. Yet neither of them could ignore the chill that lingered, the faint awareness that someone—or something—had been watching them.
_____
Far beyond the yard, hidden in the shadowed forest, a figure crouched low among the trees. Cloaked in darkness, eyes glinting like shards of silver, they had witnessed the intimate exchange, the soft laughter, the warmth that radiated from the mansion. A quiet, almost imperceptible smile touched their lips.
"They're together... as expected," the figure murmured, voice low and cold. "But the Alpha and his Luna are weaker than I thought. Their love is strong... yet it blinds them. The Ember Council will not wait forever."
The watcher rose slowly, blending into the night like a phantom. Every step was careful, measured—aware of the slightest twig snapping, the faintest movement in the underbrush. When the mansion's window closed, cutting off their view, the figure paused, one hand brushing against a tree, eyes narrowing.
"They will not see us coming," A whispered. "Not yet."
Inside, Zach held Amber tightly, sensing the tension she didn't speak aloud. "I feel... something," he murmured against her hair. "Someone was outside. Watching, I mean it" Amber shivered, but the warmth of his body calmed her fear. "Do you think it's dangerous?" she asked softly.
Zach kissed the top of her head, his hand tracing her back soothingly. "If it is, we'll face it together. Always. No one touches you. No one comes between us."
Amber smiled faintly, pressing closer, letting herself be enveloped in the safety of his arms. "I believe you," she whispered, letting out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
The forest grew silent once more, the shadowy figure now only a memory in the dark. But even as Zach and Amber drifted closer, hearts intertwined and bodies pressed together in a quiet, lingering intimacy, the sense of being watched lingered—a subtle warning that the calm night was only temporary.
And somewhere in the shadows, plans were forming, patience sharpening like a blade. The Ember Council's reach extended farther than anyone realized, and the Alpha and his Luna had no idea that the next storm was already approaching.