Chapter 45: Shadowblades
Meanwhile.
In the quiet embrace of the Artesian woods, Zach and Amber still lingered in the afterglow of their recent battle. The silver moon hung high, casting its ghostly glow across dew-laden grass and the glistening leaves. The forest was alive with nocturnal whispers, yet for them, it felt like the world had been paused, as if the night itself held its breath.
Amber's chest rose and fell unevenly, her palms trembling as though the memory of the battle had etched itself into her very bones. The rogue wolf—the way it had fought, the way her will had bent its body without so much as a scratch—haunted her mind. She swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper, trembling yet full of awe.
"I... I can't believe it," she admitted, silver eyes wide and glistening. "I controlled him. Just by thinking... just by wanting him to stop."
Zach stepped closer, the golden hue of his eyes softening with a tenderness that made her heart skip. He reached out, brushing a stray lock of her silver hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering against her skin like fire against ice.
"Amber... tonight, you saved me," he murmured, voice low and rough with emotion. "Not just me—the balance of this territory. You've awakened something far beyond what I imagined."
She shivered, the cold night brushing against her, but the chill came not from the air. It came from the weight of her own power, and the awe—and fear—of what she had just done.
"But... what if I can't control it next time?" she whispered, leaning into his chest. "What if I hurt someone?"
Zach pressed his forehead to hers, the warmth of his breath sending shivers down her spine. "Then I'll be here," he said, voice steady, unwavering. "Every step, every heartbeat. You're not alone. Never again."
Her silver eyes softened, glistening with unspoken longing. "I... I don't want to be alone anymore. Not with this... power. Not with you."
Zach's strong hands cupped her face, thumbs brushing along her cheekbones, grounding her trembling form. His gaze drilled into hers, golden and unwavering. "And you won't be," he promised, voice low, full of raw conviction. "Not while I live. You are mine... Amber. My Luna. My strength. My heart."
Her lips parted, breath hitching as his words sank into her soul. She felt heat pool in her chest, a warmth that had nothing to do with the forest's chill. Slowly, almost reverently, Zach leaned closer, his forehead resting against hers, the proximity electric, every heartbeat synced between them.
"Zach..." she murmured, barely audible. Her hands found his broad chest, pressing lightly against the steady beat of his heart. It was a rhythm that spoke of protection, of desire, of something deeper than either had ever dared to voice.
He smiled faintly, brushing his nose against hers in a tender nuzzle. "Amber... I've waited for this—waited for you to see yourself the way I see you. Not just as Luna, not just as the Moon-Child... but as you."
A shiver ran down her spine, heat mixing with the tremor of fear and awe. Slowly, hesitantly, she leaned into him, closing the small distance that had always lingered between them. Their lips met in a soft, almost tentative kiss at first, tasting the relief and love that had built over months of trust, fear, and shared danger.
Zach's lips deepened the kiss, slow and consuming, his hands sliding down her back, anchoring her to him. Amber melted against him, feeling the surge of warmth, the rush of strength and comfort that only he could provide. Her hands tangled in his dark hair, pulling him closer as their hearts hammered in unison, as if the forest itself were beating with them.
When they broke apart, barely, gasping for breath, Amber rested her forehead against his shoulder. "I... I never thought I'd feel... safe like this," she whispered.
"You are safe," Zach assured her, lips brushing the top of her head. "And you always will be. As long as I breathe, no one... no wolf... no council... can take that from you."
She smiled faintly, the silver light of the moon catching in her hair. For a moment, the world outside—the scars of battle, the council's plotting, the threat of rogue hunters—faded. All that remained was them: Alpha and Luna, bound by destiny, trust, and an unspoken bond that was now deeper than ever.
Yet, even as their hearts intertwined, the shadows beyond the woods moved with silent purpose. From a distant ridge, a pair of amber eyes glinted, cold and calculating. Ashrav had arrived, already surveying the outskirts of the Artesian estate. His black wolf glided like a wraith over the undergrowth, every sinew taut, every sense attuned to the faintest disturbance in the night.
Every snapped twig, every rustle of leaves, every pulse of Amber's newly awakened aura reached him like an electric current. Ashrav paused, amber eyes narrowing as he took in the forest, the moonlight, and the subtle shimmer of her power. He had faced rogue Alphas, hybrid assassins, and beasts born of forbidden magic—but this... this was different.
And yet, executioners do not falter. Executioners do not hesitate.
Tonight, the hunt begins.
______
Amber shivered, sensing a subtle disturbance in the air—a shift in the forest's rhythm. She leaned against Zach, his presence anchoring her.
"Zach... someone's here," she whispered, silver eyes scanning the shadowed tree line. "I can feel... him."
Zach's jaw tightened. "I know. He's strong, clever... deadly. But so are we." He brushed a strand of hair from her face, pressing a lingering kiss to her temple. "And together... nothing can touch us. Not tonight. Not ever."
Amber's breath hitched as she felt the thrum of her power beneath her skin, a pulse in her blood like lightning waiting to strike. She realized then that she had grown—not just as a Luna, but as a force that could bend the very forest, the minds of those who dared threaten them. And now... she would have to test that strength.
Her hands found Zach's again, fingers entwining, gripping with trust and determination. "I... I'll try," she whispered. "I'll control it... for us... for you."
Zach pressed his forehead to hers once more, eyes blazing with gold. "You don't have to try alone. You never will. I'll be your strength, your shield... your anchor. Always."
The moonlight reflected off Amber's silver hair, painting her in ethereal glow. In that quiet moment, surrounded by the forest, the remnants of battle, and the promise of coming danger, they shared a kiss—longer, deeper, charged with the fire of desire, the tenderness of love, and the certainty of their bond.
But beyond the clearing, hidden in the shadows, Ashrav observed, silent, patient. The Shadowblades gaze reflected the silver glow of the Moon-Child, measuring, calculating, waiting. Every heartbeat, every flicker of emotion, every spark of energy drew him closer to the inevitable confrontation.
Tonight, the Artesian woods would bear witness—not just to love, but to power. To destiny. To a forbidden bloodline that could shake the balance of the North.
And Amber knew, deep in her bones, that nothing would ever be the same.
⸻
To be continued...