Chapter 103 - Silver Radiance

(Quinn's perspective)

The shift came effortlessly now, like a second heartbeat. My body melted into the form I was born to embrace, paws hitting the earth with purpose as Trinity stirred within me. For the first time in what felt like forever, she wasn't silent.

"Let me take over," Trinity's voice echoed in my mind, steady and reassuring.

Before I could respond, she surged forward, propelling us at a speed I didn't even know we were capable of. The forest blurred into streaks of green and brown as the wind roared past. My lungs burned, but it wasn't unpleasant—it was exhilarating.

"Cale can smell us," I thought, fear creeping in as my mind wandered to Luca and Amarok. They were back there, facing him. Alone.

"They'll be fine," Trinity said firmly, her tone unyielding. "Have faith in them."

Faith. I wanted to cling to it, but doubt still whispered in my mind. What if they weren't fine? The thought made my heart race, and I couldn't stop myself from asking, "Trin, where have you been? I was worried."

Her voice softened, like a warm embrace. "The silver Cale used on us—it wasn't ordinary. It was an ancient blade, the kind meant to end wolves like us. I had to hibernate completely to recover. It wasn't easy, Quinn. But when we mated with our true mate…" Her voice paused, filled with a kind of reverence. "That restored me. And then some."

The memory of Luca flashed in my mind—his touch, his eyes, the way he looked at me like I was his entire world. I felt heat rise in my cheeks, even in wolf form.

"We're more powerful now than ever," Trinity continued. "Let me show you."

Without warning, our fur shimmered. A radiant silver light burst forth, illuminating the dark forest for just a heartbeat. It was dazzling, otherworldly, and then it was gone.

"We don't want to draw attention," Trinity said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "But that's what we've become. A force to be reckoned with."

"I didn't think I'd ever hear you again," I admitted, my voice trembling slightly.

"I've always been here, Quinn. But I'm proud of you. You finally admitted what you've always known."

I frowned, uncertain. "What do you mean?"

Trinity paused for a moment, her voice quieter when she answered. "Your love for Luca. It never went away. I feel everything you feel, Quinn. You buried it, tried to fight it, but it was always there. Every time you were near him, it stirred, waking up little by little. When you kissed him, it came alive. And now that we're marked…"

Her words trailed off, leaving me breathless. It was true. I'd spent so long denying it, building walls around my heart, but now those walls were rubble at my feet.

"But I have to warn you," Trinity said, her tone growing serious. "Something bad is coming."

A chill ran down my spine. "What is it?"

"I don't know," she admitted, frustration lacing her words. "The Luna Goddess sent me a message. She told me to brace us for the worst."

My stomach twisted. The forest around us felt darker, heavier, as though even the trees knew what was coming.

"Whatever it is, we'll face it together," Trinity assured me. Her confidence bolstered me, if only a little.

The trees thinned, and I realized we were approaching Cale's house. My muscles tensed, my heartbeat quickening.

"He's already here," Trinity growled. "I don't know how, but he is."

Her determination bled into me, and I let her guide us, her movements silent and calculated. She slipped through the shadows like a ghost, weaving through the house's perimeter until we reached the room that had once been mine.

"I'll get you to the bathroom," Trinity promised. "Quietly."

True to her word, we moved soundlessly, our steps as soft as whispers. When we reached the bathroom, I shifted back, my human form feeling foreign after the raw power of the wolf.

The shower was a small comfort, the hot water washing away the grime and fear clinging to my skin. But my reflection in the mirror stopped me cold.

There, on my neck, was the mark. Not the jagged, ugly scar I'd imagined, but a delicate spiral etched into my skin, glowing faintly like moonlight.

"This is our gift from the Luna Goddess," Trinity said, pride evident in her voice. "Most marks are simple—just two dots. But this…"

She didn't need to finish. I knew what she meant. This mark was proof of what we'd survived, of the bond Luca and I shared.

I smiled, despite everything. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt whole. Wrapping myself in a silky beige gown, I stepped out of the bathroom, my hair still damp and clinging to my shoulders.

And froze.

Cale was sitting on my bed, his dark eyes gleaming with a mix of triumph and something far more sinister.

"Miss me, Quinn?" he drawled, his voice sending a shiver down my spine.