Chapter 13: Allies in the Dark

The rogue camp thrummed with tension as dusk bled into night, the fire at its heart crackling high, spitting sparks into the sky like defiant stars. Elara stood near the flames, her arm still tingling from the pulse of her glowing blood, the silver drops now dull against the dirt where they'd fallen. The earth had trembled—a faint shudder, but enough to widen the eyes of the rogues gathered around, their murmurs rising like the wind rustling the cedars overhead. Kael's hand rested on her lower back, a steady anchor, his warmth seeping through her shirt as he watched the crowd, his golden eyes sharp with a mix of pride and wariness.The howl that had answered her blood's flare lingered in the air, a distant but ominous echo—Darius's forces, closing in, drawn by the power she couldn't yet control. The moon hung low, gibbous and heavy, its edges blurring as clouds drifted across its face, a prelude to the lunar eclipse that would darken it tomorrow night. March 31, 2025, was less than twenty-four hours away, and the weight of it pressed on Elara's chest, a cosmic deadline she felt in her bones.Lira stepped forward from the circle of rogues, her spear planted in the ground, her auburn braid glinting in the firelight. "That was no trick," she said, her voice cutting through the murmurs, her green eyes locked on Elara's arm. "Starborn's real. What's it mean for us?""It means war's here," Kael answered, his tone low but commanding, the alpha in him rising despite his rogue status. "Darius knows she's the key—her blood, the eclipse. He'll hit us hard, soon.""Then we hit back," a gruff voice called from the crowd. A man pushed through—stocky, bearded, his left arm ending in a stump wrapped in leather. He carried a hatchet, its blade notched from use, and his brown eyes flicked between Kael and Elara with a mix of skepticism and resolve. "Name's Gav. Been running from that bastard ten years. If she's what you say, I'm in.""Same," a woman added, stepping beside Gav. She was wiry, her black hair cropped short, a bow slung over her shoulder. Her skin was sun-darkened, her gray eyes sharp as she nodded at Elara. "Ryn. Lost my pack to Darius's raids. If you're fighting, I've got your back."More voices rose—names, oaths, a ragged chorus of rogues pledging to stand with them. Elara counted thirty-two in all, a motley crew of exiles—some scarred like Kael, others lean from years on the run, all bound by a shared defiance. She felt their stares, a mix of hope and doubt, and straightened, clutching the Lunar Covenant tighter, its worn pages a shield against their scrutiny."Thanks," she said, her voice steady despite the flutter in her gut. "I'm still figuring this out—starborn, the blood, all of it—but I won't let him win. We won't."Kael's hand slid to her hip, a subtle claim that grounded her, and he addressed the crowd. "We've got a day to prepare. Eclipse hits tomorrow night—Darius'll strike then, when the moon's dark. We fortify, we train, we use her power. Anyone not in, leave now."No one moved, the silence a pact sealed by the fire's glow. Lira smirked, pulling her spear free. "Guess we're all crazy. Let's get to work."The camp erupted into motion—rogues scattering to sharpen weapons, reinforce tents, scout the perimeter. Kael led Elara to a log by the fire, sitting close, his thigh pressed to hers, his arm draping over her shoulders. "They're with us," he murmured, his breath warm on her ear. "You did that.""We did," she corrected, leaning into him, the bond humming between them—stronger now, a current she couldn't ignore. "But I need to understand this." She opened the text, flipping to the runes about the eclipse, her pencil scratching as she translated under the firelight. " 'The darkened moon wakes the starborn's will—break or bind.' It's a choice, Kael.""Choice," he repeated, his hand resting on her knee, fingers tracing idle patterns that sent shivers up her spine. "Break the Covenant—or make it stronger?""Yeah." She tapped the page, her mind racing. "If I break it, Darius loses his hold—maybe all wolves do. If I bind it, he could twist it, use me to tighten his grip.""Then we break it," he said, fierce, his grip tightening. "No more chains.""Maybe." She chewed her lip, doubt gnawing at her. "But what if it breaks you too? The shift, the bond—what if I lose you?"His eyes darkened, a storm of emotion swirling in their gold. "You won't," he growled, pulling her closer, his lips brushing her temple. "Bond's ours—moon or no moon, I'm not letting go."Her chest ached, the promise sinking deep, and she turned, kissing him—slow, soft, tasting the smoke and salt on his lips. He deepened it, his hand sliding to her neck, fingers tangling in her hair, a quiet hunger simmering beneath the restraint. The fire popped beside them, the camp's noise fading as the world narrowed to his touch, his breath, the heat of him against her."Careful," he murmured, pulling back, his voice thick, echoing their charged moments before. "Crowd's watching.""Let them," she whispered, a grin tugging at her lips, her hand resting on his chest, feeling his heartbeat quicken. "They'll get used to it."He chuckled, low and rough, and kissed her forehead, lingering there, his warmth a balm against the night's chill. "Later," he promised, a glint in his eyes that made her pulse race, a vow of more to come when the chaos eased.Lira approached, breaking the moment, her spear over her shoulder. "You two done mooning? We've got work. Kael, perimeter check. Elara, Gav's got questions about that blood trick.""On it," Kael said, standing, pulling Elara up with him. He squeezed her hand, then headed off with Lira, his limp easing as his strength returned.Elara followed Gav to a tent, the bearded rogue pacing, his hatchet tapping his thigh. "That glow," he said, nodding at her arm. "How's it work?""Don't know yet," she admitted, rolling up her sleeve, the cut faintly silver in the lantern light. "It's tied to the moon, to Kael—our bond. I'm decoding more, but it's power, real power.""Power we can use?" Ryn joined them, her bow resting against the tent wall, her gray eyes sharp with interest."Hope so." Elara pulled out the Lunar Covenant, showing them the runes. "Eclipse tomorrow—it's the key. I'll test it again, see what I can do.""Test it now," Gav urged, handing her a knife. "We need to know."She hesitated, glancing at the camp—Kael's silhouette moving among the trees, steadying her—then nodded. "Alright." She sliced the scab, wincing as blood welled, glowing brighter under the moon's gaze. She let it drip, focusing, willing it to do something, and the air shimmered—a faint pulse, stronger than before, rippling through the tent, knocking over a crate."Hell," Ryn breathed, steadying herself, her grin fierce. "That's a weapon.""Maybe," Elara said, wrapping her arm, the glow fading. "But I need control. Tomorrow's the real test."They planned late into the night—Elara with the text, Gav and Ryn plotting defenses, Kael returning to drill the rogues in combat. By midnight, the camp settled, the fire low, and Elara sat with Kael on a fur by the embers, her head on his shoulder, his arm around her waist."You're shaking," he murmured, his hand sliding under her shirt, warm against her skin, tracing the curve of her spine."Cold," she lied, but his touch sparked heat, the bond flaring, a memory of their streamside passion flickering in her mind. "And… you.""Me?" He grinned, shifting her onto his lap, her legs straddling his hips, the intimacy bold but shielded by the dark. "Good.""Yeah." She kissed him, slow and deep, her hands roaming his chest, fingers brushing the bandages, the scars. He groaned, his hands gripping her hips, pulling her closer, the hardness of him pressing through his jeans, a promise unfulfilled for now."Elara," he growled, breaking the kiss, his forehead to hers, breath ragged. "You're killing me.""Good," she teased, echoing him, her lips brushing his jaw, tasting the sweat and smoke. "Later?""Count on it," he promised, his voice a vow, his hands sliding to her thighs, squeezing with restrained need. "When we're not running for our lives."A howl cut the night, sharp and close, and they froze, the camp snapping awake. Kael lifted her off, standing fast, his claws sprouting as he scanned the trees. "They're here," he said, pulling her behind him, the rogues rallying, weapons drawn.The eclipse loomed, the war crashed in, and Elara clutched the Lunar Covenant, her blood pulsing silver, ready or not.