Luna Aurora novel (Alpha Fenrir)

Chapter 314

The temple was eerily silent, save for the soft rustling of leaves outside and the crackling of the fire in the center of the stone room. The weight of the prophecy hung in the air like a thick fog, pressing down on Dain's chest. His heart was pounding in his ears, but it wasn't just fear. It was frustration-raw, biting frustration.

Althea's words replayed in his mind, over and over again. One of you must sacrifice the bond. The thought of it gnawed at him, twisting his insides into knots. He could feel Elyra's distress beside him, the tremble in her voice as she had protested, but something in him snapped. The more he thought about it, the more certain he became: Elyra was being manipulated.

Althea had been their guide, their teacher, the protector of balance, but Dain couldn't shake the feeling that there was something off about her. Her calm, composed demeanor was hiding something-a hidden agenda that none of them had fully understood. She spoke of sacrifices and choices as if they were easy, as if one of them giving up their bond would somehow solve everything. But Dain couldn't stand the thought of it.

He looked at Elyra, her face pale and troubled, her brow furrowed as she tried to make sense of Althea's words. Her heart, just like his, was torn in two, but it was her heart that was being used, pulled and twisted by the ancient prophecy. Dain clenched his fists, the darkness inside him threatening to rise again. He had fought it for so long, but now, he could feel it-the weight of it was suffocating him.

"She's doing it again," Dain muttered under his breath, pacing away from the group, his voice low and simmering with frustration.

"What?" Elyra's voice was strained, as if she had heard him but didn't fully understand the weight behind his words.

"Althea," Dain spat, his words sharp like a knife. "She's manipulating you, Elyra. She's using this prophecy to control us. To make us choose what she wants."

Elyra blinked, her eyes wide, as if she couldn't believe what he was saying. "Dain... She's trying to help us. She's trying to save the packs."

"Save the packs?" Dain scoffed, throwing his hands up in frustration. "No. She's trying to make us sacrifice everything. You don't see it, do you? This whole 'balance' she talks about? It's just a way for her to keep control over us. She doesn't care about us. She doesn't care about our bond. She wants to tear us apart!"

Elyra's face twisted with confusion and hurt. "That's not true. She—"

"No, Elyra!" Dain interrupted, his voice louder now, filled with a mix of anger and desperation. "You're not seeing it. She's forcing you to choose between the packs and us-between your power and the bond we share. It's not fair. She's using you. And I won't stand by and let it happen."

Elyra opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. Dain could see the conflict in her eyes, the struggle between what she felt in her heart and the pressure Althea had placed on her. Dain's heart ached for her, but there was no room for hesitation now. "I won't let her manipulate you, Elyra," he said, his voice quieter now, but no less firm. "I won't let anyone tear us apart."

Elyra took a step forward, her eyes pleading with him. "Dain, please. We need to listen to her. We need to think about what's at stake. I-I don't want to lose our bond either, but this isn't just about us. It's about the packs. It's about saving everyone." "No, you don't get it!" Dain growled, shaking his head violently. "This isn't about saving anyone. It's about Althea getting what she wants. She's using the packs to justify breaking us apart, and you're just letting her do it!"

Elyra's face twisted in pain, but Dain couldn't look at her anymore. The frustration and anger were too much. His eyes flashed with the flicker of darkness, the energy from the shard twisting inside him as his hands clenched into fists once again. "I'm not letting this happen," Dain hissed through gritted teeth. His pulse raced as he took another step back. His heart was torn, but it was clear to him now. He couldn't stay here. He couldn't let Althea or anyone else dictate his future or his bond with Elyra. "I'll find my own way," Dain muttered under his breath, almost to himself, but loud enough for everyone to hear. His voice was filled with finality, with a determination that left no room for argument. He turned away from Elyra, his mind made up. He could feel the darkness inside him stirring, but this time, he didn't fight it.

He was done following someone else's rules. Done trying to balance the weight of everyone's expectations. He had his own path to follow now.

Elyra reached out to him, her voice trembling with fear. "Dain, wait. Please don't do this. We need you here."

But Dain didn't stop. He walked toward the door of the temple, each step taking him further away from the life he had known, from the bond he had shared with Elyra. And yet, it felt like the only choice he had left.

As he reached the exit, he paused, his back to her. The silence in the temple was suffocating. He didn't turn around, didn't look at her.

"I can't stay here anymore, Elyra," he said, his voice almost a whisper. "I need to do this on my own."

With that, he stepped outside, into the night. The cool breeze greeted him, but it did nothing to calm the storm raging inside him. The darkness was growing stronger with each passing moment, and Dain knew that once he left, there would be no turning back. -: He storms out, declaring, "I'll find my own way."