Chapter 22 Chapter 22
Chapter 22
I pushed harder than ever in the training chamber, my arms burning as I held the silver-gold shield dome steady while channeling healing energy into a circle of withered vines Morgana had placed around me. Sweat stung my eyes. Caden’s essence tried to stir again, feeding on my exhaustion, but I slammed the mental wall shut just like Morgana taught me. Acknowledge the guilt. Ignore it. The whispers faded back into silence.
“Excellent control,” Morgana said, walking a slow circle around the dome. “You are no longer reacting to the essence. You are commanding it. Keep the wall firm even as I increase the pressure.”
She flicked her wrist and several glowing orbs shot toward my shield like arrows. I gritted my teeth and reinforced the barrier. Two orbs bounced off harmlessly. The third struck harder, cracking the edge of my dome. Pain lanced through my temples, but I did not let the power tip into consumption. I healed the crack mid-battle and pushed back. The dome held.
Morgana nodded with visible approval. “You are ready for the next stage soon. Your mother would be proud of how quickly you adapt.”
Her praise warmed something deep inside me, but it was immediately drowned by another heavy tremor that shook the entire sanctum. This one was stronger than any before. Dust and small stones rained from the ceiling. The crystals flared blood-red for several long seconds before settling back to silver. My heart slammed against my ribs as the mate bond exploded with fresh intensity. Alaric. He was close. Closer than he had ever felt.
“What is happening out there?” I demanded, dropping the dome and wiping sweat from my face. “Tell me the truth. I can feel him fighting. The war is reaching us, isn’t it?”
Morgana’s expression remained calm, but her silver eyes darkened. “Silverfang has pushed deep into the neutral lands. Graham is desperate to find you and reclaim Caden’s essence. Nightcrest is holding, but your mate… he has been tearing through the forest searching for any trace of this sanctum. The barriers are straining under the combined pressure of so many wolves and the battle magic being thrown around.”
Guilt tried to rise again. I crushed it the way I had learned. “I have trained enough. I need to go to him. Now. I can help heal the wounded. I can fight.”
“Not yet,” she replied firmly. “One final session to solidify everything. Then I will open a safe path for you. Rushing out half-prepared would only get you captured or force you to consume more souls in panic. Trust the process, Nova.”
I wanted to argue, but another tremor rocked the chamber, this one accompanied by the distant, muffled sound of howling. Real howling. Alaric’s wolf. The mate bond blazed so brightly I gasped and clutched my chest. He was right outside the barriers. Fighting something. Or someone.
Morgana noticed my reaction. “The bond is strong in you. That is good. It will help anchor you when you return to the chaos. For now, focus.”
We continued training, but my concentration kept slipping. Every time the sanctum trembled, I felt Alaric’s determination, his rage, his fear for me pouring through the golden thread that connected us. He was exhausting himself. Nightcrest wolves were probably dying while I practiced shields in safety. The thought made my power flicker wildly.
“Control it!” Morgana snapped as my shield dome shattered and moonlight energy lashed across the room. “Do not let emotion crack your wall.”
I rebuilt it faster this time, pouring every ounce of frustration into the exercise. I healed the damaged floor, reinforced the barrier, and even managed to push a controlled burst of moonlight toward one of the target orbs, stabilizing it without stealing its energy. Progress. But my mind was no longer fully here.
During the next short break, I could not hold back. “Please. Let me reach out to him. Just for a moment. He needs to know I am safe and coming back.”
Morgana studied me for a long moment, then sighed. “Very well. A brief contact will not harm the barriers. But stay within the sanctum. Focus the bond here.”
I closed my eyes and reached through the golden pull with everything I had. Alaric. I’m here. I’m safe. I’m training to control my power so I don’t hurt anyone. Please hold on. I’m coming back to you.
For a heartbeat, nothing. Then his presence slammed into me so strongly my knees nearly buckled. His voice, rough and exhausted but filled with fierce relief, echoed in my mind. Nova. Where are you? I can feel you but I can’t find the entrance. Graham’s forces are everywhere. We’re losing wolves. Come back to me. I need you.
Tears burned my eyes. He was hurt. I could feel bruises and silver burns through the bond. The war was real and brutal.
Morgana touched my shoulder, pulling me back. “Enough. You have made contact. Now finish this session so you can return to him properly.”
We trained for another hour, but the tremors grew more frequent. The howling outside sounded closer, more desperate. My focus fractured completely when a massive crash echoed through the sanctum walls. The crystals went wild, flashing between silver and red.
Morgana’s face finally showed strain. “The outer barriers are failing. Your mate is breaking through with raw force. We must move you to the deeper chambers—”
“No,” I said, standing tall. “I am going to him. Now.”
Before she could protest, another violent tremor shook everything. A section of the far wall cracked open with a burst of moonlight and raw power. Through the gap, I saw trees, moonlight, and a massive black wolf fighting off three Silverfang warriors. Blood streaked his fur. His pale green eyes locked onto mine across the distance.
Alaric.
The mate bond ignited like liquid fire between us. He roared in triumph and tore through the remaining enemies, shifting mid-leap into his human form as he raced toward the opening. “Nova!”
My feet moved before I could think. I ran toward the breach, power flaring around me in golden-silver sparks. Morgana called out behind me, but I barely heard her. After days of training and separation, seeing him—bloodied, fierce, and fighting for me—broke something open in my chest.
I reached the edge of the sanctum just as he skidded to a stop outside. His hands grabbed mine through the crumbling barrier, the touch sending golden sparks dancing across our skin. The mate bond sang, stronger and brighter than ever.
“You’re really here,” he breathed, pulling me closer. His voice was hoarse from days of battle. “I thought I was losing my mind. Come on. We have to get out of here before Graham’s main force arrives.”
For one perfect moment, everything felt right. I was with my mate again. Stronger. More in control.
Then a new sound cut through the night—hundreds of wolves howling in unison. Silverfang’s main war party had found us. The ground shook with their charge.
Alaric’s grip tightened on my hand, his expression hardening into battle readiness. “Stay behind me. We fight our way back to Nightcrest together.”
But as we turned to run, I felt Morgana’s eyes on my back from deeper in the sanctum, watching silently. And for the first time, the smallest seed of doubt sprouted in my mind about how quickly the barriers had failed right when Alaric arrived.