Chapter 131 Return to Silverwood, Shadows Linger
POV: Luna
The gates of Silverwood looked the same as they always had.
Tall. Imposing. Wrapped in protective wards that shimmered faintly in the afternoon sun.
But everything felt different.
I stepped out of the car, my bags in hand, and took a deep breath.
Third year. I was officially an upperclassman now.
"Luna!"
Nova came running across the courtyard, nearly tackling me in a hug.
"I missed you!" she said.
"I saw you two weeks ago."
"Two weeks is forever. You know that."
I laughed and hugged her back. Through our pack bond, I'd felt her excitement building all morning as she waited for my arrival.
The bond was still there. Still strong. Even after three months of summer break, the connections I'd formed with my pack hadn't faded.
"Where are the others?" I asked.
"Unpacking. Come on, we're all in the same dorm wing again."
We grabbed my bags and headed inside.
The Academy looked peaceful. Students were arriving, greeting friends, catching up on summer gossip.
But I could feel something underneath the calm. A tension that hadn't been there before.
"Is it just me, or does everyone seem nervous?" I asked.
Nova's smile faded slightly. "You feel it too?"
"Yeah. What's going on?"
"Politics. Lots of politics." She lowered her voice. "After what happened with Malachar, the Council started paying more attention to Silverwood. They've been making changes. New rules. New expectations."
"What kind of changes?"
"You'll see."
We reached our dorm wing. Aria, Sienna, and Lyric were already there, unpacking in their rooms.
"Luna!" Sienna hugged me. "How was your summer?"
"Quiet. Boring. Normal."
"Sounds perfect."
"It was." I'd spent most of the summer with my human family, trying to remember what it felt like to be just a regular girl. "What about you guys?"
They filled me in on their summers. Aria had trained with her family pack. Sienna had studied ancient magic with her grandmother. Lyric had interned at a tech company.
Normal stuff. Safe stuff.
It had been nice.
But now we were back. And something was wrong.
"Seriously, what's going on?" I asked. "Everyone's acting weird."
Aria exchanged a look with Nova. "The Council's been cracking down on powerful students. Especially ones with unusual abilities."
"Meaning me."
"Meaning you. And anyone bonded to you."
My stomach dropped. "Are you guys in trouble because of the pack bonds?"
"Not trouble exactly. But we're being watched. Monitored." Sienna's expression was serious. "The Council's nervous about Eclipse power. About what you can do."
"I saved the Academy!"
"We know. But fear doesn't care about logic."
Great. Just what I needed. Political scrutiny on top of everything else.
"Is there anything specific I should worry about?" I asked.
"Just be careful. Don't use your power unless you have to. And definitely don't form any new bonds without permission."
"Permission? Since when do I need permission to use my own abilities?"
"Since the Council decided Eclipse wolves are too dangerous to operate freely."
I wanted to argue. Wanted to fight back against the unfairness.
But I was too tired. We'd just gotten here. I didn't want to start the year with a battle.
"Fine," I said. "I'll be careful."
We finished unpacking and headed to the dining hall for dinner.
The hall was crowded, full of returning students. But I noticed something immediately.
People were staring at me.
Not the usual curious stares I'd gotten used to. These were different. Wary. Scared even.
"Ignore them," Nova whispered. "They'll get over it."
I wasn't so sure.
We found a table and sat down. Within minutes, a familiar figure appeared.
Cole.
He looked good. Really good. He'd filled out over the summer, more muscle definition. His dark hair was slightly longer.
And when he smiled at me, my heart did that stupid flip thing it always did.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey yourself."
He leaned down and kissed me, quick but sweet. "How was your summer?"
"Boring. Yours?"
"Same. Missed you."
"You too."
Through our bond, I felt his happiness. His relief at having me back. It made my chest warm.
"Can you two not be disgustingly cute right now?" Lyric asked. "Some of us are trying to eat."
"Jealous?" Cole teased.
"Always."
He sat beside me, his hand finding mine under the table.
"So," he said. "Ready for year three?"
"As ready as I'll ever be. Nova mentioned politics?"
His expression darkened. "Yeah. Things have changed. The Headmaster will explain tomorrow at the assembly."
"Can't you just tell me now?"
"Better if you hear it from him. Trust me."
That didn't sound good.
We ate dinner, catching up and joking around. For a moment, it felt like old times.
But the tension was still there. Under the surface. Waiting.
After dinner, Cole walked me back to my dorm.
"I should probably mention," he said. "I'm officially your combat instructor this year. The Council wanted someone to monitor your training. Make sure you're not getting too powerful."
"Monitor me?"
"Their words, not mine." He looked frustrated. "I tried to argue, but they wouldn't budge. So I volunteered. Better me than someone who actually wants to restrict you."
"So you're spying on me?"
"I'm protecting you. There's a difference."
I wanted to believe that. And through our bond, I felt his sincerity.
But it still felt wrong. Like I was being caged.
"This year's going to be complicated, isn't it?" I asked.
"Probably. But we'll handle it. Together."
"Always together."
He kissed me goodnight, longer this time. When we pulled apart, we were both breathless.
"Get some sleep," he said. "You'll need it."
I went inside and found Nova already in bed.
"He's right, you know," she said. "This year's going to be intense."
"I know."
"But we've got your back. No matter what."
"I know that too."
I changed and climbed into bed, exhausted from travel and emotional overload.
Sleep came quickly.
But my dreams were restless.
I found myself in the otherworld, standing in front of the sealed door.
But it looked different. The chains were glowing brighter. Pulsing.
Something was trying to get through.
I approached carefully. The door was warm to the touch, thrumming with energy.
"What's happening?" I asked the empty air.
No answer.
I pressed my hand to the door and felt it. A presence. Powerful. Ancient. Angry.
It wanted out.
And it was calling to my mark.
I pulled my hand back, heart racing.
The door pulsed once more, then went still.
I woke up gasping.
Nova was beside me instantly. "Luna? What's wrong?"
"Bad dream. The seal. Something's happening to it."
"What kind of something?"
"I don't know. But it felt wrong."
I sat up and looked at my mark in the moonlight streaming through the window.
And froze.
There was a new sigil on my wrist. Right beside the Eclipse mark.
It looked like a wolf. Beautiful and intricate, glowing faintly silver.
"Nova," I said quietly. "Look at my mark."
She turned on the light and gasped. "That wasn't there before."
"I know."
"What does it mean?"
"I have no idea. But I have a feeling we're about to find out."
The sigil pulsed once, warm against my skin.
And somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled.