Moonborn Heir Novel Chapter 7 – The sun hovers low, casting a harsh, orange glow over the training grounds. Lucian stands before me, arms crossed, his expression unreadable but intense.
Around us, Darkfang wolves gather, some pretending to go about their tasks but sneaking glances in our direction. I’m the outsider here, the one they all want to see fail. The one they don’t trust.
“Today’s drill will test your strength and resilience,” Lucian announces, his gaze lingering on me with a mixture of intensity and something else – something I can’t quite name. He gestures to Cade, who steps forward with a dark gleam in his eyes, clearly eager for this. “It’s simple,” Lucian continues, his voice even, almost detached. “All you have to do is break free.”
Cade’s smirk widens, and he cracks his knuckles, his eyes narrowing on me like a predator sizing up its prey. The disdain is written all over his face. He doesn’t just want me to fail; he wants to break me. To prove to everyone that I’m not worthy of standing among them. I can feel his hatred in his stance, his distrust in the way his muscles tense, ready to crush me.
Lucian’s voice snaps me back. “No time limit,” he says, his tone cold and commanding. “You either break free… or you don’t.” His gaze catches mine, and for a heartbeat, there’s something almost…conflicted in his expression. It’s as if he’s willing me to succeed, wanting me to prove myself but he can’t let it show, can’t reveal any hint of favoritism. Not with Cade watching, waiting for any reason to tear me down.
Before I can fully process that thought, Cade lunges. His arms wrap around me like steel bands, pinning my arms to my sides, locking me against his chest. His grip is relentless, crushing, pressing down on me with a force that makes it hard to breathe.
“Succumbing already, Shadow Ridge?” Cade sneers, his voice a harsh whisper in my ear. “You don’t belong here, and you never will.”
I grit my teeth, feeling the fury ignite within me. Around us, the pack murmurs, the soft sounds of mockery and doubt winding their way into my bones. They want to see me fail. They want Cade to break me. And so does he.
But I won’t give him the satisfaction.
I twist and pull against Cade’s grip, straining with all my strength, but he tightens his hold, crushing me further. Pain flares through my ribs as his arms clamp down harder, forcing a strangled gasp from my throat. I can feel the strength ebbing from my limbs, the way his brutal hold drains me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Lucian’s expression. He’s watching me intently, his face a mask of discipline, but his eyes…his eyes tell a different story. There’s a tension there, a spark, as if he’s willing me to fight harder, to break free. As if he wants me to succeed – not just to prove myself, but because he can’t deny the attraction simmering between us, an unspoken bond pulling us together.
“Keep going, Talia,” Lucian’s voice rings out, sharp and unyielding, cutting through the haze of pain and exhaustion. “Don’t let him overpower you.”
Something in his tone so steady, so commanding gives me the strength to keep fighting. I shift my weight, using my legs to push against Cade’s hold, to create any leverage I can. But Cade senses my intent, pressing down harder, his voice a low, mocking chuckle.
“You’re weak,” he mutters, squeezing tighter. “You’ll never break free. But it’s not too late. Admit you’re too weak for this…and I’ll let you go.”
His words fuel my anger, igniting a fierce determination I didn’t know I had. Digging my heels into the ground, I bend my knees, shifting my stance, and thrust backward, slamming my weight into Cade. He stumbles, just barely, but it’s enough. I twist sharply to the side, slipping one arm free, and drive my elbow into his ribs with all the force I can muster.
Cade grunts, his grip faltering, and I slip out partially, only for him to grab me again, his frustration clear. He hauls me back, his hold even harsher, his fingers digging into my skin. I can feel his rage simmering beneath the surface; he hates that I’m fighting back. He hates that I’m not breaking as easily as he expected.
Lucian’s voice reaches me again, steady and unwavering. “Don’t stop now, Talia. Push harder.”
The intensity in his gaze sends a jolt through me. It’s as if he’s silently urging me on, caught between his desire to see me succeed and the need to hide his growing attachment. I can feel that he’s rooting for me, but he can’t reveal it — not here, not now, not with all of them watching.
Drawing on that unspoken encouragement, I twist again, slamming my heel down onto Cade’s foot. He lets out a hiss of pain, his grip loosening, and I wrench myself free, stumbling forward, gasping for breath. Every muscle in my body burns, my heart pounding like a war drum, but I’ve done it. I’m free.
The murmurs around us shift, some voices tinged with respect, others with begrudging surprise. Cade stands there, jaw tight, his pride clearly wounded. I meet his glare, unyielding, refusing to show any weakness. He may hate me, he may want me broken, but I won’t give him that satisfaction.
Lucian steps forward, his face a mask of stoic approval, but there’s a spark in his eyes – a flicker of something that feels like pride, or maybe more. “Well done, Talia” he says, his tone cool, betraying nothing of the tension I sensed earlier. “But remember, this was only the beginning. You’ll need to be stronger to keep up here.”
I nod, barely able to stand, my breaths shallow, but the victory thrums through me. I did it. I fought back, held my ground, even with Cade’s hatred bearing down on
me.
Lucian’s gaze lingers on me, just for a moment, and in that unspoken moment, I feel the quiet pull between us – the bond forming against my will, the attraction I can’t deny. And though I can’t fully trust him, the fact that he wants me to succeed stirs something deep inside — a fire, a strength I can’t ignore.
As Lucian steps back, allowing the others to see his approval, a wave of unfamiliar pride and relief crashes over me. I take in the guarded looks from the other Darkguard, mixed with something new – respect. Could it really be? Are they beginning to accept me into the Darkfang pack? A pang of guilt twists inside me, sharp and undeniable.
Shadow Ridge is my blood, my past. But here, I’m no longer defined by what Kael cast aside. Here, I am stronger. I glance around, watching their reverent expressions, feeling the weight of belonging settle uneasily over my shoulders. This rite, this fierce bond forming within me, threatens to pull me further from everything I once was.
Can I truly be one of them? Can I truly be one of them? Can I lead them as a Darkguard, and fully shed my past bond with Kael and the wolves of Shadow Ridge?
”Want to Recent list click here Moonborn Heir Novel, and you can also “allow notification” to get updates of latest chapter.