《THE LUNA’S ASCENSION》全部章節：第 21 章 - 第 30 章

The air was thick with tension as I slipped through the dense forest, the branches overhead casting jagged shadows in the moonlight. My heart hammered in my chest, but I forced myself to stay calm, my senses alert to every sound around me. Each step felt like a gamble, every rustle of the leaves a remainder of the danger I was walking into.The night was unnervingly quiet, as though the forest itself was holding its breath, waiting for what would come next. I had chosen this place for the meeting because it was secluded, far from Silverclaw, but the isolation now felt suffocating. My mind raced with questions, with doubts, but I couldn’t let them show. Not now.I arrived at the clearing, the towering trees forming a natural barrier around the small space. The moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the forest floor. And then, I saw him—Draven. He stood in the center, his posture calm, almost unnervingly so, as though this meeting was nothing more than a formality to him.

The weight of Ethan's words pressed down on me like an iron chain. An ally, captured by Draven. The news twisted in my gut, a knot of dread tightening with every passing second."Who?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper, already fearing the answer.Ethan hesitated for a moment, his eyes meeting mine with a sorrowful intensity. "Kael," he finally said. "It's Kael."The world seemed to tilt on its axis, my vision blurring as my heart pounded in my chest. Kael. The one person who had been by my side, teaching me, pushing me to embrace the power within me. And now he was gone—taken by Draven's forces."How?" I demanded, my voice hoarse with emotion. "How did this happen?""He was betrayed," Ethan explained, his jaw clenched with frustration. "One of the smaller packs that Draven coerced into his service turned on him. They must have known he was vital to our plans."I swallowed hard, trying to keep the flood of emotions at bay. Guilt gnawed at me, its bitter taste flooding my mouth. Kael

The cold night air pressed against my skin as we moved through the dense forest, the only sound was our careful footsteps on the moss-covered ground. I glanced at Ethan, who signaled for us to move faster. His eyes, sharp and determined, glinted in the moonlight. Every second mattered. Kael was out there, and we had no idea what Draven had done to him—or what he planned to do.The shadows seemed to cling to us as we wove through the trees, our movements swift and silent. Tension crackled in the air like a gathering storm. My senses were on high alert, every instinct telling me that danger was close. Too close.We had chosen this path carefully, a hidden route that led directly to Draven’s camp. His forces were already on the move, but we hoped the element of surprise would work in our favor. There was no room for error, not tonight. If we failed, Kael would pay the price."We’re close," Ethan whispered, his voice barely audible as he crouched beside me. His eyes scanned the area ahead

The fire crackled softly in Morwenna’s hearth, casting long shadows across the walls of her cottage. The air inside was thick with the scent of burning sage, meant to ward off dark forces—though I wasn’t sure if anything could keep the darkness at bay now. Ethan sat at the far end of the room, silent and tense, while Kael leaned against the doorframe, his face still pale from his ordeal. Ava remained unconscious in the next room, her breathing shallow but steady.Morwenna sat across from me, her gnarled hands clasped tightly around a worn leather book. The flicker of the flames danced in her ancient eyes as she spoke, her voice low and filled with the weight of centuries.“This curse,” she began, her tone measured, “was not born from the hatred of enemies or the wrath of gods. It was forged by a witch, a woman scorned by the Silverclaw Pack centuries ago. She was a formidable power in her time, one who sought control over the pack’s strength—believing that their might was something sh

The moment the voice disappeared, the forest seemed to swallow us whole. The trees loomed taller, their branches curling like twisted fingers, reaching out to snare any who dared venture too far from the path. The dense fog that had been creeping toward us now closed in, thickening the air with a damp chill that seeped into my bones. Every step felt like an eternity, and the silence around us was as loud as a scream.Lysandra moved confidently ahead, her presence like a beacon cutting through the suffocating gloom. But even she wasn’t immune to the forest’s dark magic. Her earlier bravado had faltered, and I caught her stealing glances over her shoulder, her brow furrowed. Whatever we were about to face, it unnerved even her.“This place…” Kael murmured from beside me, his voice tight with tension. “It’s not natural.”“No, it’s not,” I agreed, my eyes scanning the endless stretch of trees. “The forest is alive, feeding on us.”Lysandra slowed her pace, her fingers brushing against the