Home / Werewolf / Dark Luna Rising / Chapter 33: Ripples of Memories

Share

Chapter 33: Ripples of Memories

Author: A. SWANDANCER
last update Last Updated: 2025-01-03 07:46:53
The first rays of sunlight spilled over Black Lake, gilding the water’s surface in soft gold. A thin mist hovered above the lake, wrapping the surrounding pines in an ethereal veil. Erika pulled her jacket tighter against the morning chill as she and Gabriel strolled along the winding trail that skirted the shoreline.

“It’s beautiful,” Erika murmured, her voice carrying a note of nostalgia. “I used to come here with my father. He’d bring an old fishing rod—nothing fancy. We’d sit on that rock over there.” She pointed to a flat boulder half-submerged near the shore. “He was patient, taught me to be the same. ‘Fishing isn’t about catching,’ he used to say. ‘It’s about learning to be still.’”

Gabriel smiled faintly, his hands clasped behind his back as he walked. “Guido was a man of simple wisdom. He always found lessons in the mundane. Did he ever teach you to skip stones?”

Erika chuckled softly. “Oh, yes. He was a master. I never quite got the hang of it, though. My stones always sank l
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Related chapters

  • Dark Luna Rising   Chapter 34: Stranger in Town

    The morning mist still lingered over Black Lake, casting a silvery sheen on the water’s surface. Erika sat on the porch steps, gripping a steaming mug of coffee, the warmth seeping into her trembling hands. Gabriel leaned against the railing, arms crossed, his expression thoughtful but guarded. He had just finished explaining her magical heritage for what felt like the hundredth time, but none of it seemed to register with her the way he hoped.“I don’t understand how you’re so calm about this,” Erika muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. She stared down at her mug, the dark liquid swirling in time with her racing thoughts. “You expect me to just… accept that I’m part Lycan, part something else, and oh, by the way, I might have powers I can’t control?” Her voice wavered, edged with frustration and fear. “What if I hurt someone, Gabriel? What if I lose myself?”Gabriel sighed, his tone patien

    Last Updated : 2025-01-04
  • Dark Luna Rising   Chapter 35: Unspoken Concerns

    The air inside the Di Rocco Pack’s stronghold was thick with tension when Diego stepped through the towering oak doors. The dim light of the early evening streamed through the high windows, casting long shadows across the stone walls. His return to Valentia was anything but quiet—pack members turned to him with expectant, wary eyes as he made his way toward his study. He could feel their unease, hear their murmured questions: Where had he gone? Why hadn’t he told anyone?Diego knew this was coming. He could feel the ripple of unrest his absence had caused, but it didn’t matter. His mind was still on Black Lake—and on Erika.Inside his study, Diego barely had a moment to settle before Alessandro stormed in, his expression dark with frustration. He shut the door firmly behind him and crossed the room, the tension rolling off him in waves."You can't just disappear like that, Diego," Alessandro said, voice low but sharp. "Two

    Last Updated : 2025-01-05
  • Dark Luna Rising   Chapter 36: Elementals

    The dawn was muted under a shroud of gray clouds as Erika followed Gabriel through the forest trail. The lake glimmered faintly in the distance, its surface rippling gently under a chill breeze. The air smelled damp, heavy with the scent of pine needles and earth after a recent rain. She hugged herself against the cold, her nerves tightening with every step."You’re tense," Gabriel observed as they stopped near the lake’s edge. He set down a satchel filled with what looked like ancient tools—stones, vials of herbs, and a silver bowl. "Relax, Erika. Magic responds to your state of mind. If you're anxious, it'll resist."She gave him a pointed look. "Easier said than done." Her voice trembled despite her attempt to sound casual.Gabriel chuckled softly, his usual calm demeanor making her feel slightly less on edge. "I get it. The first time I tried anything magical, I nearly set my shoes on fire. But you’ll be fine." He crouched near the wa

    Last Updated : 2025-01-06
  • Dark Luna Rising   Chapter 37: Untamed Shadows

    As they made their way back through the forest, Erika tried to keep her focus on Gabriel’s words, but her mind wandered. The crack in the boulder played on repeat in her head. She had felt the earth’s energy, but it was fleeting, like something she could barely grasp. Was this what her powers were supposed to feel like—raw, untamed, and unpredictable?A sharp breeze stirred the leaves around them, carrying with it a faint metallic scent that made Erika pause mid-step.Gabriel slowed as well, his sharp eyes scanning the trees. "Do you smell that?"Erika inhaled deeply. The scent wasn’t just metallic—it was coppery, familiar. "Blood."Gabriel nodded, his expression darkening. "Stay close." He led her toward the source of the smell, moving swiftly but silently through the underbrush. Erika followed, her heart pounding.They emerged into another small clearing. There, on the ground, lay the lifeless body of a deer. Its thr

    Last Updated : 2025-01-07
  • Dark Luna Rising   Chapter 38: Silent Sheep

    The clearing near the edge of the woods was eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. The captured rogues knelt in a line, restrained by members of Diego’s pack. None of them made a sound. No grunts, no complaints. Their expressions were blank, as if the fight had drained every ounce of emotion from them.Erika stood between Diego and Gabriel, her eyes narrowing as she studied the captives. Their wild appearances—matted hair, ragged clothing, and unblinking stares—sent a shiver down her spine. These weren’t ordinary rogues. There was something off about them."Start with him," Diego said, gesturing to the rogue in the center, a tall man with a deep scar running down the side of his face.Alessandro stepped forward, crouching to meet the rogue’s eyes. "Who sent you?" he asked, his voice calm but firm.The rogue didn’t respond. He didn’t even flinch."Answer the question," Alessandro

    Last Updated : 2025-01-08
  • Dark Luna Rising   Chapter 39: Whispers of War

    Diego stood at the head of the pack table, listening intently as Pippo laid out the latest intel. The hand-drawn sigils pinned to the wall behind him looked eerily familiar, each one marking the sites of recent rogue attacks.“These sigils were found at three separate sites,” Pippo began, tapping the largest drawing. “At first, I thought they were random markings. But after comparing them to some old texts…” He hesitated, drawing in a breath. “They’re part of a ritual. The rogues aren’t just attacking—they’re carrying out something far more calculated.”A murmur rippled through the pack. Alessandro frowned, crossing his arms. “You’re saying these aren’t just random raids? That someone’s controlling them?”“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Pippo said, his voice grim. “And whoever’s behind it has access to ancient knowledge. These ar

    Last Updated : 2025-01-09
  • Dark Luna Rising   Chapter 40: Restless

    The clock ticked on, the soft hum of its gears blending with the night’s stillness. But Erika wasn’t listening. Sleep eluded her, chased away by the haunting replay of the rogue attack earlier that day. The sounds, the scents, the rush of adrenaline—they wouldn’t leave her mind. No matter how many times she closed her eyes, the memories played like a broken reel, looping endlessly.With a sigh, she kicked off her blankets, feet hitting the cold floor as she shuffled toward the kitchen. Maybe baking would help. It always had. Something about the rhythm of kneading dough had a way of calming her nerves. She pulled on an apron, gathered the ingredients, and got to work.Her hands moved with practiced ease—kneading, folding, striking the dough with her fists. But her mind was far from still. She couldn’t help but think about Diego. She was grateful for his rescue, of course. If Diego’s pack hadn’t arrived when they did, she&r

    Last Updated : 2025-01-10
  • Dark Luna Rising   Chapter 41: Which Way Is Home?

    By the time Diego reached the porch, Erika had already set up a small wooden table with plates of freshly baked bread, thick slices of ham, and a steaming pot of coffee. Her hands moved deftly, placing cups down, arranging the food without a word. For a moment, Diego just stood there, watching her—watching the little things he missed, like the way her brow furrowed when she concentrated or how she absentmindedly tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.She didn’t look up right away, focused on slicing another loaf of bread. “Thought I told you guys to take a break. You’ve been out there all night,” she said, her tone neutral but tinged with quiet concern.Diego approached cautiously, unsure how to respond. “I’m not much for breaks.” He sat across from her, the wooden chair creaking under his weight. He could feel Alessandro’s eyes on him from where he leaned against a nearby tree, but the Beta didn’t interf

    Last Updated : 2025-01-11

Latest chapter

  • Dark Luna Rising   Chapter 78: Friends at the Gates

    The night was a cloak of darkness as Diego’s group pressed toward the palace gates. Cloaked in heavy, dark fabrics that hid their gleaming armor and weapons, Diego led his pack through the throng of angry citizens gathering outside the Citadel. The crowd’s chant—“We want justice! No more deaths! We want justice!”—swept around them like a rising tide, a volatile mixture of hope and rage.As they moved with practiced stealth, Diego’s sharp eyes caught movement among the people. Emerging from the crowd, a familiar face stepped forward— Tristan. His expression was a mix of concern and disbelief, and he glanced around nervously.“Diego! What are you doing here, man?”He leaned in close, ensuring no one else overheard. “It’s brave of you to show up, but it’s not wise. You must get out of here before the guards see you.”Diego’s jaw tightened. His voice dropped to

  • Dark Luna Rising   Chapter 77: The Calm Before a Storm

    Back at the safe house—a dilapidated stone building hidden deep within the forest—Diego and his pack finally found a moment of respite. The adrenaline of the Citadel assault still pulsed in their veins, and exhaustion mingled with the bitter taste of blood and uncertainty. In a sparsely lit common room, the survivors huddled around a scarred wooden table, patches of moonlight seeping through the narrow windows.Diego sat heavily in a rickety chair, his mind a jumble of victorious flashes and looming dread. He rubbed a hand over his bruised face, trying to reconcile the chaos of the previous night with the silent calm that now enveloped them.Alessandro broke the heavy silence, his voice low and resolute. “Alpha, we did what we could. But this was only the first blow.”Diego’s eyes flicked over the faces of his pack—Pippo’s steady gaze, Aristide’s determined frown, Sofia’s quiet assurance, and Lucia’s al

  • Dark Luna Rising   Chapter 76: Troubled Throne

    Across the sprawling city, the revelation of damning evidence displayed on every screen sent shockwaves through the hearts of Lycans and humans alike. In bustling marketplaces, somber faces turned toward flickering displays, while loyalists of The Board exchanged horrified glances as records of corruption, bribery, and clandestine orders—painfully detailed in ink and parchment—unfurled before them.Deep within the inner sanctum of The Board’s Citadel, chaos reigned. In a vast council chamber adorned with opulent tapestries and gilded accents, high-ranking officials scrambled in frantic whispers and hurried footsteps. The polished marble floor, once a symbol of order and power, now echoed with the panicked clatter of advisors desperate to scrub away the truth.At the head of the chamber, seated upon an imposing throne of darkened iron and gold, the Lycan King glared at a massive screen where the evidence continued to scroll relentlessly. His eyes, burn

  • Dark Luna Rising   Chapter 75: The Fatal Blow

    The evidence lay before them— a damning collection of ledgers, secret communications, and unspeakable transactions that painted The Board as the true architects of their oppression. For weeks after escaping Blackthorn, sleepless hours had been spent poring over these documents. Now, as dawn broke over the Citadel, the weight of truth charged the air like electricity.In a concealed antechamber near the Citadel’s heart— a labyrinth of twisting corridors and shadowed betrayals—the group gathered around a battered wooden table. Malrik presided over the meeting as they reviewed their next move.Their objective was clear: infiltrate the central communications hub of The Board and release the evidence for all to see. It was a plan born of desperation and hope— a final blow meant to shatter the foundation of the corrupt regime.Diego’s gaze was resolute as he scanned the map spread out

  • Dark Luna Rising   Chapter 74: Into the Light

    The Citadel’s inner corridors stretched out before them, a labyrinth of cold stone and whispered secrets. In the aftermath of the fierce battle outside, every step now was heavy with both hope and danger. As she led the small team deeper into the fortress, Erika could feel the pulse of history in the very walls, and with it, the weight of a future she had vowed to reclaim.Even in the tense silence of those shadowed passageways, the sounds of the ongoing struggle echoed in the distance—shouts, clashing steel, and the rhythmic thud of determined feet. Diego’s pack was with them. The faces of Alessandro, Pippo, Aristide, Sofia, and Lucia were etched with resolve despite fresh wounds from Blackthorn. Their presence bolstered her spirit, a reminder that she was not alone in this fight.They emerged into a wide antechamber where dim torchlight danced across rows of ancient ledgers and scattered parchments. The walls, heavy with the scent of dust and time,

  • Dark Luna Rising   Chapter 73: Shadows in the Citadel

    The night was near absolute darkness as Erika crept along the outer perimeter of the Citadel. Every step was measured and silent, her heartbeat the only sound in the void. The Citadel—an imposing fortress of cold stone and iron—loomed ahead, its high walls nearly blending with the starless sky. She clutched her dagger tightly, her senses heightened not just by adrenaline but by a deep, unyielding resolve.Inside her mind, memories of the rebellion’s cause stirred: the harsh truths Malrik had revealed, the corruption of The Board, and the painful loss of her family. Though she fought for justice, a part of her still ached with longing for the life she’d once known—a life now replaced by duty and the weight of a new life growing inside her.From the shadows, she saw movement—a group of guards, patrolling the wall like silent wraiths. She pressed herself against the cold stone and drew a slow breath. If we’re going to infiltra

  • Dark Luna Rising   Chapter 72: Breaking Point

    The battlefield was no longer just a stretch of land soaked in blood—it was the precipice of history. Their war was reaching its breaking point, and with it, so were they.Diego stood atop the ridge, surveying the battlefield with Gabriel and Hugo at his side. The remnants of Malrik’s rebellion were preparing for the final offensive against the King’s forces, and the air was thick with tension.The soldiers below moved with quiet determination, securing weapons, reinforcing defenses, and bracing themselves for what was to come. Beyond them, in the valley, the Lycan King’s army gathered, their banners rippling like shadows in the wind.Erika was somewhere in the settlement, rallying the civilians, ensuring the wounded were tended to, preparing for the worst.Diego still hadn’t fully processed the revelation from the night before. A child. His child. Their child.It changed everything.And yet, here he was, still marching toward war."They’ll strike at dawn," Gabriel said, drawing Diego

  • Dark Luna Rising   Chapter 71: No Rest for the Wicked

    The stench of scorched earth and blood clung to the air, thick and suffocating. The battle had quieted, but the tension was far from over.Diego stood at the edge of the ruined courtyard, his body aching from the sorcerer’s last attack. Blackthorn’s fortress loomed before them, its ancient stone walls now cracked and marred by battle.They had taken Blackthorn.But the victory felt hollow.Malrik sat on a broken column, still regaining his strength. Erika stood nearby, silent, staring into the shadows where the sorcerer had disappeared.Diego wiped the sweat and blood from his brow. "We need to regroup," he said. "Now."Malrik let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. "You think?"Diego ignored him, turning to Erika. "What was that back there? That magic—I've never seen anything like it."Erika didn’t answer right away. When she finally did, her voice was quiet but certain. "He wasn’t fighting to wi

  • Dark Luna Rising   Chapter 70: The Siege

    The night howled with the promise of war.Diego’s boots pressed into the damp earth as he moved through the underbrush, his senses sharpened by the pulse of approaching violence. The air carried the metallic scent of sharpened steel, the musk of Lycans shifting into their true forms. In the distance, beyond the hills that sloped toward Blackthorn’s walls, torchlight flickered—a fortress on the brink of being torn apart.Behind him, Malrik’s warriors crept like living shadows, their eyes gleaming in the dark. Gabriel stood to Diego’s right, fingers twitching, ready to weave sorcery into the battlefield. Erika was just behind them, poised yet unshaken, her dagger glinting under the pale moon.Diego exhaled, steadying himself. "We do this fast and hard. No second chances."Malrik, crouched beside him, smirked. "You sound like you’re giving orders, Alpha."Diego didn’t rise to the bait. "You brought me here for a reason. Let’s get it done."A low growl rumbled through Malrik’s chest, but

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status