บททั้งหมดของ Dark Luna Rising: บทที่ 31 - บทที่ 40

The woods were his haven, a place where the noise of the pack couldn’t follow. Yet tonight, the silence pressed down on Diego like a weight. Just a few yards away, Erika’s house in Black Lake stood illuminated by the soft glow of candlelight. From his perch high in an old oak tree, Diego could see her silhouette flitting past the window.He told himself this wasn’t stalking—he was only here to ensure her safety. But the ache in his chest betrayed him. He was here because he missed her.The pain of their last fight gnawed at him, a constant reminder of his failures. Diego knew he’d been the one to push her away, but his pride wouldn’t let him dwell on that. What mattered now was her safety, her well-being. Being close to her, even if she didn’t know it, eased the ache just a little.Earlier, he’d positioned himself behind a row of bushes. The shadows and his natural stealth made him practically invisible. But for some reason, his usual grace had failed him. An exposed root tripped him

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

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

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

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