Page 221 of Moonlit Fate

I stepped closer, placed my hand on the ground beside his feet, and closed my eyes. Beneath the layers of soil and root, there it was, a subtle throbbing, the land’s own rhythm. “I feel it.”

“Good,” he answered. “Let’s weave that into the shield.”

My power reached out, seeking his, intertwining with the energy that flowed from him like a river of light. The air around us shimmered, a visual echo of our magic at work.

“Keep it steady,” he instructed. “Here goes.” Atticus’s brow furrowed deeper, the silver streak in his hair seeming to glow.

The shield sprang up around us, invisible but palpable. It was like setting loose a beast of pure force. It surged along the border of our lands, a barrier against those who didn’t belong.

“Pack members can pass?” I asked, ensuring our intentions held firm within the spell work.

“Like it’s not even there. For others...” His lips curled into a half-smile. “They won’t know what hit ’em.”

I grinned at him. “Or rather, what they can’t hit.”

Standing up, Atticus brushed dirt from his knees, watching the space where our magic had just been at work. “It’ll hold.”

“And it will adapt to the pack’s needs, right?”

“Expand, contract, whatever’s required. This is their sanctuary, after all.”

“Ours too,” I added.

“Ours too,” he agreed, taking my hand. “Come on, let’s finish it.”

Hand in hand, we walked on.

We moved through the forest, the birds serenading us with a symphony of chirps and tweets. A chipmunk darted across our path, its tiny paws kicking up leaves.

“Look at them,” I said, pausing to let a butterfly flit from my open palm to a nearby bloom.

“Who?” Atticus asked, following the creature’s flight.

“Everyone. Everything. They know what we’re doing for them.”

“Of course, they do.” He smiled, watching as the trees seemed to stand a bit taller in our wake.

I caught my reflection in a stream we passed, the silver of my hair blending with the sunlight filtering through the canopy. “This will be our legacy,” I murmured, not just to him but to the forest.

“Which part?” he asked, stepping beside me, his shadow merging with mine on the water’s surface.

I gestured to the thriving greenery around us. “A sanctuary not just for our kind, but for all who seek refuge and balance.”

He considered this. “It’s a good legacy to leave.”

Atticus’s hand found mine, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in a soft caress.

“A place where magic and nature exist in harmony, where every life is valued. We’ve fought hard for this peace,” he whispered.

I nodded, feeling the truth of his words resonate deep within me. We kept walking until the forest opened up to reveal a small hill. We climbed it together, needing no words between us.

At the top, we stopped and took in the view. Miles of land stretched before us, alive and pulsing with a rhythm that matched the steady beat of our hearts.

I swept my hand toward the horizon. “It’s more than we ever hoped for.”

“More than most can imagine,” Atticus added. He turned to me, ice-blue eyes serious. “Here, we’re guardians. This land, these creatures... they rely on us.”

“We will protect them,” I promised. “With everything we have.”

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