Logan stood frozen, his hand still on his cheek. The tension in the room was thick, and I felt my heart pounding in my chest.
His father’s eyes were cold, no hint of regret in them. “You need to understand, Logan,” he said, his voice steady. “What you did was reckless. You think you can handle things, but you’re not ready.”
Logan clenched his jaw, lowering his hand slowly. “You didn’t have to hit me,” he said, his voice low, but the anger was clear.
His father didn’t flinch. “Maybe not. But you needed to learn, and sometimes lessons hurt. This isn’t a game.”
I took a step forward, trying to ease the tension. “We didn’t mean for this to happen,” I said quietly. “We just thought we could handle it, that we could keep the book safe.”
His father’s gaze shifted to me, hard and unyielding. “Thought? You’re dealing with forces far beyond your understanding. You thought you could walk into Miranda’s lair and come out unscathed?”
Logan straightened, the defiance still burning in his eyes. “We were trying to protect the book.”
His father shook his head, unimpressed. “And in doing so, you almost handed it over to her. You’re lucky she didn’t get what she wanted. Logan just because you are alpha now doesn’t mean you can do anything you like I am still your father!”
Logan’s eyes flared with a mix of anger and hurt. “I know you’re still my father,” he said, his voice tight with restraint. “But being alpha means making decisions, sometimes hard ones. ”
His father crossed his arms, his stance unmoving. “Being alpha means protecting the pack, not throwing yourself into reckless danger. You think because you wear the title now, you understand everything. But there’s a lot you don’t know.”
I shifted uncomfortably, the weight of their argument pressing down on me. “Logan was only trying to do what he thought was best,” I said softly, my voice cutting through the tension. “We both were.”
Logan’s father glanced at me, his face hard but not as cold. “You both need to realize that power alone doesn’t make you invincible. The book, Miranda, all of this-it’s bigger than you can imagine. One wrong move, and it’s not just your lives at stake.”
Logan’s fists clenched at his sides. “So, what are we supposed to do, then? Sit back and wait for something worse to happen?”
Logan’s father narrowed his eyes, clearly gauging how much to reveal. His arms uncrossed as he finally spoke, his tone measured, heavy with the weight of ancient knowledge.
“You don’t just restore the pages of the Eternity Book by force or will alone,” he said, his voice low and deliberate. “The book is not simply a collection of spells. It’s alive-an ancient relic imbued with sentient power. It chooses who it reveals its secrets to, and you’ve angered it.”
I shivered at the word “anger,” There was something chilling about a book having emotions, let alone the power to lock us out of its contents.
Logan’s father paced slowly, his eyes never leaving us. “To earn the book’s trust again, you need more than brute strength or stubbornness. You must attune yourself to it. The book demands an exchange-it feeds on what you are willing to sacrifice.”
Logan stepped forward, his frustration evident. “What kind of sacrifice? What does it want?”
His father stopped pacing and turned to face us fully, his gaze piercing. “The book wants truth. Vulnerability. It demands a part of you that you’ve been unwilling to face.”
I glanced at Logan, his face hardening in confusion. “What does that mean?”
“Truth? What does that even mean?” I asked, frustration bubbling up inside me.
Logan shifted, a look of confusion on his face. “Are you saying the book wants us to reveal our secrets? What good will that do?”
I hesitated, my heart racing. I had my own truth buried deep down. “I think it means we need to be honest about ourselves. About what we really want.”
Logan furrowed his brow. “Like what?”
I swallowed hard. “For me, it’s about… how I feel about you.”
He blinked, surprised. “What do you mean?”
I took a breath. “I like you, Logan. But you’re my stepbrother now, and that complicates things. I can’t just ignore that.”
Logan’s expression shifted to one of disbelief. “Wait, what? You like me?”
Before I could respond, the air around us crackled. A sudden burst of energy filled the room, and words began to appear on the pages of the Eternity Book, glowing with a soft light.
Logan stepped back, eyes wide. “What’s happening?”
I watched in awe as the words formed into clear sentences, shimmering in the air. “The truth will bind your fate. Only through honesty can you restore what is lost.”
Logan’s gaze flicked between the book and me. “Is this the book talking?”
“Yes,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
The words continued to flow: “Sacrifice what you hold dear, and the path will open. Trust will be your guide.”
Logan’s father stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he examined the glowing words. “The pages are being restored,” he said, a mix of relief and caution in his voice.
Logan looked at the book, then back at his father. “Does that mean we did it?”
His father nodded. “It seems the book is responding to your truth. But remember, this is only the beginning.”
The light dimmed as the words settled into the pages, and the book slowly closed itself. Logan’s father reached out, opening it to reveal the restored pages. “This is a gift. Use it wisely.”
He handed the book to me. As I took it, I felt a surge of energy coursing through me. It was warm and inviting, like a whisper of the moon’s power.
“Do you feel that?” I asked, glancing at Logan.
He nodded, watching me intently. “What is it?”
I could feel my Lunar magic awakening, responding to the book. “It’s my magic. It’s… alive.”
Logan’s father watched with approval. “The book has recognized your potential, Audrey. Embrace it. You may need it for what’s to come.”
I took a deep breath, feeling the power within me. “What should we do now?”
Logan’s father replied, “You train, learn to control your magic,”