The Day He Forgot He Hated Me by Evangeline Marrow 87 Summary
Inside the ancient temple, Trinity and her companions—Asher, Gage, and Arlo—venture deeper into a cold, shadowy chamber filled with mysterious carvings and symbols resembling a mark branded on Trinity’s chest. The atmosphere grows tense as Arlo reveals that the temple’s guardian is bound to Trinity’s bloodline and awaits her awakening. As Trinity approaches a massive stone statue of a winged wolf, her mark flares intensely, causing the statue to come alive, its eyes glowing fiercely and the chamber shaking with power.
Chaos erupts as the guardian stirs, feeding off the conflict among the group. Gage, frustrated and jealous, lashes out at Asher and Trinity, accusing them of dragging everyone into danger because of the mark’s poisonous power. A violent clash breaks out between Gage and Asher, which only strengthens the guardian. Trinity struggles to control the overwhelming energy surging from her mark, but with Asher’s steady support, she manages to unleash a powerful burst of light that momentarily halts the guardian’s advance.
Despite Trinity’s efforts, the guardian warns her she is not yet ready to command its power and will be consumed if she cannot control her bloodline. The creature returns to stone, leaving the chamber silent once more. Gage lies injured and bitter, his jealousy and anger toward Trinity intensifying as he calls her a curse destined to destroy them all. Asher confronts Gage, insisting he owes Trinity his life, but Gage rejects the claim, deepening the rift within the group.
The team prepares to leave as the temple begins to close, with Arlo revealing the Codex has provided a clue to the next temple. Trinity feels the weight of the guardian’s warning lingering in her mind, and though Asher remains by her side, Gage’s hostile gaze follows them, signaling that his jealousy and resentment will continue to threaten their unity. The chapter ends with an uneasy sense that the conflicts ahead will be as fierce as the powers Trinity must learn to master.
The air inside the ancient temple was frigid and dense, carrying a weight as if untouched for centuries. Each step we took echoed sharply against the cold stone floor, making every sound feel amplified and unnatural. The flickering flames from our torches cast restless shadows on the walls, illuminating intricate carvings of wolves, crescent moons, and cryptic symbols — some eerily resembling the mark branded onto my chest.
I could sense my mark throbbing beneath my skin. At first, the pulse was slow and steady, but as we ventured deeper, it quickened, as if aware that something awaited us ahead.
Asher walked closely beside me, his hand occasionally brushing against mine. His warmth was a small comfort against the creeping chill that crawled up my spine. Behind us, Gage moved silently, his tension palpable. Arlo kept his gaze fixed downward, clutching the Codex tightly against his chest, murmuring softly as he studied the ancient inscriptions etched into the temple walls.
“We’re close now,” Arlo whispered, his voice barely above the crackling torchlight. “The guardian is bound to your bloodline, Trinity. It’s waiting for you to awaken it.”
I swallowed hard, unease knotting my stomach. “And what if it doesn’t like me?” I asked, my voice trembling.
Asher’s eyes locked onto mine with fierce determination. “Then we make sure it never gets the chance to decide.”
The narrow corridor suddenly opened into a vast stone chamber. The atmosphere felt charged, almost alive. The floor was covered in faded markings that glowed faintly in the torchlight. At the center stood a massive stone statue — a wolf with wings forged from shadows, both majestic and ominous.
“The guardian,” Arlo breathed.
I stepped forward cautiously, awe softening my voice. “It’s… breathtaking.”
“Don’t get too close,” Asher warned, his tone sharp. “Not yet.”
But it was already too late. The mark on my chest flared like a wildfire, and the chamber trembled with a low rumble. Dust sifted down from the ceiling as the statue’s eyes ignited with a fierce, burning gold light.
Gage cursed under his breath. “Great. You woke it.”
The stone cracked loudly as the statue began to stir, breaking free from its ancient pedestal. Its shadowy wings unfurled wide, and the entire room shook violently, the sound booming like thunder.
Arlo shouted over the chaos, “The guardian reacts to her! She has to command it — before it attacks!”
I tried to speak, but the burning mark overwhelmed me. My breath caught painfully in my throat as the guardian’s glowing eyes fixed on me.
“Who carries the blood?” a deep voice rumbled inside my mind.
I gasped, struggling to find my voice. “I… I do. I’m the heir of the first moon.”
The guardian tilted its massive stone head, scrutinizing me. “Prove it.”
Suddenly, the air around the statue exploded with raw power. Shadows twisted and morphed into terrifying shapes — claws, teeth, and eyes that seemed to reach out for me. I stumbled backward, but Asher caught me firmly before I could fall.
“Stay with me,” he urged, gripping my shoulders tightly.
“I can’t stop it!” I cried out, panic rising. The mark flared uncontrollably, scorching my chest and blurring my vision. “It’s feeding off me!”
Asher’s voice remained steady, grounding me. “Then fight it. Control it. You’re stronger than it thinks.”
Before I could respond, Gage suddenly lunged forward, sword drawn, his voice raw with frustration. “Enough of this! You keep letting her act like she’s some sort of queen! We don’t need her commanding anything!”
“Gage, no!” I shouted, but he was already charging toward the guardian.
The creature roared, unleashing a forceful wave that sent him crashing into the far wall. He hit hard and collapsed to his knees, coughing up blood.
Asher spun toward him, fury blazing in his eyes. “You idiot! You could’ve gotten us all killed!”
Gage spat blood, glaring fiercely. “Oh, I’m sorry, Alpha. Did I interrupt your little moment with her? Maybe you should kiss her again and see if that fixes it!”
Asher froze, his expression darkening. “What did you say?”
The tension between them was electric — a volatile mix of anger, jealousy, and pride — all swirling with the power saturating the chamber. The guardian growled, sensing the conflict.
Gage stood, his eyes blazing with rage. “You think you’re better than me, don’t you? You think she chose you because you’re the hero? She’s dangerous, Asher! Can’t you see that? That mark isn’t power — it’s poison!”
“Shut up,” Asher growled. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know exactly what I’m talking about!” Gage shouted back. “She’s got you wrapped around her finger, and now you’re dragging us all into something that’s going to kill us!”
The air around me crackled with energy. My heart pounded wildly, my chest burning hotter than ever. Their voices blended into the relentless pulse of the mark until reality blurred.
“Stop!” I screamed. “Both of you!”
But they ignored me.
Gage lunged at Asher, fury etched on his face. Asher caught his wrist and twisted, but Gage fought back fiercely. The clang of metal rang through the temple as their swords collided.
Arlo yelled, “You’re making it worse! The guardian feeds on conflict — it grows stronger with every fight!”
The guardian roared again, the ground shaking beneath us. Cracks spiderwebbed across the floor as shadows poured out like smoke, reaching hungrily toward us.
I screamed when one of the shadows brushed my arm — it burned like icy fire. The mark on my chest flared so brightly it hurt to look at.
Something inside me snapped. A surge of wild, furious power coursed through my veins like molten lava. My eyes blazed, my body trembling as the mark’s glow intensified.
“Asher!” I gasped. “I can’t hold it back!”
He turned to me, pushing Gage aside. “Trinity, focus on my voice. Look at me.”
I tried, but the mark’s power roared louder than ever. The guardian’s voice echoed in my mind: “Blood of the first moon… prove your control… or be consumed.”
The shadows lunged forward. Without thinking, I thrust my hands out, and a burst of light exploded from my chest, blasting across the chamber and striking the guardian. The entire room shook under the force of the energy.
The creature howled but did not fall. Instead, it grew brighter, feeding on my power.
Arlo shouted something, but his words were lost in the overwhelming noise. Everything around me was light, heat, and the frantic beating of my heart. I felt as if I were burning alive.
Then a hand grasped mine — Asher’s. His voice pierced through the chaos. “Trinity. You’re not alone. You can control this. Listen to me.”
Something inside me steadied. The light softened and slowed. My breath returned in short, shaky gasps.
But Gage wasn’t finished. He pushed himself up, face twisted with fury. “She’s going to kill us all!” he yelled, raising his sword once more.
“No!” I screamed.
Before he could strike, the guardian moved with lightning speed. A wave of force hurled Gage backward, slamming him against the far wall again. His sword clattered to the floor.
Asher shouted, “Gage!” and rushed to his side.
I collapsed to my knees, trembling uncontrollably. The light faded, but the faint glow in my chest remained. The guardian stepped forward, lowering its massive head until it was inches from my face.
“You are not ready,” it said, its voice deep and calm now. “Control your blood. Or it will control you.”
Then, the glow in its eyes dimmed, and the creature turned back to stone. The chamber fell silent once more.
I sat there, shaking and gasping for breath, the mark throbbing painfully against my skin.
Asher knelt beside me, his voice gentle. “You did it. You stopped it.”
I shook my head weakly. “No… it stopped itself. It could’ve killed us all.”
He brushed a hand softly through my hair. “It didn’t. That means something.”
Behind us, Gage groaned in pain. Arlo was already checking on him. “He’s alive,” Arlo said, “but he needs rest. That hit broke his ribs.”
I glanced at Gage — his face pale, jaw clenched tight with pain. Yet, even in his suffering, his eyes burned with a dangerous mix of anger and something darker — jealousy.
He met my gaze and spat, “You’re a curse, Trinity. You and that mark. You’re going to destroy us.”
Asher immediately stepped between us. “Enough. She saved your life, Gage. You owe her.”
Gage laughed, a bitter, hollow sound. “I owe her nothing.”
I looked away, the sting of his words cutting deeper than I wanted to admit. Gage had always been part of our pack — my best friend, someone I trusted. But now… he was different. His jealousy had twisted into something dark and corrosive.
Arlo helped him sit up, but Gage pushed him away roughly. “Don’t touch me. I don’t need your help.”
Asher’s jaw tightened. “Then stay here. We’ll move on without you.”
Gage glared at him, eyes full of bitter resentment. “Oh, you’d love that, wouldn’t you? Just you and her against the world.”
Asher said nothing, turning away and helping me to my feet. My legs felt weak, and my chest still ached from the mark’s fierce glow.
“We need to leave,” Arlo urged quickly. “The temple will close soon. It always does after a guardian wakes.”
We gathered our belongings in heavy silence. The air around us felt thick, as if the temple itself were watching our every move.
Stepping out into the misty light of the outside world, I felt the mark pulse once more. The Codex in Arlo’s arms glowed faintly, new symbols appearing across its ancient pages.
“It’s given us the next clue,” Arlo said quietly. “The next temple.”
I glanced back at the stone guardian through the doorway. It stood still again, but its words echoed in my mind — Control your blood… or it will control you.
Asher stayed close by my side, steady and calm, but I could feel Gage’s burning gaze on my back as we left. His anger hadn’t cooled; if anything, it had only grown stronger.
Deep down, I knew this wasn’t the last time his jealousy would stand in our way.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
SUMMARY (~1000 Words in English)
