Perfect — here's Chapter 8 — "Embers of Power" (~1,000 words). In this chapter:
Red fully trains Allison in controlled draconic energy use.
Minor supernatural conflicts escalate.
Peter Hale begins actively planning against Red.
Red and Allison's bond deepens through shared danger.
---
Chapter 8 — Embers of Power
The forest was alive with energy as Red Dagonian stood atop a ridge, wings tucked but ready, eyes glowing faint gold. The night carried the subtle scent of danger — the pulse of the supernatural resonating in every rustle of leaves, every distant howl.
Tonight, Red's focus wasn't merely survival. He had brought Allison Argent deeper into the forest, away from the town, to a secluded clearing. Here, she could train safely, and her latent draconic potential could begin to manifest more fully.
---
Training Begins
Allison adjusted her stance, bow lowered for the moment, eyes fixed on him. "So… what do I do first?"
Red smiled faintly. "First, we establish control. The energy you felt before — that warmth, that fire inside you — that is your latent essence. I'm going to help you channel it, focus it, so it can be used deliberately."
He extended a hand, golden energy flickering faintly along his fingers. "Close your eyes. Breathe. Feel the energy around you — not me, not anything else. Just you. Let the thread of connection guide you."
Allison hesitated for a moment, then obeyed, inhaling deeply. A faint glow traced her veins, subtle at first, as if acknowledging the latent dragon energy Red had brushed into her consciousness previously.
---
The First Sparks
Red guided her gently, instructing her to project the energy outward as a small flame, hovering just above her palm. The first attempts were unstable — flickers, sparks, and small bursts that dissipated quickly.
"Focus on intention," Red advised, stepping closer. "Your mind shapes the energy. Your heart directs it. You are the flame, Allison. Not me. You."
She clenched her fist, and slowly, a small orb of crimson light hovered above her hand. It wavered, quivering, but it remained intact. Her eyes widened.
"I did it," she whispered. "I… I can feel it!"
Red nodded, pride hidden beneath calm authority. "Good. That is only the beginning. Control it, expand it, weave it with your instincts. You will need this for what's coming."
---
First Coordinated Exercise
Red extended his senses outward, detecting faint movement in the clearing's shadows. Minor supernatural threats — rogue spirits and small wendigo hybrids — were drawn to the forest.
"This is your first real test," Red said, stepping back. "You handle your energy. I'll handle mine. Watch me, coordinate, and then act."
The creatures lunged, snarling. Red flared his wings, claws glowing with crimson energy as dream constructs formed jagged blades to intercept them. Allison mirrored his movements, her small orbs of energy striking with precise timing.
They moved in tandem — Red guiding, Allison responding, a natural rhythm forming between them. One by one, the creatures were pushed back, harmlessly sent fleeing by coordinated energy pulses.
Breathless, Allison lowered her hands. "That… that was incredible," she said. "I felt… powerful. Alive."
Red smiled faintly. "Exactly. And this bond we share? It strengthens every time we act together. You're awakening, and so are we — together."
---
Peter Hale's Calculations
Hidden in the shadows, Peter Hale's eyes glinted in the moonlight. The Alpha's jaw tightened as he observed the pair.
So he is intentionally training her… awakening potential… teaching control… Peter growled. He is not just a threat to me — he is reshaping this town, forming allies before the bite even occurs. This changes everything.
Peter's pack murmured in agreement, senses strained. He did not act tonight, but he was already planning. Red Dagonian could not remain unchecked.
Patience, Peter thought. I will strike when the Dream Dragon is at a disadvantage. And when I do… everything will fall into place.
---
Bond Strengthens
After the threats had been driven away, Red and Allison sat on a fallen log in the clearing, catching their breath. The bond between them pulsed faintly, a warmth neither fully understood but both could feel.
"You're… guiding me," Allison said softly, eyes wide. "But it feels… more. Like I'm connected to something bigger."
"You are," Red said, voice calm but intense. "You are part of this power now. The thread between us will grow stronger. Each time we act together, it becomes more than energy — it becomes instinct. A bond. A fire."
Her pulse quickened. "A fire…" she repeated, feeling the warmth in her chest. The golden glow of Red's eyes met hers, and she shivered. It wasn't fear. It was recognition, the first subtle acknowledgment of something deep and ancient between them.
> Soon, Red thought, letting the thread linger. Soon you will awaken fully. And then… nothing in Beacon Hills will ever be the same.
---
Reflection in the Moonlight
Red unfolded his wings, gliding silently above the forest. The night carried the scent of the town below, alive with hidden dangers and unaware humans.