Novel-novel oleh chijiokeisaiah96

WHAT BREAKS IN SILENCENina’s POVBy the time the operations room emptied, I was still standing in the same spot.Staring at the same map. In the same position.But the quiet, the quiet made everything louder.It was so loud that it felt like my thoughts were trying to break free from my head.I clenched my jaw.“No, I’m not,” I muttered under my breath.“You keep saying that.”I didn’t turn.Didn’t need to because I knew it was Kaiden.“I am,” I said.He stepped closer, his presence steady, grounding in a way that didn’t feel intrusive.“You’re holding it together,” he said.“That’s what I’m supposed to do.”“Yes.”“Then what’s the problem?”He didn’t answer immediately. Just watched me.“You’re forcing it,” he said finally.“I’m controlling it.”“There’s a difference.”“Everyone keeps saying that.”“Because it’s true.”I exhaled slowly. “I don’t have time to fall apart.”“You’re not falling apart.”“Feels like it.”“That’s because you’re close.”I stilled. “Close to what?”“Your lim

CRACKS BENEATH CONTROLNina’s POVThe moment the council doors closed behind us, everything shifted.Not the pressure. That was still there. If anything, it had doubled.But now it had direction.“Okay,” Ryan said, pushing off the wall and falling into step beside me as I walked away from the council room. “So… where do we start?”Sometimes I wondered if I needed to get Ryan’s ears checked. It was either that he got a kick out of getting on my nerves or his ears were way overdue for a cleaning.It doesn’t even make any sense because we have super great hearing, so who was I kidding? Ryan was just being his usual annoying self. But he was my brother, so there’s really nothing I can do about it.“Everywhere,” I replied.“That’s not helpful.”“It’s accurate.”Kaiden walked on my other side, quiet, observant.“We’ll have to prioritize,” he said.I exhaled slowly. “Internal security first.”Ryan nodded. “Good choice.”“Then training,” I added.Kaiden glanced at me. “You’ll need both.”“I k

THE COST OF AUTHORITYNina’s POVThe council chamber always felt colder than the rest of the house.Not physically. But in a way that settled under your skin.Heavy. Judging. Unforgiving.By the time I stepped inside, they were already there. Seated around the long wooden table, their expressions ranged from guarded to openly critical.Gina sat near the far end, her posture rigid, her gaze sharp the moment it landed on me.Elder Corvin sat at the head, his presence quieter but no less commanding.The others, too. Watching. Waiting. Judging.Ryan leaned casually against the wall behind me, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Kaiden stood to my right, steady as ever.Grounded. Present.I walked to the head of the table and took my seat.I made sure there was no hesitation. No uncertainty in my eyes. Because if I showed even a hint of either, they would see it. And they would use it.“You called this meeting,” Elder Corvin said.His voice was calm. Measured.But there was something

WHAT PEACE COSTSNina’s POVMalia fell asleep halfway back.Her small hand stayed curled into my shirt, her head tucked against my shoulder, her breathing soft and steady.I adjusted my hold slightly so she wouldn’t slip, careful not to wake her.“You’ve got a fan,” Ryan’s voice drawled from the steps as we approached the pack house.I glanced up. He was leaning against the railing, arms crossed, watching us with that familiar half-smirk.“Don’t start,” I said quietly.“I didn’t say anything.”“You were about to.”“Okay, fine,” he admitted. “I was going to say something.”I rolled my eyes.“Of course you were.”Ryan pushed off the railing and stepped closer, lowering his voice when he saw Malia sleeping. “She looks knocked out.”“She had a full day.”“Yeah?” he asked. “Where’d you take her?”“Playground, then we went to the zoo.”Ryan raised an eyebrow. “The zoo?”“She wanted to see lions.”“And?”“She loved them.”Ryan chuckled softly. “Of course she did.”I shifted Malia slightly in

A DAY WITHOUT WARNina’s POVFor the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t thinking about Nate. Or spies. Or bloodlines. Or any of the hundred things constantly clawing for space in my head.I was thinking about…“Higher!” Malia squealed, her laughter ringing through the air.I pushed the swing again, a little harder this time, watching as she soared forward, her small legs kicking out in excitement.“Careful,” I said, even though I was smiling. “You’re going to try and touch the sky at this rate.”“I want to!” she giggled. “Push me higher, Nina!”I shook my head, but did it anyway.“Don’t tell your dad I’m encouraging this.”“I won’t!” she said immediately. “It’ll be our secret.”“That’s what I’m afraid of.”Malia laughed again, carefree and bright, her joy completely untouched by everything happening in the pack.And for a moment, that joy felt contagious.The playground was lively, filled with children running, climbing, and laughing. Parents stood nearby, chatting or watc

UNSTEADY GROUNDNina’s POVBy the time Kaiden finally called a stop, my muscles ached in a way that felt… different.Not the usual burn from overexertion. Not the sharp pain that came from pushing too far.This was deeper. Controlled. Earned.I bent slightly, hands resting on my thighs as I caught my breath.“That’s enough,” Kaiden said.I straightened slowly. “That didn’t feel like enough.”“It was.”“I can keep going.”“I know.”“Then why stop?”“Because you’re learning when to.”I frowned. “That doesn’t make sense.”“It will.”I rolled my shoulders, trying to shake off the tension. “I didn’t even break a sweat.”Axel let out a quiet breath beside me. “You did.”I shot him a look.“I did not.”“You’re breathing heavier.”“That’s normal.”“You’re compensating.”“I’m not.”“You are.”I crossed my arms.“Can you not?”“No.”“Of course not.”Kaiden stepped between us slightly, not blocking, just… grounding.“That’s enough for now,” he said again.I exhaled.“…Fine.”But even as I said i