Novel-novel oleh holatunde3

***BLAKE***“You fucking sly bastard.”Dylan’s voice cracked across the chamber, sharp enough to bite.I didn’t move. Didn’t blink.I stayed seated, elbows resting on the arms of the chair, fingers loosely interlaced. Calm enough that it pissed him off more.Jeremy leaned against the wall, arms crossed, head tilted like he was trying to solve a puzzle that offended him personally.“If he’s a bastard,” he said slowly, “does that make the rest of us accessories to the crime?”No one laughed.Dylan turned on him. “This isn’t funny.”“I didn’t say it was,” Jeremy shot back. “I’m just trying to understand how Blake managed to imprint without—” He paused. “—warning the group chat.”That earned him a glare from Kade.“Watch your tone,” Kade said. Flat. Cold. Enforcement-first, always.Dylan exhaled hard and turned away, dragging a hand through his hair before dropping into the chair opposite me. His knee bounced once. Then again. He was trying not to look at me like I’d personally betrayed h

***RENA***“Yes, I got the key, silly me, I totally forgot,” Simone said behind me, making me jump, I had been listening to the conversations of the court. Thankfully, she didn't look at all offended.“Come on,” she gestured.I sighed as Simone and I walked away from the courtroom, soon enough, we got to my new room.I gazed around my new room, it was nothing compared to what I had back in Credence Wood, father had made sure I had everything I needed, but this was going to do, it was small and cozy and soon, I was going to make it feel like home to me.“So, do you like it? If you don't, it can be changed, but let me warn you, the other rooms have rats and this is the rat-free one, I figured since you're wolfless, you won't want to be around rats,” Simone said with a smile and I nodded, then, she gave me a look and started walking towards the door.“Simone?” I called and she turned back.“Yes?” she answered, raising an eyebrow.“Can we keep it a secret? I mean, can we keep me being wol

***BLAKE***“She did,” he went on, not pressing, simply stating what he’d observed. “Before we left. Her eyes lingered on you.”Jeremy smirked. “Hard not to notice him. He has that whole quiet judgment of the universe thing going.”Kade shot him a sharp look. “Focus.”Jeremy lifted his hands in mock surrender. “I am focused. I’m just… curious.”“About what?” Dylan asked.“What happens now,” Jeremy said. “I mean, she’s clearly important. I can feel it. Can’t you?”“We haven't decided that yet,” Dylan replied calmly.“That’s boring,” Jeremy muttered.“It’s safe,” Kade corrected.They all looked at me.I said nothing.The throne room doors stood open ahead, torchlight spilling into the corridor. Voices echoed inside—petitioners, advisers, lords arguing over territory and trade.Everywhere fell silent as soon as we entered the court room.Inside, Lord Allen stood near the dais, scroll already unrolled. His shoulders were stiff, posture formal to the point of discomfort. He always looked l

***RENA***Father always said not to go north.I heard his voice even as I ran, sharp and steady, like he was still walking a step ahead of me. Like he hadn’t just been driven out of his chest.“North isn’t marked by trees,” he used to say. “It’s marked by consequence.”I never understood what he meant by that, but what choice do I have now? He's no longer here, and I need to escape in order to escape the same fate that met him.Branches whipped my face as I ran. My lungs burned. My legs shook. Fear sat heavy in my gut, thick and sour, but it wasn’t the worst feeling inside me.My foot caught on a root and I stumbled, barely stopping myself from slamming into the ground. I braced my hands on my knees and sucked in air, but it didn’t help. Nothing helped.I should've known better than to trust Thalia, even when all the odds pointed to her betrayal.“There she is!”Big Joe’s voice sliced through the forest.My blood turned cold.He had always hated my father. Always looked at him like a

***RENA***“You look so beautiful,” Thalia, my best friend said, tears threatening to spill.“Don't,” I begged with my eyes, “if you cry, I'll cry and we don't want our makeup getting ruined, so please don't,” I begged and she nodded with a smile, trying her best to push back the tears.“I can't believe it, you know Rena?” Thalia uses her hands to fan her eyes.“I can't either, I mean, this isn't fully all I've always wanted, but the moon goddess has granted a huge part of it,” I said, almost teary, I also began to fan my eyes with my hands.“I would say she granted you all,” she said with a smile. I shot her a glare and she burst out laughing.“Okay okay,” she raised her arms, surrendering, “Maybe you're right, but you're wolfless and still got to get married to the brother of the alpha, a beta?” she pointed out, “Now tell me if that isn't so perfect after all,” she added and I nodded, she was indeed right.“Rena? Could you give me a moment?” she asked, “I don't mean to leave you alo