Novels by Johanna Johnpaul

~ Noah’s POV ~The morning mist clung to the forest road as I and Rowan approached Briar’s Crossing. The village was small… Too small to appear on most royal maps, yet Gideon’s last report had mentioned it twice.If the masked hunters had passed through here… Someone must have seen them right? But the question was whether anyone will be willing to talk.The village square was unusually quiet. Merchants packed their stalls in silence. Children disappeared indoors the moment they saw strangers arrived…I and Rowan.Even the blacksmith avoided looking at me.Rowan frowned. “What’s going on? Are they afraid?.”“I don’t think so.” I studied the faces around me for some minutes.“Looks like they’ve been warned.”Close to the road, an elderly woman sat outside a weathered cottage, weaving a basket.Unlike everyone else, she didn’t look away when I approached, so I bowed politely.“Greetings.”She continued weaving, and without looking up, she spoke.“I know who you are.”Rowan stiffened. “Re

Roselyn’s POVThe valley felt different… but nothing great had really changed. The cottages still stood beneath the silver trees. Children still laughed as they chased one another through the fields, but no longer as loudly as before.The waterfall still sang its endless song yet every sound seemed sharper, Every shadow seemed deeper.The past few days, I have come to realize that once you know someone is searching for you… It became impossible to stop looking over your shoulder for safety reasons..I awoke before sunrise, stepped outside my cottage, hoping the cool morning air would quiet my restless thoughts.Instead, I found Darius already waiting for me.He stood with his back towards me, watching the eastern ridge.“I noticed recently that you barely sleep,” I said, with worry visible on my face.“Well… I sleep when I can.” His response was dry.I walked to stand beside him. “Have the scouts returned?”He exhales deeply. “Not yet.”Silence settled between us… then I finally spok

Noah’s POVThe palace gates opened before sunrise. A cold wind swept through the courtyard as I adjusted the strap of my sword. For the first time in years… I was leaving the capital without a royal escort.Captain Rowan tightened the saddle on his horse before glancing over.“My prince… are you really certain about this?”I secured the weathered compass Elias had given me inside my satchel.“I’ve never been more certain, Rowan.”“But…” he stammered. “The King won’t be pleased.” He said with a worried expression.“Well… He already knows.”Rowan frowned in surprise. “He approved it?”“No.” A faint smile touched my lips. “He understands the urgency and importance. He also knows the kind of son he has.”***Inside the palace, King Alaric stood on a high balcony overlooking the courtyard below. He watched quietly as Noah prepared his horse. Soon Queen Selene joined him quietly. They both watched for a while.“They’re leaving.”“I know.”Neither spoke for a while. The King watched his son

Roselyn’s POVI couldn’t sleep all through the night. The image of the rider standing on the eastern ridge lingered in my mind long after darkness swallowed the mountains. O couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone, especially Darius. The village was already in an unexplainable state, so it would be best if I don’t add to their worries.But… Had someone truly been there? Or had fear begun playing tricks on me that I now imagine things?The pendant rested cold against my chest once more, as if nothing had happened. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed.Someone had been watching.Before dawn, Whispering Haven was already awake.Hunters slipped silently through the trees, Scouts disappeared into the mountain trails. No one spoke louder than necessary, the valley hadn’t fallen into panic but It had become extremely… alert.I stepped outside my cottage just as Darius emerged from the council hall. He looked as though he hadn’t slept.“You were in there all night.” I aske

Roselyn’s POVThe valley never slept after that day, I hadn’t noticed it before but now I do now. Because even in the quietest hours of the night, someone in the valley was always awake.I noticed that there is either a hunter walking the ridge or a guard changing posts, and a lantern burning inside the council hall. Turns out whispering Haven had always been prepared for danger, only now did I understand why.The news from the scouts had changed everything. No one spoke openly about it, but I could feel it… how withdrawn and guard everyone had become.The smiles were now fewer, the laughter became quieter. Even the children had stopped wandering beyond the cottages or even dancing and singing around like they usually did.“They’re afraid,” I murmured.Beside me, Mara shook her head. “No… They’re getting ready.”There was a difference.*** At sunrise, Darius gathered every hunter and the adult villagers at the village square. I stood near the back with the other villagers, watching i

Roselyn’s POVIt’s been two days now, and the thought of the silver wolf still lingers in my heart, I have searched the tree line the few times I ventured outside but nothing. No tracks, no distant howl, not even a sign that it had ever been there yet, every time I closed my eyes… those pale silver eyes stared back at me.Life in Whispering Haven continued as it always had, where children chased one another through the fields, hunters departed before dawn to hunt, the blacksmith’s hammer rang across the valley, whispering haven was peaceful… So peaceful that I almost forgot people were still hunting me.“Roselyn.” I looked up from the basket of herbs I was sorting to see Mara smiling.“The council has asked to meet you.” She said.I frowned. “The council?”She nodded. “Yes, the village elders.”My heartbeat quickened. “Why? Did I do something wrong?”“I don’t believe so.” Her answer did little to calm my nerves. “Just go and hear what they have to say”. She said and led me to the coun