Novel-novel oleh Tera Writes

OCTAVIA.I wrapped my arms around myself and pushed deeper into the trees. The pack house was supposed to be close, I think. But I had taken the wrong turn—again. I've been walking around for goddess knows how long since the incident with Selina, and yet somehow I haven't even able to find my way out of the woods. Every time, I ended up in the same place, it doesn't matter what turn I took, or for how long I walked. I circled back, only to find myself staring at the same bent oak tree I had passed just minutes ago.“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, feeling my frautration start to grow. My pulse throbbed at my temples. It wasn’t just the forest confusing me—it was everything. The stares, the judgment, Dorian’s watchful eyes always there no matter where I turned. I couldn’t breathe in that arena, and I wasn’t breathing much better out here either. My mind, my head, everything was just messed up.I paused, leaning against the rough bark of a tree, trying to steady myself. The woods

OCTAVIA.The air outside the arena should have felt freeing. It didn’t.My legs carried me into the woods, but the voices of the warriors from the arena still followed me, whispering in my ears, crawling under my skin no matter how much I tried to let them roll of my back. Normally I shouldn't even care. I mean, it's not even like I actually wanted to be here. I came here on a mission and not to seek for anyone's approval. Their words or what they thought of me shouldn't bother me this much but for some strange reason it did.“Coward.”“She’s clearly scared.”“She knows she doesn’t belong.”The words followed me like ghosts even as I walked. I clenched my fists until my nails bit into my palms. My wolf prowled inside me, restless, snarling at every echo. She wanted blood. She wanted to rip Selina’s smug face apart, silence those whispers once and for all. And so did I.But I couldn’t.I wouldn’t.No matter how much I wanted to, I couldn't afford that right now. I had come here with a

OCTAVIA The arena was quiet now.Every warrior’s eyes clung to me, pressing into my skin until I wanted to peel it off to get rid of the discomfort I was feeling from them. My body still felt a bit strange from the spar with Dorian, my muscles trembling from the strain of blocking him, dodging him, standing toe to toe with the beast of Shadow Crescent himself. My chest burned with each breath I took, but I forced my face to remain calm and relaxed.I lifted my chin, locking my spine in place. They would not see me rattled.But the weight of Dorian’s gaze lingered. He hadn’t moved from the center of the arena. His arms rested at his sides, his chest rising in an easy rhythm, but every inch of him radiated control. My skin still tingled where his hands had caught me, held me, tested me. I hated how much I remembered it.Then, suddenly a voice broke the silence.“Well,” Selina drawled.I didn’t need to turn to know who it was. The tone alone carried enough venom to give her away. When

OCTAVIA.The fight between Dorian and Garrett ended faster than I expected. Even faster than it began. Garrett tried—he truly did—but Dorian had read every strike before it even landed. One sweep of his leg, one strike of his hand, and Garrett was on the ground again, chest heaving, and face flushed with both pain and humiliation.But the man wasn't the kind to give up so easily it seems. He kept getting back up and getting back in the game, no matter how many times he fell. But in the end, everything has to come to an end. And his was real quick because he never lasted more than a few seconds for each round.Dorian didn’t gloat. He didn’t need to. The way he stood there, calm and collected, shirtless under the sun with scars on display, was enough of a reminder that he was untouchable. And I wasn't sure how I felt about that considering the purpose of my mission here.He turned his head then, his eyes sweeping across the arena. Warriors stood straighter under his gaze, like children

OCTAVIA.The training ground was louder than I would have preferred, even more so than yesterday. Then again, I didn't exactly stick around long enough to notice much yesterday.The clash of fists against flesh echoed across the wide open space. Warriors grunted and growled as they sparred, their feet kicking up dirt, sweat glistening on their bodies. I walked between Tanya and Vanessa, keeping my steps calm even though I was practically screaming in my head. My wolf stirred the moment I entered the arena. "Too many eyes." She groaned.I felt eyes drilling into the side of my head, causing me to turn and look.Across the field, Selina stood with a group of female warriors just like yesterday. Her eyes were narrowed and poisonous as she glared at me. She didn’t speak. She didn’t have to. Her glare was enough to carve me open.I kept my face smooth, my gaze sliding past her as if I hadn’t noticed. But inside, every single one of my nerve burned. My wolf bristled, a low snarl rumbling

OCTAVIA.I was halfway to the staircase that led downstairs. My mind was still caught in the temptation in flesh that called herself Selina, but most of all, the strange painting I had paused to study minutes ago. The pictures stayed with me no matter how hard I tried to ignore it. It was as though the canvas itself was holding secrets I wasn’t meant to uncover. Zara stirred uneasily inside me, still murmuring her doubts, when a loud voice cut through my thoughts.“Octavia!”I stiffened, almost missing a step, then turned quickly. Vanessa was striding toward me. Someone was with her, and it took me a moment to recorgnize who she was. It was the female she introduced to me yesterday at lunch as the head female warrior. What did she say her name was again?....... Yeah, Tanya. Vanessa wore her usual bright smile, the kind of smile that could melt suspicion without effort. It had worked on me yesterday, drawing me into a conversation I hadn’t expected, and in spite of myself, I’d almost