LOGIN(Rex’s POV)No one spoke.Cassian’s words lingered in the air, pulling everyone’s attention toward Isabella and me.He looked unusually calm.Almost too calm.“What do you mean?” I asked.Cassian folded his hands behind his back before answering.“Walk with me.”I frowned.“Why can’t you tell us here?”“Because this isn’t everyone’s story to hear.”I glanced at Isabella. She looked just as confused as I felt.Orion gave us a reassuring nod.“Go.”“We’ll be here.”After a moment, Isabella and I followed Cassian out of the training grounds.He led us through a narrow stone path lined with silver flowers until we reached a quiet hill overlooking the Heart. From there, we could see the gardens, the streams, and the glowing trees stretching as far as the eye could see.Cassian stopped walking.For a while, he simply admired the view.“It never looked like this before,” he said quietly.“You’ve been here before?” Isabella asked.“Many times.”He smiled faintly.“But never after it had heale
(Isabella’s POV )The next morning, I woke before everyone else.For a moment, I forgot where I was.The room was quiet, and pale golden light filtered through the windows. Outside, I could hear the gentle sound of water flowing through the gardens.It was peaceful.A strange kind of peaceful.The kind that made you wonder how long it would last.I got dressed quietly and stepped outside.The air was cool, carrying the sweet scent of flowers that hadn’t existed when we first entered the Heart. Everywhere I looked, life seemed to be growing. Trees were taller than they had been only a few days ago, vines climbed old stone walls, and birds with silver feathers flew between the branches.The Heart was healing.I smiled to myself.“You always wake up early.”I turned around.Rex was walking toward me with two wooden cups in his hands.“I couldn’t sleep anymore,” he said, handing one to me.I looked inside.It smelled like tea.“Thank you.”He shrugged.“I figured you’d forget to eat if I
(Rex’s POV)The garden became my favorite place inside the Heart.Not because it was beautiful.Although it was.Not because it was quiet.Although that helped.It was because Isabella always found her way there.Over the next few days, life settled into something none of us expected.A routine.Every morning, Orion and Cassian taught us about the ancient history of the Heart. Lyra spent hours studying the changes in its structure, often arguing with Cassian over theories that had been accepted for centuries. Astra and Selene explored the new paths that appeared almost every day, carefully mapping them so no one would get lost.Darius trained with me.He was older, stronger, and far more experienced than I was, but he never made me feel small.Instead, he corrected every mistake I made.Again.And again.And again.After I was knocked onto my back for what felt like the hundredth time, Darius offered me a hand.“You rely too much on strength.”I accepted his help and stood.“I’ve hear
(Isabella’s POV )No one spoke after Cassian’s words.The silence felt different from the others we had shared. Before, silence had been filled with fear or uncertainty. This one carried responsibility.The world outside had changed.Because of us.I looked around the chamber. The Heart was glowing softly again, as if it had accepted its new state. Eira remained quiet, almost thoughtful. Orion stood beside Cassian, though the tension between them was impossible to miss. Selene and Darius stayed alert, their eyes fixed on every entrance to the chamber.Beside me, Rex hadn’t let go of my hand.I glanced at him.He caught me looking and gave me a small smile.“You okay?”I nodded.“I think so.”“You don’t sound convinced.”I laughed quietly.“I’m trying to be.”For the first time in days, the corners of his lips lifted into a real smile.“That’s more like the Isabella I know.”His words warmed something inside me.It was strange.We had survived impossible things, yet hearing him say my
(Rex’s POV)The footsteps echoed through the Heart.Slow.Steady.Unhurried.Whoever was coming wasn’t afraid.The chamber fell completely silent. Even Eira stopped speaking.Another step.Then another.The cold spread across the floor, chasing away the warmth that had welcomed Orion and the others only moments before.Darius raised his sword.“Stay behind me.”“No,” I replied, stepping in front of Isabella instead. “I’ll protect her.”Darius glanced at me for a second before giving a small nod.“I expected you to say that.”The footsteps stopped.A tall figure appeared at the entrance of the chamber.He wore a long black coat that almost touched the ground. His silver hair rested against his shoulders, and his face looked surprisingly young despite the calm wisdom in his grey eyes.There was no weapon in his hands.Yet everyone instinctively became tense.Orion’s face turned pale.“It can’t be…”The man smiled faintly.“It’s been a long time, Orion.”“You should be dead.”“So should y
Hii dear readers, it's your fav author here. Hope you're doing well. I'd like to use this opportunity to thank you for your constant support and love towards this novel, I really appreciate it. Kindly do well to rate and support with gems 💎 if you have any. Thank you very much 😘☺️(Isabella’s POV) - BONUS CHAPTER No one spoke for several long seconds. The golden light slowly faded, leaving the chamber glowing with a soft warmth that felt almost welcoming. The Heart had never greeted anyone before. Not like this. The old man looked around the room with a gentle smile. “It remembers us,” he said quietly. Lyra was still staring at him. “I watched you die.” “You watched what everyone was meant to believe,” the old man replied calmly. “I disappeared because I had to.” Astra crossed her arms. “I think everyone here deserves an explanation.” The old man chuckled softly. “I expected that.” He leaned on his wooden staff and looked at the three people beside him. “My name is O
The days that followed were quieter than anyone expected. Not peaceful, Blackthorn had learned not to trust peace too easily but steadier. Patrols moved in careful rotations. Scouts watched the northern ridge constantly. The sky remained whole. And the rifts did not return. But the feeling of be
***Earlier after the clash*** The war didn’t continue that night. It ended in exhaustion. Not because anyone had won but because something bigger had paused the board. By the time the courtyard cleared, the moon had climbed high and the stronghold felt hollowed out. Wolves moved quietly, ca
By dawn, the elders had gathered again. Not to talk. To judge. “She destabilizes the pack,” Elder Marris said, his voice thin but firm. “You saw what happened. The wards bent around her. The creatures came for her. This is no longer theory.” Rex remained seated in the Alpha’s chair, black stone
The warning didn’t just end the night; it shattered it. The pale-cloaked delegation barely finished speaking when the wards erupted. Not the outer wards—those howled like wounded animals—but the inner ones. They only reacted to betrayal or a threat already inside Blackthorn.Ash was the first to ac







