LOGINRya's POVThe very moment I stepped out of The Darkwood Forest, I halted abruptly in my steps. Something didn't seem right, and it wasn't just my instinct telling me that.My eyes swept across the large clearing, and for a moment, I felt my chest tighten at what seemed like a terrifying sight. My entire crew stood... gathered together in a strange formation. Not one person moved, or even uttered a word. They just stood there, with their eyes intensely fixed on something... or someone.My gaze followed theirs, and that was the moment I saw him---Frost. He was seated on the bare ground, bound around his hands and his legs, with his face tightly squeezed. He was no different from a petty thief who had been caught in the act.My breath hitched in my throat."What the hell is going on here?" I didn't know when my inner thoughts had spilled from my lips, but I was glad that it did.All heads turned in my direction. The entire crew, they were stunned for a brief moment, their eyes widened
Frost's POVTime had lost its meaning at the edge of the forest.I had been standing there with some of the men, waiting for minutes that slowly turned into hours. There was not a sound... or a sign of life at the other end of that darkened forest. The other men seemed... relaxed, composed, patrolling the space as though it was a usual routine for them, sometimes chitchatting amongst themselves with slowly rippling laughter.But I... I was frantic, my mind spiralling in the zillion haunting thoughts and possibilities of that meeting. I shouldn't have let her go alone. I should have enforced my own will and insisted to follow her. Now, I lived in my regrets, and the sufferable pain of her absence.I moved closer to the forest. A large energy field had erupted out of nowhere the very moment Rya had entered the forest. I tried to listen to her, to feel her through the mate bond we both shared. But her presence wavered like a dying flame, slipping in and out of reach. She was distant, fai
Rya's POV"If you fail, your body, mind, soul, and spirit becomes a property of the veil. You will never return!" Corvina's word echoed in my ears for a brief moment. Her words dropped like a heavy bomb in my chest, causing my heart to skip a beat. I buried my face to the ground for a moment, and in a split second, I weighed my options. I tried to assure myself that I was indeed making the right choice., and without an iota of doubt, I was certain that I did. But if Frost was here, definitely he would ever want me to take that step."Fine. I'll do it," I said to her, with a determined tone and a clenched jaw. I had faced tough things. I sure could handle the Veil.Corvina nodded her head. She led me to stand in one of the drawn ritual circles. I took in a deep breath nervously, trying to summon every piece of courage in me. "Remember something, Rya," Corvina spoke up, forcing my tightly shut eyes open. "The Veil is a dangerous place. You'll need more than just your wits to overcome
Rya's POVI could have refused Corvina's request. I could have gone headstrong just the way Sera had always emphasized. She always insisted I followed that route, that for once, I let go of diplomacy and embraced brutality and coercion. Well, it was just a part of her—shaped by years she couldn’t unlearn. And sometimes, when I thought of it, she was right. Even a violent mind could have reached the same end—securing the Serpent’s Eye. But to what end? Why make more enemies when alliance was all that was needed to save the world?I stepped into the forest alone. The rest of the crew had camped outside the borders of the Darkwood forest where they all felt safer. I, took the bold step into the darkness, with every step accompanied by a fervently whispered prayer to the gods, pleading for nothing other than strength, tenacity, and the softened heart of a witch.My eyes were fixed on something... significant. I religiously followed the path that was marked by some glowing runes. It was
Rya's POVSera had no choice. She could only accept Frost the way he was and carry on with the mission. I, for one, was certainly never moved by her threatening words. The truth was well too glary to not acknowledge it—the mission was nighly impossible without Frost or Oscar. And if those two weren't present, I wouldn't either. After a long while, Sera left. I could tell from a distance that what she had heard and seen still struck a terror within her, one could clearly see fear's tightening grip on her. But I couldn't blame her. Who was I? She was only but a child, with her only troubles of finding some acceptance in her father's eyes. She couldn't understand the turmoils thta accompanied every blossoming love story, just like mine. I? I had come to undersand the battles I as fighting, and had learned to face my fears like the powerful woman I always called myself. I was seated right beside him, in the middle of the woods, staring blankly into the evening sky. I tried to console
Frost's POV I know I promised her transparency. I know I assured her that I would constantly keep her in the loops about my father's continuous taunting. But... some truths were just too heavy for promising words to carry. I returned to the car, and acted as though all things were perfect. The elderly man had gone on with his journey, and so did we. We travelled a few more miles from where we had halted before we finally called it a day.We gathered together in the woods, ready to camp there for the night. Unlike the first day—when both clans kept to themselves—there wasn't a fuss over sharing a tent, or even taking shifts together. If for anything, it was the opposite. Perhaps the truce was going to last longer than I expected. I set up the tent for Rya. She was exhausted... and still hadn't spoken a word even after we arrived at the woods. She laid inside the tent, while I remained outside, feeding my skin to the cool winds and pondering more about my plight. I had never for o
Rya's POVI felt comfort at its best while I leaned on Frost. His body was warm, his hands were soft and tender, and his words were piercing yet soothing. He made me so vulnerable, and for the first time, it felt... like a good thing. I listened to his heartbeat while I gripped him tightly. It wa
Rya's POV I was beginning to heal, slowly. No more did I have to lock myself up, wail, and sob like a child who had lost all hopes. If I didn't believe in myself, the pack still did. They waited for me, to be the shield I had promised to be. The next morning, I rose early.It was a whole differen
Rya's POVI could hear Oscar's voice from my subconscious. It was the loudest in the room, the fiercest. I struggled to open my eyes faintly, to the sight of bright light from the bulb, and the turning ceiling fan. I let out a slight groan as I tried to turn on the bed. My head was pounding, mostl
Rya's POVIt was morning. The skies were still dark, and the air was cold. The winds blew through my opened windows, soothing my skin as I dressed up for the war. This moment was different. I was feeling different. There wasn't this usual exciting sensation that came with the morning—that usual as







