Chapter 84: A House DividedAvyaane I squinted against the strong sunlight. As Brick and Zeke flanked me, I felt beads of sweat stream down my forehead. Silent sentinels. Their gaze examined the surroundings. Alert. Watchful. It should have made me feel safer. Instead, it caused my skin to tingle. Uncomfortable. "You don't have to do this, you know," I told you. My voice is low. For their ears only. Brick grunted. A non-answer. Zeke grinned. All teeth. "What, and you miss out on skipping class? "Not a chance, Luna." I winced at the title. It still seemed wrong. Ill-fitting. Like clothing designed by someone else. We got to the school doors. I paused. My hand is on the handle. The metal felt cool on my palm. "You okay?" Brick asked. His voice was rough. Concerned. I nodded. I didn't trust myself to talk. I pushed the door open. The hall was empty. Classes are in session. Our steps reverberated. Too loud amid the silence. Room 205. Mr. Peterson's classroom. I could hear his voice throu
Chapter 85: Choice Avyaane pov "How can we forget?" Killian stated. His voice was soft. Dangerous. "When you keep shoving it in our faces?" I stepped forward. Into their line of vision. The argument came to an abrupt end. All eyes turned to me. For a moment, no one spoke. The silence was terrible. Then one of the elders stepped forward. Elder MacKenzie. Her face was lined with age and wisdom. Her eyes were keen. Assessing. "Luna," she answered. Her words carried effortlessly through the hush. "I am delighted you are here. "We have a lot to talk about." I swallowed hard. Nodded. "What's going on?" I asked. Though I had a sinking feeling, I already knew. Elder Mackenzie's gaze went across the quadruplets. Her expression was harsh. Disapproving. "It seems," she replied, "that there is some... disagreement with your position as Luna. I felt my heart drop. "I see," I replied. My voice sounded faraway. Hollow. "So what does that mean? For me? "For the pack?" Elder Mackenzie sighed. Heavy.
# Chapter 86: BlairAvyaane As I uttered the words, silence descended upon the room. "I said that I agree." My vocal strength surpassed my own perception of it. "I will take care of it."The quietness only endured for a second. After that, the room burst into excitement. Voices clashed in a manner reminiscent of dueling swords. Mad. Taken by surprise. Afraid. I remained stationary in my seat, a stable force in the midst of chaos. The elaborate conference room, adorned with a tall ceiling and dark wooden paneling, now seemed cramped. Too restrictive.Elder MacKenzie lifted up her hand. The sound faded away. She glanced at me, gave a single nod. I noticed both kindness and concern in her eyes. Anxiety and another issue. Could it be respect?"Then it's agreed," she stated. Her voice remained firm and resolute. It sliced through the tension sharply. Luna Avyaane will dedicate three weeks to each of the quadruplets. In the end, she will make a selection.I glanced around the table. The sh
Chapter 87: Get Together Avyaane povI discovered Brick and Zeke waiting for me farther down the hallway. Their faces were concerned. Brick was leaning against the wall with his enormous arms crossed over his chest. Zeke was pacing, his movements rapid and angry. "You okay, boss?" Brick asked as soon as he noticed me. His deep voice was soft, contrasting with his imposing appearance. I nodded, not trusting my own voice. Zeke stopped pacing and approached. He put his hand on my shoulder. It felt warm and comforting. "Come on," he replied. "Let's get you out of here." We walked through the castle. Our footsteps echoed off the stone walls as the halls remained vacant. Tapestries illustrating pack history hung at regular intervals, their hues dimmed in the low light. Everyone else was presumably still discussing the meeting. About me. I ignored the concept, concentrating instead on the strong presence of my buddies beside me. We wound up in my room. It was excessively huge. The four-pos
# Chapter 88: Journey at DawnAvyaane pov Blair knocked on my door before the sun had risen. I was already awake. Sleep had been tricky, driven away by thoughts of what was ahead. The knock was light and seemingly tentative. This is hardly Blair's normal confident rap. I took a deep breath, adjusted my hair, and pushed open the door. I expected Blair's customary smirk. That smug grin made me want to roll my eyes. Instead, his expression was serious. Almost nervous. It knocked me off balance. "Ready?" he inquired. His voice was low, reflective of the early hour. I nodded, not trusting my own voice. My throat felt tight with fear. Blair's eyes flitted across my face, concern etched lines around his mouth. He took up my baggage without saying anything. The gesture startled me. This was not the Blair I knew. We strolled through the silent castle. Our footsteps bounced off stone walls, a lonely sound in the calm of the early morning. Shadows clung to corners, slowly fading as the first ra
Chapter 89: DownpourAvyaane povThe rain came quickly and fiercely. It hammered against the windshield in a steady pace that mirrored my heartbeat. Blair grumbled under his breath and squinted through the rain. His knuckles were white on the steering wheel. "We should pull over," I said. He shakes his head. "The hotel is right up ahead. "We will make it." I wasn't too sure. The wipers waged a lost struggle with the torrent. The world appeared like a watery blur through the glass. Trees appeared out of the gloom and faded as fast. Blair leaned forward, looking into the gray. His jaw was firm, and a muscle ticked in his face. This wasn't the Blair I knew. The smug grin had disappeared, replaced by bleak determination. It disturbed me more than the storm. The automobile had slowed to a crawl. Blair moved us ahead, battling for every yard. I grasped the armrest with my nails sinking into the leather. The rain was thunderous now, an unending roar that drowned out everything else. "There!"
Chapter 90: Fever DreamsAvyaane pov I awakened to the sound of coughing. Coughs were harsh and wracking, as if shaking the small walls of our room. For a time, I was disoriented. The strange bed, the faded flowered wallpaper, and the constant banging of rain on the window. Then everything came pouring back. The storm. Blair showed unexpected kindness. The odd, tense moment before we fell asleep. I sat up, pulling tangled hair away from my face. Blair was a lump beneath the covers of the other bed, still coughing. In the gloomy light streaming through the drapes, he appeared little. Vulnerable. It was unsettling to see him like way. "Blair?" I called quietly. "Are you okay?" The coughing has subsided. Blair's head protruded from the sheets, His hair was a tangle, and his eyes were blurry from fever. "Avy?" His voice was a croak, scarcely distinguishable. I sprang out of bed in an instant and crossed the short distance between us. Up close, I could see the redness in his cheeks and t
Chapter 91: TraumaAvyaane pov "When I was approximately eight years old, I got terribly sick with the flu. I had a high fever and could not keep anything down. Emma made this soup; I'm not sure what was in it, but it smelled dreadful. She attempted feeding it to me, but I declined. I was so tired and nauseous. "I just wanted to sleep." Blair's voice broke. I rubbed his hand with my thumb, providing subtle support. "She became enraged. Said I was being ungrateful and disobedient. She pushed my nose closed and attempted to pour the soup down my throat. I went into a panic. Couldn't breathe. I lashed out and knocked the bowl out of her grasp. The soup spread everywhere. She was infuriated. She..." He trailed off, trembling. I waited with my heart beating. "She locked me inside my room. No food or water. He said I could come out when I was ready to behave. I had been in there for two days before my folks discovered me. "Oh, Blair," I muttered in horror. "That's... it's abuse. Do you