CHAPTER 58
AriaThe evening air carried the scent of wet wood and unresolved rage. The forest behind the house still bore the traces of the wolves’ footprints, the pack having just returned to their territory. But not all of them left with the rain-soaked earth. Something remained. An invisible wound—one that seeped into the house’s walls and the souls left behind.
Inside the house, in the living room, Luna stood like a flame ready to burn anything in her path. Her gaze was no longer soft like the little sister I used to soothe after nightmares. Now, she was a storm. A fury held back for too long, finally finding a crack to erupt.
“I’ll find them myself,” Luna said quietly but firmly. And precisely because it was quiet, her voice rang out like a threat carved from cold steel. Her eyes locked onto Kael, and I could feel the chill in that stare—sharper than a blade.
Kael crosse
CHAPTER 59AriaThe back door of the ranch creaked softly as the evening wind pushed it open. Heavy footsteps echoed on the wooden floor, making me turn away from the kitchen table where Kael and I were discussing possible patrol routes. Marcus had just left to check the western border. We still hadn't heard from Elena and Luna. A constant restlessness haunted my mind, like a gray cloud refusing to clear from a threatening sky.But when I saw who was standing at the threshold, my eyes widened."Aaron?" I could barely believe it.That tall, broad body stood firm, though his arm and ribs were still wrapped in bandages. His shirt was damp with dew and sweat, and though his steps were cautious, there was an undeniable strength in his gaze. His face was hard, but his eyes burned with something I hadn’t seen since the night of the attack—a determination born from pain, not in spite of the wounds, bu
CHAPTER 58AriaThe evening air carried the scent of wet wood and unresolved rage. The forest behind the house still bore the traces of the wolves’ footprints, the pack having just returned to their territory. But not all of them left with the rain-soaked earth. Something remained. An invisible wound—one that seeped into the house’s walls and the souls left behind.Inside the house, in the living room, Luna stood like a flame ready to burn anything in her path. Her gaze was no longer soft like the little sister I used to soothe after nightmares. Now, she was a storm. A fury held back for too long, finally finding a crack to erupt.“I’ll find them myself,” Luna said quietly but firmly. And precisely because it was quiet, her voice rang out like a threat carved from cold steel. Her eyes locked onto Kael, and I could feel the chill in that stare—sharper than a blade.Kael crosse
CHAPTER 57AriaThe morning wind pierced to the bone, carrying the scent of damp earth and tuberose that hadn’t fully bloomed. Leaves swayed gently, as if whispering in mourning. A heavy gray sky hung low over the old cemetery at the edge of the forest—clouded and still, as if the heavens themselves were grieving with us.But what made this morning feel so silent… was the sound of tears everyone held back.Today, we would bury Father.I stood beside the wooden coffin carried by Marcus and two members of Kael’s pack. The dark wood looked strong and cold, yet it couldn’t contain the tremble in my chest.No music. No priest.Just us—Luna, Elena, Marcus, and a group of wolves in human form, standing in a solemn semicircle around the freshly dug grave. The red earth was damp, ready to swallow the eternity of someone we once called home.Kael stood directly across from me
CHAPTER 56AriaI sat at the end of the living room sofa, staring at Luna, who sat silently with her fists clenched in her lap. Her fingers were entwined so tightly her knuckles had turned white. Her eyes were fixed on the floor, but her gaze was empty, as if she wasn’t truly seeing anything. The room felt too quiet, as if it were holding its breath along with us. There was no sound from the television, no ticking of the wall clock—only the echo of my heartbeat pounding in my head.I waited for the right moment, but every second that passed only made my chest tighter. Nausea rose to my throat, and my hands on my lap began to tremble. I had to tell her. Now. Before my courage drowned in the fear tightening its grip.“Luna…” My voice came out as a whisper, barely escaping my throat. I swallowed thickly, the taste bitter and dense. In my mind, I had rehearsed the words over and over, but no arran
Chapter 55: Returning with a Heavy BurdenThe journey home from the clearing felt like walking through a thick fog that choked our souls. Every step we took on the uneven, muddy forest ground felt heavy, as if gravity had doubled just for us, pulling our bodies to the earth with cruel force. The cool night air now felt like it was piercing our skin like thousands of ice needles, carrying with it the scent of damp earth mixed with the sharp metallic smell of blood that had dried and clotted on my clothes—a horrifying reminder of the tragedy that had just occurred.Kael and Marcus walked ahead with trembling yet steady steps, both carefully carrying John's body as if bearing the most precious treasure. They moved in sync like a sad dance that had been practiced countless times, step by measured step with mathematical precision so as not to jostle the lifeless body. Occasionally they stopped with labored breathing to adjust position, ensuring John's
Chapter 54: An Unexpected LossThe wall clock in the living room ticked with a sound that seemed deafeningly loud in the silence of the night—tick, tick, tick—each tick like a small hammer blow striking my ribs. It was nearly one in the morning, but my eyes weren't sleepy at all. My eyelids felt heavy yet refused to close, as if afraid of missing something important. The anxiety gnawing at my heart made every second feel like an hour, every minute like torturous eternity.I sat on the sofa with my legs tucked tightly, clutching a sofa pillow so hard that my knuckles turned white. The soft pillow fabric was already wrinkled from my unconscious grip that tightened every time dark thoughts crept into my head. Occasionally I glanced toward the window, hoping to see two familiar figures emerge from the forest darkness, but all I could see were silhouettes of trees swaying in the night breeze.Elena had gone to Luna's room half an hour ago