LOGINEmber Frost’s POVThe room was tense, everyone waiting for his response.“Stop saying nonsense. You’re not weak,” he said, his voice calm but steady. “Right now, you need to focus on getting your strength back.”He crossed his arms slightly, then added, “Someone else will handle your duties for a few days. That’s not something you need to worry about.”His tone softened a bit.“When you’ve been out in harsh conditions for too long, your body eventually pushes back. It happens to everyone. It doesn’t mean you’re weak—it just means you’ve reached your limit for now.”He gave a small nod, as if sealing the point.“Rest. You’ll get back on your feet soon enough, and when you do, you can return to your work.”I didn’t push back.I didn't need to.That was enough.The rest fell into place faster than expected.After going through the motions of checking on me, Elder Anna straightened up and glanced around the group.“Why don’t you assign someone to go with me? Maybe Axel.” she said, as if t
Ember Frost’s POVThose strange pockets of warped space were never meant to be seen. They were built with intent—quietly tucked away, shaped to be overlooked. Even if someone passed right by them, they’d never think to question what they didn’t see. And if they got too close… the space would turn them away without them realizing it.We had spent months chasing that kind of distortion, only to end up right where we started—nowhere.Still, something had changed.It wasn’t much, just a small thread of understanding, but after so many empty attempts, it felt like enough to hold onto.By the time I finished explaining everything we’d gathered, my body was already giving out on me. My voice felt dry, my thoughts sluggish, like I’d pushed myself a little too far this time.Henry noticed.He didn’t argue or ask questions. Just cut me off before I could even suggest going back out.“Stay,” he said simply.That was it. No room to protest.Someone was told to remain with me, and just like that,
Ember Frost’s POVEira caught on to what I was getting at almost right away.As Jules and the others were still debating whether to report what we’d discovered, she made eye contact with me, her voice dropping to a quiet thread through our mind link.“You’re thinking Sir Henry’s situation might be connected to the same kind of spatial trick… aren’t you?”There was a certain unease in her tone, like she didn’t like where the thought was going, but couldn’t ignore it either.“Yes… I think so,” I said after a short pause.Eira frowned slightly, her voice dropping. “But I’ve actually been to that place with Elder Harriet and Elder Marcus. We didn’t notice anything strange like what we just saw with the ravine.”That made sense. If it was the same kind of trick, we should have felt something off back then.I shook my head a little, trying to piece it together. “Maybe it’s not built the same way,” I said. “It might not be a single space, it could be… something overlapping. One place hidden
Ember Frost’s POVI needed more than a guess—I needed something solid to hold onto.So I started asking questions.“When they showed up, what did they look like? Were they out of breath, like they’d been walking for hours… or did they look relaxed, like it was nothing?”Eira didn’t even hesitate. “They’re tired. Really tired. You can tell just by looking at them. Their steps are slow, like every movement costs them something. Some of them can barely keep their balance.”That painted a clearer picture—but not a complete one.“Did anyone look behind them at all?” I asked. “Like… checking the way they came, just to be sure?”I hesitated for a second, then added, “Or maybe their faces gave something away? Shock, confusion… even a bit of excitement? Anything that felt off?”She paused for a while.“Honestly… I didn’t really notice,” she said after a moment. “I was paying more attention to the group as a whole.”Then she added, “But some members of my team did see something. They said they
Ember Frost’s POVWe’ve had clear skies for a few days now, so this sudden shift feels a bit off. Then, almost out of nowhere, snow started falling—thick, fast, and heavy enough to cover everything in white.Still, it didn’t bother us much. In this place, winter was constant—we’d learned to move through it like it was nothing.Being used to it didn’t make it easier. There’s a difference between putting up with something and actually wanting it. And lying out in the cold until noon, feeling the chill sink deep into my bones, was definitely not my idea of a good time.The cold had soaked through my clothes a long time ago. My fingers were stiff, my legs barely responding. Every breath felt sharp in my chest, like I was inhaling ice. If I stayed like this any longer, I might just freeze into the ground and become part of it.So this was what they meant by keeping watch.At first, I thought this would be simple. Just sit, observe, and wait. It wasn’t. No one tells you how slowly time move
Ember Frost’s POVHenry didn’t fully trust the report, but he didn’t ignore it either. Something about it felt off, and he couldn’t shake that feeling.“What do you think they’re after?” he asked, his voice low but firm.Jules exhaled slowly and shook her head. “I honestly don’t know. They’ve settled in a cave at the foot of the mountain, and it looks like they plan to stay for a while. I didn’t go any closer than I had to—it didn’t feel safe. I just watched from a distance with the others. Once they were settled, we came straight back.”Henry gave a small nod. “You handled that well,” he said. He gestured toward the door. “Go to your room and take a breather. We’ve got a long night ahead, and you’ll need all your focus.”Jules looked drained but didn’t argue. After a short nod, she left for her room.The moment she stepped out, I turned to Henry. “Could this be the same human group the scouts reported earlier?” I asked, trying to make sense of it all.“They are,” he said, his express
Lilian’s POVThe storm had ended long before we stepped outside. No wind, no falling snow—just a wide, silent white stretching as far as I could see.I moved with the team across the wide, silent snowfield. Each step pressed a little deeper into the cold, and with every crunch beneath my boots, an
Ember Frost’s POVMy chest ached with guilt all at once, strong and sudden. If there were a prize for being irresponsible, I would’ve taken it without question. I’d shoved the newly awakened “wolf child” to the back of my mind and left it there. I never meant to, but intentions didn’t change the ou
Ember Frost’s POVThe instant it came in contact with my skin, agony exploded through my skull, as if something had been struck with a hammer from the inside. Heat rushed upward, and the markings carved into my skin flared to life, glowing like streaks of burning light.My body failed. Strength dra
Ember Frost’s POVI froze where I stood.I honestly didn’t see anything wrong with what I had done. Calling it a “sacrifice” felt exaggerated. That word was too heavy, too dramatic, something meant for situations where lives were clearly on the line. What I did didn’t deserve a label like that.Yes







