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Chapter 71

Author: Mary Anthony
last update Last Updated: 2025-04-26 16:26:32

The firelight flickered against his face, casting long shadows that made him look even more formidable.

"Then why not put the rumors to rest?" someone challenged. "One clear denial, and this ends here."

The General stared him down, his silence speaking volumes.

"I see," Rylan murmured from the side, loud enough for all to hear. "You would rather let your silence confirm our fears."

A few men nodded, their expressions grim.

"If you can't be honest with your own warriors," another added, "how can we trust your leadership?"

"I have led you through countless battles," Kaelen said, his voice hard. "I have bled for you. Bled with you. If that is not enough to earn your trust, then perhaps you are not the men I thought you were."

For a moment, there was silence. Heavy, suffocating silence.

"But you’re changing," someone muttered from the back. "You were never... distracted before. You were always about duty first. Now it feels like... you’re torn."

Kaelen’s lips pressed into a tight line.

"I
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  • The Forbidden Gaze   Chapter 114: The Memory Tree

    "Ava? Where are you going?" Kaelen's voice chased her through the early mist."I heard it again," Ava said, pausing in her steps. Her voice was soft, almost dazed. "That whisper. It called me by my name. My true name."Kaelen frowned. "What name?"She turned to him, breathless. "Isla. My mother used to call me Isla when I was very small. It was... forgotten. Until now.""Are you sure this isn’t a dream still clinging to your mind?""No," she whispered. "It felt too real. The voice was right there, in the wind. It led me this way."Kaelen hesitated, then stepped beside her. "Then we go together."They moved through thick moss and ancient ferns, the canopy above glowing silver under the early moonrise. Each step felt heavier, as if the forest grew denser with something unspoken. Then Ava stopped abruptly."There." Her voice trembled with awe.In the heart of a clearing stood a single tree unlike any other—its bark gleamed like polished silver, leaves flickering like starlight. It pulsed

  • The Forbidden Gaze   Chapter 113

    "Kaelen, where are we going? You’ve blindfolded me for the last ten minutes," Ava asked, laughter in her voice."Patience, my moonlight. We’re almost there," Kaelen replied, tightening his hold on her hand as he led her through the gentle slope of the forest trail."You said no more surprises. I nearly passed out from the last one," she teased, her steps uncertain but trusting."This one’s different," he said with a smile in his tone. "This is just for us. No council, no warriors, no politics. Just… you and me."Ava felt the soft crunch of moss underfoot, and the shift in temperature as they stepped into a shaded grove. The air smelled cleaner here, tinged with pine and wild jasmine."Alright," Kaelen said, releasing the silk blindfold, "Open your eyes."Ava blinked against the golden light spilling through the leaves—and gasped.Before her was a hidden sanctuary nestled between trees older than memory. A stone cottage with ivy-clad walls, its windows glowing with warmth. Beyond it, s

  • The Forbidden Gaze   Chapter 112

    “Kaelen, are you sure the ritual is ready?” Ava’s voice trembled slightly as they stood beneath the great ancient oak, its silver leaves shimmering softly in the moonlight.Kaelen’s eyes, steady and calm, met hers. “It must be. The pack’s elders prepared everything carefully. Our blood will bind us, and the moon will witness our vow.”“But the risk...” Ava hesitated. “The guide said if it fails, it could harm me. What if I’m not strong enough?”“You are stronger than you know, Ava.” Kaelen took her hand firmly. “This isn’t just about tradition. It’s about us—our future, together and united with the pack. Nothing will stop that.”She swallowed, looking up at the glowing moon. “I want to believe that. I want to trust it will protect us both.”Kaelen’s gaze softened. “You won’t be alone. I’ll be right beside you. No matter what.”---“The pack has waited centuries for this day,” whispered Zylan, his deep voice barely audible over the gentle rustling of leaves.“I hope they understand wha

  • The Forbidden Gaze   Chapter 111

    Next DayThe next morning, Ava awoke with a chill in her bones. Despite the warmth of the blankets and Kaelen's arm around her, the feeling of being watched lingered. She slid out of bed quietly and walked to the window.Mist curled through the trees beyond the boundary of the village. Birds remained silent. Something in the air felt off.Kaelen stirred behind her. "Couldn't sleep?""I just keep thinking about that wolf."He sat up, rubbing his temples. "I dreamed of it last night. It stood above a field of bones... and it howled. Everything shook."Ava shivered. "Do you think it's warning us? Or threatening us?""Maybe both," he muttered.A knock on the door interrupted them. Zylan entered without waiting."Come. There's something you both need to see."---Kaelen exchanged a glance with Ava. The worry in Zylan’s eyes was impossible to ignore.“Is it... related?” Ava asked, pulling her robe tighter.Zylan nodded. “It is. More than you realize.”They followed him through the quiet vil

  • The Forbidden Gaze   Chapter 110

    The Binding "Is your hand trembling, Kaelen?" Ava whispered, a teasing smile playing on her lips."Only because I'm about to bind my soul to the fiercest woman I've ever known," he replied, eyes glowing gold in the moonlight."Then let's see who trembles first."Their fingers interlaced as they stood beneath the Sacred Oak, the moon hanging large and silver above them. Around them, the pack had gathered in complete silence, the air thick with reverence. The Binding Moon ceremony was older than most could remember, whispered to be the very ritual that once united the first wolf and the first human in harmony.Ava wore a gown of twilight-blue silk, embroidered with silver threads that shimmered with every movement. Her hair was braided with tiny strands of lavender, the spiritual flower of peace. Kaelen stood in his ceremonial armor, its dark steel trimmed with silver fur, his Alpha crest pinned at his chest.The pack's spiritual guide stepped forward, holding a shallow silver bowl. "T

  • The Forbidden Gaze   Chapter 109

    "You don’t have to do this, Ava. The council's already divided. Speaking out now could turn them completely against you," Zylan said, his voice hushed as he stood beside her at the edge of the ceremonial grounds.Ava looked straight ahead, her eyes fixed on the growing crowd gathering in the torch-lit square. "That’s exactly why I have to do it. They need to hear the truth—from me. Not whispered lies or half-believed rumors.""And if they don't listen? If they turn on you?" Zylan pressed, worry deepening the lines on his brow.She turned to face him, her voice steady. "Then I fall knowing I stood for something that matters. But if I say nothing, I become everything they already accuse me of. I won’t be silent."Zylan sighed, shifting closer to her, his voice barely above a whisper now."They see you as an outsider, Ava. A human. Some of them are just waiting for you to slip, to prove them right.""Then let them watch," Ava replied, lifting her chin. "Let them see I’m not afraid. Not o

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