Semua Bab The Black Wolf : Bab 51 - Bab 60

Vireya's POV Zevarion returned. From his worn leather bag, he drew out a handful of red apples, their skin catching the firelight like polished rubies. He handed a few to Kavira, who snatched them eagerly and sank her teeth into one with a loud crunch.“There’s an apple tree nearby?” I asked, my voice laced with surprise.“Yes,” he replied gently. “Please, eat. We'll find something more proper tomorrow. I promise.”Nothing about this place whispered of fruit-bearing trees, yet I didn't question him further. Instead, I took a tentative bite. The apple was crisp, tart with a hint of sweetness, and it grounded me more than I expected.After eating, we settled by the fire, its warmth flickering against our skin like a fragile shield from the night’s creeping cold. Kavira lay a short distance away, wrapped in a pale linen sheet Zevarion pulled from that seemingly bottomless bag of his. I found myself wondering what else he carrie.He pulled me into his arms, his scent soothed me, but my

Vireya's POV A man emerged from the shadows of the adjoining shop. I had expected someone old, hunched and grizzled, but he was anything but. He was tall, his presence quiet, with eyes that seemed to flicker like candle flames in a draft.“Welcome,” he said smoothly, his voice a low rumble as he approached the counter. “Has something caught your eye? Or do you have a request in mind?”I glanced around once more, unease prickling at my skin. Shelves crowded with jars of strange powders, bones tied with red string.“What kind of services do you offer?” I asked, keeping my voice steady.“Any kind,” he replied with a slow smile. “Just ask.”I squared my shoulders. “Do you see a necklace around my neck?”He paused. The air grew heavier as his gaze dropped to my collarbone. His brow furrowed slightly.“I don’t see a necklace,” he said carefully. “But I see something. Smoke, curling like thorns.”Relief seeped through me, he wasn’t ordinary. That meant hope, maybe.“Is there anything that c

Vireya's POVNo. That man is twisted, he’s doing something to my mind. I never should’ve gone into that shop, let alone returned. I opened the bag to throw the candle away, but a soft knock at the door froze me in place.“Vireya, are you in there?” Kavira’s voice called gently from outside.“Yes,” I replied quickly, shoving the candle back into the bag. The last thing I needed was her questioning where it came from, especially after she warned me to stay away from him.She stepped into the room, her expression calm. “Mother wanted to give you something,” she said.I followed her out into the living room, where her mother sat peacefully, knitting. The soft clicking of her needles filled the space like a lullaby.“I made this for you,” she said, holding out a forest-green turtleneck sweater.“This is beautiful,” I breathed, running my fingers over the soft yarn. “You really didn’t have to. You’ve already given me so much.”“Oh, please,” she chuckled warmly. “You brought back my only da

Vireya's POV We walked until our legs grew weary and the sun stood high above us, the forest air grew warmer. Eventually, we found a shaded patch beneath a cluster of cedar trees and decided to take a break.“With this much load,” Zevarion said with a chuckle, lowering his pack with a soft thud, “we’ll be taking more breaks than actual steps.”I laughed, brushing a few strands of damp hair from my face. “Tell me about it. Kavira's mother is so sweet.”I rummaged through our supplies and pulled out a wrapped parcel, potatoes and thick stew, still steaming faintly from the insulated pouch. The rich scent wafted up, and I passed him a portion. Freshwater wasn’t a problem, we had enough in our flasks, but we still needed to find a stream or spring to wash up.As I chewed, I kept thinking what if my wolf emerges unexpectedly. A restless sigh slipped from my lips, unbidden.Zevarion looked up instantly. “What is it?”I hesitated, staring into the distance where birds darted across the sky

Vireya's POV It happened faster than the blink of an eye, one moment, I was in Zevarion’s arms, sobbing into his chest. The next, everything vanished into suffocating darkness.A voice cut through the void, smooth, mocking, unmistakable.“Welcome, my princess,” Xareth drawled, each word laced with sarcasm.My eyes snapped open, and a sharp gasp escaped my lips. I was standing in his chambers.The walls loomed high around me, draped in shadows and blood-red silk. Xareth stood before me, lips curled in amusement. My legs trembled as I staggered backward, panic clawing at my chest.“No… no, no…” I spun around, desperate to flee.“Stop.”The command cracked like a whip, and my body froze mid-step. I tried to scream, to run, to resist, but I was a puppet to his voice.“Come here,” he said calmly.Against my will, my feet moved. Each step toward him felt like walking into a grave. I stopped just inches away, the scent of pine and iron coiling around me.He rose from his seat with that twis