Semua Bab Shattered Vows, Silent Fire : Bab 41 - Bab 50

The lawn fell into a hushed stillness as the fire crackled and cast long, flickering shadows across the assembled crowd. The stars overhead blinked through the velvet sky like ancient eyes, watching in silence. Everyone—young and old—gathered around the largest firepit at the center of the clearing, the heart of the night’s gathering.At the head of the circle sat the eldest man in the clan, his skin as wrinkled as tree bark, his eyes foggy yet somehow sharper than any young wolf present. He sat in a wheelchair fashioned of carved oak and iron, a relic as timeless as the tales he carried in his bones.Ashara stood just a few feet away from Zev and his friends, her arms wrapped around herself as the night’s coolness whispered through the air. The flickering firelight danced on her skin, and for a moment, Zev didn’t look away. He could feel the heat rising within him—not just from the fire, but from the bond thrumming in his blood.The old man lifted his hand, and the crowd quieted.“To

The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the towering windows of Kael’s private library, casting long golden streaks across the polished floorboards. Dust motes floated lazily in the warm light, dancing with each faint breeze that stirred the ancient air of the room. Shelves upon shelves of leather-bound tomes stretched from floor to ceiling, a kingdom of forgotten knowledge that had remained untouched by the world for decades.Ashara had always loved the library, though she was rarely allowed inside without her father’s permission. But today, the heavy oak doors had been left ajar. It felt like an invitation.Padding softly inside, her eyes widened as she took in the vast space. A hush hung in the room, sacred and still, as if the books themselves were waiting to be disturbed. She walked between the towering shelves, running her fingers along the spines. Histories, myths, philosophies—every book was a whisper of the past.Ashara’s gaze stopped on a particular section on the far w

The forest road stretched endlessly ahead, golden light slipping through the trees as Zev’s jungle safari jeep rumbled along the gravel path. Birds chirped in a fading melody, and the canopy overhead cast dappled shadows across the dashboard.Ashara leaned back in the passenger seat, the wind teasing strands of her hair loose from her braid. A comfortable silence hung between them, broken only by the occasional hum of tires against uneven terrain.Then came a soft, dramatic sigh.“I’m starving,” she muttered, resting her hand on her stomach. “Like… chips-and-soda starving.”Zev chuckled, one hand on the steering wheel. “Chips and soda? That’s your craving after all the fancy food my mom served?”“It was too fancy,” she said with a playful whine. “I miss artificial flavoring and sugar rushes.”Zev pulled to the side of the trail near a small charging station built into a rock wall, designed for off-grid power. He parked the jeep and turned toward her with an exaggerated smile. “Your wi

For eight long days, the mansion had been draped in silence.Not the peaceful silence that brought calm and serenity—but the cold, heavy kind that weighed on the chest like a stone.Ashara moved quietly through the hallways, her footsteps echoing in the emptiness. The warmth of home had vanished, replaced by the invisible wall her father had built between them.Since that night in the woods.Since he barged into her room with storm in his eyes and secrets in his silence.Kael hadn’t yelled. He hadn’t scolded.He had done something far worse—he withdrew.He didn’t speak to her unless absolutely necessary. He didn’t share his morning coffee. He didn’t greet her with the usual gentle touch on her head or a kiss on her forehead.He simply… wasn’t present.Ashara had tried everything.She apologized more than once, even though she wasn’t entirely sure what she had done wrong. She had admitted she shouldn’t have gone into the forest. She promised she wouldn’t go out again without telling hi

The moment Ashara stepped back into the house, it felt different. The lights were dimmed, the air too still, and her father sat motionless in the living room — a towering figure wrapped in silence. Kael’s expression was unreadable, sharp jaw clenched, golden eyes dimmer than usual. The fire beside him crackled softly, casting shadows that danced across the walls but not across his face. That face was set in stone.Ashara’s feet slowed as she reached the edge of the couch. She looked at him, searching for even the faintest softness in his eyes. But Kael didn’t move. His hands were resting on his thighs, stiff, his posture too still, too poised, too controlled.She sat down quietly beside him.There was a long pause — one filled with fragile breaths and unspoken fears. Ashara opened her mouth to speak, but it was Kael who moved first. His arms opened without a word, and in a second, she was pulled into his embrace.Her heart shattered.Ashara let out a choked sob and buried herself into