All Chapters of SHADOWBORN: The Rise Of The Dragon Wolf : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

195 Chapters

NYX SWAYED ON HER FEET AND THEN STARTED TO FALL

Chapter 30The next week blurred together in a haze of training and exhaustion, Marcus pushed me harder each day like he was trying to break me. Maybe he was.But I didn't break, instead I got stronger.My body adapted faster than I thought possible, bruises that should have taken days to heal were gone in hours. Muscles that should have been sore for a week felt fine by the next morning, even my reflexes were getting sharper and faster.I was becoming something else, something not quite human anymore. I stopped being human the day I was bitten by that man that night, I couldn't hate hate him because it was the reason I met Nyx.NyxI still couldn't stop thinking about her and Finn.It was driving me crazy, every break I took my eyes would find them, they were always together. Always talking and laughing like they'd known each other for years instead of weeks.I told myself it didn't matter, that I was being ridiculous.But It didn't help."You're distracted again," Marcus said. H

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE JUST FRIENDS

Chapter 31AlexI lunged forward and caught her before she hit the ground. The silver light around her flickered once and then died.She was unconscious in my arms, blood was still running from her nose and ears but she was breathing, her heartbeat was strong against my chest.I sank to my knees still holding her, my ears were ringing and everything hurt but I didn't care."Nyx," I said. My voice sounded strange and distant. "Nyx wake up."She didn't respond.I looked around and saw that everyone else was on the ground too, holding their heads and bleeding from their ears.Lyra was the first to stand. She looked at Nyx and there was something in her expression I'd never seen before.Fear."Get her inside," Lyra said. Her voice was rough like the scream had damaged her throat. "Now."I didn't argue, I picked Nyx up and started running toward my cabin.Behind me I could hear people starting to recover, starting to ask what happened. But I didn't stop to explain.I kicked open my door an

IF THEY FIND OUT WE HAVE A BANSHEE THEY'LL EITHER TRY TO KILL

Chapter 32NyxThe words hung in the air between us.I stared at him trying to process what he'd just said. "What?""I don't want to be just friends," Alex repeated. His voice was rough like it hurt to say the words. "I haven't wanted that for a while now."My heart was beating so fast I thought it might break through my chest. "Alex.""Seeing you with Finn made me crazy," he said. "Every time he made you laugh or touched your arm or sat too close I wanted to pull you away. I wanted to remind you that I was here. That I'm the one who's been with you through everything."I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. "You never said anything.""Because I'm a werewolf," Alex said. "Because I'm dangerous. Because you deserve someone safe, someone who could control his powers and I'm neither of those things."I reached out and took his hand. "I don't want normal and safe. I want you."His breath caught. "Nyx.""I was so angry when I saw Lyra kiss you," I said. "Not just angry. Furious. Like somethi

THE HARDEST PART WAS STILL TO COME

Chapter 33Nyx"How close are they now?" I heard Lyra say to no one in particular. She might be mind linking with her other wolves.Lyra stopped walking. "What?"What happened? I don't even know what was going on.Lyra's eyes narrowed. "That doesn't make sense. Raiders don't retreat without a reason."Ohh, they retreated. That's a good thing, so why was her face still like this."Maybe they saw how many wolves we have," the guard suggested."Or maybe they were scouting," Lyra said. "Testing our defenses. Seeing how we'd react."She turned and looked at me. Really looked at me. "Or maybe they sensed something that scared them off.""What do you mean?" I asked."Banshees are feared by all supernatural creatures," Lyra said slowly. "Even other wolves. If they sensed what you are they might have decided we're not worth the risk.""But I didn't do anything," I said. "I've been in here the whole time.""Your power leaked out when you screamed," Lyra said. "It spread through the entire villa

SOMETHING ABOUT IT FELT WRONG.

Chapter 34NyxI stayed with Alex until the sun started to set, watched his chest rise and fall with each breath.The bruises on his face were already starting to fade thanks to his werewolf healing but some of the deeper wounds would take longer.Every time I looked at him I felt this mix of emotions I couldn't sort through, anger that he'd been so reckless, fear that Lyra could have killed him, and something else. Something warm and frightening that sat heavy in my chest.He'd done that for me, stood up to Lyra knowing exactly what would happen.I reached out and brushed a strand of hair from his forehead, but he didn't stir he just slept on like a baby.There was a soft knock on the door and I tensed, If it was Lyra coming back I didn't know what I'd do.But it was Finn who poked his head inside. "Hey. Is he okay?""He's sleeping," I said quietly. "His face looks better than it did an hour ago."Finn stepped fully into the room and closed the door behind him. He looked at Alex and

THE WORDS HURT EVEN THOUGH I KNEW HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE THIS EASIER

Chapter 35 NyxBut maybe I was just being paranoid. Maybe there was a perfectly normal explanation for why one of Lyra's wolves was sneaking around in the dark.I went back to bed but I didn't sleep. Just lay there thinking about everything until the first light of dawn started creeping through the window.True to his word Finn showed up with breakfast. Bread and some kind of porridge and water."Morning," he said. He didn't look like he'd slept much either. "How'd you sleep?""Terribly," I admitted. "You?""Same," he said. He set the tray on the table. "The whole village is on edge after yesterday. Everyone's expecting the raiders to come back any day now.""Do you think they will?" I asked."Yeah," Finn said. "That challenge mark means they're coming. It's just a matter of when."I picked at the bread but I wasn't really hungry. "Can I see Alex?""He's already at the training grounds," Finn said. "Lyra had him up before dawn. She wasn't kidding about pushing him hard.""It's too so

THEY KNEW I WAS HERE, KNEW WHAT I WAS

Chapter 36"Come on," Finn said quietly. "Let's go."I let him lead me away from the training grounds, behind me I could hear Lyra shouting instructions at Alex again."That was awful," I said when we were far enough away that no one could hear us."That was Lyra," Finn said. "She's not gentle. She believes in breaking people down so she can build them back up stronger.""What if she just breaks him?" I asked."Then he wasn't strong enough to begin with," Finn said. "That's how she sees it."We walked back to my room in silence, when we got there Finn hesitated at the door."Can I ask you something?" he said."Sure," I said."Why did you agree to stay here?" Finn asked. "After everything that happened. After Lyra triggered your power and Alex got hurt. Why didn't you demand to leave?"I thought about it, about how I'd felt watching Alex train. Watching him get stronger even if it meant getting beat up every day."Because leaving would mean Alex did all of this for nothing," I said. "H

ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS ALEX OUT THERE TRAINING

Chapter 37NyxI didn't sleep for the rest of the night.Every sound made me jump, every shadow outside the window made my heart race. I kept seeing those eyes staring at me through the darkness. Calculating. Hunting.By the time the sun came up I was exhausted and terrified and angry at myself for being so scared.When Finn arrived with breakfast I practically lunged at him."There was a wolf outside my window last night," I said before he could even set the tray down. "One of the raiders. It was watching the village. Watching me."Finn's expression went serious immediately. "Are you sure?""Positive," I said. "It wasn't one of Lyra's. I could tell by the way it moved. The way it looked at me.""Did it try to get inside?" Finn asked."No," I said. "It just watched for a minute and then left. But Finn it knew I was here. It was looking right at me."Finn set the tray down and ran a hand through his hair. "This is bad. If they're sending scouts this close to the village that means they

IS THIS REALLY THE RIGHT TIME TO START SOMETHING?

Chapter 38NyxI needed to keep my strength up. Needed to be ready for whatever was coming.Afternoon turned to evening. The light through my window changed from bright to golden to dim.I kept waiting for Finn to come back with news, with anything.But he didn't come.By the time night fell I was pacing the room. Six steps from the door to the window. Six steps back. Over and over.I was on my hundredth lap when I heard voices outside. Low and urgent.I pressed my ear against the door but I couldn't make out what they were saying.Then everything went quiet.Too quiet.I waited. Listening.Nothing.I moved to the window and looked out, the village looked normal. A few lights in windows, shadows moving here and there.But something felt wrong. The air felt different. Heavy.And then I heard it.A howl. Long and eerie. Coming from the forest beyond the village.It was answered by another howl. And another. Until the night was full of them.The raiders were here.I backed away from the

I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND EVERYTHING FELT DIFFERENT

Chapter 39NyxThere was a knock on the door and we both tensed."It's me," Finn's voice came through. "Can I come in?""Yeah," Alex called.Finn opened the door and stepped inside, he looked exhausted. There was blood on his shirt but he didn't seem injured."Lyra wants to see you both," he said. "Now.""Can't it wait?" I asked. "Alex is hurt.""I'm fine," Alex said. He stood up carefully. "Let's get this over with."We followed Finn back through the village, people were cleaning up from the fight. Repairing damaged houses, tending to the wounded.Everyone we passed stopped to stare at me, but this time it wasn't fear in their eyes.It was awe.Lyra was in her house with her inner circle, they all looked up when we entered."Sit," Lyra said.We sat.Lyra studied both of us for a long moment. "What you did tonight changes everything. You showed power that I've only read about in ancient texts. You didn't just stop those wolves. You froze them. Completely immobilized them while leaving

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