Lahat ng Kabanata ng Feral Hearts Book 1: Awakening the Feral: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 23

Morning in Nightshade territory was quieter than it had any right to be. Days and nights had come and gone, and my wound had been healing itsself slowly for the second time.The forest stretched out beyond the cabins in long bands of mist and pale sunlight, the early light filtering through the tall pines like something careful and deliberate. The pack was already waking—distant voices near the training grounds, the rhythmic thud of paws somewhere deeper in the trees, the faint smell of smoke from the main house kitchens.Normal pack life.Something I hadn't been part of in a long time.I stepped out onto the small porch of the cabin Fiorella had given me, rolling my shoulder slowly as the muscles along my ribs protested. Aaron's bandaging from the day before held firm beneath my shirt.Too firm.The man tied knots like he expected them to survive a war.Not that I was complaining.My fingers brushed the fuzz of my light brown sweater as I pulled it over my head, tugging the fabric fl

The training grounds felt strangely small as we gathered for the morning patrol. Mist curled lazily around the cabins, weaving through the trees like it belonged here, like it had always been part of this land. I should've been nursing my ribs still, or at least taking it easy, but as soon as Aaron mentioned the perimeter sweep at last night's pack dinner, my hand shot up before I could stop myself."I'm going," I said, forcing a casual shrug. "I want to see some of the territory and my ribs don't hurt anymore."Okay I may have lied just a little about the last part... so what? A few packmates exchanged glances, quiet smirks flickering between them. I could feel the subtle curiosity—outsider, guest, reckless boy. Aaron, of course, said nothing. Just held my gaze, those dark eyes of his like a question, like he was weighing my stubbornness against common sense. I met it evenly.Finally, he gave a slow, almost imperceptible nod. "Fine. Stay close."I barely restrained my grin.———The