All Chapters of Marked under the blood moon : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Elara’s POVThe howls from the border stayed in my head long after they stopped. Kael didn't say much after that. The warriors were already moving through the forest when we got back to the fortress. Some ran toward the gates, and others grabbed weapons.Everyone moved fast, like they'd done this a hundred times before. No one panicked. They just did what they were told.I stood near the main hall entrance, watching them. For a moment I felt like I didn't belong there at all.Kael talked quietly with Ronan near the doors. I couldn't hear them, but their faces were serious. After a minute Ronan nodded and walked off to organise the patrols.Kael turned to me. "Come with me."I followed him inside. The fortress felt different now. That calm feeling from before was gone. Even the servants moved faster, their eyes careful and alert.Kael led me through several stone hallways until we reached a quieter part of the fortress."This area's for council meetings," he said, opening a heavy woode

Elara’s POVFrost hung in the silence above Nightfall when I stepped outside. My boots pressed against the wooden railing, eyes fixed down into the trees. A pale fog slipped through trunks, thinning as light climbed over the hills. Stillness held every branch, each stone. The world seemed untouched by noise.Finding calm again felt impossible once yesterday happened.Still hearing Lyra’s voice long after she spoke. A hidden thing lingers near you.My fingers moved to the nape of my neck, the spot where heat once flickered without warning. Today, it stayed cool. Skin like any other. Wish the rest of life ran on such quiet signals.A sound tapped against the wood at my back. EnterInside came Kael, strands of black hair scattered as if sleep had been skipped. Early you are, he said"Couldn't sleep."Over he came, then propped himself by the rail next to where I stood. The trees held our eyes, quiet settling between us like dust on leaves.He spoke after a pause. "Thinking about Mom," ca

Elara’s POV That evening, the fortress felt different. Not tense like the night of the border howls. Not quite like the morning after. This time it felt... watchful.Servants moved quickly through the halls carrying candles and trays of food. Guards stood at their usual places, but there were more of them than before. Something important was happening.I stood in my room near the mirror, adjusting the dark dress a servant brought earlier. Simple but elegant, soft fabric fitted at the waist. Still felt out of place wearing it.A knock at the door. "Come in."Kael stepped inside. For a moment he didn't speak. His eyes moved over me quietly, taking in the dress and how my hair was loosely tied back."You look ready," he said."Hope so.""Sound uncertain.""I am."Kael leaned against the doorframe. "It's only the court."I blinked. "Only?"He gave a small shrug. "The inner circle of Nightfall leadership.""Doesn't make it sound less intimidating."Kael pushed away from the door. "They ne

Elara’s POVBy afternoon, the rumours had spread even farther.I could feel it everywhere.Whispers in the hallways. Curious glances when I walked by. Conversations that stopped the moment I entered a room.At first, I tried to ignore it.I spent most of the morning in the council room reading the history books Kael gave me. But even there, I couldn’t fully focus.My mind kept returning to the same thought.Marked.How could they smell something that didn’t exist?I rubbed the back of my neck again. The skin there felt normal now, but I still remembered the warmth that sometimes spread through it.Maybe Lyra was right.Maybe something about me was changing.A sudden knock broke my thoughts.“Come in,” I said.The door opened, and one of the young guards stepped inside.“The Alpha has called for a gathering in the courtyard,” he said respe

Elara’s POVThe battle sounds in the forest slowly faded.At first, the air had been filled with snarls, howls, and the crashing of bodies through trees. Now there was only silence.Too much silence.I was still standing near the fortress entrance when the gates finally opened again.A group of wolves ran through first.Then they began shifting back into human form as they crossed the courtyard.Some looked fine.Others had scratches and blood on their arms and shoulders.My chest tightened.I searched their faces quickly.But Kael wasn’t there yet.Ronan appeared a moment later, shifting beside the gate. His grey wolf disappeared, and he grabbed a pair of pants that one of the guards handed him.There was blood on his shoulder.“Are you okay?” I asked before I could stop myself.Ronan looked surprised to see me standing there.“I’m fine