All Chapters of CHOSEN LAST: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Sage’s POVWe reached the pack hall within minutes, Ethan’s earlier tender expression replaced by focused concern as we hurried through the familiar corridors toward wherever Sarah’s summons had originated. We found her in a small side room typically used for guardian study, several ancient texts spread across the table, her expression carrying genuine astonishment mixed with cautious excitement.“What’s happening?” I asked, breathless from our hurried arrival.“I was conducting routine boundary assessment,” Sarah explained quickly, gesturing toward a small crystal device positioned on the table, apparently used for measuring magical resonance throughout Redhollow’s protective boundary. “Standard practice given everything we’ve experienced recently, ensuring proper stability remains consistent.”“And?” Ethan prompted, urgency evident in his voice.“The readings are unlike anything I’ve encountered before,” Sarah said, her scientific curiosity clearly competing with obvious concern. “N

Sage’s POVNews of our engagement spread through Redhollow within hours, the pack’s mood lifting with genuine celebration after everything we had all survived together throughout these exhausting past months. My mother cried happy tears the moment I shared the news, immediately beginning to discuss wedding preparations with an enthusiasm I hadn’t witnessed from her in years.“We need to plan properly,” she said, already pulling out notebooks and beginning lists despite my laughing protests that we had barely had time to properly celebrate the engagement itself. “This pack deserves genuine celebration after everything, Sage. A proper wedding, one that honors both your future together and everything Redhollow has overcome.”My father, still working carefully to rebuild trust within our family despite his earlier betrayal, offered quiet support throughout these initial celebrations, his obvious joy at witnessing genuine happiness returning to our family evident despite lingering complexi

Sage’s POVWe traveled toward the location Petra had described the following morning, snow still lightly falling as we made our way beyond Redhollow’s boundaries toward the neutral training ground several territories had begun using for these collaborative guardian sessions. Ethan drove carefully along the snow-dusted roads, both of us carrying genuine anticipation about whatever remarkable development Petra’s message had described.“Do you think this represents everything Eleanor originally hoped for?” Ethan asked, glancing toward me as we approached our destination.“I hope so,” I said honestly. “After everything we’ve sacrificed to reach this point, it would mean so much to finally witness genuine completion of what started as simply theoretical possibility.”We arrived to find a small gathering already assembled, Petra greeting us with obvious excitement despite the cold morning air. Three guardians stood in careful formation at the clearing’s center, and I watched them demonstrat

Sage’s POVNobody spoke for a long moment after Marcus finished delivering his report. My mother’s hand found mine under the table, her grip tight with obvious worry, while my father’s expression carried the same protective tension I remembered from before everything had finally settled into peace these past months.“We need to decide now,” Ethan said finally, his voice carrying careful authority despite the mounting pressure of the situation. “Proceed as planned with heightened security, postpone entirely, or relocate at the last possible moment.”“Relocating this late creates its own risk,” Sarah said, having arrived quickly once Marcus’s news reached her. “The other guardians are already prepared for our specific site. Changing location without proper time for everyone to adjust could compromise the ritual’s stability just as significantly as any external threat.”“Then we proceed,” I said, surprising myself with how steady my voice sounded despite the fear building in my chest. “B

Sage’s POVTwo days after the confrontation, we gathered again at the pack hall to review what our security team had uncovered about Cole’s escape. Ethan sat at the head of the table, exhaustion still evident beneath his composed expression, while Marcus laid out the investigation’s findings.“The detention facility’s night guard rotation shows an unusual gap three weeks ago,” Marcus said, spreading documentation across the table. “A junior guard named Willis was scheduled for that shift, but the logs show someone else covered for him, someone whose signature doesn’t match any of our regular staff.”“Have we located Willis?” Ethan asked.“That’s the problem,” Marcus said grimly. “He hasn’t reported for duty since that night. We initially assumed he had simply taken unscheduled leave, but given everything else we now know, I think it’s more likely he was either complicit in Cole’s escape or removed entirely to prevent him from properly explaining what happened.”The implications settle