Keeping Up A Fear Ances Novels & Stories

I paused, letting the silence stretch, letting them wonder. “It’s fear,” I continued, my voice dropping, becoming more intimate, as if I were sharing a secret. “Fear is how the Council built their empire. Fear is what they used to control packs, to turn brother against brother. Fear is why they sent an army to my gates with blades sharpened for my infant son.” I straightened to my full height, my voice rising again, becoming a declaration. “And fear is what I am ending. Today. Right here in this hall.”

Spoke three full sentences without screaming. “This is exhausting,” it said on the fourth day. “Existing while afraid is so much work.” “Yes,” Lena agreed. “But you’re doing it. That’s what matters.” “What happens when you leave? When I am alone again?” “You won’t be alone. Ash will stay. Will visit daily. Will sit with your fear without judgment.” Ash flickered uncertainty. “I am not suited for this. I taught the red Source anger. But fear is different. More fragile.” “You’ll learn. Like we all learned. Through trying and failing and trying again.”

Even now—like he was still trying to understand her, not just comfort her. “That depends on what comes next,” he said. Her chest tightened. “That’s what scares me.” He gave a faint, almost knowing breath. “It should.” She let out a small, tired laugh. “Great.” But it faded quickly. Because fear— this kind of fear— wasn’t sharp. It didn’t spike and pass. It stayed. Low. Constant. A reminder that whatever she had started— was still unfolding. Behind her, Adrian moved closer. Not urgent. Not tense.

“We have to keep moving. Don’t look back!” Jax turned his head slightly, his intimidating gaze landing on their small group. “You three. Stay close. Especially you, dark-hair. You look like you’ve got some fight left.” Lena’s stomach twisted. She didn’t like the way he singled her out. The creatures kept coming, forcing the group into a tighter cluster. Fear pressed down on everyone like a heavy weight. One of the players shouted at Jax, “You’re scaring them more than helping!” Jax laughed once, short and cold. “Good. Fear keeps you alive longer than false hope. Now shut up and follow.”

“Given the events of the past week, do you really think it’s a good idea to open your drive-in with a horror show?” Skoger smiled slightly and turned to look at the trees that surrounded the back of the house. Yellow ironwood leaves fluttered and whispered in the wind and he nodded as if he were agreeing with them. “You know, my aunt always said the people in this country had a passion for fear. I believe that is still true. Fear is the first and most pure of man’s experiences. It nourishes us in a way. We come to crave it.

I was trying not to shake with fear at the thought of what we had unleashed. “She will come for us all,” I whispered, repeating my thoughts aloud to no one in particular. I took a last look back and saw her glowing green eyes, an inferno burned in her orbs, her naked body drenched in the blood of our men, making her look God-like. That growing fear began ringing through me all the more, vibrating through my bones like a warning of what was to come. “Maybe,” Jack said. How he could not be afraid of what he just saw was beyond me.

“But before that I wasn’t so afraid. Until then, I knew how to overcome fear. And now I have forgotten. Weak became. Raven smiled. - Ty! If fear were an easy adversary, not a single coward would be left in the world. Duc, after all, only fear, Kared, is not just given to a person. The Keepers warned not in vain that any living creature should be afraid. To the benefit. But there is shameful fear, and there is forgiveness. - Like this? – without any interest asked guy.

Chapter 14 Zara’s POV. What is fear? A crippling emotion that keeps animals alive? The instinctive feeling that has driven wolves and mankind alike to maintain a fairly mutual relationship over the years? What are love and hate but trivial, fleeting feelings when compared to real fear? I know that fear. It is the fear that keeps one alive, the driving force of survival, surpassing every other emotion there is and ever will be. We are but slaves to our fear, forced to secure a feeling of safety, with every means possible, including savagery and oppression.

I hesitated before asking the question that had been bothering me. “Will my parents be there?” His expression hardened. “I don't want you to fear your parents.” I frowned. “What?” “I want you to fear me.” My fork stopped halfway to my mouth. “That doesn't even make sense.” “It does to me.” “Why would you want me to fear you?” Luciano leaned back. “Because fear keeps people from becoming careless.” I stared at him. “That's a terrible reason.” “Maybe.” His gaze held mine. “But I don't want you to break easily.”

“Not against him.” Murmurs spread. One of the Crowns speaks up. “If she stands with him, then she supports his rule.” “And if she does not,” someone from the other side says, “then she supports his fall.” I inhale slowly. “You are creating war out of fear,” I say. “And fear feeds the wrong things.” A sharp laugh cuts through. “Fear feeds gods,” a stranger says. Every head turns. The voice does not belong to either group. Kieran stiffens beside me.