The Quiet Ones Book Novels & Stories

Xavier muttered, though he crossed the room, his massive frame radiating heat as he settled a heavy, comfortable hand on the small of Selah’s back. Selah leaned into his touch, her heart fuller than it had ever been. She looked at the faces of the people surrounding them—Damaris, laughing and vibrant; Isaiah, proud and protective; Marcus, quietly content. This wasn't just an executive board. This was a family. And for the first time in her life, she felt entirely, unconditionally safe. Five hours north, the warmth of the city was completely swallowed by a dark, howling wilderness. The headlights of a rented black sedan cut through the dense, fog-heavy pine forests of northern Michigan, close

“No one’s knocking except us. And we’re not leaving. He’s fired. Nathan signed it. The supervisor stamped it. He’s not an officer. He’s not family. He’s not anything to us now.” Elma closed her eyes. For 8years sleep meant one eye open. Tonight her shoulders dropped all the way. “I thought winning would feel bigger. Fireworks. But it just feels… quiet.” “Quiet’s good,” Destiny said. She tucked the blanket higher. “Quiet means safe. Quiet means he can’t reach us.” They sat there until the music ended and the room went soft. No big speech. No closing chapter. Just breathing in sync, same way they did as kids in bus stations when they had nothing but each other.

"This hotel belongs to your uncle?" Nodding, he pillowed his head and lay on the floor, giving a click to the remote he held. The vault switched to a transparent top. "Here is where I speak to the silence, blame the world, and shed my tears." That somehow dimmed the glow hopping on her hand. She took a seat next to him. Under the soothing lights, his sharp facial features stood out even more, and so did his bottled loneliness. She understood the familiar silence. It was whispering, yearning to be heard after years of being ignored.

Chapter Eighty-Six Author's Pov In the small, cold jail cell, Mr. Matteo sat alone on his narrow cot, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and memories. The sound of silence enveloped him, giving him the space to reflect on how he had ended up in this place.

*****************************POV: Rowe************************ --- There were two kinds of quiet in the world. The first kind was peace—when birds sang, the air breathed easy, and the sun rose without hesitation. The wind howling like the only thing we needed at the moment. And the second? The second kind of peace was war. The kind that settled over everything right before the shot. The air stilled. The insects stopped. Even your heartbeat dared not make noise, as if sound alone might be the trigger.

“ Meara!” The whispers started again, soft but notable. I tensed, my eyes snapping open. I scanned the field, but there was no one in sight. The sound seemed to come from the tree itself, from the rustling of its leaves. I pressed my palms against the rough bark and closed my eyes, focusing on the whispers. " Come... find... me..." The words were faint but distinct. My heart raced. Was I losing my mind, or was there something more to these whispers? I stood up, brushing the dirt off my jeans, and took a few steps back. The whispers grew louder, more insistent.

But unexpectedly, he pushed her viciously to the floor. "Get lost! Sandy is my only mate, and Ray is our beloved pup! No one can replace her, not even Tom!" Judy's eyes widened. She couldn't believe that Dad would be so ruthless. "Grayson, didn't you say that Tom is the most well-behaved pup? You said that you would rather have him as your pup, and that Ray isn't worthy of being your pup! Since Ray is dead and Sandy is going to leave, why can't you accept Tom and me?"

Clutching her phone, she felt a wave of numbness wash over her. Behind her, the door chimed, and footsteps grew louder as they neared. Suddenly, her phone was plucked from her grasp by the man behind her and tossed aside with an indifferent flick of his wrist. He gripped her wrist tightly, pinning her against the window. She looked down, his warm breath on her ear sending shivers down her spine. "Been waiting long, my dear?" he murmured.

‘Lunaris. Cassian picked up one ring, sliding it onto my trembling finger, his thumb lingering on my hand. “For every lifetime,” he whispered softly. I took the other ring and slipped it onto his finger, smiling through tears. “And every moon that follows.” Then Grandpa Velen slipped a hand inside his coat and pulled out a mid-sized old leather book. The moment he opened it, the surrounding chatter faded until only the soft crackle of lantern flames remained. Cassian’s hand found mine, warm and steady, grounding me. I curled my fingers around his, feeling his pulse thrum through our joined hands.

There's something fragile about how quiet the room is. My phone rings. Timothy. I watch the name blink on the screen, and my fingers tap the green button before I can stop myself. His voice comes through the speaker, too high and yet so soft, “I miss you alrea—” I press the red button so fast, my fingers trembling. My father coughs, a sharp sound that makes my blood run cold. Did he hear?