Under The Oak Tree Novel Volume 2 Novels & Stories

Online, the territory sighed at her peacefulness. An hour later, they reached the Scarlett Vale outpost. It was a three-story stone lodge, likely chosen by the crew to test the guests' endurance. The structure was ancient and covered in grime. There were only three sleeping quarters: two private dens and one shared chamber. Everyone hungered for a private den. Debbie graciously offered to take the shared chamber and asked for a roommate. Immediately, the pack began praising the student’s selflessness. “This omega is a credit to her university. She has the heart of a healer.”

Rebekah dropped the folder back into her hands, their palms sliding together in a brief, heavy warrior’s grip to bind the contract before they vanished in opposite directions through the dark. Across the district, inside the private chambers of the Onyx Moon Den, Sienna Okafor couldn't maintain the elegant, compliant expressions she had been putting on for the last three hours. She shoved her crystal glass across the dark wood table, trying to swallow down the suffocating resentment building in her chest before she finally lost her temper and dialed her pack patriarch.

Rowan said, pointing through the trees. Kael rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. "We stay together." Nobody argued. We followed the sound. The forest changed as we walked. The pines gave way to older trees. Their branches spread so wide that the sunlight barely reached the ground. The air smelled of wildflowers. Then... I saw it. An oak tree. Its trunk split into two before reaching the branches. The same tree from my mother's drawing. "The orchard," Elias whispered. No one moved.

The thick fog wove around Clara’s boots as she stepped carefully through the gnarled underbrush. The air was heavy with dampness and an unshakable sense of waiting. Somewhere ahead, beneath the sprawling canopy, the Weeping Tree stood like a sentinel guarding secrets too old to speak aloud. Beside her, Emily’s breaths came ragged, the remnants of her battle beneath the roots still etched on her skin. Her eyes, once bright with resolve, flickered now with exhaustion—and something else: a flicker of doubt.

I got out of bed and texted Aaron to tell him to meet me on the patio. The lightning and dark clouds frightened me. Why hasn't my fear of rain overcome me, even after I've already defeated that monster? Standing on my patio under the dark sky made me so afraid that I decided to go back inside. I'll meet him somewhere else this morning. I don't think it's a good idea to wait for him on the terrace. I turned around to go back to my room. That's when my gaze fell on the oak tree. Thunder and lightning struck the oak tree, revealing a blood-stained face shining beneath it.

I doubled down by crying out, “Would he give you a happy pat on the back if you allow something to happen to his unborn pups due to too much heat?” “No please, go on please. But at least let me escort you to make sure you're safe.” He offered. I bent over and cried out again, adding some convulsive shakes to the drama. “Ah, please just go quickly!” He conceded. I smiled out of the corner of my mouth as I left him. Fool. It wasn't such a long walk before I saw the oak tree described by the note-sender. I couldn't see anyone there. I went closer till I got to the tree itself. I stood there, looking around.

"The Council, the guards, the whispers of the pack... it's all gone. Just you, Audrey. I only hear you." "We're just... us," she said, leaning her forehead against his. "Just us," he agreed. "And a kingdom that needs to learn how to cook its own breakfast." They walked out onto the balcony, looking over the valley. The change was visible in every leaf and stone. The World-Oak was no longer a glowing beacon of god-like power; it had become a magnificent, ancient tree—its emerald leaves a natural, deep forest green. Below, in the courtyard, the transition was happening.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN The oak tree was huge and from where Lucas stood, its shape reminded him of a piece of broccoli. The great trunk was thick and gnarled, the leaves spreading like a vast canopy of deep jade. This magnificent symbol of nature sat alone in a green field, an azure, cloudless sky as a backdrop. Lucas ambled up the hill. There was no such thing as urgency in a place such as this. His heart maintained the sense of peace he had carried since . . .

- she said to herself, rubbing eyes lightly with her hand. After all, Nadir had spent all her life in the Underworld, and to feed she would always go out at night, returning before sunrise, so she was not used to it, and the sun's rays striking her eyes were not pleasant. Nadir got up and pulled the blinds all the way down, then folded the couch she slept on and stowed the sheets in it.

‘It’s working. I opened my eyes and the oak tree filled out. The grass regenerated. The branches straightened out and reached for the sky. The cries of pain turned to orchestras of jubilation. ‘You actually did it.’ Orion folded his arms over his chest. A cocky grin plastered on his face. ‘You sound so surprised.’