After Leo left, the woodland was strangely quiet, save for the constant sound of rain hitting the leaves. Winter struggled to keep her breath steady as Hadzen pulled her close, her shaking body against his. She was emotionally and physically exhausted from the conflict.Hadzen spoke softly, “You’re safe now,” but his eyes showed his uneasiness. He looked around the trees, half-expecting Leo to come back any second. Protectively, he tightened his hold on her shoulders.“We must leave this place.”Winter, whose pale skin was almost translucent under the black sky, gave a feeble nod.“I… Hadzen, I have no idea what’s going on with me. That strength… The feeling wasn’t mine.”Hadzen’s features softened as he moved a lock of damp hair away from her face.“Winter, it’s you. It saved us tonight, whatever it is.”Ericka was standing a few steps away, silent and soaked. She was encircling herself with her arms, as though she were attempting to blend into the darkness. Hadzen turned to face her
Winter woke up just as the light was beginning to rise, her body still heaving with fatigue. Soft light filtered through the window, reflecting off her pale skin, and she let herself enjoy the silence for a time. However, tranquility was short-lived in Hampton. Winter turned to see Sonia entering with a tray of food in her hands as the door creaked open softly. The dark shadows behind her eyes were scarcely concealed by her worried grin. Sonia placed the tray on the bedside table and whispered,“You need to eat. You appear to have gone days without sleep.”With a faint smile, Winter whispered, “I feel like it too.”Hesitant, Sonia sat on the side of the bed.“Hadzen has spent the entire night outside your door.”Surprised, Winter blinked.“All night?”Sonia gave a nod.“He refused to go. I believe…” She hesitated, trying to find the proper words. “I believe he is terrified of what could occur next.”Winter’s face softened as she began to think of Hadzen. Last night, when everything se
As Winter, Hadzen, Sonia, and Ericka stood close to Hampton’s gates, prepared to go, the early morning air hung thick.With a worried expression on her face, Maxine had observed them from the stairs. She had vehemently opposed Winter’s departure, but it had been hard to deny her resolve. As she pulled Winter into an embrace, Maxine’s voice was tight as she whispered,“Promise me you’ll come back.”Winter held her close and said,“I will, Mom.”The group now stepped into the tree shadows, the forest stretching on forever in front of them. Even though they had no idea where they were going, Hadzen guided them with unwavering assurance and his keen intuition. Winter strolled next to him, the dim light filtering through the thick canopy, almost illuminating her pale complexion. As they moved further, Sonia said, her keen eyes darting about,“This place feels… different.”From the back, Ericka murmured quietly and grimly,“It’s because we’re getting close to the Veil. This is where Leo’s e
The silence of the Hampton estate was suffocating. Winter stood by the window of her room, her gaze lost in the vast expanse of the forest beyond. The weight of the revelations from the past few days pressed on her chest, leaving her gasping for air. She wasn’t Hannah. She wasn’t the girl everyone thought she was—perfect, kind, destined. That truth had severed the thin threads of her identity, and she felt like she was unraveling.Behind her, the door creaked open softly. Winter didn’t turn. She didn’t have to. She knew who it was—the only person who could cut through the chaos of her thoughts.“I thought I locked the door,” she said, her voice hoarse but steady.Hadzen stepped inside, his presence filling the room like a storm. He didn’t reply at first, his golden eyes locked on her figure silhouetted against the pale moonlight.“You did,” he finally said, his voice low, gravelly. “I don’t care.”Winter turned to face him, her chest tightening at the sight of him. His hair was tousle
As they strolled in quiet, the group was bathed in dappled light from the morning sun that filtered through the thick forest canopy. Winter followed Hadzen, her mind still jumbled from the night they’d spent together. She couldn’t deny the throbbing warmth in her heart, which was a maelstrom of perplexity and shame. It was difficult to control the feelings that threatened to overtake her because of the constant cadence of Hadzen’s steps in front of her, which was both consoling and agonizing.“Winter.”Her reverie was interrupted by Hadzen’s forceful yet gentle voice. His keen eyes scanned her face as he paused to walk next to her.“You haven’t said anything.”She shrugged, avoiding his eyes. “I have a lot on my mind.”A slight smile twisted Hadzen’s lips. “You’ve never been adept at controlling your feelings.”His sly gaze caused Winter’s cheeks to heat up. “And your ability to read them is obnoxious.”He answered in a firm yet light tone, “I’d call it a skill.”As they walked, his h
The Hampton estate was oppressively quiet. Winter was standing by her room’s window, staring off into the huge forest beyond. She was struggling to breathe as the weight of the disclosures from the last few days slammed against her chest. She wasn’t Hannah. She wasn’t the ideal, compassionate, and predestined girl that everyone believed her to be. The delicate strands of her identity had been ripped by that fact, and she felt as though she was coming apart.The door behind her squeaked open. Winter did not arrive. She was not required to. The only person who could break through the jumble of her thoughts was someone she knew. Her voice was firm but scratchy as she replied, “I thought I locked the door.”Hadzen entered, his presence reverberating throughout the space. His golden eyes stared at her silhouetted figure against the faint moonlight for a moment before he spoke. At last, he murmured in a low, gravelly voice, “You did.”“I’m not interested.” The sight of him made Winter’s che
As they strolled in quiet, the group was bathed in dappled light from the morning sun that filtered through the thick forest canopy. Winter followed Hadzen, her mind still jumbled from the night they’d spent together. She couldn’t deny the throbbing warmth in her heart, which was a maelstrom of perplexity and shame. It was difficult to control the feelings that threatened to overtake her because of the constant cadence of Hadzen’s steps in front of her, which was both consoling and agonizing.“Winter.”Her reverie was interrupted by Hadzen’s forceful yet gentle voice. His keen eyes scanned her face as he paused to walk next to her.“You haven’t said anything.”She shrugged, avoiding his eyes. “I have a lot on my mind.”A slight smile twisted Hadzen’s lips. “You’ve never been adept at controlling your feelings.”His sly gaze caused Winter’s cheeks to heat up. “And your ability to read them is obnoxious.”He answered in a firm yet light tone, “I’d call it a skill.”As they walked, his h
The air in Hampton was heavy, the weight of decisions and revelations pressing down on Winter as she stood by the edge of the forest. The towering trees, their roots steeped in ancient magic, seemed to whisper warnings. Leaving the wolf’s sanctuary meant venturing into a world she had only glimpsed through distant memories—a world that neither embraced nor understood the Eclipse essence she now unknowingly carried.Hadzen stood beside her, his presence grounding her. His sharp gaze scanned the horizon, his usual stoic demeanor softened as he glanced her way. “Are you sure about this?” he asked, his voice low, laced with both worry and resolve.Winter tightened her grip on the straps of the bag slung over her shoulder. “I have to be. I need answers, Hadzen. About who I am… about what happened that night.”He nodded, his jaw tightening. “Then I’m coming with you. Whatever we face out there, we face it together.”Winter’s heart fluttered at his words, but she kept her emotions in check.
She closed her eyes tight, felt the stab running through her chest by his claws and the warm spreading blood from her across to his ground below. In reality, Winter's line was blurring, though gritted she would let Leo go nowhere.Hadzen's heart stopped. He saw the whole scene. His mind screamed at him to get up and stop Leo. He could not do that, however. He was stuck in his place by the view of Winter's blood seeping from his body to the floor. In him, anger began to well but panic superseded it."No!" Winter's faint voice barely reached his ears as he snapped out of his paralysis. She coughed, the breath shallow. "Hadzen… get out of here… run…"Hadzen's legs began moving at a force that he couldn't control. He moved forward with a mind screaming desperately, "Winter!Leo looked up, his cold stare meeting Hadzen's. For a moment, they locked gazes, a silent challenge between them. But Leo didn't back down. His hand remained deep in Winter's chest, drawing out the power of the Eclipse
The blood moon deepened, casting an eerie glow across the window of Winter. It bathed her room in crimson light. Hadzen stood by the window, his sharp gaze fixed to the sky, his golden eyes reflecting the ominous red hue that the moon was assuming. Something was wrong. This air felt heavy, charged with unease, and his instincts screamed of danger. It felt unnatural to see how the light spread across the land, like a warning he alone could hear. He had felt this sort of dread before—a feeling of knowing tragedy was about to hit. His jaw clenched up as his fists closed up by his sides.He told himself, This isn't right. This is a sign.He could not resist it; the pull was too great, and he needed to return to the only place that held all the answers-the heart of Hampton. Now, he realized that the chaos he dreaded was no longer an eventuality but rather something that was already in process.Hadzen turned his face from the window; he relaxed his eyes because of what he saw-lies on the be
As they stood in front of the modest suburban home, which had a calm appeal due to the fading blue paint on the shutters, Winter’s pulse raced. After exchanging anxious looks, one of her two pals, Crisa and Maris, reached out and pressed the doorbell. Winter’s chest constricted as the bell reverberated throughout the home. She had no idea what to anticipate. She could hardly recall her time here, much less the individuals she may encounter.The woman in her late thirties emerged as the door swung open. Her tired eyes grew wide as they met Winter’s, and her dark hair was pulled back in a loose bun. Her palm gripped the doorframe as though to steady herself, and her lips parted in a wordless gasp.“Winter.”With tears in her eyes, the woman’s voice broke. Unsure of what to say or do, Winter stood motionless. It was hard to ignore the intensity emanating from the woman, even though her face was unfamiliar.“Mom?” Winter hesitated, the word unfamiliar to her.The woman sprang forward and
The air in Hampton was heavy, the weight of decisions and revelations pressing down on Winter as she stood by the edge of the forest. The towering trees, their roots steeped in ancient magic, seemed to whisper warnings. Leaving the wolf’s sanctuary meant venturing into a world she had only glimpsed through distant memories—a world that neither embraced nor understood the Eclipse essence she now unknowingly carried.Hadzen stood beside her, his presence grounding her. His sharp gaze scanned the horizon, his usual stoic demeanor softened as he glanced her way. “Are you sure about this?” he asked, his voice low, laced with both worry and resolve.Winter tightened her grip on the straps of the bag slung over her shoulder. “I have to be. I need answers, Hadzen. About who I am… about what happened that night.”He nodded, his jaw tightening. “Then I’m coming with you. Whatever we face out there, we face it together.”Winter’s heart fluttered at his words, but she kept her emotions in check.
As they strolled in quiet, the group was bathed in dappled light from the morning sun that filtered through the thick forest canopy. Winter followed Hadzen, her mind still jumbled from the night they’d spent together. She couldn’t deny the throbbing warmth in her heart, which was a maelstrom of perplexity and shame. It was difficult to control the feelings that threatened to overtake her because of the constant cadence of Hadzen’s steps in front of her, which was both consoling and agonizing.“Winter.”Her reverie was interrupted by Hadzen’s forceful yet gentle voice. His keen eyes scanned her face as he paused to walk next to her.“You haven’t said anything.”She shrugged, avoiding his eyes. “I have a lot on my mind.”A slight smile twisted Hadzen’s lips. “You’ve never been adept at controlling your feelings.”His sly gaze caused Winter’s cheeks to heat up. “And your ability to read them is obnoxious.”He answered in a firm yet light tone, “I’d call it a skill.”As they walked, his h
The Hampton estate was oppressively quiet. Winter was standing by her room’s window, staring off into the huge forest beyond. She was struggling to breathe as the weight of the disclosures from the last few days slammed against her chest. She wasn’t Hannah. She wasn’t the ideal, compassionate, and predestined girl that everyone believed her to be. The delicate strands of her identity had been ripped by that fact, and she felt as though she was coming apart.The door behind her squeaked open. Winter did not arrive. She was not required to. The only person who could break through the jumble of her thoughts was someone she knew. Her voice was firm but scratchy as she replied, “I thought I locked the door.”Hadzen entered, his presence reverberating throughout the space. His golden eyes stared at her silhouetted figure against the faint moonlight for a moment before he spoke. At last, he murmured in a low, gravelly voice, “You did.”“I’m not interested.” The sight of him made Winter’s che
As they strolled in quiet, the group was bathed in dappled light from the morning sun that filtered through the thick forest canopy. Winter followed Hadzen, her mind still jumbled from the night they’d spent together. She couldn’t deny the throbbing warmth in her heart, which was a maelstrom of perplexity and shame. It was difficult to control the feelings that threatened to overtake her because of the constant cadence of Hadzen’s steps in front of her, which was both consoling and agonizing.“Winter.”Her reverie was interrupted by Hadzen’s forceful yet gentle voice. His keen eyes scanned her face as he paused to walk next to her.“You haven’t said anything.”She shrugged, avoiding his eyes. “I have a lot on my mind.”A slight smile twisted Hadzen’s lips. “You’ve never been adept at controlling your feelings.”His sly gaze caused Winter’s cheeks to heat up. “And your ability to read them is obnoxious.”He answered in a firm yet light tone, “I’d call it a skill.”As they walked, his h
The silence of the Hampton estate was suffocating. Winter stood by the window of her room, her gaze lost in the vast expanse of the forest beyond. The weight of the revelations from the past few days pressed on her chest, leaving her gasping for air. She wasn’t Hannah. She wasn’t the girl everyone thought she was—perfect, kind, destined. That truth had severed the thin threads of her identity, and she felt like she was unraveling.Behind her, the door creaked open softly. Winter didn’t turn. She didn’t have to. She knew who it was—the only person who could cut through the chaos of her thoughts.“I thought I locked the door,” she said, her voice hoarse but steady.Hadzen stepped inside, his presence filling the room like a storm. He didn’t reply at first, his golden eyes locked on her figure silhouetted against the pale moonlight.“You did,” he finally said, his voice low, gravelly. “I don’t care.”Winter turned to face him, her chest tightening at the sight of him. His hair was tousle
As Winter, Hadzen, Sonia, and Ericka stood close to Hampton’s gates, prepared to go, the early morning air hung thick.With a worried expression on her face, Maxine had observed them from the stairs. She had vehemently opposed Winter’s departure, but it had been hard to deny her resolve. As she pulled Winter into an embrace, Maxine’s voice was tight as she whispered,“Promise me you’ll come back.”Winter held her close and said,“I will, Mom.”The group now stepped into the tree shadows, the forest stretching on forever in front of them. Even though they had no idea where they were going, Hadzen guided them with unwavering assurance and his keen intuition. Winter strolled next to him, the dim light filtering through the thick canopy, almost illuminating her pale complexion. As they moved further, Sonia said, her keen eyes darting about,“This place feels… different.”From the back, Ericka murmured quietly and grimly,“It’s because we’re getting close to the Veil. This is where Leo’s e