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Howl of the unchosen 74
Chapter 74: Fiona's POVWhat does the forest feels like?Like my home My instincts were rarely wrong, and they screamed at me tonight. Danger was close. I climbed to my feet and crept around as silent as a whisper, blending into the shadows as if I were one. Maeve trailed behind her, dagger ready, each step she took careful and confident.Something moved in my periphery, a flicker, a laser-focused shadow dashing between the trees. Too speedy to be anything human. My heart raced, but I breathed evenly."Stay close," I whispered, my voice firm but in a low tone. We flowed together, our footfalls silent on the forest floor. As we hit a clearing, trees broke just enough for me to see them—some renegade wolves. I froze, knowing exactly what they were. Banned from their packs, they were more dangerous as a unit than they ever were as individuals. I’d heard whispers of them plotting to meet recently and plan something against me. And the rumors were apparently true.“Seems like we aren’t a
Last Updated : 2024-12-22Howl of the unchosen 75
Chapter 75: Ethan’s POVI woke before the sun shadowed the horizon — which it always did — spilling soft golden light over the Ashford Pack territory. The trees sparkled in the dawn fog, their vast against-the-light silence a guardianship over a peace we hadn’t had in years. I stood at the packlands edge, my fingers brushing the rough bark of the nearest oak tree, looking out over the valley. Even after all that time, the sight of it still astonished me.Peace. It was a thin thing, but it had fallen over the ashes of the Amory Pack after so many storms, coated over everything like a fine dust. I exhaled deeply, filling my lungs with the cool of the dawn. There was a time not so long ago that doubt would shadow me; I’d constantly be wondering whether I was enough — or doing enough — for this pack. But now, it was a different kind of weight. A burden I had come to accept, it was the weight of leadership, yes.I was wearing the mantle of Alphaas it was meant to be worn, but I was never r
Last Updated : 2024-12-22Howl of the unchosen 76
Chapter 76: Orin’s POVThe atmosphere reeked with the aroma of ineptitude. My wolves and I had barely made it out of the Ashford territory alive, our bodies battered and bruised, our pride broken into millions of pieces, and our plans strewn to the wind. As we plodded through the thick underbrush of the untracked wood, distant from the miserable pack who deprived me of my birthright, my head boiled with rage.I had underestimated them — Fiona, Jason, even that damn Ethan. I would never repeat that mistake again.“Alpha, where are we going?” one of my last followers, Kael, asked, with tentative, prudent tones. His once-imposing posture was slumped and the rest appeared no more striking. A pack cracked—just what we had become.“To a place we can build back,” I snapped, my voice like a knife. “I refuse to allow this to be our end.”Kael nodded quickly, his obsequiousness dulling the tip of my temper, but only a little. My pack had been weakened, yes, but not annihilated. The ones who fel
Last Updated : 2024-12-22Howl of the unchosen 77
Chapter 77: Orin’s POVFreedom —It wasn’t as sweet as the chaotic vision I had dreamed it would be. It sat with me like sharp, bitter icing that stuck to my tongue, with a weight that would not go away, reminding me of everything I had lost, everything I still needed to be. The cold air burned on the strong inhale I took, stinging with every breath, sharper than I remembered. Had the world become harder, or had I just forgotten its sting after years in chains?The forest surrounding me stretched dark and infinite, its shadows twisting and curling like the remnants of my past. There was a faint promise in the damp earth beneath my feet — possibility. It was subtle, bordering on undetectable, the faint breeze of an animal in the distance. But lurking in that possibility, just sitting there in the pine-scented wind, was the recognizable taste of revenge.My roles were tense as I lifted them; the memory of iron shackles digging into my wrists wouldn’t dissolve. Those chains may have been
Last Updated : 2024-12-22Howl of the unchosen 78
Chapter 78: Fiona’s POVI woke up with a slight headache— the one that made me feel like I wasn't complete. The sun was abnormally Bright today. The scorching type. I stood up from my bed roll. ..These sounds of life were sinking into my soul as I slowly walked through the living body of the forest. I stood in the clearing and absorbed it all: the sound of birds chirping somewhere high in the canopy, the gentle ruffling of leaves carried by the wind, the quiet whispers of my people as they walked between the shadows. They weren’t ordinary wolves. No, these were the outcasts, the broken, the ones who’d been kicked out of their packs or had nowhere else to turn. We were a quilt of scars and pain sewn together by sheer determination and the dream of living.Small groups moved around us in the weak morning sun, their plight tentative but intentional. I could see the tension in their shoulders, how their muscles strained as they worked to sculpt skills long unused or never taught. Every
Last Updated : 2024-12-22Howl of the unchosen 79
Chapter 79: Jason’s POVThere was an almost haunting stillness everywhere inside the Frostwood estate, the sort that sinks into your bones if you linger on it for too long. The only real noise was the distant, lullabying crackle of the fire deep in the central chamber, its heat failing to stave off the coldness in the air. And I just sat there, watching Lena, refusing to move, unwilling to let her hand go. Her soft, rhythmic breathing was the only thing tethering me to reality, the only thing that held my thoughts from spiraling into darker places.We hadn’t made it back home in weeks. Weeks since that nightmare with Orin had finally come to a close — or at least, to one chapter of it. And even though Lena worked too hard to keep her chin up, to say everything was great, I saw the gaps. She wasn’t the same, not exactly. She was different in — I can’t find the words — fragility, though solid. All I knew was that she was in pain, even if she didn’t show it.Her hand rested in mine, warm
Last Updated : 2024-12-22Howl of the unchosen 80
Chapter 80: Lena’s POVThe moon rose high over Frostwood, its cold, silvery light spilling into our chambers through the tall windows. Its shadows languidly danced on the walls, and the night outside was so still, so silent, the world itself seemed to be holding its breath. Usually, that sort of stillness soothes me, lulls me into peace, but tonight? I had the constant thought of tonight’s thoughts being a tempest I couldn’t escape.Jason had been out all day, mired in council meetings and kingdom affairs. But seeing him bear that weight every single day was like watching someone drown in slow motion, knowing the whole time it was important — hell, everything he did was important — but still watching him slowly drown. You admire their strength, how hard they battle to keep their head above water, but it still makes you ache inside.” In each furrow of his brow, in every tired sigh that slipped from him, he was sending me a message loud and clear: he was burning out and I couldn’t help
Last Updated : 2024-12-22Howl of the unchosen 81
Chapter 81: Orin’s POVThe cave was dark except for the faint, intermittent light of the torches that lined the ragged walls. Shadows flickered and writhed across the space, like anxious spirits. My warriors stood in stiff columns, their bodiesknife-edged, their eyes slicing through the shadow like knives. This wasn’t the feral, mindless savagery that the humans or even the other wolves had shivering in terror. No, these were men and women of a different order. Fighters born in pain, in hatred, in decades of exile. They were disciplined. Ruthless. Mine.And I stood in the midst of it, in the midst of their practice symphony. The sound of clashing blades reverberated through the streets, raw and piercing, folding amongst shouts of authority and commands—a steady drug of boots against cobbled stone. It spread through the air, dense and electric, a drumbeat in my blood. This wasn’t just noise. This was power sharpening itself. It was everything we had gone through — the betrayals, the hu
Last Updated : 2024-12-22
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Howl of the unchosen 120
Chapter 120: Fiona's POVDespite my determination, something had been eating away at the edges of my confidence. I wasn't scared of Mara. No, I had stared down danger before, had dealt with enemies trying to destroy me and my family, my pack. And I had always won out in the end. But this time… this time was different. This woman was not only powerful — she was primeval. Her magic felt like it infiltrated the soil beneath our feet, so that everything felt heavier, more oppressive.Tightening my fists as fiery rage pulsed in my veins, begging me to do something. I had to defend everything — my house, my family, people I loved. And then, just out of the corner of my eye, I saw him.My father.The patriarch of our family, Lucian Ashford, entered the courtyard. When I first saw him, my breath caught in my throat. He had this calming effect on me in the chaos, his presence an anchor in the storm. He was strong, he was powerful, and yet in that instant I was suddenly inundated with vulnerabi
Howl of the unchosen 119
Chapter 119: Author's POVMara cackled, her voice ricocheting off the cold, the courtyard as Fiona tried to fight through her magic. It was almost too hilarious — the belligerent young wolf, full of fire and fury, attempting to hold her ground. Mara had seen this all before — the resistance, the defiance, the faith that sheer will could do battle against centuries of power. But it was always the same. They never learned.“This is the best you can do little wolf? There was a note of mocking amusement in Mara’s voice. She watched Fiona struggle against the magic, and her age-old eyes sparkled with triumph. “Little flames of yours aren’t going to cut it. There is no fire that can kill me now."Fiona’s hands were still up, the flickering orange of fire dancing around her fingers, but Mara could feel the energy ebbing out of her. She was old—older than most of the men who crossed her path—but not old enough to beat Mara’s decades of practice. Fiona’s flames might roar for attention, but Ma
Howl of the unchosen 118
Chapter 118: Fiona's POV“She’s older than I thought,” I said, my voice steady in spite of the fear snaking up my spine. “Maybe 400 years or more. Her power is not merely about natural talent. It’s honed. Ancient.”Ethan’s gaze flickered to mine, the intensity in his eyes matching the weight of my words. “That’s how she’s been able to manipulate so much so quickly.” She has had time to hone it.”As the crowd began to disperse, the estate buzzing with uncomfortable whispers. My parents were still shaking, their faces looking pale, their eyes flicking to my direction, as if trying to comprehend what had just happened. I wanted to comfort them, but there was no time.But before I took another step, the very atmosphere around me changed. It was subtle at first — a ripple, a hum in the air that raised the hairs on the back of my neck.And then she was back.Mara’s shape coalesced in the center of the courtyard, dark and imposing. This time, she didn’t bother with illusions. The real her wa
Howl of the unchosen 117
Chapter 117: Fiona’s POVI wasn’t surprised.As soon as I arrived at the estate I felt her—dark, intrusive energy that didn’t belong. It made me creast, and boiled my blood that Mara walked through my house pretending to be me.It didn’t surprise me that Maeve, standing next to me, noticed the obvious: “She’s going to tell Ethan she’s the real you.”I grinned grimly, clenching the enchanted stone in my fist. “Let her try. Ethan will see through it.”Maeve arched an eyebrow, her faith in Ethan not as solid as mine. “You have a remarkably steady disposition if you’re being impersonated.”“Calm?” I scoffed. “I’m furious. But this is not the moment to hit the panic button. I have to catch her something that nobody can dispute.”Maeve crossed her arms with a twinkle in her eyes. “What’s the plan?”I raised my hand, allowing a small flame to dance on my palm. Waves come in, back out, suck it all back down for another run. “I will call upon elemental fire and bring her true face to light. Ma
Howl of the unchosen 116
Chapter 116: Mara’s POVI sat in her chambers — no, my chambers now. It was strange how quickly I’d settled into this space, how easily I’d commandeered everything that once belonged to her. My fingers rapped in measured time on the armrest of her chair. Servants moved about the estate, oblivious to the storm I was about to unleash on these walls. They believed I was her. Her parents were convinced, as was she. They had all accepted me, no questions asked, no doubts raised. They didn’t know the truth, nor did they need to.But then there was Ethan.Ethan was the problem.He was in the courtyard, pacing, as I had expected. He was never gone, always looking, always hoping for a slip, for something to tell him the truth. His suspicion had been building for days, ever since I had set foot on the property, and I felt it whenever his eyes landed on me, scrutinizing me, as if I were a problem he was determined to solve. It was maddening, but exhilarating. He was a challenge. And I always lik
Howl of the unchosen 115
Chapter 115: Fiona’s POVThe call with Ethan played in a loop in my brain, like a record that had skipped and wouldn’t stop skipping. The more I thought about it, the louder every word got. Someone was out there, wandering through my life, wearing my name, my face — living as me. It was not only unsettling; it sent a chill deep, deep into my bones. That thought clung to me like a second skin, cold and suffocating.Mara. She’d gone too far this time. Way too far.I sat by the fire, gazing into the dancing flames, but the heat did not comfort me. It was a jumble of hazy thoughts and fears I was afraid to voice. Next to me, Maeve quietly packed our things with an efficiency that was almost reassuring. She always knew what to do when the rest of the world seemed to be spinning out of control. Her calm steadiness kept me grounded when I felt like I was falling apart.“Maeve,” I said suddenly, shattering the leaden silence. My voice sounded odd even to me — hoarse and choppy, like it didn’t
Howl of the unchosen 114
Chapter 114: Fiona’s POVThe wood was disconcertingly silent, the sort of quiet that rubbed my frayed nerves raw. The fire crackled low between Maeve and me, the flames’ warmth no competition for the icy dread in my gut. The stars above us twinkled weakly, shrouded in thin clouds that echoed the haze of uncertainty that clouded my mind.My fingers traced the rough edges of the enchanted stone, the cool surface anchoring me. It hummed dully with energy, a slight suggestion of the link still kept with Ethan, however far away he was from us. He hadn’t replied before, and the lack of his familiar voice had made the pit of unease inside me sink deeper.Maeve shifted, her silver hair reflecting in the firelight. She kept her watchful eyes on me. “You’re going to call him back, right?”I nodded, swallowing the doubt that was choking me. “I have to. That’s not right, Maeve. If Ethan is able to hear me, I want to know what is going on.”She didn’t argue. “Good. If anyone can sort out this tang
Howl of the unchosen 113
Chapter 113: Fiona’s POVEverything in the forest had a life of its own; the breeze rustling the leaves and probably having a conversation of its own; the crickets never stinging still to voice their presence and every other moment the long-measured howl of a wolf that shivered down my spine. It was calm, yes, but not the kind of calm that comforts you. No, this was the kind of quiet where something seemed fishy, like the forest itself was holding its breath.I waited at the edge of the rogues’ training grounds, arms folded tightly across my chest, watching Maeve spar with one of the younger recruits. She was working with the thunderstorm — graceful and deadly. Her silver hair shone in the sunlight, the bright color catching the light every time she turned or crouched, which was not unlike the poor lad she was in training with. He was dirty, struggling to breathe as her blows fell on him. But he was clearly outmatched. Maeve did not give him an inch, honestly I didn’t know if she was
Howl of the unchosen 112
Chapter 112: Mara’s POVI walked through the grand hallways of the Ashford Pack’s estate, my steps slow, deliberate. The air was dense with their trust, their respect — a trust I hadn’t earned, but had surreptitiously plundered. They all thought I was Fiona, their beloved queen, the backbone of their beloved export. How quaint to watch them smile beatifically and bow their heads correctly as I passed. If only they knew what really lay under their fragile veil of loyalty.But not everyone was blind. Ethan. His look was the one scratch on my otherwise immaculate performance. I felt his presence, his eyes piercing, like all sharp silence, wherever I went. He stared out into the hall, observing, calculating, doubting — not like the others. And even though he hadn’t formally gone against me, the energy in his presence served as a reminder that I had to watch my step.I wasn’t going to let his scrutiny rattle me. No, I was Fiona in that part; I played Fiona to a tee. I listened to scouts dr
