LOGINShare
chapter 76
Last Updated:
2025-01-15 22:06:06
Related chapters
The HIDDENS chapter 77
The world around me shifted and twisted, like a storm caught in a dream. Colors bled into one another—vivid reds, golds, and blacks swirling in chaotic harmony. I blinked, but it was as though I had no control over my own body. When I tried to move, I couldn’t. Then the storm stilled. I was standing in a place that wasn’t real, yet felt overwhelmingly tangible. It was a room bathed in a dim, golden light. Velvet drapes hung from the high ceilings, and the air smelled of incense and something metallic. And there she was. Esther. She sat on a throne made of twisted black roots and jagged stone, her figure draped in a flowing crimson gown. Her pale face was framed by wild, jet-black hair, and her eyes—those unnatural, piercing eyes—bored into mine with an intensity that made my heart pound. “You’ve finally arrived,” she said, her voice smooth and dripping with malice. “Where am I?” I demanded, my voice shaking. She smirked. “Where do you think, little wolf? You’re in my domain
Last Updated : 2025-01-16The HIDDENS chapter 78
The morning air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth as we stepped into the dense forest. The towering trees cast long shadows over our group, their branches intertwined like a living canopy. I tightened the straps of my pack, my heart pounding with a mixture of fear and anticipation. We were finally on the hunt. Jake led the way, his posture tense, every step deliberate. Althea walked beside me, her fingers brushing over the spellbook she clutched like a lifeline. Fatima and Sophie trailed behind, their senses sharp, scanning the woods for any signs of danger. “Everyone ready?” Jake’s deep voice broke the silence, his gaze sweeping over us. “As ready as we’ll ever be,” I replied, trying to inject some confidence into my tone. “Good,” he said, his jaw set. “Stay close. This forest has a reputation.” “A reputation for what?” Fatima asked, her voice wary. “Being alive,” Jake answered grimly. We exchanged uneasy glances but said nothing. The first hour of our
Last Updated : 2025-01-18The HIDDENS chapter 79
The forest seemed darker today, as though the sun itself refused to touch this cursed land. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and something sharper—something metallic, like blood. Each step we took felt more oppressive than the last, as if the weight of the forest itself was pressing down on us. Jake walked ahead, his shoulders tense, his sharp eyes scanning every shadow. Althea stayed close to me, her spellbook clutched tightly in her hands, its pages marked with hastily scrawled notes. Sophie and Fatima flanked us, weapons at the ready. “We’re close,” Jake muttered, his voice low. “I can feel it.” “Close to what?” Sophie asked, her tone wary. “Another trap?” “Maybe,” Althea said, her voice strained. “But if we don’t keep going, we’ll never find them.” I nodded, though my stomach churned with unease. We’d been traveling for hours, every step bringing us deeper into the heart of this cursed forest. The creatures we’d faced so far had been relentless—shadow wolve
Last Updated : 2025-01-19The HIDDENS chapter 80
The forest canopy above us was dense, blocking out the sun entirely, and the world around us seemed cloaked in endless twilight. Each step I took felt wrong, as if the earth itself was trying to push us back. Jake’s hand brushed against mine as we walked, his touch a fleeting anchor in this madness. I knew he could sense my unease, just as I could feel the tension radiating off him. "We’re close," Althea whispered, her voice trembling. She was studying a map that glowed faintly with magical runes, the only light in the oppressive darkness. "I can feel the coven’s magic. But it’s fractured, like they’re hiding their presence in pieces." "That doesn’t make sense," Jake growled. "Why would they split their magic?" "They’re probably setting traps," Sophie said, her bow at the ready. "They know we’re coming, and they’re ready to pick us off one by one." I glanced at Sophie. Her usual confidence was marred by a shadow of fear, and it unnerved me to see her so shaken. “Stay sharp
Last Updated : 2025-01-20The HIDDENS chapter 81
JAKE'S POVThe world felt colder without her by my side. Every step I took away from that chasm was like ripping apart a piece of my soul, leaving me raw and exposed. The pack bond that connected Prisca and me hummed faintly, reassuring me that she was still alive, but it wasn’t enough. I needed to see her, to hold her, to know she was safe. "Jake," Sophie said, snapping me out of my thoughts. She stood a few feet ahead, her bow drawn, her sharp gaze scanning the twisted forest around us. "You’ve got to focus. This place isn’t going to give us the luxury of distractions." “I’m fine,” I lied, gripping the hilt of my sword tighter. "Sure you are," she muttered, but she didn’t press further. The forest on our side of the chasm was just as suffocating, maybe worse. The trees were skeletal and clawed at the sky, their bark blackened as if burned. The air smelled of decay, and an eerie mist curled around our feet. Even the shadows here felt alive, shifting unnaturally when we moved.
Last Updated : 2025-01-21The HIDDENS chapter 82
Priscilla’s PovThe forest seemed darker than before, the weight of the shadows pressing against me. Each step was careful and measured, the air too still, the silence too loud. Fatima walked just behind me, her breathing steady but strained. Althea moved to my left, her face set with determination. We were all on edge, every rustle of leaves or snap of a branch sending jolts of anxiety through us.“This place doesn’t want us here,” Fatima said softly, clutching her flashlight like a lifeline. She was the only human among us, and her instincts were sharp, even if she lacked magical senses.“I know,” I murmured, gripping the hilt of my dagger. The air was thick with an unnatural energy, every particle alive with menace. “We need to stay together, no matter what.”Althea nodded but didn’t speak. Her focus was on the forest ahead, her hands glowing faintly with the residual magic she’d been using to keep small enchantments active—a protective barrier, a minor light spell. Even with these
Last Updated : 2025-01-21The HIDDENS chapter 83
The forest seemed endless. Each tree loomed tall and ancient, their gnarled roots jutting out of the earth like claws trying to pull us down. My legs ached from the constant marching, my boots heavy with mud. Althea walked beside me, her jaw set, while Fatima trailed slightly behind, clutching a makeshift weapon—a sturdy branch she had found earlier. She didn’t complain, but the fatigue in her steps was clear.“We’ve been at this for hours,” Fatima said, her voice tinged with frustration. “Are we even going in the right direction?”I glanced at her, my own doubts gnawing at me. “The energy here is different. Althea says we’re close, and I trust her instincts.”Althea, who had been scanning the area with narrowed eyes, muttered, “There’s something off about this place. It’s like the forest itself is shifting to confuse us.”Great. A shifting forest. Just what we needed.“Do you think Jake’s group is nearby?” Fatima asked, her tone softer this time. My chest tightened at the mention o
Last Updated : 2025-01-21The HIDDENS chapter 84
The forest felt heavier as we moved deeper into its heart. Every step we took seemed to draw us further into a place where time and reality bent under the weight of ancient magic. The air itself felt charged, humming faintly against my skin like a static field waiting to ignite. "Are you sure this is the right way?" Jake’s voice, low and tense, broke through the silence. I glanced back at him, his usual confidence dampened by concern. “It’s here,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “I can feel it.” Althea, walking just ahead, nodded in agreement. “The energy is stronger here. There’s no doubt about it.” Fatima trailed slightly behind us, clutching a silver dagger we had given her for protection. "If it’s so close, why can’t we see it?" she asked, her voice tinged with both curiosity and fear. I didn’t have an answer. The coven was cloaked by layers of enchantments, a veil so powerful it was nearly impenetrable. But I could sense the edges of it now, faint threads of mag
Last Updated : 2025-01-21
Latest chapter
The HIDDENS Chapter 91
PRISCA’S POVThe familiar sight of the pack’s territory came into view just as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the fields and treetops. The tension in my chest eased slightly at the sight of home, but it didn’t last long. The air was heavy with unease, and the guards at the perimeter carried a nervous energy, their eyes scanning the forest for threats that might already be too close.Jake carried me most of the way back, despite my protests. My strength was slowly returning, but he refused to hear any argument. His arms were like iron bands around me, and while his touch usually brought me comfort, I could sense his fear.“You’re still too weak,” he murmured when I tried to stand. “Let me take care of you for once.”I didn’t have the energy to argue. I rested my head against his shoulder, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my cheek.Once inside the safety of the main house, Jake set me down gently on the couch in the living room. The r
The HIDDENS chapter 90
JAKE'S POV The morning sun cast long, golden rays over the forest, a deceptive serenity cloaking the air still heavy with the aftermath of the battle. Priscilla walked a few steps ahead of me, her shoulders squared as if to prove she was fine, though I could see the tremor in her movements. “Prisca,” I said, my voice firm but gentle. “Are you okay my love?"She glanced back, her lips twitching in that defiant smile I both loved and hated. “I told you, Jake. I’m fine.” But as the words left her mouth, her knees buckled. I caught her just in time, my arms wrapping around her before she hit the ground. “Prisca!” Panic surged through me as I cradled her limp form. Her skin was pale, her breaths shallow. “She’s overexerted herself,” Althea said, stepping to my side. “Her magic is drained, and she needs to recover.” “She looks—” I swallowed hard, unable to finish the sentence. “She’s not dying, Jake,” Althea assured me. “But she’s teetering close to exhaustion. Let her rest. It
The HIDDENS chapter 89
The air inside the coven’s chamber still hummed with residual magic, thick and heavy like a storm waiting to break. My fingers trembled as I clutched the fragile page of the grimoire. The weight of Esther’s warning about the blood spell pressed against my chest. Darkness had a cost—it always did. “Let’s move,” Jake’s voice cut through the silence, steady but tinged with urgency. “Whatever magic is holding this place together won’t last forever. We need to get back to the pack before something else goes wrong.” I nodded, my throat too dry to form words. Althea placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, her grip firm and steady. “We’ll figure this out, Prisca. Together.” Fatima, always the voice of levity, muttered, “Great. More walking through creepy woods while being hunted by god-knows-what. Just my kind of adventure.” The moment we stepped outside, the forest greeted us with an eerie silence. Gone were the rustling leaves and chirping insects that had accompanied us on our way
The HIDDENS chapter 88
The chamber shimmered as the doorway disappeared, replaced by a circle of flickering light. The coven revealed itself slowly, stepping out of the shadows like phantoms. Each woman was draped in dark, flowing robes that seemed to absorb the light, their faces partially obscured by intricate masks. But I recognized Esther instantly. She stood at the center of the group, her presence commanding. Her icy gaze swept over us, lingering on me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. “Welcome,” she said, her voice calm but laced with malice. “You’ve proven yourselves worthy to stand before the coven. But to gain the answers you seek, you must pass our final test.” The other women spoke in unison, their voices weaving together like a haunting melody. “Five trials. Five questions. Success grants knowledge. Failure brings consequences.” “Great,” Fatima muttered under her breath. “More games. I should’ve brought popcorn.” I shot her a look, but a small smile tugged at my lips
The HIDDENS chapter 87
The air around us crackled with an electric charge as the hidden doorway creaked open, revealing a cavernous chamber bathed in an eerie, flickering light. I barely had time to process the change before the strange pull of magic swept over us again. One blink, and our elegant ball gowns and tuxedos vanished, replaced with heavy, warrior-like armor. Mine was a deep crimson, its intricate patterns glowing faintly as though alive. A matching sword hung at my hip, its hilt adorned with runes that hummed softly when I touched it. “Is it just me, or do these witches really enjoy playing dress-up with us?” Fatima quipped, examining her silver-plated armor with an expression of exaggerated disdain. “And why is mine so heavy? Do they think I’m some medieval knight?” Jake stepped in front of me, his obsidian armor gleaming ominously in the dim light. “Stay close,” he said, his tone clipped. His hand rested on the hilt of his broadsword, his eyes scanning the chamber. The room was massive
The HIDDENS chapter 86
The room we stepped into was unlike anything we had seen before. Gone was the crumbling grandeur of the mansion. Instead, we were surrounded by endless mirrors, their reflective surfaces capturing our every movement and multiplying it infinitely. “This isn’t disorienting at all,” Fatima said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She spun in place, her emerald gown flaring around her as her reflection copied the motion dozens of times. “So, what now? Do we play dress-up with our clones?” Jake’s jaw tightened as his eyes darted around the room, searching for any signs of danger. “Stay close,” he said, his voice a low growl. “This place is messing with our senses.” He was right. The air felt thicker here, tinged with a faint, metallic taste. The mirrors seemed to shimmer, their surfaces rippling like water whenever we moved. “Another test,” Althea whispered. Her gaze was fixed on one of the mirrors, her expression tight with unease. “They’re testing our perceptions. Our ability to se
The HIDDENS chapter 85
The house loomed ahead, a grand, crumbling mansion shrouded in mist and magic. Its pointed roofs seemed to pierce the low-hanging clouds, and its many windows glinted like eyes in the faint light. The walls were made of dark, weathered stone, ivy creeping up its surface as though nature was trying to reclaim it. As we entered the men we had come with ,Jake's men were stuck outside ."The coven only wants ...us" Althea said Jake signaled for his men to stay put and I didn't like this . That we were going in without back up.“This place feels...wrong,” I said, gripping Jake’s hand tighter. “Wrong? It looks like the Addams family forgot to clean up,” Fatima quipped, her voice cutting through the oppressive silence. “I mean, it’s giving haunted chic.” Despite myself, I chuckled. Leave it to Fatima to find humor in the creepiest of situations. Althea stepped forward, her expression serious as her eyes roamed the house. “This isn’t just a building—it’s enchanted. I can feel it.” J
The HIDDENS chapter 84
The forest felt heavier as we moved deeper into its heart. Every step we took seemed to draw us further into a place where time and reality bent under the weight of ancient magic. The air itself felt charged, humming faintly against my skin like a static field waiting to ignite. "Are you sure this is the right way?" Jake’s voice, low and tense, broke through the silence. I glanced back at him, his usual confidence dampened by concern. “It’s here,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “I can feel it.” Althea, walking just ahead, nodded in agreement. “The energy is stronger here. There’s no doubt about it.” Fatima trailed slightly behind us, clutching a silver dagger we had given her for protection. "If it’s so close, why can’t we see it?" she asked, her voice tinged with both curiosity and fear. I didn’t have an answer. The coven was cloaked by layers of enchantments, a veil so powerful it was nearly impenetrable. But I could sense the edges of it now, faint threads of mag
The HIDDENS chapter 83
The forest seemed endless. Each tree loomed tall and ancient, their gnarled roots jutting out of the earth like claws trying to pull us down. My legs ached from the constant marching, my boots heavy with mud. Althea walked beside me, her jaw set, while Fatima trailed slightly behind, clutching a makeshift weapon—a sturdy branch she had found earlier. She didn’t complain, but the fatigue in her steps was clear.“We’ve been at this for hours,” Fatima said, her voice tinged with frustration. “Are we even going in the right direction?”I glanced at her, my own doubts gnawing at me. “The energy here is different. Althea says we’re close, and I trust her instincts.”Althea, who had been scanning the area with narrowed eyes, muttered, “There’s something off about this place. It’s like the forest itself is shifting to confuse us.”Great. A shifting forest. Just what we needed.“Do you think Jake’s group is nearby?” Fatima asked, her tone softer this time. My chest tightened at the mention o
