All Chapters of Shadows of Heart : The Awakening: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Zoe couldn’t miss opportunity to come home for a bit during semestral break. The familiar scent of pine and fresh bread enveloped Zoe as she walked through the front door. Her heart lifting at the sight of home. Her mother’s warm smile and her father’s easy laugh reminded her just how much she’d missed the comforts of family. The entire evening felt like a long hug - her brother teasing her about her “fancy witch school,” her father proudly grilling her on her training, and her mother glancing at her with that familiar, knowing look.After they cleared the table, her father and brother retired, and Zoe found herself alone with her mother in the living room. Her mother set out a woolen blanket on couch and two mugs of tea on the coffee table, her hands moving deftly but with a soft tremor that Zoe noticed for the first time. They settled into the couch, the comforting silence between them lasting only a moment before Zoe’s worries came spilling out.“Mom… something happened at Nighthav

The Blue Mountain Pack had always been home for Zoe Reed. With towering pines stretching toward the sky and the scent of fresh earth filling the air, she felt safe here. But as the sun dipped behind the horizon, her excitement grew because tomorrow, everything would change.Zoe’s heartbeat quickened as she jogged up the dirt path toward her house. Tomorrow is her eighteen birthday, and she’ll finally experience her first shift. Her wolf will be awaken, and she’ll run with her family for the first time.As she approached the house, the familiar sight of their cozy wooden cottage came into view. Smoke rose from the chimney, carrying the scent of roasted chicken and herbs. She slowed her pace, grinning at the thought of a big family dinner—the last one she’d have as just Zoe.“Zoe!” Her mother, standing on the porch with her hands on her hips, smiled as Zoe reached the steps. “You’re cutting it close. Dinner’s almost ready. You know how your brother gets if we start late.”“Yeah, he turn

Zoe’s room was soon filled with the sound of laughter as she and Sara sifted through outfits and talked about everything but the pack politics that weighed on their minds. The sunlight streamed through the window, casting warm golden light on the floor, but Zoe’s nerves still hummed in the background. She tried to focus on Sara’s jokes and chatter.“Okay, so... we’ve got the whole pack coming. Even if Dominic is there, don’t worry - I’ll steal him away from you,” Sara teased, holding up a deep green dress and giving Zoe a mischievous grin.“Please, take him,” Zoe laughed. “I’m not interested.” But why does it feel like a lie?Sara pouted dramatically. “You say that now, but wait until you shift. You’re going to be stunning in wolf form, and Dominic will be eating out of the palm of your hand.”Zoe rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips. “I think you’ve got that backwards. He’ll be drooling over you, like everyone else.”The banter was light, but beneath it, Zo

With a shared thrill, the family darted away from the bonfire, their laughter and excitement echoing in the night. Zoe reveled in the sensation of the cool grass beneath her paws and the wind whipping through her fur as they raced through the trees. The world felt alive, vibrant, and full of possibilities.They weaved through the forest together, leaping over fallen logs and skidding around trees, laughter mingling with the sounds of the night. For a moment, everything felt perfect, the weight of the world lifting as they lost themselves in the exhilaration of being together.“Catch me if you can!” Ethan called out, darting ahead. Zoe instinctively surged forward, her muscles working in perfect harmony with Nila’s instincts.“You’ll have to be faster than that!” Zoe teased, her wolf form effortlessly keeping pace with her brother.As they raced, Zoe felt a sense of belonging wash over her. In this moment, under the watchful moon, she was not just Zoe Reed but also Nila, a fierce wolf

After breakfast, Zoe stepped outside, the crisp air of the morning bringing some clarity to her foggy mind. She had barely settled onto the porch swing when a familiar voice called out to her.“Hey there, Zoe.”Zoe looked up, surprised but not entirely displeased to see Dominic walking toward her. There was a casualness to his posture, but his eyes held that same intensity she had noticed the night before.“Mind if I join you?” he asked, already leaning against the porch railing.“Not at all,” she replied, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. His presence had a way of making her pulse quicken. Zoe glanced at him, trying to read beneath the surface of his calm demeanor.“How are you feeling after last night? It’s a lot to take in, right?” Dominic asked, his tone softening as he looked out toward the horizon.“It’s surreal,” she admitted. “Becoming a wolf, running with my family… it was amazing. But then you said all that stuff about Alpha Philip, and now I don’t know what to th