All Chapters of Shadows of Heart : The Awakening: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The night had settled softly over Nighthaven, its ancient towers glowing faintly in the moonlight. After the tension of the council meeting, Zoe found herself restless, her mind racing with thoughts of her family, her wolf, and the daunting future Ellara had hinted at. Needing an escape, she slipped out of her room, the stone halls cool and quiet under her bare feet.She found herself in one of the castle courtyards, a hidden garden bathed in silver light. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of blooming jasmine. Zoe wandered to a bench near a gnarled oak tree, sitting down and letting the peace of the night wash over her.“Couldn’t sleep either?”She jumped at the voice, her wolf stirring briefly before she realized who it was. Dominic stepped into the light, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket. His easy smile and the way his dark hair caught the moonlight eased the tension in her shoulders.“Seems to be a theme around here,” Zoe replied, scooting over slightly to m

The air around the forest was heavy, a mix of damp earth and an unsettling chill that made Zoe’s skin prickle. The group moved cautiously, the dense trees swallowing most of the moonlight, leaving them with only faint glimmers to guide their way. This was a test, Ellara had said - a chance to prove they could handle themselves beyond the safety of Nighthaven’s walls. A retrieval mission for a lost artifact wasn’t supposed to be dangerous, but Zoe could feel the tension radiating from everyone.“Stay sharp,” Dominic whispered, his voice barely audible. He walked close to Zoe, his movements fluid and alert, his dark eyes scanning the shadows.They had been traveling for hours when they reached a clearing, the artifact - a simple-looking obsidian orb - lying on an altar at its center. It pulsed faintly with a dark energy that made Zoe’s wolf growl uneasily in her mind.“This feels wrong,” Nikola muttered, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade.“Agreed,” Sara added, her voice tight. “L

Zoe couldn’t shake the weight of the goddesses’ warning from her mind. The darkness, the loss, the looming trials - it was all too much to process in one sitting. The pressure was suffocating, the expectations mounting higher with every passing second. She needed space to clear her head, to get away from the walls of Nighthaven and the endless whispers of responsibility.So, in the dead of night, she slipped from her quarters. The corridors of the castle were quiet, and the only sound was the soft thud of her boots against the stone floor. Zoe’s heart beat in rhythm with her growing restlessness, her need to run.In the courtyard, the cool night air greeted her, crisp and fresh. She barely paused before shifting. The familiar surge of power ran through her limbs as her body morphed into that of her white wolf. Her bones shifted, her fur rippling as the wolf within her took control.Nila, her wolf, stretched within her mind, a rumbling growl of approval echoing in Zoe’s consciousness. L

The morning light filtered through the thick curtains of Zoe’s room, casting soft, golden rays across the floor. Zoe lay still for a moment, her body tangled in the warmth of the blankets, the events of the night before replaying in her mind like an echo.Her heart was still racing, her pulse a constant reminder of the kiss - the connection she and Dominic shared. She didn’t know where it would lead, or if it would lead anywhere at all, but it had left something inside her that wouldn’t go away. Something stirring. Something that was beginning to feel like more than just attraction.Zoe rolled over and checked the time on her phone. She had only a few minutes before breakfast, but she needed to clear her head.She pushed the covers aside and stood, moving toward the bathroom. She splashed cold water on her face, her reflection staring back at her.Get a grip, Zoe, she told herself firmly. It was just a kiss. You’re here to train, to get stronger. Focus on that.But even as she thought

The summons had come at dawn. A nervous junior witch had appeared at their door, her hands trembling as she delivered the curt message: “The council wishes to see you. Now.”Zoe, Sara, Nikola, and Dominic now found themselves walking the long, dimly lit corridors of Nighthaven toward the council chamber. The silence between them was palpable, each lost in their own thoughts. Zoe kept her gaze ahead, trying to ignore the knot twisting in her stomach.“This can’t be good,” Sara muttered, breaking the silence.Nikola, walking slightly ahead, glanced back. “Probably about training yesterday,” he said, though his tone was unsure. “Or the rumors.”“What rumors?” Zoe asked sharply, her eyes narrowing.Nikola hesitated, then sighed. “About us. About you. People are talking. They think you’re... different.”Sara snorted. “Of course, she’s different. Half of them can barely shift without tripping over their tails.”“Enough,” Dominic said firmly, his tone brooking no argument. “We’ll deal with wh