All Chapters of Shadows of Heart : The Awakening: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

The morning sun climbed higher, casting a golden glow across the training grounds, where students clustered around, some stretching, others sparring, and all clearly eager to prepare for the upcoming tournament. For weeks, the energy around Nighthaven had been building, and with the tournament only days away, the atmosphere was practically buzzing with excitement and a hint of nervousness.Zoe stood in her place on the training field, her mind focused, though her heart pounded with anticipation. She could feel her muscles tense with the memory of previous training sessions, the bruises and aches from the last week fading but reminding her of just how far she’d come. Her white wolf felt restless, and Zoe knew that today’s training was about pushing her limits.Rurik, their instructor, strode onto the field, his sharp gaze assessing each student with a mix of approval and impatience. The seasoned werewolf had taken an interest in Zoe, pushing her further with each session. Today, he seem

The day of the tournament dawns with an air of both excitement and anxiety as students gather on the grounds. Zoe, Dominic, Nikola, and Sara prepare together in the early hours, running through last-minute stretches and mentally preparing for what lies ahead. They discuss their training, their strategies, and their concerns, each confiding their hopes and fears. Zoe senses an unusual heaviness in Dominic’s gaze, though he tries to keep things light.At breakfast, Zoe and her friends were enjoying a brief moment of calm, sharing quiet jokes over plates of fruit and eggs. The day of the tournament buzzed with excitement, but Zoe felt an undercurrent of nerves among her group. Just as she was about to mention it, the Ironclaw pack entered the hall with heavy footsteps, their presence turning the hum of conversations into a prickling silence.Ewan, the Ironclaw leader, scanned the hall, his eyes landing on the Blue Mountain group. He smirked, then strode over, his friends trailing close be

Sara, who stood beside them with her usual calm, nodded. “Stick together, and we’ll ace this round. Let’s make Blue Mountain proud.”They moved to the starting line, each mentally preparing. As Zoe took her place, she felt eyes on her and glanced across the field to see Ewan and several Ironclaw pack members watching them with cold, assessing stares. Ewan’s lips twisted into a mocking smirk, and he gave her a condescending nod as if already counting her out.The whistle blew, and the round began. Zoe and her friends sprang forward, navigating a series of intricate obstacles: high walls, ropes to climb, rings of fire to leap through, and enchanted water barriers that required skill to pass. Each of her friends displayed their unique strengths. Dominic moved like lightning, surging ahead with his natural speed; Nikola’s movements were precise, almost calculated, weaving through the obstacles with an intense focus. Sara’s agility allowed her to twist and dodge gracefully, and Zoe felt her

Ewan recovered quickly, his expression darkening. He lunged, attempting to grab her arm, but Zoe twisted out of reach, landing a clean punch to his ribs that made him grunt. Angered, he came at her with a series of fast, powerful punches. Zoe dodged, blocking when she had to, until finally, she saw her opening. She ducked under one of his punches and drove her fist into his abdomen, knocking him back.The crowd cheered as Zoe straightened, breathing hard but still steady. Ewan glared at her, his expression a mixture of frustration and something darker."Round one to Zoe," Rurik announced, gesturing for a brief pause.Ewan’s jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with a dangerous glint. Zoe noticed his fingers clenching and unclenching as he fought to control his temper. She took a deep breath, knowing that things were only going to get tougher from here.Rurik’s voice cut through the murmurs of the crowd. “Round two: wolf form only!”In a matter of seconds, Zoe’s body shifted, bones reshaping

Zoe rolled up the edge of her shirt, revealing the faint, almost invisible scratch on her side. But as Marella’s fingers hovered over the wound, Zoe felt a sudden, searing heat. She bit back a gasp, her hand clenching the fabric of her pants.“Ah,” Marella said, her tone grim. “This magic is indeed dark, twisted. It’s subtle, designed to infect slowly, eating away at your strength over time.”Sara paled, moving closer. “Can you… can you remove it?”“I will do my best,” Marella replied, her expression softening slightly as she looked at Zoe. “But this will not be a simple process. The poison is deeply embedded, like a stubborn weed with roots tangled through your energy. It will take time, and it may be… unpleasant.”Dominic’s hand clenched at his side, a muscle in his jaw ticking. “What do you mean, ‘unpleasant’?”Marella gave him a sympathetic look. “To purify dark magic like this, I’ll need to draw it out, bit by bit. The process can be painful and exhausting. But it must be done car