All Chapters of Howl of the unchosen: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

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

Chapter 82: Fiona's POVThe forest itself thrummed with life, a savage symphony that never seemed to stop. The leaves spoke secrets to the wind, crickets called in rhythmic beats, and somewhere out there, the soft babble of a brook provided background music to it all. This was not only my kingdom it was my home, a sanctuary nestled in the arms of ancient trees. Here, in the midst of roots and shadows, lay purpose. There was unity. And there was a peace I never thought I would have.These rogues we invited into our households were no longer outsiders. No, they’d be done with that label the minute they set foot within our borders. They had become part of something larger, something that neither judged them nor pushed them away. Here, in this raw place, they found acceptance more easily than the seasons rolled one into the next.” Maeve and her sharp tongue and unshakable disposition had kept me grounded through it all. She wasn’t simply an adviser or a friend — she was family. Together w

Chapter 84: Fiona's POVThe forest felt unnaturally quiet, the kind of quiet that holds you in its grip and makes you acutely aware of every noise. Here, the soft rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird were broken only by me and Maeve as we walked through the training grounds. Up ahead, the rogue outcasts were deep into their drills, sparring in pairs. Their movements were sharp, efficient, even, and it was hard not to feel a flicker of pride at how far they had come. But beneath that pride was this low-grade discomfort I couldn’t shake.Peace — such a delicate thing, yes? One wrong move, just like a thin thread stretched to its breaking point, and it snaps. Orin was still out there. Sure, we hadn’t heard much about him recently, but that was the point. Silence with somebody like Orin? It’s never a good thing. He wasn’t the kind to just slip into the darkness. No, he was scheming — he must be.I was this close to saying something to Maeve, maybe giving her some advice a

Chapter 86: Olivia's POVEthan had sent security guards to guide me but I was suddenly woken up by the clash of metallic blade. I stood up to look at it, only to find Orin at my back. Before I could think twice, a blade was inserted into me. The world tipped on its axis, spinning wildly as the blade buried itself in my abdomen. It poured in, the cold steel, deep infused, shredded skin and splintered bone, leaving an insatiable, burning pain. My breath caught, a strangled cry scraping at the back of my throat, desperate to be let out, but not quite coalescing. Bumping back, arms flailing, half falling over myself, the pain… I couldn’t, I can’t, I could not anymore, too much, too raw, too consuming. I reached for the hilt, sticking out of my stomach, and my hands trembled as if trying to hold onto a body that wasn’t my own.I fell to my knees, the falling sensation fading as the environment around started to swim. Hot blood spilled from me, pooling on the floor below. The earth felt

Chapter 88: Jason's POVThe news I had just dropped on Lena was the Earth itself opening up underneath us and swallowing it all whole. I could tell by the look on her face that the hurt was raw, jagged, like a piece of her soul had been broken — the pieces of her shattered soul queerly sharp. She’d had that vacant, hollow look in her eyes, the one you have when everything you thought you understood about the world is lying in pieces around you. I could only stand by helpless as the woman I loved slowly melted away before me.There was nothing I could say to calm her, no words to free her of what she couldn’t see (but I could) in her chest, no deed that would unmatter what had been done. Terror — our terror — came barreling through our lives and our hearts, and Olivia — our Olivia — disappeared, torn from us in the most barbaric, senseless manner. Orin had killed her, and now there was to be no more pretending. None of this hiding behind ideas or words. Instead we had only the brutal,