All Chapters of The HIDDENS: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

The air in the main hall was thick with distrust. Esther sat in the corner, her hands still bound with silver-lined chains, a quiet smirk playing on her lips. Her very presence set everyone on edge, a fox pretending to help the henhouse. Jake leaned against the far wall, arms crossed and his eyes glued to her every move, while Fatima busied herself gathering herbs and spell ingredients in the adjoining room. Althea paced near the large wooden table, her magic buzzing faintly in the air, a testament to her unease.As for me, I stood at the head of the table, trying to focus on the task at hand. The pack’s barrier had been our first line of defense, and without it, we were exposed. Vulnerable. I had to figure out a way to rebuild it, even if that meant working with someone like Esther.“We don’t need her,” Jake growled, his voice low but firm. “We can figure this out on our own.”“Can we?” I countered, my voice steady but not unkind. “She knows the Shadow Circle’s magic better than any

The morning of my birthday arrived like any other day, except for the suspicious smiles and hushed voices that seemed to follow me around the packhouse. I could tell something was up, but no one would say a word. Even Jake had been unusually evasive, flashing his charming smile whenever I questioned him.“You’ll find out later,” he teased, brushing a kiss on my forehead before disappearing to attend to patrol duties.I sighed, wandering into the kitchen where the tantalizing scent of coffee and pastries greeted me. Althea and Fatima were already there, sitting at the counter with Sophie, who was helping herself to a cinnamon roll.“Morning, birthday girl!” Fatima chirped, holding up a mug of coffee as if in salute.“Happy birthday!” Althea added, her usually reserved expression softening into a genuine smile.“Thanks,” I said, taking the mug from Fatima. “You guys are acting weird. What’s going on?”“Who, us?” Fatima feigned innocence, nudging Sophie, who stifled a giggle. “We’re just

I sat on the floor of Althea’s room, ancient books and scrolls spread out in front of us. The tension in the air was thick as we pored over spell after spell, searching for the answer to locating the coven. “I think I found it,” Althea said, her voice barely above a whisper. I looked up, hope sparking in my chest. “You’re sure?” She nodded, pushing the book toward me. “It’s a locating spell, but it requires a deep connection to the person or group you’re searching for. For this to work, I’ll have to put you into a sleep state—a deep one. Your subconscious will guide us.” I frowned, tracing the lines of the spell with my finger. The description was vague, mentioning that the subject might encounter visions or truths hidden in their own mind. It wasn’t just sleep—it was an invitation to the unknown. Jake would hate this. “I don’t know, Althea,” I said hesitantly. “It’s the best option we’ve found,” she said, her tone insistent. “The coven is hiding their location with powe

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

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