Freya Nightshade has always felt a strange pull toward the forbidden forest that looms just beyond her village, but she's spent her life obeying her grandmother's warnings to stay far away. That all changes one fateful night under the Harvest Moon w...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The moon hung high in the sky, a brilliant orb illuminating the ancient forest below. Ozias Kekoa moved through the trees, each step a whisper on the damp earth. The night air was cool against his skin, filled with the scent of pine mingling with the earthy musk of damp soil. As he moved deeper into the woods, the crispness of the air nipped at his cheeks, invigorating him with every breath. He listened intently to the symphony of sounds around him—the distant rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze, the occasional snap of twigs underfoot, and the call of an owl echoing through the treetops, reminding him that he was not alone in this ancient place. He could feel the heartbeat of the woods pulsing beneath him, a rhythm that was both familiar and invigorating.
It had been over a week since he first encountered her—the girl with the striking white hair and eyes like the sky. Freya. Her name lingered in his mind, echoing in the quiet spaces of his thoughts. He couldn't shake the memory of her gaze, bright and curious, yet laced with a vulnerability that tugged at something deep within him. Was he allowing himself to care again? After all the losses he had suffered, how could he risk forming another bond? He had watched her from the shadows, drawn to her in a way he couldn't quite comprehend. There was something about her that stirred a protective instinct within him, one he had long since buried under the weight of his responsibilities as Alpha of The Whisper Pack.
The forest felt different tonight; there was a current of energy rippling through the air, almost electric in its intensity. As he leaned against the rough bark of an ancient oak, Ozias closed his eyes and concentrated. The pathways were alive beneath him, their magic resonating through the very ground he stood upon. He could almost hear them—an undercurrent of whispers weaving through the trees, calling out to him, urging him to uncover their secrets. The shadows deepened, pooling around him like ink. The air crackled with anticipation, as if the forest itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to unfold.
His heart quickened at the realization. The pathways of magic that coursed through the land were reacting to something, and he could feel it deep in his bones. Every instinct he possessed told him to pay attention. But to what? What was stirring within the forest, and why did it feel as if it were calling him?
Ozias shook his head, trying to dispel the swirling thoughts. He was the protector of this territory, the guardian of the secrets hidden within the woods. He had a duty to uphold, and yet, the memory of Freya lingered in his mind, drawing him back to that moment when their eyes had met under the harvest moon. There had been a connection—an unspoken bond that hinted at something greater.
"What is it about you, Freya?" he murmured to himself, the words swallowed by the night. He felt an inexplicable urge to keep her safe, to shield her from the dangers that lurked not just in the forest but in the world beyond. He had seen too much—lost too many—understanding all too well the price of vulnerability.
The whisper of the trees enveloped him, a reminder of the delicate balance he had to maintain. The weight of the past pressed down on him, memories of battles fought and lost surfacing like specters in the back of his mind. He could feel the wraiths lurking in the shadows, their hunger palpable and their eyes glinting with malice. They wouldn't hesitate to strike if given the chance, especially now that the pathways were awakening. The air itself felt charged, thick with potential, and Ozias couldn't shake the sense that something dark was coming, ready to disrupt the fragile balance he fought so hard to maintain. With Freya wandering so close to their domain, he was faced with a choice: to keep watching from the shadows or to intervene directly.
