Chapter 110 Chapter 109: Oops The laugh still lingered in Orion’s throat when he dropped his hand from his mouth. He leaned back against the bark of the ancient tree, the sound shaking faintly in his chest. Sad. The very word seemed absurd rolling from his lips, yet Sophia had
Chapter 109 Chapter 108: You are Missing Out The quiet stretched on. Snow crackled faintly under the brush of wind, scattering loose flakes from the pine branches above. Somewhere in the distance, laughter rose in a wave and carried through the night air, softening into echoes before fading away. The
Chapter 108 Chapter 107: Shorty and the Oaf “What are you doing, shorty?” Orion asked her when he heard the shuffling sounds. Sophia’s head snapped up, her lips parting in indignation at the casual insult drifting down from the branches. Moonlight spilled through the canopy of the trees above, kissing
Chapter 107 Chapter 106: Orion’s Favourite Spot The weight of the two wineskins tugged gently against Sophia’s arms as she wove her way through the lingering crowd. Their rounded shapes pressed against her sides where the straps crossed, clinking softly together with each step. The festival still hummed, though less
Chapter 106 Chapter 105: The Tree Beyond the Walls “Where is Orion p> The words had barely left Sophia’s lips before Ronan’s brows shot up. A crooked grin tugged at his mouth. “Not good enough company, am I?” he teased, pressing a hand to his chest in mock offense. “You’d
Chapter 105 Chapter 104: Brynhild is Blind? “Brynhild is blind?” Sophia’s voice came out small and incredulous. She felt like burying herself into a hole. The fact that she had not even noticed it was what made her feel mortified. “Um…everyone knows that.” Ronan said to her with a laugh.
Chapter 104 Chapter 103: Shadows Beneath the Lanterns Ronan chuckled at Sam’s remark, the sound rolling low from his chest. “You really didn’t listen to Orion’s words earlier, did you?” he asked, tilting his head at Sam. “The festival isn’t just about remembrance. It’s about surviving it. Moving on. We
Chapter 103 Chapter 102: Ronan’s Family Sophia stayed close to Ronan’s side as they began walking go meet his best friend. As they moved, the smell of fresh bread wafted out from one of the stalls, and Sophia gave an appreciative humm of approval. Ahead, at the edge of a
Chapter 102 Chapter 101: The Beginning of the Festival III The moment Orion’s final words left his lips, the square erupted. Cheers rose along with shouts and the square became even more noisy than it was before. Sophia had no idea how. People with lanterns lifted their lanterns high, their
Chapter 101 Chapter 100: The Beginning of the Festival II Orion paused at the platform’s center, letting his eyes sweep over the gathered pack members. The lights from the hung lanterns painted his face. Sophia’s hands tightened around her cloak. It wasn’t just that Orion looked different; it was that
Chapter 100 Chapter 99: The Beginning of the Festival I “What’s the bell for?” Sophia asked, because asking felt safer than making a guess. “Is it another attack from the beasts?” She asked. Brynhild chuckled. “No, it’s nearly time for the main festival,” she said softly. “There’s a rite before
Chapter 99 Chapter 98: See you guys at the Festival Seeing as there was no way to go about this, Tobias gave in. “All right,” he muttered, glancing first at Sophia, then at Ronan, Brynhild, and Lysander, then back at Sophia because like Lysander had said, she was the only
Chapter 98 Chapter 97: Breakfast and Partners The shadow that had fallen across the table belonged to none other than Ronan. His blonde hair caught the soft light filtering from the dining hall’s high windows as he grinned at them like a wolf caught mid-prank. “Well, well, well,” he said,
Chapter 97 Chapter 96: The Dining Hall and Some Breakfast The morning light spilled softly across the pack compound, filtered by the frosty branches above and the occasional snowflake drifting down from the slate-colored sky. Sophia walked beside Lysander, who gently rolled Brynhild’s wheelchair over the smooth pathway that led
Chapter 96 Chapter 95: At the Gates The tree’s clearing still hummed behind them as they made their way back toward the shrine. The sound of the tokens brushing one another faded with each step, replaced by the softer murmur of people at prayer. Lanterns lined the path, their runes
Chapter 95 Chapter 94: A Prayer with a Wish Sophia stared at the smooth blank face of the token in her palm. The pale wood caught the cold light and seemed to almost glow against her dark gloves. Her breath rose in small, visible puffs while she hesitated, quill hovering,
Chapter 94 Chapter 93: Under the Oak Tree The air between them was still tight from Brynhild’s huff and Lysander’s warning, but the two guards waiting at their sides looked on patiently. Snow crunched under boots, cloaks, and runners alike, the morning light brightening the silver and blue streamers stretched
Chapter 93 Chapter 92: Heading to the Shrine Snow crusted the porch steps in a neat white rim, the early morning light striking the runes carved into each brick and setting them to a faint, steady glow. Lanterns hung from every doorway nearby, their small etched runes catching the light
Chapter 92 Chapter 91: Preparations for Zena’s Farewell The air inside Zena’s home was heavy with the weight of the dead. Orion could swear it smelled like the dead also but he may be exaggerating. The curtains had been drawn to dim the sunlight, muting the noise from the streets
Chapter 91 Chapter 90: See you Tonight The laughter still clung to the air like a stubborn echo, but Orion’s shoulders had already settled. The glint of humor faded from his eyes, replaced with the controlled calm that came so naturally to him. He straightened to his full height, the