Chapter 010\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I woke up, the first thing I felt was heat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not sunlight\u2013too heavy, a little close.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A fire crackled somewhere nearby, the scent of smoke and herbs thick in the air.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The air felt clean, sharp, and unfamiliar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shifted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pain ripped through my shoulder, sharp enough to steal my breath. Sharp and cruel.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Someone had bandaged me, wrapped the wound tight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The bandages were fresh. Whoever tended to me knew what they were doing\u2013tight wrap, antiseptic herbs, clean stitching.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My eyelids fluttered open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The walls were different. A bed. Voices outside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I wasn\u2019t dead. Yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This wasn\u2019t the forest. Not the camp either.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, where am I?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Wait. Did I successfully get kidnapped by Liora\u2019s men?\u00a0<\/p>\n
In that case, why would they get me treated?\u00a0<\/p>\n
They wanted me dead. Gone forever.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Confused. I don\u2019t know what to think.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My throat was dry when I tried to speak. \u201cHello? Anyone?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A rustle answered me from somewhere nearby.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A woman\u2019s voice calm, measured. \u201cYou\u2019re awake.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned my head slightly, wincing as pain tugged at my stitches.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A doctor wearing a white coat,stood by my bedside, hands moving with practiced grace as she adjusted the cloth around my wound.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t strain yourself,\u201d the doctor said softly. \u201cYou\u2019ve been out for two days.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo\u2026 days?\u201d I replied, shocked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My voice cracking with surprise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2014\u00a0<\/p>\n
The doctor nodded. \u201cYour fever finally broke this morning. You\u2019re safe now in Shadowclaw territory.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I froze. Shadowclaw.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heartbeat stuttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019d heard the name before stories whispered even among Packs and wanderers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A powerful pack.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Strict. Loyal. Not kind to strangers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My fingers curled in the blanket. \u201cWhy\u2026 am I here?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The doctor hesitated, studying my face for a moment before answering.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAsk your rescuer. He hasn\u2019t left the infirmary since he brought you in.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I frowned faintly, struggling to recall the voice that had spoken to me in the car, calm and steady even through the haze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/5\u00a0<\/p>\n
Successfully unlocked!\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 010\u00a0<\/p>\n
You\u2019re safe. Don\u2019t move too much.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could ask more questions, footsteps echoed down the hall -firm, purposeful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The doctor glanced toward the door, her tone lowering to a murmur. \u201cIf you have questions. You can ask him yourself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The latch clicked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My pulse quickened as the door opened and Alpha Theo stepped in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
shadows catching on the edge of his black jacket, his expression unreadable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I saw him, I tried to sit up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEasy. Don\u2019t sit up too fast.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That voice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rough, controlled, and unmistakable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He sat across from me, arms folded, eyes fixed in that unnervingly calm way of his.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even sitting still, he radiated aura\u2013the kind that didn\u2019t need to be spoken to be felt. Commanding. Quiet, impossible to ignore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked hard, trying to piece the world together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re awake.\u201d He spoke again,softly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked through the haze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pretending. I asked. \u201cWho are you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one who dragged you out of that mess,\u201d he said simply. \u201cYou nearly bled out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tried to push up, but his hand landed on my shoulder, firm but careful. \u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t ask you to save me,\u201d I muttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou sound disappointed,\u201d he rasped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. But I sure can take care of myself,\u201d I corrected, though my tone didn\u2019t quite convince him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cReally. Yet, you stayed in that old cottage dying with fever. You should\u2019ve left a note requesting to leave you alone\u201d he spoke, his tone taunting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I beckoned to him. \u201cHelp me up. My back is strained.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shifted upright with his help, teeth gritted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should\u2019ve left me. I was heading nowhere.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He tilted his head slightly. \u201cYou saved my life once. That makes this balance.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we\u2019re even,\u201d I said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes flickered, something I couldn\u2019t name glimmered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEven isn\u2019t how I do things.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t know what to say. But, I can\u2019t stay.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking around. I asked,\u201cWhere am I?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSafe.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNot an answer.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t owe you answers, Miss\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hated how his voice could sound both dangerous and reassuring at the same time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/5\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 010\u00a0<\/p>\n
My throat burned when I tried to swallow. \u201cWhy did you bring me here?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were bleeding to death,\u201d he said simply. \u201cI don\u2019t leave debts unpaid.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Debts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The word made something cold tighten in my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Debt. That was all I am now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could\u2019ve left me,\u201d I said. \u201cIt would\u2019ve been easier.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His gaze didn\u2019t waver. \u201cMaybe I don\u2019t like it easy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silence stretched between us, heavy with the things we weren\u2019t saying.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He studied me like a puzzle he wasn\u2019t sure he wanted to solve.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finally, I broke it. \u201cIf this is your territory, I shouldn\u2019t be here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s true,\u201d he said. \u201cBut the rogues who attacked\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something flashed across his face\u2013curiosity, maybe recognition\u2013but it passed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rogues?\u201d I rasped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDead,\u201d he said. \u201cBut they weren\u2019t acting like rogues. Too coordinated. Too quiet.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned my head, staring into the flames. My throat ached. \u201cThey weren\u2019t after you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He studied me for a beat. \u201cThen who?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He leaned forward slightly. \u201cYou\u2019ve got secrets, Kaia.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I met his gaze, forcing calm. \u201cAnd you don\u2019t?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That earned a faint smile. \u201cFair.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The silence that followed was thick. He studied me.Not the way men usually did, not hungry or pitying. He looked like he was measuring me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were ambushed,\u201d he said finally. \u201cFive rogues. All dead.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI counted three.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rest fled. But there\u2019s something else.\u201d He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small token, the metal dulled with blood and dirt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
An emblem.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Silvermoon crest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My stomach twisted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He watched me carefully. \u201cCare to explain why rogues from Silvermoon territory are hunting you this far from their borders?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey weren\u2019t rogues,\u201d I said. My voice came out quieter than I meant. \u201cThey were sent.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBy who?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I met his gaze. \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t believe me if I told you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTry me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hesitated. Then, softly. \u201cThe Alpha Consort.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo went still.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My stomach twisted. \u201cSilvermoon\u2019s Alpha Consort wants me dead.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His expression didn\u2019t change, but something sharpened in his eyes. \u201cWhy?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I know the truth about her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/5\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 010\u00a0<\/p>\n
He leaned forward. \u201cWhich is?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I met his gaze, my voice low and steady. \u201cThat she\u2019s no Luna. She\u2019s a liar with blood on her hands. A power hungry monster who will erase anyone on her path to becoming Luna and I\u2019m one of the obstacles\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo said, his voice low and annoyed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard she\u2019s the Alpha chosen consort. Why is she still fighting for something else?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked away, swallowing hard.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s not what she seems. She plays the pious generous Queen in front of the Pack while scheming behind the scenes. She thrives on rot. I was the rot she needed to cut away to claim her crown.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t want to reveal my truth but I can\u2019t help myself. Who knows who these people are.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What are they after? Is it a coincidence we met twice in a row?\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t speak for a while.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My bandaged shoulder throbbed in sync with the silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finally, he said, \u201cThen it seems your ghost has long arms.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I frowned. \u201cGhost?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He leaned back. \u201cRumors have been spreading. Packs whisper about a woman who rose fast in Silvermoon\u2019s court\u2026 then vanished after an Alpha\u2019s Consort was attacked. No one knows the truth. Only that Consort forbade anyone from speaking the name of this woman.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My pulse stuttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Liora was already cementing her place in the Silvermoon Pack and erasing me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I expected it. I didn\u2019t know it would come this fast..\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo\u2019s expression hardened. \u201cWhoever she is, she\u2019s dangerous. And she wants you erased.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I met his eyes, steady. \u201cThen she should\u2019ve made sure I was dead.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo studied me for a long moment, then murmured,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019ll regret not finishing the job.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the look in his eyes wasn\u2019t just a warning\u2013it was a promise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My chest shifted. Not in discomfort but with surprise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silence hung between us thick like smoke, bitter and ruthless.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, I spoke. Calmly and cautiously.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cArent you curious who I really am? Why did I become an outcast? I\u2019m sure you can smell me. It\u2019s not a secret. You don\u2019t have to protend\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo answered. \u201cI\u2019m curious, yes but not cold\u2013hearted. It\u2019s obvious you don\u2019t want to talk about it. At least, not yet.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart warmed up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This is a first. After my grandmother, he\u2019s the first person who didn\u2019t need me to explain myself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He knew I\u2019m an outcast. And somehow, he doesn\u2019t judge me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t even know me. What I did. And you\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo didn\u2019t look away, didn\u2019t blink.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, softly too softly\u2013he said, \u201cI believe you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I frowned. \u201cWhy?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stood up, removing his thick jacket. It brushed the ground as he turned toward the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause the kind of woman who kills three rogues while half\u2013dead isn\u2019t the one who hides behind lies.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
4\/5\u00a0<\/p>\n
201\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 010\u00a0<\/p>\n
My chest jumped with something -Something I can\u2019t place my hands on.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGet some rest,\u201d he said finally, his tone softening. \u201cYou\u2019re safe here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t believe that. Safe was a word for people who hadn\u2019t lost everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But his words stirred something in me. Maybe. Just maybe, there is someone who believes me for once.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Alpha Theo,\u201d I said when he was about to leave. \u201cFor saving my life\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI should thank you,\u201d Alpha Theo looks at me.\u201cI\u2019m leaving. Duty calls\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I watched him leave. My eyes stayed on him. Longing. Wishing he\u2019d stay a little longer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stupid. What\u2019s wrong with me?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t know what\u2019s wrong with me but I love whatever this is.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Atleast, it\u2019s not a lie or betrayal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shadows Follow Lonely Minds \u2014 Christopher Harris 10 Chapter 010\u00a0 When I woke up, the first thing I felt was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[80],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-nightshade-heir-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27255","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27255"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27255\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}