Chapter 38\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013Elara\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara strode into the guest lounge like a storm wrapped in royalty.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stood up from the sofa immediately.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If her expression was anything to go by, she\u2019d already confronted Kaia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Good.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cClose the door,\u201d Cara said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I obeyed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t sit. She didn\u2019t smile. She paced. small, precise steps that reflected her irritation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe spoke to me,\u201d Cara began stiffly, \u201cas though she were my equal.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked. \u201cKaia?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d Cara\u2019s nostrils flared, cheeks taut. \u201cThe stray girl thinks saving the King gives her the right to\u2026 challenge\u00a0<\/p>\n
me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A thrill of satisfaction slid through me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Perfect.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The more Kaia pushed back, the easier she was to paint as trouble.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And with Cara on her neck, I won\u2019t have to do much.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did she say?\u201d I asked softly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat Shadowclaw is her home now.\u201d Cara spat the word out like it was poison on her tongue. \u201cAs if she belongs here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I masked my smile with a gasp. \u201cThat\u2019s bold of her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara stopped pacing and faced me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis can\u2019t continue. She\u2019s gaining sympathy \u2013 even from people who should know better.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLike Theo,\u201d I murmured.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara\u2019s jaw tightened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There. Found the wound.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:27 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 38\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe already has his attention,\u201d I continued carefully. \u201cIf we let this spread, she could become\u2026 powerful.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara inhaled sharply, fury flickering in her eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe won\u2019t. I won\u2019t allow it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A pause.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then Cara\u2019s tone shifted. colder, more calculated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElara,\u201d she said, \u201cyour rumor was effective. They\u2019re already whispering.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I bowed my head. \u201cIt was the least I could do.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we need to push harder. We can do better\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart raced. This was the moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you need me to do?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara came closer until her perfume, something sharp and expensive, filled my senses.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou will isolate her.\u201d Cara muttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIn what way?\u201d I raised a brow\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAll ways,\u201d Cara said. \u201cFriends. Training. Reputation. Every door she approaches, you shut it. Every ally she tries to make, you poison it. I want her surrounded by shadows until none of the wolves pitied her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A chill ran through me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara wasn\u2019t angry anymore. She was scheming.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then?\u201d I asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara\u2019s lips curved slightly, a smile not meant for kindness crept into it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then we give the pack something they truly can\u2019t forgive. A mistake. A scandal. Something Kaia cannot defend herself from.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My pulse quickened. \u201cYou want to frame her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNot want,\u201d Cara corrected. \u201cNeed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silence stretched between us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A dangerous agreement formed in between our silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara straightened her coat, getting rid of invisible wrinkles.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStart tomorrow. I\u2019ll handle the official channels trainers, advisors, anyone with rank. You handle the social\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2014\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:27 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 38\u00a0<\/p>\n
side.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
D:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Theo?\u201d I asked, voice low.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara\u2019s eyes sharpened.\u201dLeave him to me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A hard lump tightened my throat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
She wasn\u2019t just going to sabotage Kaia.She intended to turn Theo against her completely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smirked. This is exactly what I wanted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of course, I\u2019m excited for it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cara opened the door, paused, and looked back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s make sure Kaia regrets ever stepping foot into Shadowclaw.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
65 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t have to say it, Cara\u201d I chuckled. \u201cIts my pleasure to make sure Kaia regrets. Gladly, I\u2019ll do it\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The door clicked shut behind her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And the war officially began.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013Kaia\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stayed on the edge of the training ground, watching the warriors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The training grounds were busier than usual.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Warriors were sparring, trainees shouting instructions, the sharp clang of metal echoing across the field.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019d just thrown my fiftieth punch when a shout cut through the noise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJace! Jace, what\u2019s wrong? breathe-someone help!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My head snapped up and I turned sharply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jace, a young but skilled warrior-in-training- suddenly collapsed. His whole body convulsed violently, his limbs jerking uncontrollably,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gasps rippled through the crowd.\u00a0<\/p>\n
People froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And a few stepped back away from him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIs this happening again?\u201d Someone murmured.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Someone shouted, \u201cHe\u2019s having the fits again! Someone get the medic!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:27 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 38\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t think. I didn\u2019t have the time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My body just moved on its own.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMove back\u2026.Give him some space,\u201d I ordered sharply, dropping beside him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
664\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Warriors scrambled away in shock not because they knew me, but because someone actually took control.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jace\u2019s muscles were spasming hard, foam gathering at the corner of his lips.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I gently turned him on his side, checking his pulse, then pressed two fingers to a pressure point at the base of his neck.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHis airway is closing,\u201d I muttered. \u201cHe\u2019s choking on his tongue.I need something to stabilize him. Get me some water, a cloth -anything.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A trainee hurried to hand me a water bottle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tore a strip of cloth from my sleeve and used it to keep his head steady, murmuring softly to him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStay with me\u2026 just breathe\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a few tense seconds, I stopped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I knew seizures like this could last minutes or steal lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I placed both palms on his cheeks and whispered a small invocation under her breath.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A healer\u2019s trick my grandmother taught me before everything fell apart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A warmth spread from her fingers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jace\u2019s jerking slowed\u2026.and stopped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The entire training yard went silent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I exhaled in relief and checked him again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s breathing normally now. He\u2019ll be exhausted, but he\u2019s okay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A huge warrior \u2013 Captain Alaric, one of the most respected in Theo\u2019s forces stepped forward, eyes wide.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJace-!\u201d He dropped beside his son, cupping the boy\u2019s face. \u201cSon\u2026 are you alright?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jace, groggy but conscious, managed, \u201cDad\u2026 she helped me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Captain Alaric turned to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment he looked stunned. Then something shifted in his expression; something humbled and grateful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:27 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 38\u00a0<\/p>\n
641\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou-\u201d his voice broke, just slightly. \u201cYou saved my boy. \u201cYou-you stopped it,\u201d he said in disbelief. \u201cHe usually needs an injection to get out of an episode.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t know what to say. I shook my head. \u201cHe would\u2019ve been fine. I just\u2026 helped stabilize him. That\u2019s all.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alaric shook his head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d Alaric gently cut me off.. \u201cThat wasn\u2019t \u2018just.\u2019 You saved him. What you did\u2026 No ordinary healer can do it\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
And then something unexpected happened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In front of the entire warrior troop, Captain Alaric bowed his head to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gasps rippled through the onlookers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A warrior. A high-ranking one.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bowing to me. Respectfully. Publicly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cFrom this day on, if you ever need anything you must come to me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gasps spread through the crowd.The pack members whispered, glaring at me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s Captain Alaric\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe actually bowed to her?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe saved his son\u2026.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat means she\u2019s earned his protection.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe she\u2019s not what they were saying\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Overwhelmed. I felt my throat tighten. \u201cI didn\u2019t do it for anything in return.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI know,\u201d Alaric replied. \u201cThat\u2019s why you have my respect.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He placed a hand on my shoulder.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you ever need anythin\u2026protection, a witness, support or anything at all, come to me or my son. You have it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt her chest tighten.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For the first time in a long while\u2026.Everyone looked at me with admiration.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not judgment. Just admiration\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:28 Tue, Jan 20\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 38 Chapter 38\u00a0 \u2013Elara\u2013\u00a0 Cara strode into the guest lounge like a storm […]<\/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-27283","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\/27283","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=27283"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27283\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}