"Howling Hearts: When Hunters Love the Beast"

– Beneath

the forest passed

hing on the edges of their little circle. The trees whispered with the wind, and in the distance, something howled. But no one spoke of it agai

constant chirp of insects outside was oddly soothing, but there was somet

slow and steady. The last few days had felt like a whirlwind, and for o

s wasn'

something in her gut told her it wasn't just the absence of Wi-Fi making t

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came far t

chers instructed everyone to gather for the first hike of the trip. The students stumbled out of their tents

s unreadable as usual, but today, there was something different. His eyes, usua

wasn't sure what had made her speak up-maybe it was the

s attention didn'

no idea what it was, but something about Aiden always made her feel like she was standing on the

" she finally said,

r a brief second before returnin

ressed, her voice s

en shrugged. "No

or someone who claims to be 'thinking

as no humor in it. "Some th

ing and yawning. "Are we seriously going to stan

n remained silent, as always, and soon they joine

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. It was supposed to be a short two-hour hike, but the deeper they went, the more the forest seemed to close in on them.

but it was as if something was pulling him away from them, something invisible that held his attention.

alone, just beyond the trees. His posture was rigid, his fists clenched at his sides. For a moment, Amara

ut, stepping closer.

is face unreadable. "No

the hair on the back of he

just nodded in the direction of the woods.

ulling at her sleeve. "Come on, let's go. You'r

shake the feeling that something was wrong. It wasn't just the str

ually began to relax as they neared the halfway point of the trail. Yet, with eac

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e fading light. There was an energy in the air now, something electric and dangerous. The campfir

staring at the fire with a furrowed brow. Selene was beside

ing at her. There was something more between

oup began to settle into the rhythm of the trip. But the pull in Amara's chest only

rest, she couldn't shake the feel

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