"Howling Hearts: When Hunters Love the Beast"

r – New Moo

bus arri

who had arrived a day late stepped off with weary expressions, luggage dragging behind them. Most of the group paid t

s, Aiden's head snapped up like he'

a no

uburn hair and skin kissed by sunlight walked slowly toward the cluster of tents, her expression unreadable. There was somet

ly, but Rhea was too busy scrolling

e his way toward Valeria, som

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Jace had coaxed some of the kids into a game of truth or dare by the water, and Elias w

since arriving-just a few short answers to the teachers, a polite nod to Am

log across from

e," she said,

eyes. "Family reasons. My mothe

d her head.

he thinks the for

linked.

ew into her cup. "But I guess she gave in when I

e said that-anymore-that stuck in Am

He didn't say a word, just sat beside Valer

ething twist l

, her voice soft. "It

reply immedia

r. Or space. Or to walk away before she stared too long at

ias on the wa

ked, falling into

she mu

that didn't demand words. That was something she always liked a

clearing, where moonlight ble

going on," Amara said

eria?" El

. The forest. The teachers watching us like hawks. And now Val

me. Then he said, "Selene sai

turned

others. Just me. She said it felt

hard. "That's no

s agreed.

_____________

Valeria and Aiden

?" Valeria as

't answer

eams of something calling me. Something ancient and

r then. "I didn

o," she whisper

dded

e breaking for a fraction of a second. "But now... I

ed into a fist. "Th

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uiet that night, even

sleeping," h

hispered. "The forest remembers

knuckles with his.

once, her guard dropped just enough for

't say t

dn't n

_____________

amp had gone quiet, Amara stood outs

elled different-sharp and old, like the breath of

e could feel it building-like thunder i

ng was

st a setting for the

beginning o

there, something