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Chapter 10

Author: shalom
last update publish date: 2026-05-31 20:51:13

The mark pulsed all night.

Nell lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her palm pressed against her chest. Every throb felt like Lena's heartbeat, not hers. She couldn't sleep. Couldn't close her eyes without seeing Elias's face through the grate. Without hearing his voice.

She wants to become you.

She sat up when the first light of dawn crept through her window.

Today, Lena wanted to bond her.

Nell didn't know what that meant. But she knew one thing: she wasn't going to let it happen without a fi
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  • Bitter MOON :No More Chances.   Chapter 33

    The valley was hidden.Nell stood at its edge, looking down at the green expanse below. The mountains rose on all sides, their peaks white with snow. The valley floor was covered in grass and wildflowers, untouched by the winter that had followed them for weeks. A stream ran through the center, clear and cold. Birds were singing. The air smelled like earth and water and life.It felt like the world had forgotten this place.She heard footsteps behind her. Elias."It's beautiful," he said."It is.""Almost too beautiful."She glanced at him. "What do you mean?"He looked at the valley. "Places like this don't stay hidden forever. Eventually, someone finds them.""Then we make sure no one finds us."Elias didn't answer. But he didn't argue either.---The pack moved into the valley.They found a small clearing near the stream — flat ground, sheltered by trees. Perfect for building. Vera immediately started gathering stones for a fire pit. Caleb went to find wood. Rue scouted the perimet

  • Bitter MOON :No More Chances.   Chapter 33

    The valley was hidden.Nell stood at its edge, looking down at the green expanse below. The mountains rose on all sides, their peaks white with snow. The valley floor was covered in grass and wildflowers, untouched by the winter that had followed them for weeks. A stream ran through the center, clear and cold. Birds were singing. The air smelled like earth and water and life.It felt like the world had forgotten this place.She heard footsteps behind her. Elias."It's beautiful," he said."It is.""Almost too beautiful."She glanced at him. "What do you mean?"He looked at the valley. "Places like this don't stay hidden forever. Eventually, someone finds them.""Then we make sure no one finds us."Elias didn't answer. But he didn't argue either.---The pack moved into the valley.They found a small clearing near the stream — flat ground, sheltered by trees. Perfect for building. Vera immediately started gathering stones for a fire pit. Caleb went to find wood. Rue scouted the perimet

  • Bitter MOON :No More Chances.   Chapter 32

    The mountains rose before them like a wall.Snow-capped peaks, jagged and ancient, cutting into the sky like broken teeth. The air was thin and sharp. The wind was cold and constant. The valley lay at their feet — green and hidden and secret, cradled between the mountains like a secret the world had forgotten.They had made it.Nell stopped at the edge of the valley. The pack stopped behind her."We're here," she said.No one spoke. No one moved. They just stood there, staring at the place that had been their destination for weeks. The snow had stopped. The wind had died. The sun was setting, painting the peaks in shades of gold and purple.Vera shifted Hope in her arms. The baby was sleeping — still too small, still too quiet, but alive. Her tiny face was peaceful. Her tiny chest rose and fell with each breath.Caleb put his hand on Vera's shoulder. His jaw was tight. His eyes were wet.Rue looked at the valley. Her gold-flecked eyes were wet, too."We made it," she said. "We actuall

  • Bitter MOON :No More Chances.   Chapter 31

    The snow didn't stop.It had been falling for five days now — soft at first, then heavy, then relentless. It covered the tracks behind them and the path ahead of them. It clung to their coats and their boots and their eyelashes. It turned the world white and silent and cold.Twelve days since they had left Haven House. Twelve days of walking. Twelve days of running. Twelve days of waiting for the Council to catch up.Nell led the way. Her feet ached. Her back ached. Her eyes burned from staring at the white for too long. But she didn't stop. She couldn't stop.Behind her, the pack followed in single file.Rue walked with her hand on her knife, her gold-flecked eyes scanning the tree line. She hadn't slept properly in days. None of them had.Caleb walked with Vera, his arm around her waist, taking as much of her weight as she would allow. Her pregnant belly made the climb difficult. Her face was gray. Her lips were blue. She didn't complain. She never complained.Elias walked with his

  • Bitter MOON :No More Chances.   Chapter 30

    The snow fell through the night.By dawn, it had buried the fire and covered the tracks. The world was white and silent and cold. The pack stirred slowly, their bodies stiff, their faces pale. Vera coughed — a deep, rattling sound that made Caleb's jaw tighten. Finn stayed close to Nell, his small hand cold in hers.Marta sat apart.Her satchel was open in her lap. Her letters were scattered around her like fallen leaves — years of evidence, years of weight, years of grief. She hadn't slept. She hadn't eaten. She hadn't spoken since she broke down the day before.Nell watched her for a long moment. Then she walked to her."Marta."No answer."Marta. Look at me."Marta looked up. Her green eyes were red. Her face was hollow. Her hands were shaking."It's me," Marta said. Her voice was flat. Empty. Like she had finally run out of words. "I'm the one leaving the trail. I'm the one who's been leading them to us."The pack went still.Rue's hand went to her knife. Caleb's jaw tightened. Ve

  • Bitter MOON :No More Chances.   Chapter 29

    The fourth day was colder than the others.The wind came down from the mountains sharp and hungry. It cut through their coats and settled in their bones. Vera walked with her arms wrapped around her belly, her face pale, her lips pressed together.Caleb stayed close to her, ready to catch her if she fell.Finn walked beside Nell, his small hand in hers.Rue scanned the trees.Elias watched the sky.Marta clutched her satchel.Silas brought up the rear, his knife in his hand.No one spoke.The hunters had been gone for two days. No sign of them on the ridges. No footprints in the snow. No howls in the night.They were still out there. Nell could feel them.They're waiting,Lena said."I know."For you to slow down."We won't."Someone will.---They stopped at midday.Vera needed to rest. Her face was gray. Her hands were shaking. Caleb helped her sit on a fallen log. Marta gave her water. Rue stood watch.Elias walked to Nell."She can't keep this pace," he said."She has to.""The bab

  • Bitter MOON :No More Chances.   Chapter 27

    Three days passed.Three days of rest. Three days of healing. Three days of waiting for the Council to make its next move.Nell spent the mornings in the garden with Silas. He carved. She watched. He didn't ask questions. She didn't offer answers. They sat in silence, watching the frost melt and th

  • Bitter MOON :No More Chances.   Chapter 25

    The guards came for her at moonrise.Four of them. Armed. Their gold eyes glowed in the dark like embers. They didn't speak. They didn't need to. Their faces said everything.Nell stood up from the cold stone floor. Her legs were stiff. Her back ached. She had been sitting in the dark for hours, wa

  • Bitter MOON :No More Chances.   Chapter 24

    The lower chambers were colder than the cells upstairs.Stone walls. Stone floor. Stone ceiling. No windows. No light except a single torch burning in a bracket by the door. The flame flickered constantly, as if something in the room was breathing on it. The air smelled of old blood and older fear

  • Bitter MOON :No More Chances.   Chapter 23

    The hearing reconvened at noon.Guards came for Nell two of them, silent, their gold eyes fixed on her like she might try to run. She didn't. She walked between them through the winding hallways of the Council Hall, past doors she hadn't seen before, past windows that showed a gray sky heavy with c

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