"The Lost Heart of Ice Across the Realms".

If you enjoy mystery and supernatural

powers, you might also like my other novel."

(Shackles of shadow)

until one of the alpha wolves was killed, and his body vanished. But that event revealed something to us—who's behind these attacks and who's been manipulating things from the shadows."

His words caught my attention completely. I turned my focus to Luke, who had been staring at me all this time. His gaze was intense, making me listen even more carefully to my father's next words. "There's a girl behind all of this, someone we know nothing about. And because of her, you have to leave."

I frowned, confused. "Leave? What do you mean?"

He sighed. "She has the ability to take the form of someone dear to us, someone we trust, and use that to lure us into eliminating certain individuals. And she has been targeting the children of the leaders of every clan or kingdom, or those in positions of authority. That's why we've decided it's safer for you to go out of the country, to another school. Your flight is tomorrow."

"What?!" The word escaped me, and I felt the room closing in around me. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. There were only a few days left until exams, and now he was telling me I had to leave—leave the only place I knew, the place I didn't want to leave, ever.

A heavy feeling settled in my chest, a mix of worry and fear. I looked at Luke for answers, but his face showed no signs of surprise. Did he know about this all along? My heart sank as I turned to him, standing up. "Did you know about this before?" I demanded.

He didn't respond, his gaze dropping to the floor. A bitter smile twisted on my lips as I muttered, "Good night," before quickly retreating to my room. My fear and anxiety morphed into anger. Since when did we have secrets? I paced the room, frustration building. Why hadn't they told me sooner? We could have figured this out together—or at least I would have been prepared. But now, suddenly, the flight was tomorrow, as if I were nothing more than a puppet!

Do they think I'm weak, incapable of defending myself? I'm strong enough to handle this on my own. I don't need their decisions for me.

A knock on the door broke my thoughts. I sighed angrily. I didn't want to talk to anyone, so I remained silent. My father's voice reached me through the wood. "I know you're angry with me, but believe me, everything I'm doing comes from my fear for you. You are my treasure, and I can't afford to neglect your safety."

He paused, then added, "I know you think Luke knew about this, but in reality, I told him when I got home. He surprised me by knowing more than I expected."

I didn't respond. There was a long silence before he spoke again. "Alright, I'll head to the office. When you're ready to talk, come down."

I lay on the bed, turning off the lights, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. A few moments later, I heard the door creak open, and Luke slid in, lying beside me. I waited, but he didn't speak. Minutes passed in silence, and then I finally broke it.

"How long have you known about this?" I asked, my voice quiet but sharp.

He sighed, his breath heavy with hesitation. "Two days ago. I overheard my father on the phone talking about the possibility of us moving to another school, overseas."

I stared at him, confused. "Why didn't you tell me what you heard?"

"I didn't want to worry you," he admitted. "I

knew how hard it would be for you to leave."

He was right. The idea of leaving, of being torn from the clan and everything I knew, terrified me. It wasn't just about the place—it was about the people, and more than that, the fear of never being able to return. It consumed me, especially since my transformation hadn't come yet.

"I didn't mean to hide it from you," he continued. "But... it's as you know."

I could see the hesitation in his eyes, and I interrupted him before he could continue. "I know my worrying has probably made you just as anxious, and that you're trying to protect me, doing what you think is best." He paused, a thoughtful expression on his face before he asked, "So, where are we moving to? And what's the name of the school?"

I don't know," he replied, his voice tinged with frustration. "I talked to my father when I got home, but we didn't get into details. I just couldn't stop thinking about how you'd react when you found out."

My mind raced, a thousand thoughts colliding. Would I ever come back? What would happen in my absence? And, most importantly, where were we going? Two hours passed in that state of confusion, and I knew I had to talk to my father.

Before I could leave, Luke stopped me.

"Where are you going?" he asked, his tone soft but firm.

Frustrated, I snapped, "Downstairs to talk to my father about it. Are you coming with me or not?"

He didn't answer immediately, but then he stood, coming toward me. He placed a hand

on my shoulder and said, "I knew you'd make the right decision once you thought about it."

I hummed in acknowledgment, a wicked grin creeping onto my face. "You're right. But that doesn't mean you don't owe me something. We'll handle it before we go."

He narrowed his eyes, understanding dawning on him. "No, no. That's not happening. My father almost found out last time. I'm not going to that wolf, and I'm definitely not helping you."

I waved off his protest. He'd come around eventually. After all, he always did.

I knocked softly on the office door, and my father motioned for me to enter. I walked in, Luke following closely behind. We stood

before him, and he greeted us with a quiet, reassuring smile. His voice was calm but firm as he spoke, "I knew that when you gave it some thought, you'd realize that this is the best decision for you. We'll stay connected; this is temporary, but it will make us stronger."

We nodded, but neither of us spoke. My father gestured for us to sit, then reached into his desk drawer, pulling out an envelope and placing it before us. Luke took it and carefully peeled it open. Inside were two passports, two tickets, and a bank card each, all in our names. Luke handed me my documents, and I took them, turning my gaze back to my father.

"Where are we going? Which school have you chosen for us?" I asked, my voice tinged with curiosity and unease.

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "London," he replied. "It's one of the best schools, particularly for trans individuals of all races. There are no humans there. It's a place

that will hone your skills and make you stronger. People from all over the world attend. When the crisis has passed, you can decide whether to return or stay. Graduates from this academy go on to the best universities in the world. The school is called Levana Academy."

My mind froze for a moment, the name "Levana" lingering in my thoughts. It sounded unfamiliar, almost foreign. I was about to ask my father what it meant, but before I could speak, Luke cut in.

"Levana is a Latin name," he said, his voice steady and knowledgeable. "It's typically given to females, and it means elevation, prosperity, and growth. A person with this name is thought to have a polite and sophisticated personality, a tactful and persuasive speaker, enthusiastic about work, and someone who thrives in a team."

He paused for a moment before adding, "I know the founding director of the school.

She's an old friend of mine. I'll send a message with you to her so she can look out for you. But be careful when dealing with her. She's always been cunning, and you can never really know what she's thinking."

"Now, go and rest before your trip," my father said, breaking the tension.

We stood up to leave the office, and Luke yawned sleepily. "I'm going upstairs to sleep," he muttered. But before he could step away, I reached out and grabbed his clothes from behind, pulling him back.

He turned to me, confusion on his face. "Why are you holding my clothes like that?"

I let go of his shirt and grabbed his hand instead, tugging him with me toward the kitchen, away from the office. "Come on," I urged. I pulled out some frozen meat and fresh cuts, and Luke stared at the pile, his mouth hanging open. "Why are you pulling out all this meat? Are you that hungry?" he

asked, his voice tinged with surprise.

I raised an eyebrow, pretending to be shocked by his feigned ignorance. "Really? Do you think that if you act like you don't know what's going on, I won't need your help? Come on, grab some!" I shoved a portion of the meat into his hand, then opened the kitchen window. "Now, jump in."

Luke looked at me, bewildered but amused, clearly not expecting this turn of events. But knowing Luke, I was sure he would do whatever I needed, no matter how strange it seemed.

Luke exhaled sharply, his frustration palpable, and I couldn't help but stifle a smile at his reaction. I pulled a flashlight from one of the shelves, grabbing it along with the meat, and jumped after him. We ran through the night, the moon casting a pale glow on the path ahead.

As we reached the cave, I clicked the flashlight on and swept its beam inside, searching for Black. He wasn't there. I set the meat down on a bed of herbs and waited, my gaze flicking to the entrance now and then, eager for his return.

Minutes passed before I heard the familiar sound of paws crunching on the ground, and there he was. Black trotted in, a hare hanging from his mouth. A smile tugged at my lips, relieved I wouldn't be leaving without saying goodbye.

He dropped his catch at my feet and came closer, his eyes shining in the dim light. I knelt down to meet him, gently running my hands over his sleek fur. "Did you miss me?" I murmured, my fingers gliding over his body. "I missed you too."

Behind me, I heard Luke's voice, sharp with impatience. I turned to him and sighed, offering a tired smile. "Luke, could you give us a moment alone?"