Chapter 25 The Heartstone's Secret

• The fog of uncertainty that had settled over Meher and Ayaan felt thick, like the very air around them was weighed down by secrets and unanswered questions. The figure of Jareth, the Alpha of the Lost Pack, still loomed in her mind. His words echoed in her head, a constant reminder of the gravity of their situation. “The Heartstone... is meant to destroy, not save.” How could something that had given them so much strength—something so pure and powerful—be a tool for destruction?
• Meher’s fingers gripped the Heartstone, which hung around her neck. She could feel its pulse, its magic surging within her, but for the first time, doubt began to creep in. Could the Heartstone truly be the thing that would lead them to ruin?
• Ayaan stood beside her, his arm around her shoulders, trying to offer comfort, but even he seemed unsettled. His eyes were distant, filled with an inner struggle that mirrored her own. They had always fought side by side, but now they were facing an enemy that was beyond anything they had ever encountered.