---- Chapter 20 No.20 Nyx POV: | held Silas's last message in my hand for a long time, a small, tangible piece of a past | was determined to leave behind. He was a good man, and | was grateful for his help. "Thinking about the old days?" | looked up to see Mary, a wise elder woman who was second -in-command to Andi, standing on the roof of my cabin, expertly spreading out a freshly tanned deer hide to dry in the sun. Her face was a roadmap of wrinkles, each one telling a story, and her eyes held a deep, comforting warmth. "Something like that," | admitted, watching my hands carve a delicate feather pattern into a piece of wood. Mary gracefully climbed down the ladder and sat beside me on the porch steps. "The past is a heavy burden to carry, little one," she said gently. "It's a part of your story, yes. But it doesn't have to be the whole book. You have a lot of blank pages left to write." Her words, so simple and true, struck a chord deep inside me. Tears pricked at the back of my eyes, but | blinked them away. | had cried enough tears in the dungeon to last a lifetime. | would not cry anymore. ---- Mary was right. It was time to stop looking back. It was time to truly become Nyx. And my first step would be to erase the last physical reminder of my pain. The scar on my waist, just above my hip, was a puckered, ugly thing. The silver poisoning had ensured it would never fully heal, leaving a permanent mark of my sacrifice. A sacrifice that had been for nothing. | spent the rest of the afternoon sketching, pouring all my hopes for a new beginning onto a piece of parchment. The design that emerged was a butterfly. Not just any butterfly, but a Spirit-Walker Moth, a creature from northern legends said to guide lost souls to new beginnings. Its wings were vast and intricate, colored in shades of brilliant, iridescent blue. That evening, | took my design to the sanctuary's shaman, an old wolf who specialized in traditional herbal tattooing. He used natural pigments and ancient techniques to ink designs onto skin, tattoos that were said to hold spiritual power. He worked in silence, his touch gentle and precise. When he was finished, he held up a polished silver mirror. | gasped. The hideous scar was gone, completely covered by the magnificent blue butterfly. It looked so real, so vibrant, as if it had just landed on my skin and might take flight at any moment. It was no longer a mark of pain, but a symbol of transformation. Of freedom. "It suits you," the shaman said, his voice a low rumble. "Beauty from ashes." ---- | walked out of his tent and into the cool night air, the aurora beginning its nightly dance across the sky. | placed a hand over the tattoo, feeling the smooth, unbroken skin beneath my palm. In that moment, | made a silent vow. Elara of the Blackmoon Pack was truly gone, her scars, both visible and invisible, finally laid to rest. From this day forward, | was only Nyx. And | would never look back. In "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" by CrushReel, the storyline unfolds as renowned photographer Jane finds herself drawn to the charismatic rookie model, Hector. Little does she know that Hector harbors a secret—he is actually the heir to a powerful business empire. As their romance blossoms, Hector grapples with concealing his true identity to capture Jane's heart. However, their love story takes a tumultuous turn when jealousy rears its ugly head, threatening to unravel the delicate balance they've built. This modern romance novel delves into themes of hidden identities, unexpected love, and the complexities of maintaining a relationship shrouded in secrecy. With its blend of sweet romance and suspenseful twists, "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" stands out for its exploration of hidden feelings and the consequences of revealing long-held secrets. For readers seeking a captivating tale that combines elements of romance, intrigue, and emotional depth, this ongoing story is available to read at CrushReel. Immerse yourself in the world of Jane and Hector as their journey unfolds against the backdrop of hidden truths and heartfelt revelations.