The Omega Mated To The Four

The night outside was still, almost unnaturally so, as if the enthe forest had

decided to hold its breath. I couldn't find it in relax, and every sound outside made me flinch. An owl hooted in the distance, its mournful call sending a shiver down my spine. 1 glanced around at my mates-Isaiah, Alex, and Austin who had finally settled down, though sleep still seemed far from all our

minds.

Austin was lying on his back, one arm thrown over his eyes. He lot of a heavy sigh before removing his arm and staring up at the low, wooden ceiling. "Do you really think the Shadow Weaver is Impsoned in Mount Denali?" he asked, breaking the silence.

Isaiah shot him a look, clearly annoyed at the disruption. His smulders were tense, muscles coiled as if he were ready to spring into action at any moment. "Must you always question everything at the Vorst possible time?" he muttered.

Austin merely shrugged, unfazed. "Can't help it. The idea of a centu-es-old demnn being locked up in a mountain doesn't exactly let me sleep easy."

I couldn't help but he curious too. The riddle from earlier was still spinning through my mind like a twisted melody I couldn't shake. I leaned against my backpack, using it as a makeshift pillow, and folded my arms over my chest. "It makes sense," I replied quietly. "It matches the riddle's clue."

Austin turned his head to look at me, raising a

a skeptical brow. "Remind me again."

I closed my eyes, letting the words replay in my mind. They'd been ched into my thoughts ever since we'd uncovered the ancient Tablet buried in the ruins.

"At the mountaintop ruins where stars align,

Celestial convergence, a gateway to find.

Decipher these r

riddles, a cosmic quest,

Nexus,

that's true, then... is the Shadow Weaver a "he' or a 'she? We keep saying "it," but no one

I'd say "she. At least that's what she's appeared. as." I glanced at Isaiah, who gave me a faint nod of agreement, his say set

fully, curiosity burning in his eyes. "What does she look like? You never

to me

his voice sharp and impatient. "Stop your yapping and get some sleep. We have an early day tomorrow, and your constant questions are not

to me, his expression earnest.

tainted. "Darkness," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "So dark it absorbs the light around it.

shiver running through me. I hated t about her. Every mention felt like an invitation to the darkness to claw its way back into my

moment, his face unusually serious.

1/2

Chapter 177.

I shrugged, feigning nonchalance

"You don't have to think

not here."

in firmly, his tone leaving no room for argumen. "Talking about her will only make it harder to rest. We've been through hell, and we need sleep. We can't

Alex tried

a crumpled shirt at Alex's face. "Qult yapping. We've gu an early start tomorrow, Get some sleep

shoved the shirt off with a huff, muttering something under his breath, but didn't argue. He settled back down, eyes growing heavy as he laid back down, though I could see his mind still whirling with thoughts. One by one,

wouldn't come for me. My mind kept returning to the riddle. If the Shadow Weaver was truly imprisoned at Mount Denali, what would happen if the Children of the Eclipse reached it first? And what would we even do if we got there before them? How

as sleep claimed me, visions of darkness wrapped around my consciousness-twisting and suffocating. I saw those red eyes staring back at me, felt the ice-cold hands wrap around my throat, pulling me into the void. I struggled to breathe, my lungs burning, but I couldn't break free