Fake Heiress True Luna (Irina) novel Chapter 52

Chapter 52: New Irina

Irina’s POV

It took me almost a day to understand where we had trul, amived.

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The Heart of the Forest was unlike any place I’d ever seen-or imagined. It wasn’t a village, not exactly. It was… alive.

Homes were built into the trunks of colossal trees, carved from living wood that never stopped growing. The bark shifted slowly, like it was breathing, forming steps and doorways where people lived. Some of the rogues-though Kratos called them guardians-slept in woven nests of moss suspended high among the branches. Others built small dens along the glowing roots that spread across the ground like veins of silver light.

Everything pulsed faintly with energy. Even the air seemed to shimmer. When I inhaled, I swore I could feel the rhythm of the forest-each heartbeat of the land syncing with mine.

The people here weren’t like the rogues we’d fought before. Some were half-shifted, their eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. Others wore beads of bark and crystal around their necks, and a few children-pups-played among the roots, chasing tiny orbs of light that floated like fireflies.

When one of the glowing orbs drifted too close, a little girl cupped her hands and gasped as it rested there. “It likes me!” she squealed, then released it with a grin. The orb bobbed away, flickering in response.

Her laughter echoed through the clearing, and I found myself smiling before I could stop it.

“The pups here learn how to live with the forest. That’s why we call this new generation the forest’s children,” Kratos said beside me, following my gaze. “We may not be a pack, but we make sure they feel like this is their home.”

The thought made my chest tighten. “So… I was born in a place like this? I was like them?”

He

gave me a sidelong glance. “No, Irina. You are not like them. They are just wolves. You are way stronger. You are the bridge between nature and wolves.”

Rylan, standing nearby, snorted quietly. “You make it sound like she’s a goddess.”

Kratos tilted his head. “You could call her a goddess; she may not be immortal, but she is certainly powerful.” His eyes flicked toward me, gleaming faintly. “And today, she begins to learn how to control those powers.”

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Another day passed, and the forest’s rhythm had begun to seep into me. Every sound, every rustle of leaves, every breath of wind-it was all connected. But the connection still felt too vast, too overwhelming.

I knew the three-day mark we’d given Aiden and Derek was approaching, and the thought gnawed at me. Time was running out, and yet… I hadn’t made much progress.

Kratos said I was the bridge between nature and wolves, but right now, I barely felt like I could bridge the distance between myself and the power humming inside me.

That morning, I woke to soft light filtering through the canopy. A few pups were already playing outside, their laughter echoing through the clearing. One of them-a small boy with silver streaks in his dark hair-approached me with a woven crown of leaves and tiny glowing flowers.

“It’s for you,” he said shyly, thrusting it toward me.

I blinked. “For me?”

He nodded. “You are as beautiful as this flowers! And the forest likes you.”

My throat tightened. “Thank you, they are gorgeous.”

He grinned. “I hope you stay with us, miss. The forest doesn’t like anyone. We see how the trees blow and how everything glows when you walk by.”

I crouched down and placed the crown on my head, earning a delighted giggle. “Thank you so much, for everything. I’ll take good care of the forest,” I promised softly.

When he ran off to join the others, Rylan appeared from between two massive roots, his arms crossed and a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “You’re popular with the kids. Should I tell your prick Alpha?”

I rolled my eyes. “Sure, do as you wish.”

He snorted. “You don’t think I will?”

“I know you will, and he already knows I love pups. I almost died saving three in his pack during an attack.”

He opened his mouth but closed it again.

“Let’s go, I need to train, or at least manage to do something, we can’t stay here any longer,” I told Rylan.

If we didn’t return, I’m sure they will come looking for us, and considering how… brute Aiden

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< Chapter 52: New Irina

is, he might start a war with the rogues.

Even Rylan acts like a prick with them, and he is nicer man Aiden would ever be.

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Before he could reply, Kratos’s deep voice cut through the air. “Irina, we can continue with your training.”

I turned toward him. He stood near the great silver-veined tree. “Lesson two?” I asked, already guessing.

He inclined his head. “Lesson two.”

Aiden’s POV

“Is the forest glowing?” I asked Derek as I rubbed my eyes.

I must be hallucinating.

“You aren’t,” Arlo assured me grimly.

The whole forest pulsed in the distance-soft waves of silver light rippling through the trees like veins beneath skin. It wasn’t fire. It wasn’t magic I couldn’t recognize what it was, but for some reason I didn’t got scared or anything.

“What the hell…” Derek muttered, stepping forward. “It’s coming from the north side.”

“The Heart,” Arlo said under his breath, his gaze fixed. “She must have reached it.”

My stomach dropped. “Irina?”

He nodded. “That’s her power, don’t you recognize it?”

I did, but…

“It’s Irina,” I mumbled.

Derek nodded, his expression grim. “My wolf says the same thing. Do you think she is safe?”

“If she wasn’t,” I said, jaw tight, “we’d feel it.”

He shot me a look. “You sure about that? Your bond isn’t strong.”

I hated that he was right, and I hated that I couldn’t refute and tell him Irina was mine. Still, I had to trust Arlo, I’m sure he would tell me if he felt something wrong with our mate,

“I hate this waiting,” I muttered.

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Derek huffed, leaning back against a tree. “Yeah, well, we agreed on three days. It’s been two and a half.”

“Too long,” I growled. “We should have agreed to fday.”

“If we have done that she wouldn’t have found the rogues, it is not like they live right around

the corner,” Derek muttered.

The forest shimmered again-another pulse of light rippling through the trees, brighter this time, like a heartbeat. The air itself seemed to vibrate. My wolf stirred restlessly under my skin, pacing, growling low.

“She’s coming,” Arlo said quietly, his ears perking.

I didn’t need him to say it twice. My chest tightened, breath catching as I scanned the shadows ahead. Then, between the trees, I saw movement.

Irina.

For a moment, I thought I was imagining her. But then she stepped fully into view-and every coherent thought I had vanished.

She was barefoot, the moss glowing faintly under her steps like the forest itself bowed to her presence. Her golden hair didn’t look as dull as it did before, instead it glow like it was made of liquid gold.

The glow around her wasn’t harsh or burning; it was… alive. Gentle pulses of light traced the edges of her body.

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