The Apocalyptic Queen's Werewolf Journey (Thora and Darius) novel Chapter 26

**Shadows Hearts by Joseph King**
**Chapter 26: A World With No Rules**

**Thora’s POV:**

“But I didn’t sense any fluctuations in your wolf power. You haven’t awakened it, have you?” Ashton inquired, his tone laced with curiosity.

As soon as his words hung in the air, Harvey turned his gaze towards me, his eyes reflecting a similar intrigue.

I met their inquisitive stares with a calm demeanor, allowing a small, confident smile to grace my lips. “Remember, the Greens are not merely the Alpha family of the Silverleaf Pack. We also come from a lineage steeped in military tradition. Even if my wolf spirit remains dormant, I possess the skills to stand my ground in a confrontation.”

The moment those words left my mouth, I noticed the surprise flicker across Harvey’s face, his eyes widening in disbelief.

The usual disdain that often colored his expression faded, replaced by a newfound seriousness. It was clear he was reevaluating me—this so-called “useless mixed-blood” he had dismissed so easily before.

After a brief pause, he offered me a genuine thank you. “Thanks.”

Ashton, ever the easy-going spirit, flashed a wide grin. “Thora, we’ve fought side by side now. From this moment on, you’re one of us!”

I shot him a skeptical glance. “I only intervened because I happened to be passing by.”

It wasn’t in my nature to consider people as allies so readily.

I had stepped in for two reasons: first, it was true that I was merely a passerby, and second, we were classmates, which naturally compelled me to lend them support.

“Let’s go.”

Just as I was about to make my exit, Harvey called out to me once more.

“Thora, could you keep an eye on Ashton for a bit? I need to fetch him some medicine.”

I glanced over at Ashton, who was slumped against the wall, his body a canvas of injuries. Healing on his own would take an eternity, but…

I frowned, feeling the weight of urgency. “We’re going to be late for class.”

Both of them fell into an unexpected silence, their eyes practically screaming, “Since when do you care about being late?”

“Hurry up.”

In the end, I found myself lingering.

What truly piqued my interest was the reason behind this altercation.

Harvey and Ashton were hardly your average students, so it stood to reason that whoever had targeted them was anything but ordinary as well.

If I was to build my own power, I would need trustworthy allies and a space where I could operate freely—without the Greens’ influence tethering me.

Perhaps these two could lead me to just what I was searching for…

After Harvey expressed his gratitude once more, he dashed off into the distance.

The alley fell into a tranquil silence.

But Ashton, never one to let silence linger for long, broke it again. He looked at me intently and said, “Harvey’s acting strange. I’ve never seen him put in so much effort to talk to someone who seems indifferent…”

I frowned, pondering his words.

What an odd way to phrase it…

He appeared eager to continue the conversation, so I swiftly interrupted him. “If you have the energy to chat, then you should use your wolf power to heal yourself faster.”

“Fine,” he replied, a hint of reluctance in his voice.

He expressed his gratitude again, a peculiar look dancing in his eyes.

I observed as both of them expertly applied the medicine, then joked, “You two are so skilled at this. You must be seasoned pros by now.”

Harvey chuckled softly. “You know how it is at Astralis College. Everyone comes from powerful families, and no one wants to back down. Most issues can be resolved with a fight—it saves a lot of hassle. Some are just born fighters, but in college, you’ve got to maintain a low profile and tread carefully.”

I raised an eyebrow but chose not to contest his viewpoint.

The law of survival of the fittest was a universal truth.

Even at Astralis College, the empire’s most prestigious academy, this rule held firm.

Classes S through F were merely the official rankings of the school.

Yet, there always existed rulebreakers lurking in the shadows.

But at this moment, that wasn’t my primary concern…

“So, you get to let loose outside the campus?”

Harvey’s expression shifted. He hesitated, but under the weight of my gaze, he finally confessed, “Last week, I participated in an underground match. I accidentally tore the tendons in my opponent’s arm. He’s probably crippled now. That’s why they came after me.”

A smile crept across my face. “There’s more to the underground scene than just fight clubs, isn’t there?”

“Absolutely. Whatever exists above ground, you’ll find it below. The only difference is that there are far fewer rules.”

I nodded in agreement.

A world devoid of rules might just be the ideal environment for me to grow rapidly…