<h4>Chapter 1177: Chapter 1177</h4>


    The thing from the earth surged higher, towering over Rose now, its tendrils reaching for the stones, for the circle, for them. And Rose... Rose stood motionless, her eyes wide with terror and sorrow, caught between two worlds.


    Jude’s heart clenched. He couldn’t lose her. Not to this.


    He turned to his wives, his voice steady despite the storm inside him. "We break the circle. We end whatever this is before it can take herpletely."


    Zoey’s eyes widened. "Break the stones? What if that unleashes it?"


    "Or traps it," Scarlet said, voice tight. "Or traps *her*."


    Jude shook his head. "We have no choice. We have to try."


    Together they moved, spreading out, surrounding the stone ring. The creature’s tendrilsshed toward them as if sensing their intent, but Lucy’s de shed, severing one that came too close. The thing let out a sound-if it could be called that-a deep, rumbling note of rage or pain or warning that vibrated through the ground.


    Jude raised his foot and kicked at the nearest stone with all his strength. The ancient rock cracked down the middle with a sound like thunder. As it broke, the light in the clearing flickered, and the creature recoiled, its form destabilizing, the tendrils writhing wildly.


    The others followed his lead. Sophie mmed a fallen branch against one of the stones, splintering it. Lucy shattered another with a powerful swing of her sword. Zoey and Scarlet worked together, toppling one that had leaned precariously for centuries. Susan, Grace, Ste, Natalie, and Emma added their strength, their cries of effort rising above the creature’s roar.


    Each stone that fell seemed to drain the creature’s power. The silver glow dimmed, the tendrils dissolved into mist, and the crack in the earth began to close, the ind reiming what it had tried to release.


    But Rose...


    She copsed to her knees as thest stone shattered, the light bleeding from her body like water from a broken vessel. Jude ran to her, catching her before she fellpletely, cradling her against his chest. Her skin was cold, her breath shallow, but her eyes fluttered open, no longer silver, just the deep, familiar shade he knew so well.


    "Jude..." she whispered, weak but hers again.


    "I’m here," he said, tears spilling down his face as he held her close. "You’re safe. We’ve got you."


    The clearing fell silent except for the sound of their breathing, the forest slowly waking from its nightmare. The mist lifted, the dawn brightening, the storm in the air passing as quickly as it hade.


    But deep beneath the earth, unseen, the ind’s heart beat on, waiting, watching, never truly done.


    And Jude knew their fight was far from over.


    Jude held Rose tightly, his arms wrapped around her trembling body as if he could protect her from the ind’s lingering hunger by sheer force of will. Her breath came in shallow gasps, her skin mmy and pale against the warmth of his chest. The silver light had left her eyes, but its shadow seemed to linger in the lines of her face, in the tremor of her hands as they clutched weakly at his shirt. He could feel her heart pounding, fast and unsteady, like a bird caught in a storm.


    Sophie knelt beside them, brushing damp hair from Rose’s face, her fingers gentle, her voice soft but steady. "You’re back, Rose. You’re safe now. We’re here."


    Rose blinked up at them, hershes heavy with tears, confusion flickering in her gaze. "I-I tried to stop it. I tried to fight. But it was inside me, Jude. It *is* inside me. I can still feel it." Her voice broke, and a sob escaped her, raw and full of fear.


    Jude kissed her forehead, his own tears falling freely now. "We’ll drive it out. Whatever it is, whatever’s left, we’ll face it together. You’re not alone, Rose. You never were."


    Around them, the others gathered close. Lucy stood like a sentinel, sword still in hand, her eyes on the forest’s edge. Zoey and Scarlet crouched near, watching the shadows for any sign that the ind’s darkness might strike again. Grace, Susan, Ste, Natalie, and Emma formed a protective circle, their bodies between the broken stones and the world beyond, their faces pale but resolute.


    The ground beneath the shattered stone ring had stilled, the crack sealed, as if the ind had swallowed its secrets once more. The air felt lighter, the oppressive hum that had haunted them gone, at least for now. But Jude could still sense the ind’s watchful presence, a silent promise that this was not the end.


    "Can you stand?" Sophie asked gently, her hand on Rose’s arm.


    Rose nodded weakly, leaning on Jude and Sophie as they helped her to her feet. Her legs shook, but she stayed upright, drawing strength from their touch. She looked around at her family, the tears in her eyes reflecting the soft morning light filtering through the trees. "I’m sorry," she whispered. "I didn’t mean for any of this. I didn’t mean to hurt you."


    "You didn’t," Jude said, his voice fierce. "You’re here. That’s what matters."


    They didn’t linger in the clearing. The broken stones felt like a wound in the earth, and none of them wanted to be near it any longer than they had to. Together, they moved through the forest, their steps slow and cautious, supporting Rose as they made their way back toward the cliffs. The forest felt different now-quieter, as if the ind itself was waiting, watching what they would do next.


    The walk was long, but they didn’t speak much. Words felt too small for what they’d just survived. Instead, they focused on each other-the steady rhythm of their breaths, the warmth of their hands linked together, the quiet strength of their bond. When Rose stumbled, Jude and Sophie were there to catch her. When fear flickered in her eyes, it was Lucy’s quiet presence, Zoey’s soft encouragement, Scarlet’s steady hand that kept her going.