Chapter 218

Olivia

“Once you discover what your wolf truly is, the legacy she holds, you’ll realize the magnitude of what you’re giving up. You’ll want to pay the price, no matter how steep.”

I stared at the witch, her dark eyes reflecting back the glow of the burning candles in the room. The atmosphere felt tense, almost electric, like the calm before a storm. Her words echoed in my ears, and a chill went down my spine.

“You can’t possibly know what my wolf is capable of,” I said defiantly, my voice quaking. “You’re bluffing. Prove it.”

A sly smile played at the corners of the witch’s thin lips. “Ah, dear Olivia, there’s so much more to you and your wolf than meets the eye. I knew it from the beginning; my scrying foretold your coming before you were even born. But, the true power? It’s hidden, slumbering, waiting for the right moment. Even I can’t tell you now.”

I narrowed my eyes, feeling both curious and wary. “What do you mean? Scrying? Power? Why can’t you just tell me now?”

The witch’s gaze held firmly onto mine. “Everything has its time, Olivia,” she said. “Your wolf will show herself when she’s ready. But know this: she’s not just any wolf. She holds immense power. Power that could change the course of history for your pack.”

I shook my head, refusing to believe her. “You’re lying. This is all just some twisted scheme to get Aurora, isn’t it?”

She chuckled, the sound dry and hollow. “You can think whatever you wish, but the truth remains. Hand over your daughter, let your wolf break free, and you’ll have the power to protect your pack and prevent the imminent war. Deny me, and your wolf will stay dormant, powerless. The consequences will be dire.”

As she spoke, the witch suddenly reached out, grabbing my hand with surprising strength. I felt a sudden jolt, and the world around us seemed to melt away. What replaced it was a horrifying sight.

The vision was clear as day, and the violence and bloodshed it displayed were brutally visceral. The fields were strewn with the bodies of those I knew and loved, warriors of our pack, friends, family.

Angela, Clint, and Levi lay before us, their limp bodies marred and bruised.

Buildings burned, the flames reaching up to the night sky, their smoke blotting out the moon.

I heard the cries of my children, and as I turned, I witnessed the heart-wrenching scene of them being torn from my grasp by hooded figures.

“Mommy!” Aurora’s voice echoed, piercing through the chaos, filled with terror.

I tried to reach out, to grab them, to protect them, but my limbs felt heavy, unresponsive. Before I could react, a sharp blade was pressed against my throat. As I struggled, the world shifted, and I saw Nathan.

He was chained, bound, and being led away by masked warriors, his eyes filled with rage and despair.

I felt the knife slice across my neck. Blood spewed everywhere.

The sights, sounds, and emotions were so overpoweringly real that I felt like I was actually there, living that horrific future. But as quickly as it began, the vision evaporated, replaced by the dimly lit confines of the witch’s hut.

Gasping, I ripped my hand away from hers, the lingering effects of the vision still clouding my mind. My chest heaved as I tried to regain my composure, the images still fresh, the fear palpable.

“You... you monster! How dare you show me such things?” I shouted, taking a step back, my hand clutching my chest.

The witch just raised an eyebrow, her expression eerily calm. “I showed you a possible future, Olivia. A choice lies before you. The fate of your pack, your family, rests in your hands.”

As her words hung in the air, I felt a maelstrom of emotions. Fear, rage, despair, and determination all battled within me. But one thing was clear: I would not let this horrifying future come to pass. No matter the cost.

“Come on,” Nathan hissed, standing. “We’re leaving.”

The creaking door of the witch's hut seemed to groan in protest as we swiftly made our exit, but the witch made no move to leave.

“Go on,” she called after us, her voice intermixed with the sound of laughter. “It’s your grave you’re digging. Be sure to clean the dirt from your fingernails before you jump in.”

I could feel Nathan’s grip on my hand tighten, the strength in his fingers conveying a potent mix of anger, fear, and protectiveness.

“I knew it, Olivia,” Nathan spat out between clenched teeth as we hurried through the dense forest, the shadows playing tricks on our eyes. “Witches are treacherous little fiends, and I’m a fool for even giving you this idea in the first place. Offering fae solutions one minute and demanding our child the next.”

“I just… I thought…” My voice trembled, “I believed she could help us.”

We continued walking in silence for a moment, the only sound being our hurried footsteps. The weight of the witch’s revelation bore down on me heavily. I recalled those surreal dreams that had been plaguing me, my wolf’s golden fur, her bright blue eyes.

My heart beat faster with both fear and a strange, inexplicable longing.

Nathan paused, turning me to face him, his expression a mask of concern. “Liv, are you alright?”

“My wolf told me herself that she’s special, Nathan. And the dreams...” My voice trailed off, overwhelmed by the implications. “But Aurora… I can’t lose her. Not for anything, even if it means never knowing my wolf.”

He cupped my cheeks, his blue eyes searching mine. “We will find another way. There has to be another way.”

As we resumed our escape, the canopy overhead seemed to close in on us, the trees’ gnarled limbs intertwining like the twisted fate we found ourselves ensnared in. The moon above cast eerie shadows, making the forest seem even more treacherous.

Reaching the car, Nathan wasted no time, starting it up and speeding away, leaving the unsettling presence of the witch and her hut behind. The thick trees began to thin out, the road ahead becoming clearer.

Yet, despite the increasing distance, I felt as though the witch’s eyes were still upon me, watching, waiting.

“Do you believe her?” I finally asked, breaking the silence, my gaze fixed on the road ahead.

Nathan took a deep breath. “I don’t know. But regardless, we decide our fate, Liv. Not some witch in the woods. And not Ryan, nor the Elders.”

I nodded, feeling a pang of gratitude for Nathan’s unwavering strength. “Thank you for always being there, Nathan. For standing by me through all this chaos.”

He reached over, squeezing my hand. “Always,” he murmured.

But our moment of solace was short-lived. As the dark of the forest enveloped the road ahead, a large animal—an enormous wolf, its eyes glowing eerily in the headlights—suddenly leapt into our path.

“Nathan, watch out!” I screamed.

He swerved desperately, the tires screeching in protest. The world seemed to blur, time stretching and contorting as the car veered off the road.

The dense foliage rushed to meet us, and then, with a heart-stopping jolt, everything went black.