Chapter 323

Olivia

My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts as Nathan paced the room, laying out his plans on how to deal with the witch.

“Honestly, Olivia, it sounds like it should be straightforward enough,” he said, conviction filling his voice. “All we need to do is trap her in her own hut. Layla told us that a circle of salt is supposed to neutralize her magic, right? Then we set the place on fire, and it’s done. Over. Easy.”

Easy.

His words hung in the air like a cloud, heavy and dark. The thought of taking a life—witch or not—clawed at my conscience. Nothing about it seemed even remotely close to ‘easy’. In fact, the very thought of it made me sick.

But what choice did we have? The witch held a claim over Aurora, and who knew how many more innocent lives would be tarnished if she remained a threat?

“I wish it didn’t have to be this way,” I mumbled, the weight of our choices pressing down on me. “No one should have to die, you know?”

Nathan paused his pacing to look at me, his eyes searching my face. “Do you have any other ideas? Because if you do, I’m all ears. Trust me, I don’t want anyone to die, either.”

“I don’t, Nathan. That’s the problem,” I admitted, a sense of helplessness creeping into my voice. “The witch could take Aurora, and if not her, then who knows who else might suffer in the future? It’s a no winners sort of situation.”

Nathan sighed, taking a moment to rub his temples. “Then it’s decided. I’ll go tomorrow with my best men. We’ll scout the area, lay the trap, and finish it once and for all.”

Something about his words didn’t sit right with me. The uncertainty gnawed at my core, making me apprehensive. “Tomorrow?” I asked. “That’s so soon. Are you sure you’ve thought this through enough?”

Nathan’s eyes met mine. There was still a striking sense of pain there, but also hope, too. And maybe even a little understanding. I wondered for a moment if Layla’s words had hit home; maybe he realized that he needed to be a little more understanding on his end, just as I had been.

“Olivia, the longer we wait, the more time she has to prepare or go into hiding,” he finally said. “We need to strike while we still have the element of surprise.”

“But what if—”

“What if what?” Nathan interrupted, his voice tinged with frustration.

“What if something goes wrong?” I countered. “Witches are cunning, and if Layla’s story holds any truth to it, they’re not to be underestimated.”

Nathan paused, his eyes locking onto mine. “And that is exactly why I’ll be going with my best men, those I can trust with my life… and yours.”

My heart ached, torn between the urge to support Nathan’s decision and the unspeakable dread that clouded my mind. “Nathan, even the best, most bulletproof plans can fall apart. What if she sees it coming? What if she has traps of her own?”

He took a deep breath, clearly wrestling with his own set of reservations. “I’m aware of the risks, Olivia. But the risk of doing nothing is far greater. You of all people should know that.”

His words stung, a painful reminder of the choices I had made, choices that brought us here to begin with. I looked away, unable to bear the truth in his eyes.

“Look,” he began, his voice softer now. “I don’t like this any more than you do. But we’re running out of options. And time.”

I nodded, the weight of our situation settling around us like a thick fog. “Alright, Nathan. Tomorrow, then. But promise me something.”

His gaze met mine, full of questions. “What is it?”

“Promise me you’ll be careful, that you won't take unnecessary risks. If something doesn’t feel right, you and your men pull out. I want you to come home to me and the twins. Understood?”

Nathan held my gaze for a moment longer before nodding. “I promise, Olivia. I won’t let my ego get in the way of our safety.”

As he leaned in to kiss me, sealing his promise, a chill ran down my spine.

The room felt colder, as if we were being watched by the witch herself. But when we pulled away, there was no one. The candle still flickered pleasantly on the table, the twins still slept soundly in their nursery.

The thought was unsettling, though, leaving me to wonder: were we really ready for what lay ahead?

…

I was deep in sleep when the landscape of my dreams shifted, pulling me into the familiar forest clearing where the Ancient Wolf had once resided.

This time, Jade, my own wolf, was beside me. Her fur was like liquid gold under the moonlight, her eyes as knowing as they were gentle. It was strange to think of her—to think of me—as the next Ancient Wolf, but it was becoming more clear by the day.

Jade glanced up at the stars, her gaze seemingly far away. “Beautiful, aren’t they?”

“Yeah,” I said, settling beside her. “It’s been a while since I’ve stopped to admire them. Life’s been... complicated.”

“Life is often like that, isn’t it?” Jade mused, her tail flicking idly behind her.

I sighed, realizing how heavy my heart felt. “You know, I could really use some wisdom right about now, Jade. I’m faced with choices, and each one seems to lead to a sacrifice I’m not sure I can make.”

Jade turned to look at me, her eyes reflecting the celestial patterns above us. “You are on the right path, Olivia. All you need to do is persevere.”

I chuckled, feeling a bit shorted on the ‘wisdom’ front. “How insightful.”

But Jade was serious. “I mean it. Your life is following its correct line of fate. You must simply continue along that line. There’s not much I can say to guide you, otherwise I’d be interfering in fate. And I’m not allowed to do that, you know.”

I shook my head, unable to contain my skepticism. “Easier said than done, Jade. How can I follow this line of fate when it keeps twisting and winding, taking me to places I never expected to go?”

“That’s just the nature of fate,” she said softly, her eyes meeting mine. “Everyone has their own line to follow. Even when it feels as if you’re straying from the path, you’re not. Trust your instincts, rely on your loved ones and allies, and keep moving forward.”

As her words washed over me, a sense of calm I hadn’t felt in ages settled within me. I leaned my head against Jade’s strong shoulder, grateful for her presence even if it was only in a dream.

“I hope that soon all this trouble with the witch will be behind us. I just want the best for my family, for Aurora, Elliot, and Nathan.”

Jade nuzzled me gently. “It will come, Olivia. But understand that the journey is far from over. You’ve got a lot of strife ahead of you yet.”

I shot her a sideways glance, a sudden sense of unease settling in. “What does that mean?”

But before she could answer, the edges of the dream began to blur, the sounds of the forest fading into an unsettling silence. I reached out to touch Jade, desperate to hold onto this moment of clarity, but my hand passed through her as if she were made of mist.

“Wait—”

Suddenly, my eyes snapped open, and I found myself back in my bed, the warm hues of the morning sun filtering through the curtains. I sat up, disoriented for a moment, until the weight of the dream—and Jade’s words—came rushing back.

I looked over to Nathan’s side of the bed, finding it empty. A pang of worry flitted through me. Where could he be this early?

Unless…