Chapter 53

Emily’s POV

I woke up with Stella’s voice screaming in my head, “ … kill her! ”

My eyes snapped open. For a second, I didn’t know where I was. The room was dark. The blankets smelled like Jessie’s house, old wood on the floor. Beside me, Poppy and Jessie were still caught in the peaceful rhythm of sleep, their breathing slow and steady.

It was just a nightmare. That’s what I tried to tell myself. But my heart didn’t believe it.

I could still see Nathan. He was standing in the middle of a dead forest, trapped by black roots. Stella’s arms were wrapped around his neck. Her golden bracelets were glowing too bright in the dark, and I saw something moving under the metal … something shadowy and gross, like tiny snakes crawling under her skin.

Then, she leaned in. She kissed him right in front of me.

She turned her head to look at me, and her smile was way too wide. “ Kill her! ”

I sat up, gasping for air. My skin was damp with cold sweat.

“ It was just a dream, ” I whispered.

I couldn’t just lie there anymore. My heart was a drum, and the air in the room felt like it was running out.

I bolted upright, my breath coming in a jagged gasp. The movement was so sudden, so violent, that the couch

groaned under me. ”

‘ Emily? ”

Jessie’s voice was thick with sleep. She jumped into the armchair, her eyes wide as she tried to figure out what

was happening. Beside the couch, Poppy let out a small yelp, her arm falling away from her face as she scrambled

o sit up.

“ I’m fine, ” I lied, my voice cracking. I was shaking so hard I had to wrap my arms around myself. “ Just a dream. Go

back to sleep. ”

But they didn’t. They stayed awake.

I tried to drink my coffee, but my hands wouldn’t stay still. I watched Jessie and Poppy in the kitchen, moving round and making sandwiches. They were acting like everything was fine, talking about the weather and the pack hores, but I couldn’t join in.

“ Emily, you’re shaking the table, ” Poppy said gently, placing a hand over mine.

I looked down. My coffee was sloshing against the sides of the mug. I took a deep breath, but the smell of the forest – dead leaves and cold magic – was still trapped in my lungs.

“ You need fresh air, ” Jessie said, watching me with worried eyes. “ Tessa is in the garden. She skipped the ceremony yesterday because yet another rare flower finally bloomed. ”

): 45 am

W

Poppy gave a half hearted snort. “ She’s calling the pollen ‘ magical, ‘ but from a medical standpoint, there’s absolutely nothing unusual about it. ”

“ More like Tessa is just avoiding a pack ceremony, ” Jessie added, trying to lighten the mood. “ The more time asses, the more I’m convinced she just hates massive crowds. ”

I forced a smile, but my face felt like a mask. Sunlight. Greenery. Maybe it would help me stop seeing Nathan’s

ips on hers.

“ Can we even go out? ” I asked. “ Blake said the packis on lockdown. ”

Jessie grabbed her jacket, her eyes flashing with that stubborn streak I loved. “ Then we’ll go remind Blake who his

¡ ister is. ”

Beta looked like total trash. His hair was a mess, his clothes were wrinkled, and he had huge dark circles under his eyes. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days.

After Jessie argued with him for a few minutes, he finally gave in. He decided to walk us to the garden himself.

He didn’t say a word on the way.

The whole pack felt … different. It was too quiet. It felt like everyone was holding their breath. Guards were everywhere. Guards were staring at the trees, waiting for something.

When we got to the garden gate, Blake stopped.

“ I’ll send someone to get you when you’re done, ” he said, his voice deep and serious. “ Do. Not. Leave. The

çarden. ”

“ Yes, sir! ” Jessie joked.

We found Tessa deep inside the greenhouse. She was digging in the soil around some fragile seedlings, carefully ying their thin stems to wooden stakes.

“ Do you need some help? ” Poppy asked, stepping forward.

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“ Oh, girls! I’m so glad to see you. ” Tessa stood up, wiping sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, eaving a smudge of dirt behind. “ I definitely won’t turn down help. Grab those ties and pick a row. Just be careful- ie the stems tight enough so the fruit points up toward the sun, but don’t crush them. ”

We got to work. For a few minutes, the only sound was the rustle of leaves and the soft thud of our boots on the

lirt.

“ I’m so sorry, Emily, ” Tessa said softly, kneeling across from me. “ I heard what happened at the ceremony. How

re you holding up? ”

“ I … I don’t even know what to tell you, ” I muttered, focusing on a leaf.

I looked up, and for a second, our eyes met. Her face looked sad, but her eyes felt … hollow. There was no spark of eal honesty there. She looked away quickly, as if she was afraid I’d see right through her.

9:45 am WWW

Once the plants were all tied up, Tessa gave us a new task.

“ Now they need nutrients, ” she said, pointing to some buckets. “ This is special compost. Take one cup, pour it around the base of the plant, and cover it with dry leaves so it soaks in better. ”

I worked fast. Maybe I just wanted to keep my hands busy, so I wouldn’t have to think about Nathan. I finished my

row before anyone else.

“ Tessa, I’m out, ” I said, holding up my empty bucket.

“ Go behind the greenhouse, ” she called out from the far end of the garden. “ There’s a big blue barrel labeled ‘ Compost. You can refill it there. ”

I stepped out of the warm, humid greenhouse into the fresh air. I walked toward the back, looking for the barrel. It was sitting right at the edge of the property, partially hidden by shadows.

Then, I heard it.

Crunch. Footsteps.

I turned, thinking it was just Tessa coming to help me. But my heart stopped when I saw her.

The red – haired woman from the picnic. It was her again. It had to be the witch. She just stood there, watching me.

Panic washed over me. I hadn’t officially joined the pack yet, which meant no mental link. I couldn’t mind – link Jessie or Poppy. I couldn’t scream for help. I was completely alone.

Stay calm, I told myself, my breath coming in short gasps. Think logically. Nathan let her into the pack house. He trusts her. She won’t hurt me here.

“ If she tries anything, little one, give me control, ” Nyx’s voice finally growled in my head. “ I will protect you. ”

My heart gave a heavy thud. Nyx was back.

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. “ You shouldn’t be here. ”

“ I am exactly where I need to be, ” Zynair replied. Her voice was low, carrying a strange melody that made the air

feel heavy.

I looked over my shoulder at the greenhouse.

“ The guards … ” I started, but Zynair cut me off with a sharp, cold smile.

“ The guards see what I want them to see, Emily. Right now, they see an empty path. ”

My blood turned to ice. She’s using magic.

“ Let me out, ” Nyx snarled in my mind, her fur bristling. “ I’ll tear her throat out before she can blink. ”

“ Wait, ” I told Nyx. “ We need to know why she’s here. ”

): 45 am WWW

“ What do you want? ” I asked, taking a small step toward the blue barrel, trying to keep something between us.

Zynair’s eyes locked onto mine. They were dark and piercing. “ I couldn’t stay silent. ”

A chill ran down my arms.

“ What are you talking about? ” I asked, taking a step back.

“ I lied to him, ” she whispered.

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Chapter 54

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Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.