Ashlee decided to keep her mouth shut; otherwise, everyone would think she had gone crazy—talking about things that didn’t exist. But deep down, she knew it wasn’t just a dream; it was a cruel, vivid reality that wouldn’t let her go.

“We will visit The Devil Mother. She is the oldest. She always has every answer,” Cassandra declared, her words more of a command than a suggestion.

“I can agree with that. She’s kind and probably the only one we can trust. But how did Ashlee never know she was a werewolf? And how did we miss that?” Esyn sighed, rubbing her temples as if searching her mind for answers. “It’s usually so easy to tell humans apart from werewolves. What did we overlook?”

“She didn’t,” Kyle interjected, joining the conversation. He had left Ashlee asleep, unwilling to risk anyone saying something that might hurt her further.

“What?” Esyn blinked, confused. Everyone turned to him, waiting for an explanation.

“She showed plenty of signs of being a werewolf,” Kyle explained. “How do you suppose a mere human could fight a werewolf, win, and survive multiple blows without dying? Does that even make sense?” He scoffed.

“You’re right. She must’ve been a werewolf to withstand that. But the strange part is her abilities,” Derion said, stepping forward with a concerned expression. “She can control her transformation, create an invisible shield, and heal wounds that should’ve been fatal. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Your mother is right, Kyle. You need to take her to The Devil Mother. She can uncover the truth,” Radulf said, folding his arms across his chest with a resolute expression.

“You want me to take her to the Azure Coven? Into those deep woods?” Kyle scoffed, shaking his head. “She’s just been through something extraordinary and terrifying. How can you ask me to drag her into another dark place?”

“But, Kyle…” Esyn started, her tone imploring.

“No buts, Esyn! You’ve seen her condition!” Kyle snapped.

Before anyone could respond, a piercing shriek rang out, echoing through the mansion.

Without a second’s hesitation, everyone rushed toward Ashlee’s room. Kyle threw the door open, his heart sinking when he didn’t see her on the bed where he had left her. His eyes scanned the room frantically until he spotted her shivering in the corner, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.

Her breaths came out in sharp gasps, her body trembling uncontrollably. Blood trickled from a deep cut on her hand.

“Wh… It’s okay. It’s alright. I’m here,” Kyle said softly, rushing to her and pulling her into his arms. Her skin was ice-cold, a stark contrast to the warmth he’d felt before leaving her.

He gently picked her up and laid her back on the bed. She kept shivering, even in his embrace.

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Esyn stepped forward, reaching out to heal the wound on Ashlee’s hand. But no matter how hard she tried, her powers wouldn’t work.

“It’s not working,” Esyn muttered, frustration lacing her voice.

“I… I told you. It wasn’t a dream,” Ashlee sobbed, her voice trembling.

“Who was here?” Esyn asked, her suspicions growing. Whatever Ashlee had seen had clearly shaken her to her core.

“It… It was dark. Big. It…” Ashlee stammered, struggling to find the words.

“What was it, Ashlee?” Esyn pressed, clutching her hand in reassurance.

“I don’t know, okay? I don’t know what it was! But it didn’t have legs. There were no legs. And it said…” Ashlee’s voice cracked, her terror palpable. “It said it would kill me—and everyone close to me.”

The room fell silent, everyone exchanging uneasy glances. Kyle turned to Derion, his expression demanding answers.

“No one passed through the gates,” Derion muttered, his tone low and uncertain.

Kyle exhaled sharply, his resolve hardening. “Alright. We’ll go to Azure.”

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Elsewhere, in a different corner of the world, Charlotte watched as Alpha Daria scattered ash around the room in a panic.

“Why are you scattering so much ash?” Charlotte asked, her voice laced with concern.

Alpha Daria froze, her fist full of ash. She turned to Charlotte, sighing deeply. “She needed it. She’s out of danger now.”

“Thank you for stopping me,” Daria added, patting Charlotte’s shoulder before leaving the room.

She walked to the nearest sink, washing her hands as she stared into the mirror. Closing her eyes, she recited a prayer under her breath.

“Should I go and protect her?” she whispered.

“But she’s in grave danger,” she argued, her voice rising. “When is this time coming?” She slammed her fists onto the counter, her frustration boiling over.

Her eyes opened, regret swimming in their depths. She couldn’t fail again—not this time.

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“Are we walking there?” Ashlee asked, glancing at Kyle.

“Yeah. We can’t take the car because there’s only one path, and it’s too narrow for a vehicle,” Kyle replied, packing supplies for their journey. “But don’t worry. If you get tired, I’ll carry you.”

“Let me come with you,” Derion insisted for what felt like the hundredth time.

“For the last time, Derion, no! Stay here and protect the others. Mom and the guards are coming with us. We’ll be fine,” Kyle said, his tone firm.

“You know me. I’m amazing now. I’ll protect him,” Ashlee teased, stepping forward to pat Derion’s shoulder with a mischievous smile.

Derion scoffed. “Who’s worried about him? I’m worried about you.”

Ashlee chuckled, Kyle rolling his eyes at the banter. “Grow up, will you?” he muttered.

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“How far is it?” Ashlee asked after walking for about ten minutes.

Kyle turned to her, his expression a mix of disbelief and exasperation. “Ashlee, you can’t be tired already.”

“I was just asking,” she replied, avoiding his gaze.

Kyle sighed, knowing she was already worn out. “Fine, get on,” he said, crouching so she could climb onto his back.

She grinned, hopping on without hesitation. “You’re too soft,” she teased.

Kyle shook his head, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

The journey was long, and as the evening approached, Ashlee dozed off on Kyle’s back. He carried her without complaint, his stamina keeping him going even as the forest grew darker.

When Ashlee stirred awake, she grumbled at the sight of the dense trees still stretching before them. “We’re not there yet?”

Kyle chuckled. “Not quite. Do you want some water?”

She nodded, and he set her down carefully. After handing her a water bottle, he stretched his shoulders, feeling the strain.

“You could’ve walked, you know,” he teased.

Ashlee smiled sheepishly but didn’t respond. This time, when Kyle offered to carry her again, she shook her head and walked beside him.

The wind blew past her, sending a chill down her spine. Her grip on Kyle’s hand tightened as unease crept in.

A rustling sound came from the bushes ahead, followed by a metallic rattle. Ashlee froze, her heart pounding. She knew something was there—something dangerous.