Chapter 32

**ASHLEY**

I rushed at the witch, moving so fast that I surprised myself. I wasn’t even fully transformed into my wolf form yet, but it didn’t matter. I needed to stop her. My hands reached out, tearing through her cloak, trying to pull back the hood that covered her face. I had to see her. I had to see the evil hidden behind that mask.

"Foolish girl," the witch sneered.

Suddenly, my hands froze mid-air. I couldn’t move them no matter how hard I tried. My fingers felt like they were encased in ice, and a deep cold spread through me.

The witch grabbed my neck, her grip were so tight as I struggled, gasping for air, but I couldn’t break free. My arms were still stuck, frozen in place, and fear gripped me harder than her hand did.

Out of nowhere, a massive wolf burst into the clearing, leaping straight at the witch. The force of its attack sent her stumbling back, and her grip on me loosened. My hands were free again.

It was Zade. His lycan form towered over both of us, his powerful growls echoing through the trees. He lunged at the witch again, but before he could land another blow, she vanished into thin air.

I stood there, trembling, staring at where the witch had been moments ago. My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath. Zade had come for me. He’d saved me.

Tears burned my eyes, but I blinked them back. I didn’t want to break down now, but I couldn’t stop shaking. The fear still clung to me, cold and heavy, making my body weak. I thought I was going to die.

Then I remembered Zoey.

I ran to Zoey as fast as I could. She was lying on the cold, bare ground, her body lifeless. Her skin was icy, and her wide, unblinking eyes stared at nothing. Panic surged through me as I dropped to my knees beside her.

"Zoey," I whispered, shaking her gently.

Her lips parted, and blood dripped from the corner of her mouth. Her voice was so faint I could barely hear her.

"Ashley," she said, her tears streaming down her face.

I couldn’t stop the tears spilling from my own eyes as I held her. Her voice trembled as she forced the words out.

"I’m really sorry for everything I’ve done to you," she said, her body shaking.

Zoey hadn’t been kind to me—far from it—but I never wanted this. I never wanted her to die.

"You’ll be fine," I said quickly, my voice breaking. I needed to believe it, even if it felt like a lie.

"I’m... I’m so sorry," she repeated, her voice weaker now.

Tears rolled down her cheeks. "I don’t want to die," she whispered. 

Seeing Zoey like this, so weak and helpless, broke me. She had always been strong., even mean—but now she was falling apart in my arms.

"You won’t die," I said, shaking my head, trying to hold back my tears.

Zade stood nearby, silent, watching us. His face was calm, but I knew he already understood what was happening. Zoey didn’t have much time left.

"I... I saw her face," Zoey said, her voice barely a whisper.

"Who? Whose face?" I asked desperately, leaning closer. I needed to know.

"It... it was Ma—" she started, but the words died on her lips.

Her body went still in my arms. Her eyes stayed open, full of tears, staring up at me. Her skin was too cold now, and I knew. Zoey was gone.

"It was who?!" I screamed, shaking her lifeless body. "Zoey, no! You can’t die!"

My sobs echoed through the silent forest.

"Ashley," Zade’s deep voice came from beside me. He crouched down and gently touched my face, turning me to look at him.

"She’s gone," he said softly, his dark eyes full of sorrow.

I broke down completely, collapsing into him. He pulled me into his strong arms, holding me against his chest as I sobbed uncontrollably. His hand patted my back while the other stroked my hair softly.

"It’s going to be okay," he murmured. "I’m here now."

I clung to him, crying into his chest, my body trembling.

"No one will ever hurt you again, mate," Zade said, his voice gentle.

It had been two weeks since Zoey’s death. I hadn’t been back to the library since that night. Even though King Zade had forbidden anyone from going there, I wasn’t planning on returning anyway. The thought of it made my chest tighten.

I didn’t go anywhere anymore. I stayed in my room, locked away from the world.

Every night, her tears haunted me. The way she begged to live, the fear in her eyes as she told me she didn’t want to die—it played over and over in my head. I couldn’t escape it.

But something still didn’t sit right with me. Why didn’t the witch kill me? She could have ended my life in an instant that night, but she didn’t. Instead, she tormented me, leaving me with questions that refused to leave my mind.

I lay in bed, pulling the duvet tighter around my body. This had become my routine—hiding under the blankets, trying to shut out the world. I could go outside, but I was still too shaken, too scared. I just wanted to escape reality, even for a little while.

None of it made sense. From the very first day I stepped into those woods for an early morning run, my life had turned upside down. I didn’t want to think about it, but my mind kept dragging me back.

I rolled onto my side, trying to push the thoughts away, when a loud bang startled me.

Someone was knocking—no, banging—on the door.

I groaned and forced myself to sit up, dragging my feet as I walked to the door. When I opened it, I came face to face with violet.

She smiled softly as I stepped aside to let her in. She walked over to the table and placed the covered plate down.

"You haven’t been out much lately," she said, her voice gentle but laced with concern.

"You didn’t have to bring me food, Violet," I replied, "I could have gotten it myself."

She just smiled and shook her head. "I wanted to. I’m worried about you, Ashley," she said, walking over to the bed and sitting down.

"Zoey..." I began, but she cut me off gently.

"Shhh, it’s okay," she said, 

"I don’t want to sound mean, but... she wasn’t exactly your friend, Ashley. She didn’t deserve to die, no, but she wasn’t kind to you either. So why does it weigh on you so much?"

I looked down, my hands twisting nervously in my lap. "She wasn’t my friend," I admitted, "but no one deserves to die like that."

"Death comes for everyone," Violet said quietly. "We can’t escape it, and it was her time. Don’t let this consume you. Look at yourself."

She giggled softly, trying to lighten the mood, and to my surprise, I managed a small smile.

"There you go," she said warmly.

Then she added, "I can tell Zade is worried about you."

That caught me off guard, and I raised my eyebrows at her.

"He is?"

She nodded with a knowing smile. "Of course he is."