Chapter 23 Chapter 23

Chapter 23 Chapter 23
Ashley
I paced around my room, moving from one end to the other without stopping. My thoughts were all over the place, and waiting for Ethonian to come back with news was making it worse. Every second felt longer than the last. I kept glancing at the door, hoping she would walk in at any moment with something that could help me.
A soft knock finally came, my heart jumped, and I rushed to the door without thinking twice. As soon as I opened it, Ethonian stepped in quickly and shut the door behind her, as if she didn’t want anyone to notice she was there.
“Any news?” I asked immediately, my voice filled with urgency.
She nodded slightly. “I have spoken to someone,” she said. “If you are ready today, he can take you to meet the witch.”
Relief and nervousness hit me at the same time. “I am ready,” I said quickly, almost too quickly. Then I paused. “Is there anything I need to take with me?”
Ethonian hesitated for a moment before answering. “You should pack a few of your things,” she advised. “You might not come back here. If you get the chance, you can escape from there.”
Her words made my chest tighten. Escape. The idea sounded good, but it also terrified me. Images of the king finding out flashed through my mind, and a chill ran down my spine.
“What if I get caught?” I asked quietly. “You know he won’t spare me.”
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The fear was real, and we both knew it.
“I think it’s better if I meet the witch first,” I continued, trying to steady my voice. “Then I can plan how to leave the pack after that. At least I will know what I’m dealing with.”
Ethonian walked closer to me and gently took my hands in hers. Her grip was warm and firm, like she was trying to pass some of her courage to me.
“You might not get another chance like this,” she said softly but seriously. “We have an opportunity right now, and we need to use it.”
I looked into her eyes, searching for reassurance. She wasn’t wrong. Opportunities like this didn’t come often, especially not in a place like this where everything felt controlled.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. My mind kept going back and forth, weighing the risks and the possibilities. But deep down, I knew she was right. If I let this chance slip away, I might regret it forever.
Finally, I nodded. “I will go,” I said, more firmly this time. “I will take the chance.”
Even as I said it, my heart was still racing. But there was also a small sense of determination growing inside me. Maybe this was the beginning of something—an answer, or at least a step toward one.
And if the witch gave me the same option the doctor had given me, then I would have no choice but to stay for a while longer and figure out my next move carefully.
“Fine,” I finally said, letting out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding. “Give me a few minutes to pack. I will be quick.”
“Don’t take too much,” Ethonian warned gently. “Just enough so it won’t look suspicious. I have some cash I have been saving—it should help you for a while, at least until you figure things out.”
My chest tightened at her words. I stepped forward and pulled her into a tight hug. “Thank you so much,” I said softly, meaning every word.
She hugged me back briefly, then quickly pulled away like she didn’t want to waste any time. “Meet me at the back of the pack in five minutes,” she said. “I will be waiting. And Ashle, be careful.”
Before I could say anything else, she was already out the door.
I didn’t waste a second. I hurried around my room, picking only the things I truly needed. A few clothes, some essentials—nothing that would draw attention. I stuffed them into a simple disposable bag so it wouldn’t look like I was going anywhere important.
When I was done, I paused for a moment and looked around my room. Everything was neat, just the way it always was. It didn’t look like someone was about to leave or maybe not come back.
Pushing that thought aside, I grabbed my bag and slipped out, walking quickly but trying not to look like I was in a hurry.
When I got to the back of the pack, Ethonian was already there. Beside her stood a blonde guy I had never seen before.
I walked up to them. “That was fast,” Ethonian said with a small smile. “This is Paul.” She tapped his shoulder lightly.
He dipped his head politely, and I gave a small wave in return. “He’s the one who will take you to the hills where the witch lives,” she added, then turned to him. “Please, take good care of my friend.”
I stepped forward and stretched out my hand. “I’m Ashley. Thank you for helping me,” I said.
He took my hand immediately, his grip warm and steady. He smiled, and I couldn’t help but notice how charming he looked, especially with his bright blue eyes.
“Nice to meet you, Ashley,” he said. “Any friend of Tonia is a friend of mine.”
I turned to Ethonian, raising a brow slightly. “Tonia?” I repeated under my breath.
She blushed instantly, a shy smile forming on her lips. Paul glanced at her, and they both shared a quiet look that said more than words.
A small smile tugged at my lips. “I will be over there,” I said, nodding toward a nearby corner. “I will give you two a moment.”
I walked a short distance away, pretending to focus on nothing in particular while giving them space to talk. My heart was still beating fast, but seeing Ethonian like that—happy, even for a moment made me feel a little lighter.
After a brief conversation, she came back to me. Without saying anything at first, she pulled me into a tight hug. “Take good care of yourself, my Luna,” she said softly.
I smiled and hugged her back tightly. “It’s just Ashley now,” I said softly. “I will miss you too, my trusted friend.”
She pulled back slightly, her eyes fixed on mine. “You will always be my Luna,” she said with quiet certainty.
After what felt like too many goodbyes and not enough time, I finally let go. Paul and I began our journey from the back of the pack, leaving everything familiar behind.
The walk was quiet. Neither of us said much as we moved forward, the sound of our footsteps the only thing breaking the silence. My mind was racing with thoughts, but I didn’t know where to start, so I said nothing.
After about fifteen minutes, we reached a narrow path where a bike was parked. Paul walked ahead, got on it, and started the engine.
I stopped, looking at it. “Is that yours?” I asked.
He nodded. “Yeah.”
“Come on,” he added.
I climbed on behind him, holding on carefully as he drove off. The wind rushed past us, and for a moment, it felt like everything was moving too fast—my life, my decisions, everything.
After almost an hour of riding, we finally stopped at the base of a hill. “We can’t go any further with the bike,” Paul said as he got down. He pointed ahead. “You go straight up.”
I followed his finger and spotted a small cabin sitting far up the hill, almost hidden among the trees.
“That’s the witch’s cabin,” he added. “I will wait for you here.”
I frowned slightly, glancing around at the thick forest surrounding us. “I thought you were coming with me,” I said, my voice uncertain. The place felt quiet.
“I will wait here,” he repeated calmly. “The road is safe, nothing is going to attack you.”
The way he said it made it sound like he already knew what I was thinking. Still, I hesitated for a second before nodding. “Okay.”
I turned and began walking toward the cabin, my steps slow and careful. The path was longer than it looked, and every rustle of leaves made me more aware of how alone I was.
By the time I finally reached the top, my heart was beating faster—not just from the walk, but from the tension building inside me.
The moment I stepped onto the cabin’s premises, the door creaked open.
An old woman stepped out, her eyes already on me, like she had been expecting me all along. She didn’t say a word—just raised her hand slightly and gestured for me to come in. Swallowing my unease, I walked inside.
The cabin was warm and surprisingly cozy. The air was thick with the scent of herbs, and small bundles of dried plants hung from different corners of the room. It felt strange but not unwelcoming.
She motioned toward a couch, and I sat down slowly, my eyes still scanning the room.
The old woman took a seat across from me, studying me with a knowing look.
“Your mate just left here a few hours ago,” she said calmly. “What a twist of fate.”
I blinked, caught completely off guard. “My mate?” I repeated, confusion written all over my face.
If I had a mate, I would know. Wouldn’t I?
I stared at her, trying to make sense of her words, but nothing about it made sense.