Chapter 24 Chapter 24

Chapter 24 Chapter 24
Ashley
“I don’t have a mate,” I said, shaking my head. “I think you have mistaken me for someone else.”
The old woman only smiled, like my words didn’t matter. “Aren’t you here because of the child in your womb?” she asked calmly.
My breath caught in my throat. For a moment, I just stared at her, too shocked to respond. Ethonian had told me witches were powerful, but I hadn’t imagined this. Instinctively, my hand moved to my stomach, my eyes following, checking if there was anything obvious—anything that could have given me away.
There was nothing. When I looked back up, she was still smiling. “I can feel it,” she said. “The energy, the power. A witch knows these things.”
A chill ran down my spine. I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. “I… I’m here because my friend said you could help me,” I said, forcing my voice to stay calm. I sat up straighter and leaned slightly forward. “The doctor said I need to stay close to the father of the pup growing inside me… or I might not survive the pregnancy.”
“But I don’t want to be with him,” I added quickly, my voice tightening. “I want to leave. I want to go far away.”
My fingers clenched together in my lap as I looked at her, searching for hope. “I need your help,” I said. “I don’t know if there’s something you can give me… something only a witch can do that will help me carry this pregnancy without being with him.”
She didn’t respond immediately. That same strange smile stayed on her face, like she already knew how this would end.
“Ashley,” she said softly.
My eyes widened instantly.
I shot to my feet, my heart pounding hard against my chest. “How do you know my name?” I demanded, fear creeping into my voice. “What is this? Some kind of game?”
“Sit.”
Her voice was calm but firm and commanding. I hesitated, frowning at her, every instinct telling me to stay standing to stay alert.
But somehow, my body moved anyway. Slowly, I sat back down, my eyes never leaving hers, my guard fully up now.
“You can’t escape fate,” the old woman said, her voice calm but firm. “It is fate that brought you to my doorstep. I knew long before your friend suggested you come to me that you would arrive… just as I know about your mate.”
I stared at her, squinting my eyes in confusion. Mate?
I blinked rapidly, she must be joking or perhaps her mind was starting to fail with age.
“I don’t understand,” I said slowly, my voice trembling slightly.
“Yes,” she interrupted gently but firmly. “Even if you try to leave your mate, fate will always find a way to bring you back to him. Just as it has happened before, it will happen again.”
I exhaled sharply, trying to calm myself. Her words made no sense to me at all. None. I had come here for answers, not riddles about destiny or mates. My hands trembled slightly as I clenched them in my lap.
“Please,” I said, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves. “I’m not here to talk about fate. I need a solution. Can you give me a potion, something that will help me carry this pregnancy to term, even if I move far away from here?” My voice was slow, careful, hoping she would finally understand what I needed.
For a moment, she didn’t answer. Then she stood up and walked toward a corner of the cabin. My eyes followed her every movement.
There was a wooden shelf filled with dozens of bottles, each different in size, shape, and color. Some glowed faintly, others seemed darker, almost alive. She reached out and selected one from the shelf, then turned back toward me, holding it out in her hand.
I stared at the bottle, unsure. “What is this?” I asked, my fingers hovering over it without taking it immediately.
“Something to give you strength throughout your pregnancy,” she replied, her eyes steady on mine. “It will support you, protect you, and help you carry the pup safely, even if you are far from the father.”
I slowly reached out and took the bottle. It felt warm in my hands, like it held a quiet, steady power. My mind raced with relief and disbelief. Could it really be this simple? Could a potion really do all this?
“After taking this…” I asked, looking up at her again, my voice shaking slightly. “I won’t need anyone else? I can carry this pregnancy on my own?” She nodded once, firmly.
I couldn’t stop the smile from breaking across my face. Relief washed over me like a tide, loosening the tight knot of worry that had been in my chest for days.
“Thank you,” I said quickly, my voice a mixture of gratitude and disbelief. “Thank you so much.” I clutched the bottle closer, afraid to let go.
Then, as the initial wave of relief faded, a new worry crept in. “There’s… something else I need from you,” I said, my tone urgent, almost desperate. “I will pay you anything you ask, anything at all. Please, I need your help.”
“Can you help me cast a spell?” I asked hesitantly, my fingers twisting nervously in my lap. “Something that will let me stay hidden…forever. I mean, I only want to be found if I allow someone to find me.”
The old woman’s expression didn’t change, but her voice was steady, almost amused. “The only spell that can keep you hidden forever is death,” she said calmly. “And I’m fairly certain you don’t want to die just yet.”
I shook my head quickly, a shiver running down my spine. That was terrifying, but as long as I had the potion, I could move far away from here, carry my child safely, and live quietly wherever I chose. That was enough for now.
“Thank you so much for this,” I said, my voice softer, filled with relief. I reached into my bag. “How much do you charge for payment?”
“You do not have to pay,” she replied, her eyes calm. “But you will need to take the potion right here. I need my bottle back.”
I nodded quickly, grateful for the gesture. “Thank you,” I whispered.
I unscrewed the little bottle and drank the potion in one swift motion. The liquid was warm and bitter, but it left a strange, comforting energy coursing through me. When the bottle was empty, I handed it back to her.
“You’re welcome,” she said, her smile strange. Creepy, even, but oddly reassuring. “What you just drank will help keep your body strong. You are carrying a very powerful baby, and without your wolf to protect and support you, the pregnancy could drain you completely. The potion will keep your body strong, steady, and resilient.”
I nodded, feeling the warmth spreading through me, a sense of strength I hadn’t felt in days. “I really am grateful for your help,” I said sincerely.
Then she added something that made me freeze. “But the potion is also going to keep your libido very high.”
My eyes went wide. My stomach twisted in shock.
“What?!” I screamed, nearly dropping the bottle in my hands. “That’s the opposite of what I asked you to help with!”
Her smile widened slightly, like she had expected my reaction. “Ashley,” she said softly, almost teasing, “sometimes, the way of magic is not always what we expect. But everything you need is in that potion.” I took a shaky breath, trying to calm my rising panic.