Chapter 15
Abigail's POV
Elodie came back carrying a large plate of food—roasted meats, fresh bread, and several berry tarts that smelled incredible. She handed it to me with a grin, clearly pleased with herself.
"Eat," she said. "You look like you need to build up your strength."
I took the plate and thanked her quietly. Nicholas and Marcus had already disappeared into the crowd, but I could still feel the lingering warmth of that conversation, as if it still echoed in my ears.
Elodie jerked her chin toward the direction Nicholas had left. "Those two are interesting. Nicholas doesn't usually bother chatting with people."
"Really?" I tried to make my tone sound casual.
"Mm-hmm." She took a bite of berry tart herself, then gestured with her chin for me to eat something. "Come on, don't be shy. You were soaking in that cold water for so long—you need to warm yourself up properly."
I picked up a piece of roasted meat and bit into it mechanically. It should have tasted good, but I could barely register the flavor. My attention was completely seized by that conversation—Nicholas had seen through my plan but hadn't exposed me publicly. He'd only said he was "curious."
I couldn't help glancing once more toward the direction Nicholas had vanished.
His figure had long since disappeared into the crowd, but in my mind, his image was exceptionally clear—those deep eyes, that penetrating gaze that seemed to see through everything, and his voice, low and magnetic when he spoke.
You smell different.
A surge of emotions so complex they nearly suffocated me rose up suddenly, making me forget how to breathe for a moment.
In my past life, I had lingered by his side in spirit form for many years. I watched him fight alone, watched him be betrayed by those so-called allies, watched him fall in the snow, his blood staining the pure white drifts crimson.
I had screamed at him hysterically, wanting him to run, wanting him to fight back, wanting him to live—but he couldn't hear me. He never heard me.
And now, here he stood, alive in this world. Yet he didn't recognize me at all.
To him, I was just a stranger, a "noble young lady" who'd staged a scene at the pond. He didn't know I'd watched him die, didn't know how many years I'd lingered by his side, didn't know how desperately I wanted to rush up to him and tell him everything.
My throat tightened, my fingertips unconsciously gripping my skirt with force.
No. Not yet.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. Right now, I was nothing—a sickly girl with poison still in her system, a "wolfless one" who hadn't awakened her wolf soul, a stranger who carried no weight in his eyes. Even if I rushed up to him now and poured out all those truths, would he believe me? Why would he trust the crazy words of a girl he'd just met?
Worse, if I seemed too eager, too knowing about him, he'd become suspicious. Someone like Nicholas, once he doubted your motives, would instinctively shut you out.
No, I had to wait. I needed to detoxify first, to awaken first, to make myself strong enough—strong enough to have the right to stand beside him, strong enough that he'd at least be willing to hear me out.
Not yet, I told myself. But soon. I'll grow stronger, I'll stand beside him, I'll rewrite his fate.
"Hey, Abigail?"
Elodie's voice pulled me from my memories. I turned my head to find her studying me with interest, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"What were you looking at just now?" she asked meaningfully. "Don't tell me you were watching that Winter Pack Alpha?"
My face instantly flushed hot. "No, I was just—"
"Don't even try." Elodie laughed so hard she nearly dropped the food in her hands. "I saw you. You stared in the direction he left for quite a while. What, you like him?"
"No!" I blurted out instinctively. "I was just... just thinking about things."
"Thinking about him?" Elodie raised an eyebrow. "Alright, alright, I won't force you to admit it. But honestly, that face of his does pack quite a punch. I've seen plenty of Alphas, but Nicholas has this quality about him... damn, it's lethal."
I didn't know how to respond, so I just lowered my head and stared at the food in my hands, playing dumb.
Elodie leaned in a bit closer, lowering her voice. "But I should warn you—Nicholas is famous for keeping his distance from she-wolves. They say his wolf is incredibly picky. All these years, he's never shown any reaction to any female. The Temple is practically dying of worry, constantly pushing him to find a mate, and he just refuses to cooperate."
My heart clenched sharply.
Never shown any reaction to any female?
In my past life, I was only a spirit—I couldn't smell scents, couldn't feel that unique pull between fated mates. But just now, Nicholas said I "smelled different"—could that mean...
No, don't overthink it. I still had residual poison in my system, my wolf soul hadn't fully awakened yet. Even if we truly were fated mates, he couldn't possibly sense it completely in my current state.
Detoxify first, I reminded myself. Awaken first. Everything else can wait until after.
"So," Elodie continued, "if you really are interested in him, you'd better be prepared for a long campaign. That guy isn't someone you can win over with a few sweet words."
"I'm not interested in him." I still insisted, though even I could hear how unconvincing I sounded.
Elodie shrugged, her expression clearly saying "whatever you say." "Okay, okay, suit yourself. Come on, eat more. You're practically skin and bones."
I forced down a few more bites, the food still tasting like paper in my mouth. But my thoughts kept circling back to Nicholas, back to those fragmented memories from my past life.
Time slipped away amid laughter and music. The gathering gradually drew to a close, and guests began to leave one by one. Elodie walked with me toward the courtyard exit, where many guests were already gathered waiting for their carriages.
"Well, I'm heading out." Elodie waved. "Come visit Nighthowl Pack sometime—I'll show you around."
"Alright. Thank you for helping me so much tonight."
"Don't mention it." She winked. "Remember what I said—Nicholas is tough, but it's not completely hopeless."
Before I could deny it again, she'd already turned away with a laugh, disappearing into the crowd.
I stood there, scanning the area, and quickly spotted Evelyn and Olivia in the crowd—Evelyn's face was dark, Olivia had her head down, looking like she might cry at any moment.
I took a deep breath and walked toward them.
The moment Evelyn saw me, fury flashed in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it, replacing it with a cold, composed expression.
"Let's go," she said icily, not even sparing me a glance. "Don't drag your feet here."
Olivia's head snapped up, glaring at me viciously. "This is all your fault! All because of you! You—"
"Olivia." Evelyn cut her off sharply.
But Olivia was beyond pretending now. Her face was twisted with rage, her eyes filled with naked hatred, completely unlike her usual gentle, understanding demeanor. "You did it on purpose, didn't you? You deliberately fell into the pond, deliberately washed off the herbs, deliberately let everyone see—"
"Enough." Evelyn's voice was cold as ice. "We'll discuss this at home."
Olivia bit her lip, her eyes red, but finally swallowed the rest of her words.
I watched them quietly, an indescribable satisfaction rising in my chest.
Seeing them so angry, so out of control, I knew—I'd succeeded. I'd destroyed their carefully laid plans, protected my own identity, and stepped onto a path completely different from my past life.
I followed Evelyn and Olivia into the carriage. The entire journey passed in silence, the atmosphere oppressively quiet. Evelyn leaned back in her seat with her eyes closed, but her face was written with cold fury. Olivia huddled in the corner, dabbing at her tears with a handkerchief, occasionally shooting me resentful glares.
I watched the trees flying past the window, but my mind was racing through the next steps.
Tonight was only the first step. I'd washed away the masking scent, stood before the Alpha King, and forced everyone to see the real me.
But it was far from enough.
I needed to detoxify. I needed silver frost grass.
And silver frost grass could only be found at Winter Bastion.
The problem was, I couldn't just go ask Nicholas for it directly. Worse, if I seemed too eager, Evelyn would likely smell something wrong. She'd target Nicholas, try to disrupt my plans.
No, I needed to create a "natural" opportunity for myself—one that would give Nicholas a reason to help me without immediately raising suspicion.
The carriage finally stopped in front of Crimson Fang Pack's fortress. As we got out, Evelyn spoke once more.
"Go to your room," she said coldly. "You're not to go anywhere for the next few days."
"Yes, Mother."
I bowed my head obediently.
Once back in my room, I immediately sent for Autumn.
"Starting tomorrow, I need to adjust my diet," I said directly. "I need you to help me prepare some foods and herbs that can nourish my body and help expel impurities. Nothing too obvious, but it needs to work."
Autumn's frown deepened. "Miss, do you mean..."
"I still have residual poison from the soul-locking grass in my system," I said calmly. "I know the only real cure is silver frost grass. But until I can get my hands on it, I can't let the poison continue dragging me down. I need to improve my condition first, even if it's just a little."
Autumn's eyes darkened, then she nodded firmly. "I understand. I'll do my best to regulate your body and prevent the toxicity from worsening."
After Autumn left, I walked to the window and looked up at the full moon in the night sky.