Chapter 23
Abigail's POV
The reply arrived two days later. The messenger was a taciturn man who turned and left before Autumn could even speak. The seal was unmistakable—black wax stamped with Winter Pack's emblem: a howling wolf's head surrounded by frost-covered mountains.
I carefully broke the seal and unfolded the thick parchment. Nicholas's handwriting was as sharp as ever.
Meet me tomorrow at noon at the old mill by the eastern forest. Come alone, or bring one attendant if necessary.
N.
I read the letter twice from beginning to end, confirming that Nicholas truly wanted to meet me, before setting it on my desk.
"What does it say, Miss?" Autumn peered over my shoulder.
"Alpha Nicholas wants to talk with me." I folded the letter and tucked it into the desk drawer. "Tomorrow, at the old mill."
"The one by the eastern woods?" Orchid frowned. "That place is quite remote."
"He chose it precisely because it's remote." The old mill had been abandoned for years, its waterwheel rusted and still. It sat at the edge of Crimson Fang territory, far from prying eyes yet not so far that I'd completely leave pack lands. His choice was both cautious and clever. "I'm going."
"Then I'll go with you," Autumn said immediately.
"I was planning to bring you anyway." I looked at Orchid. "You stay here and keep an eye on Mother and Olivia. If they notice I'm gone, tell them I went to see Elodie."
Orchid nodded, worry still clearly written on her face. "Please be careful, Miss."
"I will."
The next morning dawned cold and bright, the air so frozen it stung my face slightly, my breath forming wisps of white mist at my lips. I dressed simply—a dark wool cloak, sturdy boots, inconspicuous and easy to move in. Autumn walked beside me, her hand naturally falling to the knife at her waist as we slipped quietly out through the side gate.
The path to the mill wound through dense woods. We walked in silence, though it wasn't awkward. Only our footsteps and the occasional rustle of small animals in the underbrush filled the quiet.
Rounding a bend, the old mill finally came into view. In the shadows by the wall, Nicholas stood with arms crossed, his expression as inscrutable as ever.
Seeing us, he straightened from the wall, his gaze sweeping briefly over Autumn before settling on me. "You came."
I stopped a few paces away from him, Autumn positioned slightly behind me, silent and alert.
Nicholas studied me for a moment, then raised his hand to point at the mill behind him. "Let's talk inside. No one will overhear."
I hesitated only briefly before nodding. Autumn remained at the door, quietly on guard. Inside, dust danced in the shaft of light falling through the damaged roof. The air smelled of damp stone walls and old wood—musty, but not unbearable.
"Before we discuss anything else, I need to thank you. What you said at the market—it helped me avoid a trap. I remember this debt."
Nicholas only glanced at me, his lips moving almost imperceptibly, but he didn't directly acknowledge my thanks. "You want to know why I recognized that stone as fake."
"Yes." I admitted frankly.
"I've seen real Moon's Tears before. The one you were holding that day—at first glance it seemed fine, but the weight was wrong. The luster too uniform, too perfect. Real Moon's Tears have subtle flaws, and the way light refracts through them isn't so regular. That one didn't have any of that."
I silently absorbed his words, nodding slowly. "So you suspected immediately."
"More or less." He tilted his head slightly. "What I wasn't sure of was whether you could figure it out in time. Looks like you did."
"Barely." I showed a faint smile. "If you hadn't said anything, I might never have questioned that stone."
"Why did you help me, Nicholas? We've only met once before. Strictly speaking, you don't owe me anything."
He was silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he straightened from the beam and took a step forward.
"Let's just say I have my own reasons," he said.
"That's not an answer."
"That's all the answer you're getting right now." His voice was low and steady.
"Then what can I do for you in return?"
Nicholas took another step closer, close enough that I had to tilt my head back slightly to maintain eye contact. His gaze locked firmly on my face. My heart clearly skipped a beat in my chest. I could make out the faint scar on his jaw. If either of us moved just a little bit closer—
I forced myself to stand my ground, neither retreating nor looking away, even though my pulse hammered violently against my ribs. In my previous life, I had watched him as a spirit—he hadn't known I existed. Now, he was right here, and that attraction I'd once suppressed was reignited without warning.
He let out a low chuckle, easily snapping that taut string.
I blinked, only then realizing I'd been holding my breath, staring at him like some lovesick fool, heat flooding my face.
"Relax." He stepped back half a pace, the hint of a smile playing at his lips. "I want—to make a deal with you, Abigail."
"What kind of deal?" I asked.
"I'll help you when you need it, provide everything you can think of: resources, protection, intelligence. As long as I have it, I won't be stingy. In return, you agree to do one thing for me."
I frowned. "What thing?"
"I'll explain when I need it."
"That's—"
"Take it or leave it, Abigail. What I'm offering you is something others won't and can't give: a real alliance. Aside from that one favor, there are no other conditions. I can promise you that whatever it is won't harm you or go against your fundamental interests."
I stared straight at him, my mind racing. This was undoubtedly dangerous. Agreeing to an undefined favor was like handing someone a rope they could use to strangle me later. But he wasn't wrong either—I needed allies, real allies, and Nicholas had already proven he could actually help.
"How do I know you'll keep your word?" I asked.
"I won't deceive you." He shrugged. "You don't have many choices right now anyway, do you?"
It was cruel, but it was the truth. Evelyn and Olivia were closing in step by step. My time was running out rapidly. If Nicholas could truly deliver on his promise...
"Alright." I finally spoke. "I agree. But I also need your guarantee—that whatever you ask for in the future won't put me, or the people I care about, in needless danger."
"You have my guarantee." He extended his hand. "Deal?"
I hesitated only for an instant before reaching out to grasp it. His palm was warm and strong, and the sensation that passed through that contact made me tremble involuntarily.
"Deal," I said.
He released my hand and stepped back toward the beam. "Good. So what do you need most right now?"
I took a deep breath, pulling my thoughts away from that inappropriate flutter. "Silver Frost Grass. I need it to counteract the poison in my body."
His expression immediately darkened. "You're poisoned?"
"Yes. I had a dream—I believe it was a warning from the Moon Goddess. In it, I failed to awaken my wolf because of poison. After I woke up, I went to see a healer. She confirmed it: someone has been slowly poisoning me for years."
Nicholas's jawline tensed, his eyes growing dark. "Who?"
"My mother." The word tasted like rust on my tongue. "I don't know her full reasons for doing this. But the healer said Silver Frost Grass can help flush out the toxins."
He was silent for a long time, his gaze never leaving my face. Finally, he nodded.
"I'll bring the best healer from my pack to give you a thorough examination," he said. "We need to know exactly what kind of poisoning you're dealing with before we can talk about how to resolve it. Two days from now, same place, same time. I'll bring her."
"Thank you."
He studied me for another moment, then turned toward the door. "Two days, Abigail. Don't be late."
"I won't."
He paused at the threshold, glancing back at me. "And Abigail—be careful. Whoever's poisoning you won't stop just because you've discovered the truth."
"I'm well aware."
He nodded slightly, then disappeared into the cold, harsh daylight outside.
I stood there for a while, letting my heartbeat gradually return to normal, reviewing everything that had just happened in my mind. Promising Nicholas a favor was indeed reckless and risky enough, but it was also the most advantageous move I could make so far. Moreover, it gave me a legitimate reason to get close to Nicholas.
I pulled my cloak tighter and walked back toward Autumn, who was waiting outside.
"Miss?" Seeing me emerge, she immediately stepped forward, her eyes full of anxiety. "How did it go?"
"Better than I expected. We need to come back again in two days. He's bringing a healer."
"A healer?" Autumn's pupils contracted. "Miss, that's—"
"Exactly what I need." I met her gaze. "If I don't have to keep struggling alone, I won't refuse any help I can secure."
We returned to Crimson Fang in silence through the cold wind, the chill cutting at our cheeks like knives.