Chapter 175 – Alone
–WARNER’S POV–
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Sapphire didn’t answer right away. She just sipped her weird pink tea like it was something sacred. Then she tilted her head, those silver eyes narrowing like she already knew what we were thinking before we even said it.
“I’m a witch,” she said, like that alone explained everything.
Zane snorted. “No kidding.”
She ignored him, her eyes never leaving mine. “I’ve been. keeping tabs on you, Warner. I heard about what happened to you.”
“Tabs?” I raised a brow. “What, like scrying on me with your crystal ball?”
“I don’t need a crystal ball, darling,” she replied, smiling. “I hear everything. I don’t need to see.”
Zane and I exchanged a glance.
“How’s your wound now?” she asked, eyes flickering to my chest.
I was clothed. And yet, I felt naked.
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Chapter 175–Alone
I crossed my arms. “It’s fine. Thanks.”
“I could make the scar go away if you’d like,” she offered.
“I’d rather nol.”
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“Okay, suit yourself. I too think it adds personality. It’s cute.”
My jaw ticked.”
Why was she talking to me like that?
Zane probably noticed my discomfort, and decided to cut in.
“Can we please talk about her now?”
She still didn’t glance at him. “What, the moon’s child?”
Zane tensed beside me. “Lia. Her name is Lia.”
Sapphire shook her head, “Among the birds and trees, she’s known by other names. Moonborn. Goddess–touched. The girl with the mark of the moon on her bloodline. She’s more than what you think—and more than even she knows.”
Zane leaned forward, his voice tight. “You’re saying you know the prophecy. What else?”
“I know enough,” she said, setting her teacup down. “There’s a girl born of something old and sacred. Her voice bends wills, her
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Chapter 175–Alone
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blood shifts fate, and she stands at the heart of an old war rising
again.”
We didn’t say anything.
“She was always going to be a weapon or a savior,” Sapphire continued, voice softer now. “And the wolves–” she glanced at Zane “–they don’t like not knowing which.”
Zane didn’t respond. Neither did I.
She looked at me next. “You saw it, didn’t you? When she told him to stop, and he did. That wasn’t instinct. That was her power. How did that make you feel?”
I stiffened. “Why would I feel anything? You’re talking about
Zane.”
She nodded once. “An Alpha brought to his knees with just a word. That’s not normal. That’s divine. Or cursed. Depending on how you look at it.”
I glanced sideways. Zane’s jaw was tight, his fingers twitching slightly like he hated being reminded. Like he wanted to strangle her.
“I know it bothered you, Warner,” she said, her voice smooth and sultry. “You don’t like seeing your Alpha yield. And you’re afraid, aren’t you? Fear isn’t a good look on a warrior like yourself.”
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I scoffed. “I’m not afraid of anyone.”
“She could do it to you too,” Sapphire warned.
“Maybe it works only on Zane.”
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Sapphire smirked. “It works on anyone she means it for. Stand close enough next time, and we’ll see what happens.”
She stood up slowly and walked towards me. I stayed frozen, and she leaned down just enough to pick at something imaginary on my sleeve.
“You always smelled like pine and rain,” she murmured. “I like that. It’s… comforting.”
“You’re messing with me.”
She gave a fake little gasp. “Me? I would never.”
Zane shifted, irritated. “Can you maybe stop flirting and start helping?”
Sapphire finally turned to face him. “Why are you even here? You don’t trust me. You don’t like me. You think witches are a backup plan for when your claws and growling don’t cut it.”
“I don’t think anything about your kind. I wasn’t even sure you guys existed until now.”
Chapter 175–Alone
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She chuckled. “Right. Warner here hid my existence from you.”
“We’re out of time, Sapphire,” Zane said flatly. “Lia’s changing. Fast. And we need answers before someone else notices.”
“You’re scared of her,” Sapphire said. “All of you are.”
“We’re not scared,” Zane said, jaw clenched.
“You are,” she said calmly. “She beat you in a fight. That’s why you came crawling here. You’re worried you’re not the strongest one in the room anymore.”
Zane’s mouth pressed into a line. “I love her. I’m not scared of her.”
“You want control. Not understanding.”
“That’s not true,” Zane snapped.
She shrugged. “Could’ve fooled me.”
Zane Jeaned forward. “We’re trying to protect her.”
“Then maybe stop lying to her.”
I glanced at him, but Zane didn’t say anything.
Sapphire waved a hand like she was done talking. “Drink your
Chapter 173–Alone
tea,” she said over her shoulder. “Both of you.”
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Zane looked down at his cup like it might explode. But she turned back, raising an eyebrow, and without a word, he threw it back.
I hesitated. Her eyes flicked to me.
So I drank.
The taste was different this time. Too sweet. Like fruit and syrup and something floral I couldn’t place.
For a second, the air shimmered.
Then Zane’s voice cut in, sharp. “What the hell did you–?”
And the room twisted.
Everything shifted, flickering and rippling like it was morphing into something else.
The couch, the shelves, the fireplace, all of it vanished like it had never been there in the first place.
I blinked, trying to clear my vision.
And then I was alone, sitting on a wrought iron bed carved with intricate patterns, a black lace bedsheet covering the mattress.
