Chapter 174 – Sapphire
–ZANE’S POV–
The drive was long and boring, but at least it kept Warner quiet. He hadn’t said much since we left. Just sat there with his arms crossed, staring out the window like he’d rather be anywhere else.
Honestly? Same,
“We need to be more careful,” I said, eyes still on the road.
He didn’t look at me. “About what?”
“Lia. She knows something’s up.”
That got his attention. “What did you tell her?”
“Nothing. But she’s not stupid. She can feel it. You, Aaron, Sheila, everyone’s acting weird. Even I slipped a little. She called me out.”
Warner groaned, rubbing his face. “Great.”
“You think she won’t notice when people who used to joke with her now treat her like she’s radioactive?”
“We’re trying not to act different,” he muttered. “It’s just hard when someone you’ve trained with your whole life suddenly
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listens to a girl like she’s Alpha.”
I shot him a look. “I get that, but she’s not just any girl. She’s your Luna.”
Warner didn’t respond. Just stared at me, and then returned his eyes to the road.
A few more turns, and we reached the edge of town. Trees thinned out, giving way to an open stretch of land. And right at the far end, tucked between some crooked trees, was a small cottage.
It looked old. Worn–down wood, vines on the roof, paint peeling off the shutters. Smoke puffed from the crooked chimney, and there were weird glass jars hanging from the porch ceiling.
“Cute,” Warner muttered. “Bet it smells like wet cat inside.”
We got out of the car. The wind was cold, but the place smelled like herbs and dust. And maybe, yeah, wet cat.
“You sure this is the place?” I asked.
He nodded once. “Unfortunately.”
We walked up to the front porch. The wooden steps creaked under our boots. I looked at him.
“You knock.”
Chapter 174 – Sapphire.
“No way,” he said. “This was your idea.”
I rolled my eyes and knocked. Once. Twice.
The wind rustled the trees behind us. Warner shifted
uncomfortably.
And then, the door creaked open on its own.
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–WARNER’S POV–
Zane and I glanced at each other.
The inside looked dark.
Creepy.
Just like the girl who lived there.
Contacting her last night was the worst thing Zane had ever made me do.
I hated it. I hated her. She messed with my head.
Just like the girl who lived there.
Contacting her last night was the worst thing Zane had ever
Chapter 174 – Sapphire
made me do.
I hated it. I hated her. She messed with my head.
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The door creaked open wider. And then she stepped into view.
Sapphire.
For a second, I forgot how to breathe.
She looked… different. Not like I remembered. Not at all.
The girl I saved had messy brown hair, crooked teeth, and smelled like candle wax. This version of her? Totally different.
Her hair was long and black now, the ends dyed a dark midnight blue that shimmered under the light. Her skin was pale and smooth, and her eyes—some shade of gray that looked silver in the shadows—were locked straight on me.
Of course.
“Warner,” she said softly, her lips twitching into a smirk. “You grew up.”
I didn’t say anything. My heart was doing something stupid in my chest. Not beating fast exactly—more like tripping over itself.
When she took a step forward, my stomach twisted strangely. Like… I didn’t wanna step back. Not even slightly.
Chapter 174 – Sapphire.
There was something about her.
She was beautiful.
Disturbingly so.
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She didn’t look like a witch. Not in the classic sense. No wart–covered nose, no creepy robe, no black cat in sight. She wore a simple black top and jeans, but somehow, she made it look unreal.
I’d thought maybe after she grew up, practised enough magic—if the creativity of her love letters was any sign—she would have gotten ugly.
But she didn’t.
She was breathtaking.
Or maybe she made herself that way.
You could never know with witches, right?
And her scent.
It was warm, almost sweet, like cinnamon and something else I couldn’t place. It tugged at something in me, and I immediately pushed it back. Probably magic. Definitely magic.
Chapter 174 – Sapphire
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Zane cleared his throat behind me, but Sapphire didn’t even glance at him. She kept her eyes on me like he didn’t exist, thick, lock eyelashes fluttering as she slowly blinked.
She stepped closer and reached out like she was about to touch my jaw.
I flinched slightly, and she paused, her smile falling just a little.
“The warrior wolf… afraid? Of a girl?” she tilted her head.
“I’m not afraid. I just don’t want you to touch me,” I replied, rolling my eyes.
She chuckled, the sound making me want to smile. “Aw, Warner. Sweetie, I think you’re aching to touch me.”
“Hi there,” Zane said loudly, raising an eyebrow. “You like Warner. Cool. Can we come in?”
That got her attention. Her eyes flicked to him finally, and just like that, the warmth vanished.
“I don’t like werewolves,” she said bluntly. “Especially smug
ones.”
Zane didn’t even flinch. He just crossed his arms. “And yet here
we are.”
She stared at him, unimpressed. “Only because of Warner. He’s
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different. Not a dog like most.”
“Can we not make this weird?” I snapped.
“Too late,” Zane mumbled under his breath.
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Sapphire moved aside and waved us in. “Only him,” she said, looking at me again.
I stared back. “Zane’s with me. We need your help.”
Her lips pressed together, like she was holding back a sigh. Then she stepped aside and motioned with her hand dramatically. “Fine. Come in. But don’t touch anything. And don’t breathe too loudly.”
The inside of the cottage was exactly what I expected and still. somehow worse. Shelves lined with jars, some filled with herbs, others with things I didn’t want to think about. Dried flowers. hung upside down from the ceiling. The fireplace was lit, casting. flickering shadows on the walls. And on the coffee table in front of a worn–out couch… a tea set.
Zane and I stood awkwardly in the center of the room until she pointed to the couch.
“Sit.”
We sat.
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11:52
The couch was weirdly soft. Too soft. I felt like I was sinking into it.
Sapphire sat across from us, legs crossed on a wooden chair that creaked slightly under her weight. She picked up the tempot and started filling up two cups,
“Seriously?” Zane whispered.
I gave him a sharp look.
Neither of us had the guts to say no. Her aura screamed danger. Not in a bloody, werewolf kind of way, but in a ‘if I sneeze wrong she might turn me into a frog‘ way.
She passed us each a cup. I stared at mine. The liquid inside was pink.
“What is this?” I asked.
“Tea,” she said, smiling. “For clarity. And balance.”
Zane muttered something under his breath and took a sip.
I followed. It tasted like strawberries. And also… regret? What on earth?
Sapphire leaned back and studied us, like she was waiting for something. Her gaze lingered on me again.
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“I’m glad you came, Warner. You look amazing. I didn’t expect you to look so… delicious.”
My jaw clenched, Zane’s comment from that night playing in my head.
I shifted in my seat. “We need help.”
She tilted her head. “Right to the point. Never a man of many words. Always so dashing.”
Zane coughed loudly.
Sapphire smirked at him, then turned back to me. “So. You brought him here because… you need to learn how to control someone like
her?”
I blinked. “What?”
She raised an eyebrow. “The girl. The one who made you feel weak. The one whose voice made you obey without thinking.”
Zane straightened up. “How do you know about that?”
