Chapter 135

The witch’s cottage stood at the far edge of the territory, hidden beneath massive, ancient trees. The closer we got, the more uneasy I felt.

Nathan stayed right beside me the entire walk, one hand resting firmly against my lower back, as if he thought I might disappear if he stopped touching me. Liam followed behind us, carrying the wrapped dagger with extra care. Even through the thick cloth, I could feel the thing. Like it was watching. Waiting.

“I hate this,” Nyx muttered inside my head.

Same.

Nathan knocked once before pushing the door open himself. The smell hit me instantly—dried herbs, heavy smoke, medicine, and something much worse underneath. Decay.

The small house was incredibly dark. Shelves filled with jars covered every wall, while bundles of drying plants hung from the ceiling. But none of that caught my attention first.

The man in the bed did.

I froze. An older Alpha lay motionless beneath thin blank