Emma Pov

　　Unlike other early mornings when I would head to the training hall, after inventing the bedtime story for Charlotte, I managed to fall asleep. My sleep is peaceful, without nightmares about Ava. The next morning, Charlotte's words linger as I wake up.

　　The western loop forest is the most isolated, much tenser in terms of trees and vegetation. Maybe Charlotte wasn't actually suggesting that I go to the western side of the forest. The story I told her might have prompted Charlotte to say that, after all, almost the entire narrative was set in an enchanted forest.

　　At breakfast, I manage to find Mattew still sitting at the table, which shocks me. The longing that had been growing in the past few days becomes more palpable upon seeing him sitting in his usual spot.

　　Mattew Anderson had his eyes lowered to his phone, his black hair falling forward, the glasses sliding down to the tip of his nose, which he pushed up. He wore a red polo shirt, but what always stood out about the alpha was his pronounced jawline, which now sported a thick beard. Three days without seeing him properly, and when I do, a beard has already formed on his face.

　　How is this humanly possible? He looks a hundred times more handsome, and the woody perfume emanating from him arouses even more desire in me. Please, Goddess, help me face this breakfast without any suffering.

　　I murmur a quick good morning, but Mattew doesn't respond, only Charlotte.

　　"Matt, don't be rude. Say good morning to Emma," Charlotte admonishes her brother. I bite my lip at her words and try to keep my eyes distracted from Mattew's face, but it's impossible.

　　The alpha raises his eyes to the front and lowers the phone, placing it on the table. Mattew's dark green eyes land on me, and at that moment, he picks up his coffee cup, and before touching his lips to the rim of the cup, he responds to my greeting, "Good morning, Emma."

　　I swallow hard and give him a brief nod. I serve myself some coffee; silence reigns at the breakfast table, only the utensils make a sound.

　　"Yesterday Emma told a new story," Charlotte suddenly announces, and I almost choke on the hot drink in my mouth. A wide smile is on the little she-wolf's face.

　　Just as I did the first time, Mattew raises an eyebrow, confused by his younger sister's declaration. "Emma always tells you new stories, Lotte," Mattew replies.

　　"It's that yesterday, Charlotte wanted a story created by me. That's what she meant," I explain. Mattew nods as if he now understands what that means.

　　But no comment is made, no joke or provocation is uttered. I feel my heart saddened by the new coldness from the alpha. If I had known this would be the new treatment, I would have stayed quiet about knowing the truth about Charlotte.

　　But what would have happened if I hadn't said those words? Would we have kissed and probably slept together? I return my attention again to Mattew's physique. Yeah, for sure, I would have ridden Mattew all night long in that gym if the kiss had happened. I would have let him do whatever he wanted to me on that mat. My mind creates the scenario of the two of us fucking in the training hall, and I feel my face flush with the lust that alpha Mattew arouses within me.

　　I made the right choice in telling the truth. I can't allow myself to get involved in a romance, not now. I need to know the truth about my best friend's murder, prove my innocence, and find the real culprit.

　　The western side forest of Night Howlers Pack territory starts to become more appealing to me after Charlotte's sleepy suggestion. I want to believe that Charlotte is indeed a prophet; if what she said yesterday is not just some silly thing related to my story, then there's something in the forest that can help me. With what? I have no idea, but I believe Charlotte told me that for a reason.

　　After the silent breakfast, I return to my room and decide to prepare myself to explore the western side of the forest. I put on hiking clothes and a jacket to prevent thorny branches from piercing my skin. I also prepare a shoulder bag with the healing potion, a water bottle, and a small compass so I can find my way back home.

　　The entrance to the forest is more closed off, which makes my heart a little fearful, but I take a deep breath and venture onto the trail, deeper into the forest. Little sunlight enters the woods, the trees with thick trunks and roots that protrude from the ground make my walk into the unknown difficult.

　　Walking among the ancient trees, I feel a bit small and insignificant. Damn, where have I gotten myself into because of Charlotte? My curiosity is leading me further into the darker side of the forest. The air is infused with the fresh scent of vegetation, a mixture of damp earth and wildflowers.

　　My senses are on high alert; every noise is a warning that something might surprise me. I start to wonder what I might find here in the forest. A deer? Rabbits? Other werewolves? Before I can continue listing possible presences in the deep forest, I am surprised by the presence of someone I thought I would never see again.

　　"Ava?" I murmur in shock. I spot a female figure very similar to my best friend a few meters ahead of me, through the thick trees. I freeze in place for thirty seconds. My heart skips a beat.

　　I can't believe it, I don't believe it! Is Ava alive?! I start to walk faster. I know she's there, within my reach. It may even be a mirage amidst the lush greenery of the forest, but in my heart, I don't believe it's a mirage, a hallucination of mine. "Ava! It's me, Emma!" I shout towards the trees where I have just seen the female figure.

　　I feel a mixture of hope and fear with each step I take towards my best friend. The figure continues to move forward, and I follow her with more haste.

　　But before I can reach her, the young woman I saw disappears when she turns to the right, hiding among the vegetation. When I make the same turn, it's as if she had never been here.

　　I stand still, stunned by how quickly the figure disappeared. Until a scream spreads through the forest from my lips.