Chapter 185: Chapter 185
Celena’s Perspective Brett was dead. This struck my mind like a heavy hammer, reverberating repeatedly, yet I couldn’t truly understand it. How could that be? That Brett who always wore a helpless smile, secretly brought me food and medicine, and told me in my darkest years that there was still sunshine and forests outside? The Brett who told me, "Live on, Celena, just for yourself"? Even my name was given to me by him. My heart felt as if it were being clutched by an invisible hand, aching so much that I couldn’t breathe. Fragments of memory uncontrollably welled up: the cold and damp stone walls of the dungeon, Brett’s focused profile as he carefully treated my wound, his low voice telling me stories about the outside world, about the city, about freedom, and the silent clenched and loosened fists when he was mocked by his fellow hunters for being weak... He was the only light during those years of imprisonment. He was not a relative, but he was more like family than anyone else. Lily’s Perspective Ethan and the others finally returned from the town, covered in dust and exhausted. But seeing that their home and the cabin were still there and the children were all safe, everyone could clearly breathe a sigh of relief. "Lily!" " Ethan strode over, ignoring the injury on my shoulder (well, he was actually very cautious), and hugged me tightly. His breath enveloped me, carrying the scent of smoke and the forest, which slightly relaxed my tense nerves. He lowered his head, his forehead pressing against mine, his grayish-blue eyes brimming with blood vessels and a lingering fear."Thank the moon you’re okay," he murmured, then kissed me softly. Aurora wedged herself between us, giggling as she wrapped her little arms around both our necks. The warmth and reunion of that moment nearly made me forget the cold reality waiting in the trunk of the car. Beside them, Xaver also limped towards his partner Ren and their little son. Ren, with tears in her eyes, threw herself into his arms. Their child held Xaver’s remaining intact leg and called out, "Dad." Even Kyle, who was usually cold and tough, quietly walked among his people to check on their injuries. An atmosphere of having survived a disaster was spreading. But this harmonious and warm scene was like a cold knife, deeply stabbing the solitary figure beside it. Celena stood there, looking at the families and mates gathered around her, her eyes vacant. The sense of disconnection within her grew even stronger, as if she were standing in a transparent cover, gazing at the joy outside but unable to touch it herself. At this moment, Miranda walked over quickly and went straight to visit Jacob. He lay on the stretcher beside him, still unconscious, and the effects of lycotine had not yet completely subsided. Miranda gave him some medicine to help him eliminate the remaining toxins in his body. His brown hair was smeared with sweat and blood on his forehead. His brows were furrowed. Even in a coma, he seemed to be enduring tremendous pain. Max also smelled that ominous, cold and lifeless odor. His expression changed. His eyes looked at the car in terror, and then he immediately walked towards Celena, reaching out his hand to embrace her and offer her some support. "Natalie......" His voice was dry. But Celena pushed him away suddenly! She rushed towards the car like a bolt of lightning and, before all of us could react, lifted the cloth covering the body in one go! Time seemed to freeze in that instant. Brett’s face was still covered in blood, but he looked as if he were sleeping, a look of relief on his lips. Beneath Brett’s face was the vicious, fatal claw mark on his neck. So obvious, it belonged to a werewolf. Then, her gaze suddenly turned to Jacob, who was unconscious. On his body and on his claws, there still lingered a strong, irrefutable smell of blood belonging to Brett! I could almost hear the sound of her inner world shattering. Her eyes instantly turned crimson, not merely from transformation, but from the blood of extreme agony and rage. Her body shook violently, a broken, inhuman whimper escaping her throat. The wolf within her screamed. "No... no!" she snarled, her voice twisted. "It was you! Jacob! You killed him! You killed him!" Clutching Brett’s body, she stared at the unconscious Jacob as tears mingled with endless hatred streamed down her face. "I hate you!" she screamed, each word wringing every ounce of strength from her. "I will never, ever accept you! I will never be your mate! I despise this pack! I hate every one of you!" Before her words faded, she spun violently, transforming into a wolf amidst the crack of bones and the rip of fabric. A brown she-wolf, filled with agony and despair, she became a shadow tearing through the night wind, plunging headlong into the pitch-black forest without a backward glance. "Natalie!" " Max shouted in terror without a moment’s hesitation and immediately transformed into a huge dark brown Wolf, chasing after her with all his might. We were left alone, standing in the same spot, stunned and unable to move by this sudden and complete collapse. All that remained in the air was the thickening sadness that couldn’t be dissolved, and Jacob’s unconscious, painful groans in a coma. It was over. Everything had spiraled toward the worst possible outcome.