Chapter 184: Chapter 184
Celena’s Perspective Something... shattered. Through that warm field of the soul that connects all of us, a bone-chilling wave suddenly swept over. Sadness, like a soaked blanket covering the mouth and nose, pain, sharp as shards of glass stirring, and... fear, a heavy and guilt-ridden fear. My heart skipped a beat. What happened? Jacob? Lily? "What’s wrong, everyone?" I tentatively probed the link, as if touching fragile butterfly wings. No response. There was only a oppressive silence, so heavy that it was suffocating. The link remained, but it felt... distant, as if I were separated by an invisible glass barrier. "Jacob?" I tried again, calling the name that brought me comfort, the one I subconsciously believed was bound to my fate. What came back through the link was... chaotic darkness, intense physical pain, and a deeper, swampy emotion I couldn’t fathom. He had shut himself off. Panic began to coil around my heart like a vine. Finally, Lily’s voice came through the link, weary and heavy as never before, faint as a sigh: "I’m sorry, Celena... Everyone... Everyone is sad." I was sad too. But I didn’t even know what I was sad about. This feeling of being shut out was more agonizing than any direct bad news. A cold sensation spread from the depths of my being, not physical chill, but the abandonment of utter solitude. They all knew, only I remained in the dark. Was I no longer one of them? Lily’s Perspective Damn it, this feeling was just so damn bad. Celena’s cautious and fearful inquiry in the link was like a needle pricking my heart. We all knew what happened and we all knew how much it would hurt her, especially her nascent and already fragile relationship with Jacob. What should I say? Could you blurt out in the link, "Hey, Celena, the only light you had in the dungeon, that Brett who protected you like an elder brother, was torn in the throat by your destined mate Jacob’s claws. Although it was a damn accident, he was indeed dead?" Damn, just thinking about it made my stomach churn. We all fell silent, not because we were indifference, but because we fucking didn’t know how to break the news. It was too cruel. We barely shook off the remaining hunters and retrieved Brett’s body. We couldn’t leave him to those bastards. The trek back to the wolf cabin felt longer and heavier than ever before. Jacob was still half-conscious from the lycotine and blood loss. Xaver hung his injured leg. My shoulder wound had closed, only throbbing faintly. But these physical pains paled beside the weight crushing our hearts. Back at the cabin, the sight brought relief and heartache. Ethan and Kyle, along with most of the people, were still in the town dealing with the mess, putting out fires and rescuing the injured. Here in the small house, Nate and the witches had protected the children very well. Nate’s face was covered with cigarette ash and she looked a bit disheveled. But when she saw Adrian return safely, she rushed over immediately. They embraced tightly, The relief of having survived a disaster was almost visible. "mommy!" My little Aurora threw herself into my arms like a puppy. I crouched down, hugged her tightly, and buried my face on her tiny shoulders, which carried the scent of milk and a hint of smoke. I absorbed the warmth."Mommy, are you hurt?" She touched the bandaged spot on my shoulder, her big eyes filled with worry. "It’s okay, sweetie, just a little scrape." I kissed her forehead, my voice hoarse. Just then, Celena burst out of the cabin. Her face was as pale as paper. Her eyes swept eagerly over us who had returned, and finally settled on the car we had driven back to place Brett’s body. She exuded that cold, isolated feeling, more bone-chilling than the night wind. She smelled it. She must have smelled it. Brett’s smell... Usually, it carried a faint smell of gunpowder and earth, along with a touch of his unique, gentle yet resolute aura. But now, that smell had changed. It became cold, lifeless and lifeless, like a extinguished bonfire, leaving only the smell of ashes. That smell was silently telling a cruel fact that none of us could speak out. The air seemed to have frozen. Even Aurora seemed to sense something and leaned quietly in my arms.