Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Aneira

Snow whispered softly against the windows while the mountain wind groaned through the trees outside, rattling the roof every now and then.

I sat cross-legged on the floor beside the hearth with an old leather-bound book spread open across my lap, one hand absently holding the page flat while I read.

Hex made a low sound from the bed behind me.

“I know,” I muttered without looking up. “Trust me, I also think this is a terrible idea.”

The cat blinked slowly at me.

I sighed and focused back on the page.

The scent-masking tonic was buried deep inside the herbal index under remedies and wolf suppressants. Most healers avoided making it because the ingredients were difficult to gather and the process itself was too precise. One mistake could be terrifyingly dangerous.

Unfortunately for me, walking into Ashfang while smelling unmistakably like an omega sounded significantly worse.

“Crushed frostleaf… dried juniper bark…” I read quietly beneath my breath.

Hex yawned.

“You’re incredibly unsupportive tonight.”

The cat flicked his tail once.

The fire crackled softly as I reached for the small pouch of herbs beside me, separating ingredients carefully across the wooden floorboards.

Silverweed.

Frostleaf.

Black resin.

The sharp scent of crushed herbs slowly filled the cottage air.

Outside, the storm worsened.

I tried not to think about what I had agreed to.

Going back to Ashfang.

The name alone made something tense low in my stomach.

I had spent months putting distance between myself and that territory. Months building something small and quiet and mine.

And now I was willingly walking back toward it.

“Clearly I’ve lost all survival instincts,” I informed Hex.

He stared at me from the bed for a long moment before deliberately turning around and lying back down.

“Rude.”

I returned to the book again.

The tonic itself would only last several hours at best. Enough to dull scent recognition temporarily if prepared correctly, though stronger wolves could still potentially notice inconsistencies.

Wonderful.

Exactly the kind of odds I loved risking my life on.

I rubbed tiredly at my face before carefully marking the page with a loose strip of cloth.

Tomorrow would come too quickly.

A quieter sound pulled my attention toward the corner near the window.

Hex had climbed down from the bed and was now sitting beside the packed travel bag near the wall, staring at it with visible suspicion.

My chest tightened unexpectedly.

“You’ll be fine,” I told him softly.

Hex looked unconvinced.

Honestly, same.

I pushed myself to my feet and crossed the room, crouching beside him. His black fur was warm beneath my fingers when I scratched lightly behind his ears.

“I left enough dried fish for at least a week,” I said. “And before you start acting abandoned, I will not be gone for a week.”

Hex blinked at me slowly.

My smile faded slightly.

“At least… that’s the plan.”

Hex continued staring.

“Nothing is going to happen.”

The words sounded less convincing out loud.

A quiet purr rumbled beneath his chest despite himself.

I smiled faintly.

“There’s fresh water near the stove and absolutely no attacking anyone who comes looking for treatment while I’m gone.”

Hex stared directly into my soul.

“…That was unrealistic. Fine. Minimal attacking.”

The cat pressed briefly against my hand before pulling away again with all the dignity of someone pretending they hadn’t just done that.

Something in my chest twisted painfully.

I hated leaving him.

Which was ridiculous.

He was the most annoying animal I had ever come across. Constantly rude, perpetually uninterested, and determined to hiss at every patient who stepped through my door.

But more than that, I hated leaving this place.

My home.

The realization settled strangely in my chest.

For so long, home had been something temporary. A room. A place I survived rather than belonged.

Somewhere along the way, this cottage had become something else.

I stood slowly and glanced once more toward the packed bag waiting near the door.

Then toward the windows beyond it where snow still buried the mountains in white.

Somewhere beyond those mountains sat Ashfang.

My throat tightened slightly.

Before I could think too hard about it, I extinguished the remaining lanterns and climbed into bed beside the dying fire.

Sleep came slowly that night.

Every time I closed my eyes, my thoughts dragged me back to Ashfang.

By the time exhaustion finally pulled me under, I wasn’t sure whether I was dreaming about the future or remembering the past.

I woke before dawn.

For a few seconds, I simply lay there listening to the familiar sounds of the cottage. The fire had burned down to glowing embers during the night, casting a faint orange glow across the room. Wind rattled softly against the roof while snow tapped gently against the windows.

Everything felt normal.

Which somehow made leaving harder.

With a groan, I pushed myself upright and pulled the blankets aside. The cold immediately sank its claws into me.

“You’re lucky you’re covered in fur,” I informed Hex as I shoved more wood into the stove.

Hex opened one eye.

Then closed it again.

Helpful as always.

The scent-masking tonic sat exactly where I had left it the night before. After a moment’s hesitation, I picked up the small glass vial and uncorked it.

The smell alone nearly made me regret every life choice that had led me here.

It tasted worse.

I swallowed quickly before my body could reject it and immediately regretted it.

“That,” I informed the room while coughing violently, “should be considered a crime.”

Hex watched without sympathy.

By the time the first traces of sunlight began filtering through the clouds, I had gathered everything I needed.

Medical supplies filled most of my bag. The rest of the space held dried food, spare clothing, and enough herbs to handle minor emergencies.

When the knock finally came, I wasn’t surprised.

Darius didn’t look any more awake than I felt.

Snow dusted his shoulders and dark hair as he leaned casually against the doorway.

“Morning, Sage.”

I narrowed my eyes immediately.

“I still haven’t decided if I like you.”

His grin widened.

“I’m going to enjoy every second of this journey.”