Chapter 174


    Chapter 174 Obscurity


    CAS SANDRA


    My head spun as I walked, and with every step I took toward Keller’s, memories of my conversation


    with Spi ke faded into obscurity. How I exited the dungeon. eluded me and I felt as if someone else was


    controlling my movements. This strange sensation of possession wasn’t something I was used to, but


    with how much turmoil gued my thoughts, it made sense that I was feeling out of sorts.


    I was restless and my mind was agitated from the pressure of it all.


    Mind control, talismans, Emmett… there was so much to consider and I didn’t know how to make


    sense of it. I wished that Asher was here to help me sort it all out, but with him being gone on some


    unknown errand, I was alone in the matter.


    Spi ke had no reason to deceive me, did he?


    Though he was an imposter and not necessarily a great man, what would he have to gain by lying to


    me?


    There was only one usible answer to the question that haunted me- Emmett had intervened to


    suppress my ability to shift.


    But why?


    Despite the warming weather around me, I remained chilled to the bone. When a gentle breeze danced


    through my hair, it induced an involuntary shiver that made me pause in ce. I stood there for a


    moment and thought hard about my past. It struggled to recall the moments after Emmett had rescued


    me from Anemond.


    Initially, my consciousness had slipped away after the soldiers had departed. from Rosepetal, just as


    the inferno had begun. When I’d awakened in Wild Crawler, I’d been consumed by searing pain. It had


    been unimaginable and rendered me unable to do much physical motion. Amidst my excruciating


    recovery, I’d discovered the unsettling truth- I couldn’t shift into my white-furred wolf form


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    Every werewolf, even the lowest ranking ones in the most obscure Packs in Wega, could easily slip


    into their animal form without a second thought. But no matter how much I tried, no matter how much I


    strained and attempted… I couldn’t


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    do it.


    It was unsettling and sent me into a deep depressive state.


    Emmett had reassured me that my ability might soon return once I fully recovered from my injuries, but


    much to my surprise, it never did. I was devastated beyond belief. The power to transform into the form


    the Moon Goddess blessed me with was gone, and I attributed it to the potion.


    Yet, Emmett neither confirmed nor refuted my assumptions, which always left room for doubt.


    As I approached Kellers, I spied Erika and Becky on the porch. They were chatting and wearing bright


    smiles, and I knew at once that I needed to suppress my turmoil. I didn’t want to burden them with my


    turbulent mindset. Asher would be returning tomorrow, and I could confide in him then.


    For now, I needed to fake a positive attitude and act like everything was okay.


    So, as I crossed the street, I forced a wide smile onto my face and shoved my concerns aside. Erika


    and Becky spotted me at once and waved happily. Once I reached the porch, my assistant greeted me


    with a hug.


    “Hi Becky,” I said once we parted, and my eyes trailed over her. Becky’s appearance was brighter than


    it had been in a while and she seemed quite well-rested for once. “You look great! Your dark circles


    have vanishedpletely.”


    Becky smirked and thenughed lightly. “Yeah, I slept in prettyte. I definitely needed it after


    everything that’s been going ontely.”


    “I understandpletely,” I said, and then I gestured to the door. “Well, now that you’ve gotten some


    sleep, let’s go talk in the meeting room.”


    She nodded, and then we headed inside I asked Erika to prepare us some tea, and after the maid


    happily agreed, Becky and I made our way to the meeting room.


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    We sat down in the plush leather chairs, and a few minutester, Erika returned with the tea and a tray


    with sweet, delicious pastries on them.


    “That smells great,” I noted as I inhaled deeply, and then I smiled at Erika. “Is that a new kind?”


    The maid nodded and then offered me a smile of her own. “It’s a new blend I found at the market. It’s a


    vani spice tea. I know you’re fond of jasmine, but this smelled so lovely that I had to purchase it.”


    “Nothing wrong with something new,” I replied. “Thank you, Erika.”


    “Of course,” she said. She poured a cup for Becky and me and then left the


    room.


    My assistant and I sipped at our drinks and we were both pleasantly surprised by the new tea. It was


    warm and delicious, almost like a sugar cookie, and it was very pleasant. It helped soothe my nerves a


    bit, and I managed to roll my shoulders back and rx.


    Once I was in a calmer state, I cleared my throat.


    “So, Spi ke and I had an interesting discussion,” I began. I told Becky every detail of my visit with Spi


    ke, and when I mentioned the bit about “mind control”, Becky’s reddish brown eyes widened.


    “I don’t know what to think about all of this,” my assistant admitted, and she crossed her legs as she


    pondered the information. “I can’t help but doubt the existence of a sorcerer powerful enough to


    orchestrate such events.”


    “I know,” I admitted. “It’s definitely a lot to think about.”


    Becky nodded and then frowned slightly. “We can’t discount anything, of course. It’s something we


    should keep in the back of our minds for right now. I’m not sure what to think about a talisman or even


    magic in general. But there’s a chance sorcerors could have a hand in all of this.”


    “Right,” I replied, and then I took a small breath before I tucked my hair behind


    ???


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    my ear. I’d worn it down today and it hung a little heavily down my back. I swept the locks away from


    my neck and tried to rx. I could feel my doubts and concerns starting to arise, but I forced myself to


    remain calm in front of my assistant.


    Luckily, Becky didn’t seem to notice anything amiss.


    “Now, when ites to the source of the disease… I think we need to inform Wild Cawler that their


    water source is contaminated,” she mused thoughtfully.


    I nodded in agreement. “Absolutely. But I think we need to wait until the Alphal King returns tomorrow


    before making any public announcements. Handling the situation delicately is important to prevent any


    unnecessary panic.”


    Becky nodded and then a strange look crossed her features. “Cas sandra… could I have your


    permission to inform the clinic’s healer in Wild Crawler first? I promise the news will remain confidential,


    but I think they need to know first.”


    “The healer of the clinic?” I asked, and my eyebrows knitted together in confusion. “Are you referring to


    Marley?”


    My assistant hesitated for a moment and I could see a look of unease on her pretty face.


    Her cheeks flushed scarlet and she pushed her round sses up the bridge of


    her freckled nose.


    “Right,” she muttered. “Yes, Marley. You’re right, Cas sy. Marley definitely needs.


    to know.”