Page 50 of Frosted Torment

The wolves unleashed a murderous howl. Baz stayed close to me as the other two prowled the forest’s edge. Vincent fretted over the mystery woman’s lifeless body, and the wards continued to flicker around us.

We were all exposed and vulnerable. My eyes darted about, uncertain of where to look or how to breathe.

Nakoma fashioned his bow across his back to a sling, then ran to Jossy, wrapping him in a fierce embrace. Their lips met, fusing with an intensity that threatened to consume them both. A bittersweet revelation for me among all our pain.

And as much as I wanted to share in Jossy’s happiness, my world had fallen to ruin in mere minutes. Ena and Dawson ran toward Vincent and Nevaeh, who were sitting around the mostly dead woman with the other wolves. Nakoma and Jossy released each other and sauntered toward the group.

“We need to get you someplace safe,” Lex urged, taking my hand as his wings released me. “This is too dangerous and we don’t know who’s turned on us.”

My body stiffened and I trembled with fear. “But Ivy. She just?—”

I dropped his hand and stumbled toward Vincent and Nevaeh. The answers I’d longed for were here and staring me in the face. Taunting me to make a move before they did. Challenge accepted.

“Think about Jack and Claire, Noa,” Lex called after me, staying on my heels. “Maros will go after them.”

“No.” I stopped and turned to him, placing my hands on his chest. Shaking my head, I added, “I’m staying right here, and I will fight this.”

Then I joined everyone else in the middle of the field. Endless thoughts looped in my mind. What was Ivy’s true motive? Did she join Maros because I couldn’t love her the way she needed me to? Ivy couldn’t have done it alone. She needed help, or Vincent forced her to do it.

Although Jax betrayed Vincent and the rest of his family, there had to be more who knew about the attack. I glanced down at Vincent, who now cried over the woman dying in front of him. Something about him and this woman, only he and Nevaeh seemed to know, stirred my suspicion.

I knelt on the ground to get a better look at her.

CHAPTER 20

Dawson inched closer and wove an arm around Nevaeh’s waist, his rifle now dropped to the side.

“Who is it, sweetheart?” His voice was low, but the concern etched on his face spoke volumes, a protective instinct flaring to life.

Nevaeh lifted her head. Her tear-filled eyes met his for a moment. Then, she buried her face in his side, her sobs muffled against his shirt. “It’s Sasha,” she whimpered.

“But that would mean—” Dawson’s voice trailed off as realization washed over him, leaving an unsettling void in its wake.

“Impossible,” Jossy challenged, standing close to Nevaeh as if his presence could somehow change the reality we faced.

My grandmother wasalive.

Sasha wasn’t young, but she wasn’t old either. Frozen in time, wisdom flickered behind her once-bright eyes. Yet now, her eyes were fading—losing their light.

Blood seeped from her lips, painting a stark contrast againsther pale complexion. Vincent situated one arm underneath her and pulled her close, his head hanging low in despair. He stroked her cheek with trembling fingers as if trying to soothe away the pain that refused to relent.

“I’m so sorry, my love,” Vincent cried, anguish lacing his words. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.”

Baz lowered his head close to my ear, making it look as though he was inspecting the scene.

“Noa, I know you need me and this isn’t the best time,”he said.“But stay close to Ena and Lex.”

Fear gripped my body like a vice, and I whirled around to face him as another one of the wolves got up and walked over to us.

“Where the hell are you going?”I asked in a terrified whisper.

“I’m taking Seraphina to gather help. I won’t be long.”They retreated backward into the woods, their movements deliberate and cautious as they slipped away without drawing attention.“Stay here,”he insisted one last time, then disappeared into the shadows.

The angels looked like they’d seen a ghost as they studied Sasha—faces pale and eyes wide with disbelief. The one wolf who remained let out a horrific cry of anguish that reverberated through the air before lying down beside her. Nakoma turned without a word and sprinted back toward the house.

The blood drained from my face as I fought to process what was unfolding before me. Dawson pulled a pistol from the holster on his hip, its metallic glint catching the dim light. He aimed it at the back of Vincent’s head with precision.

The danger dawned on him too late. Vincent’s gaze fixed on Sasha’s limp form, a haunting image I couldn’t take my eyes off.

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