5

Keisha's POV

...

My frenzied sprint finally came to a halt.

Up ahead was a large oak tree with a rather vast canopy. Jenna and I usually rested here whenever we raced in our wolf forms in the woods.

I was right to come to this place; I could see her right shoulder and her loose grey gown fluttering along with the wind. My friend was seated at the foot of the tree, her back reclining against the trunk

I was relieved to see her. Exhaling a deep sigh, I made my way to her front, only to be confronted by a harrowing sight.

Jenna had blood trickling from her mouth. The upper section of her outfit was drenched in red. A bloodied dagger lay on the ground, inches short of her left foot.

"Jenna..." I mumbled, unable to register the reality before me.

The bubbly Jenna, who seemed to have recovered from the cruel pill of heartbreak my brother had gifted her, now looked like a terrible shadow of herself. Her hair was splayed out, her eyes droopy, and her lips pale.

"Y-you're here," she muttered weakly, forcing herself to smile, but it only made her wince, and more blood flowed from her mouth.

"Jenna!" I called out, panicked. "W-who d-did this to you?" I asked with a choked voice, bringing her into my arms as I sat beside her.

She handed a small brown envelope to me. I accepted it, however, I didn't care for its contents. I only care about my best friend; her life was ebbing away.

"Be...sure to read...my letter," she instructed with difficulty, and I nodded vigorously, while pursing my lips to restrain sobs.

"I'm glad you came. I held on for so long... hoping you'd come." She brought her right hand to touch my left cheek.

"Jenna, hold on a little longer. I'll take you to the pack's clinic, please," I pleaded.

She weakly shook her head, tears rolling down her face, "No need. It's too late,"

I shook my head in denial, "No, don't say that. Please Jenna..."

"I can...finally go... in peace. Live on... well... for me, okay?" she said, smiling once more before shutting her eyes. Her hand instantly dropped from my cheek as well.

Alarmed, I quickly placed a finger under her nose. A chill ran down my spine as the reality set in.

There was no breath, not even an ounce.

She was gone.

But I couldn't accept this.

"No. No, Jenna. Don't do this to me. You can't do this to me, please." I shook her, even lightly slapped her face with my trembling hand, in hopes that she'd complain. That she'd open her eyes and say something.

But... reality was cruel. She would never do what I desired.

"Noooo!" I growled, tears cascading down my face.

Then I howled, my eyes facing upwards. A howl of pain. Sorrow. Grief.

I had lost the one who mattered the most to me.

If only I had known what today would be, I wouldn't have retired to bed last night happily. I would've...

My eyes fell on the envelope that had tumbled from my fingers when Jenna expired.

Sniffling, I took it and fished out a letter.

'By the time you're reading this, bestie, I will no longer be counted among the living.

Alpha Caspian should have just rejected me than keeping me hopeful for so long. But no, try as I might, he's bent on keeping the mate bond.

But I'm tired. Tired of enduring the nightly chest aches that make me wish I hadn't been born. I don't deserve any of this, Keisha.'

It then dawned on me.

By sleeping with Cassandra, my brother had been making Jenna suffer an unimaginable pain all this time.

Now I remembered; the pain that comes with one's mate cheating with someone else is worse than that of rejection in itself.

I slapped myself hard. How could I have forgotten?

"Why didn't you tell me?" I queried as I stared at the paper, my voice trembling.

It's as if my friend already knew I'd ask this; she already answered in the letter.

 'I didn't want you to worry, you've already done so much for me. I'm grateful to be your friend, really. Right now, I'm very sorry. I can't walk the path of life with you any further.

 But don't you be sad for me, I'll be reuniting with my parents very soon.

 If possible, please help clear my father's name. I know deep down that he's innocent. Take care, my dear bestie. Know that I treasure all the moments we've spent together, and I'm glad to have met you in this lifetime. If there's a next one, I hope we can be besties too.'

The paper slipped from my trembling fingers as I turned to its writer.

"Jenna, you have suffered. Don't worry, I won't let you die in vain," I swore before bending to scoop her corpse into my arms.

Then, slowly and with a heavy heart, I started towards the pack.

People displayed various reactions when they saw my late friend. Some of them started following me.

I was headed to my brother's office, for that was where I guessed he would be. Getting there, I was stopped by two guards.

"The Alpha is busy right now, princess Keisha."

"Get out of my way," I told them, my voice, though low, was laden with rage.

However, the guards were adamant and crossed their spears, indicating they wouldn't let me through.

"Alpha has ordered that no one is to bother him," the one with red hair told me.

I nodded sagely. "Very well,"

I turned to face one of the few who had followed me. "Help me hold my friend for a second," I told the middle-aged man.

The latter, though uneasy, didn't refuse my orders.

With Jenna in safe hands, I could finally do what I wanted.

Less than a minute later, the headstrong guards had been knocked unconscious, their jaws certainly dislocated.

Well, I did warn them.

I took Jenna from the man and made my way forward, ultimately kicking down the door to Caspian's office.