Chapter 135\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bella\u00a0<\/p>\n
30\u00a0<\/p>\n
255 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
After Millie\u2019s death, one question refused to leave my mind no matter how hard I tried to focus on the trial.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Magic. It didn\u2019t fit. We were in a human town, and magic was strictly prohibited here. Witches were not allowed to use spells openly, and powerful magic was especially restricted. Those rules existed to protect humans, and they were enforced carefully by the human council. Anyone caught breaking them faced serious consequences.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So how had magic touched Millie? And more importantly, why had it touched her at all?\u00a0<\/p>\n
The answer slowly formed as I replayed everything again and again in my head. Millie had been wearing my clothes that day. She had worn my old dress, my wig, my sunglasses. She was pretending to be like me, simply to distract the paparazzi so I could step out unnoticed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Millie had not been the target. I had been.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That realization was so heavy and frightening that I shuddered. Someone had cast magic believing they were attacking me. Millie had only been caught in the middle because she looked like me. The thought made my skin crawl.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scott reacted even more strongly when we spoke about it. He became restless in a way I had never seen before. Wolves were posted everywhere, inside and outside the house. He barely slept and checked on me constantly, his eyes always alert, his body tense, as if he expected danger at any moment. His anxiety was palpable through the bond, and no matter how much I tried to calm him, he just wouldn\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After we returned from Millie\u2019s funeral, I called Nancy. She didn\u2019t pick up. That worried me far more than I wanted to admit. But then I remembered the gift she had given me at my wedding in the Silver Mane pack. went to the bedroom and opened the small wooden box. Inside lay the crystal orb.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was smooth and cool against my palms. When I picked it up, it was heavier than it looked. The surface reflected light softly. Nancy had told me to use it only if I truly needed her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sat on the bed, held the orb between both hands, and closed my eyes. I focused on her face. \u201cI need your help,\u201d I whispered. \u201cPlease come.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The orb warmed almost immediately. A soft glow spread through it, and the air in the room swirled. When I opened my eyes, Nancy stood a few steps away from me, looking calm but alert.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have needed to use this,\u201d she said quietly, \u201cbut I understand why you did.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stood up quickly and hugged her. Seeing her after so many days brought a thousand emotions on the surface. \u201cNancy!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy child\u2026\u201d she murmured as she hugged me tightly. When she pulled apart, she wiped my tears I didn\u2019t know were flowing. \u201cWhat happened, Bella?\u201d she asked in a concerned voice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I told her everything. About Millie. About the magic. About how none of it made sense. Scott joined us then and explained something he had already looked into. \u201cThere was a witch selling charms on the black market,\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:34 Sat, Jan 10\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 135\u00a0<\/p>\n
he said. \u201cMy wolves detained her. Would you like to question her?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
20\u00a0<\/p>\n
265 voucher\u00a0<\/p>\n
To say that Nancy was perturbed was an understatement. \u201cTake me to her now!\u201d she said sternly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nancy questioned her personally. She told Nancy that swore she had no idea who Millie was and had never even seen Bella.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Nancy returned, she confirmed it. \u201cThat witch wasn\u2019t involved. She truly didn\u2019t know.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That left only one explanation, and Nancy acknowledged, \u201cThe spell was meant for Bella. And that witch can try again!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scott\u2019s reaction was immediate. He turned to me sharply and said, \u201cThat\u2019s it. You\u2019re leaving. You\u2019re going back to the pack lands.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shook my head. \u201cNo.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stared at me in disbelief. \u201cSomeone tried to kill you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe trial is almost over,\u201d I replied. \u201cI won\u2019t run now. I won\u2019t let them scare me into hiding.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scott dragged a hand through his hair, frustration clear on his face. \u201cBella, please-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He let out a sharp breath. \u201cFine. Then my wolves will be with you at all times.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nancy added, \u201cUntil the trial is over, I\u2019ll place three of my strongest witches with them. They\u2019ll stay close to you everywhere. And I\u2019ll personally escort you everywhere.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That was how we went to court that day. Nancy arrived separately, dressed like a reporter, sitting behind me. Scott stayed close to my side, and I could feel the presence of wolves nearby. Nancy formed a protective layer around me using her magic. I couldn\u2019t see it, but I could feel it, like a subtle pressure surrounding me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the trial proceeded, something shifted. I felt it. Like a tightening in the air that made my chest feel heavy. But the pressure was gone instantly as if rebounding from me. Nancy didn\u2019t waste time. She traced the source of the magic instantly and found it. A woman sat quietly in the corner of the courtroom.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nancy understood at once. \u201cThat\u2019s Rowan,\u201d she hissed, warning me. After that, every spell Rowan sent toward me was intercepted and rebounded before it could reach me. Rowan tried again and again, growing more desperate each time, but her magic never made it past the protective barrier.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nancy spoke quietly to the witches beside her, and after that Rowan was contained. When the court went into recess, Rowan tried to run. But Nancy and the witches stopped her calmly, efficiently, without drawing attention. To everyone else, it looked like a reporter being quietly detained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But by that time I noticed Lucy approaching Rowan. She was moving toward Rowan, her face pale, her expression filled with fear and anger. The moment I saw her standing there, everything finally made sense. So she was the one who wanted me killed. Shock rippled through me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scott saw it too, and the fury that crossed his face was unlike anything I had ever seen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:34 Sat, Jan 10\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 135\u00a0<\/p>\n
155 voucher,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucy froze where she stood, her body stiff with shock when she saw Rowan being taken away. When realization settled on her, she turned and tried to run. But Scott\u2019s wolves moved quickly, catching Lucy before she could get far. They restrained her firmly and took her away before she could scream or draw attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When the court resumed, Maya looked around anxiously, clearly searching for Lucy. She became panicky when she didn\u2019t see her. I glared at her, wanting to punish her myself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The judge entered, and everyone stood. The verdict was delivered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMaya Williams is found to be the mastermind behind the blackmail scheme,\u201d the judge said. \u201cThe evidence shows clear planning, coordination, and intent. \u201cShe is sentenced to twenty years in federal prison.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d Maya shook her head wildly and began shouting. \u201cIt isn\u2019t true!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The judge continued without reacting. Maya screamed, cursing me, her words ugly and desperate, but the guards moved quickly and restrained her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The judge then addressed Craig. \u201cCraig Jones is found guilty of participating in the scheme. He is sentenced to twelve years.\u201d Craig didn\u2019t say a word as they led him away, his shoulders slumped with defeat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I watched them both being taken away, feeling satisfied, victorious. Finally\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scott wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me gently toward him. \u201cIt\u2019s over now,\u201d he said softly. I leaned into him. \u201cI want to see Lucy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Midnight Winds Carry Secrets Toward Worlds Yet Unknown 135 Chapter 135\u00a0 Bella\u00a0 30\u00a0 255 vouchers\u00a0 After Millie\u2019s death, one […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23100","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-new-world-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23100","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23100"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23100\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23119,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23100\/revisions\/23119"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23100"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23100"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23100"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}