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    Chapter 0592


    Nina


    After a while, my tears finally subsided. With a sigh, I finally climbed out of the truck and shuffled up the driveway. A particrly cold wind was blowing through, and I shivered, pulling my jacket closer around my shoulders.


    I took onest look over my shoulder, wary of any more strange wolves; but there was nothing. Just me, the trees, and the ocean.


    As I made my way inside, I could already tell that Lori was awake judging from the orange glow of themp that was on in the living room. I slipped in through the door, trying not to make a sound, but it was toote. I could already hear her calling for me as she approached, her bare feet padding across the floor.


    "Nina?" she called out. "Is that you?"


    I let out a soft, almost inaudible sigh. A feeling of dread filled my chest as I feared for the worst: that I would have to tell her about Jessica and the failed iming ceremony. "Yeah. It''s me."


    Lori stopped in the doorway to the foyer, her face a mask of concern. Her hair was a bit unkempt from sleeping. her sweatpants and oversized t-shirt making her look even smaller and more fragile than usual.


    "Oh, thank god," she said softly, her voice quivering slightly. "I was worried about you. I thought something happened to you, too."


    I shook my head. "I just... needed to get out for a bit," I said gently, even though that was a lie. "I''m sorry I didn''t tell you. I didn''t want to wake you up."


    But Lori, always the most intuitive out of the three of us, folded her arms across her chest and shot me a wary look. "Where did you really go, Nina?" she asked.


    As I looked at her, I knew I couldn''t keep my actions a secret from her any longer. She deserved to know the truth, no matter how painful it might be. I simply couldn''t bring myself to lie to her, not when she was like this.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    I hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words before I finally spoke. "I... I had to try it," I said, my own voice barely more than a whisper.


    Lori''s red-rimmed and swollen eyes filled with tears almost instantly. I could tell, without even having to say what it was exactly, that she knew what I had tried; and that it had failed. She nodded, taking in a shuddering breath." Lay it on me."


    I shook my head, my heart heavy with disappointment. "It didn''t work, Lori," I admitted, my voice trembling. "I tried. I tried so many times, but nothing happened. I couldn''t turn her. I don''t know why. Maybe I''m too weak." Lori''s hope seemed to fade, and her shoulders slumped in defeat. She buried her face in her hands, and I could hear her sobbing softly. "I thought... I thought maybe..." Her voice trailed off, and her shoulders shook.


    I reached out and put my arms around Lori, holding her close. "I''m so sorry, Lori," I whispered, tears stinging my own eyes. "I didn''t want to tell you because I didn''t want to get your hopes up. But I failed you anyway. And now I don''t know how to save Jessica."


    Lori pulled away slightly, looking at me with tear-filled eyes. "You didn''t fail me, Nina," she said gently, her voice trembling. "You did everything you could to help Jessica, and I know how much you care about her. That means more than anything."


    I wiped away a tear from Lori''s cheek and gave her a weak smile. "Thank you, Lori," I said with a tense smile that I didn''t really feel. "But I still wish I could have done more."


    Lori leaned in and kissed my cheek. "You''re an amazing friend, Nina," she said, leaning her head on my shoulder in a show of affection that was rare for her. "And I''m so grateful to have you by my side."


    We stood there for a minute, holding each other, before I finally pulled away and looked down at her. "Hey," I said, "


    since we''re both up, and I doubt we''ll be going to bed anytime soon, how about some tea?"


    She paused for a moment, then finally nodded. We both walked in silence to the kitchen, where Lori perched on a stool while I put the kettle on. The kitchen was quiet for a while, filled only by the sound of the boiling water and illuminated only by the golden glow of themp.


    Once the tea was poured, I slid a cup across the counter toward her. She took it, wrapping her fingers around it, but didn''t drink right away. The steam hit both of our faces. It was almost soothing. Almost, but not quite.


    We sat there in silence for a while, both lost in our thoughts. Finally, Lori spoke up, her voice hesitant. "Nina, is it okay with you if I stay here for a while longer? At least until I know more about Jessica''s condition?"


    I looked at Lori, torn between wanting to be there for her and the nagging feeling that I needed to get back to the werewolf realm to ensure the safety of my baby. I took a deep breath, knowing that I had to be honest with Lori.


    "Lori, I need to tell you something." I said, my voice heavy with regret. "I need to go back to the werewolf realm tomorrow. There''s something important I have to do."


    Lori''s eyes filled with sadness, but she nodded in understanding. "I won''t stop you," she said gently, reaching across the counter to grab my hand. "Is everything okay?"


    I paused for a few moments, debating whether or not to tell her about the fortune teller. But finally, I realized that I needed to tell someone, and I would prefer if that someone was Lori.


    So finally, I told her everything; the visions, the shadow entity, the sleepwalking, the fortune teller, the generational curse. When I was finished, Lori was silent, gripping her cup so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. Neither of us had even touched our tea yet.


    "Nina, I... I can''t believe it," she whispered, shaking her head. "You''ve been dealing with all this, and here I am, asking you to put yourself at risk for Jessica."


    "Lori, no," I said, my voice more stem now. "Don''t you dare take the me for this. I was the one who chose to do it. And I wanted to do it. For you and for Jessica."


    Lori was silent for a while longer before she finally stood and came around the counter, wrapping her arms around me. "I''ll miss you while you''re gone," she murmured. "But thank you for being here for me. I''m so d to have you as a friend, and... I hope the baby will be okay.*


    Tears welled up in my eyes as I hugged Lori tightly. "I''m going to miss you too, Lori," I whispered. "But I promise I''ll be back as soon as I can."


    Lori pulled away and gave me a weak smile. "Just focus on yourself," she said softly. "Yourself and the baby. It''s what Jessica would want."


    I nodded, buoyed slightly by her words. Despite everything, despite all of the pain and the heartache, Lori was right; Jessica would want me to focus on the baby.


    And no matter how much it hurt, I knew it had to be done.