Wolves of the new dawn

Stay or go?

*Freesia*

I stand frozen, the world around me blurring as the realization crashes over me like a tidal wave. Drones. The buzzing mechanical beasts that often haunts the city skies, always watching, always waiting. A cold dread seeps into my bones. “My city,” I repeat, my voice barely above a whisper, disbelieving. “They’ve known about you all this time.”

Raze’s expression darkens, and I can see the hurt etched in the lines of his face, the way his jaw clenches as he speaks. “They want to eliminate us. They see us as a threat, as if we’re monsters lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce. But we’re just… we’re just trying to survive.”

My heart races. I never thought about what lies beyond the city walls. I was so focused on my struggles, my own survival, that I hadn’t considered the lives being crushed outside our sterile, protected bubble. I thought the wild was a wasteland, a place for the lost and the broken. I never realized it was home.

“I didn’t know,” I say, my voice trembling. “I swear, I had no idea.” Guilt floods my chest like a heavy stone. “I didn’t think… I didn’t think anyone could be out here, living like this. How could I have been so blind?”

Raze’s eyes soften, but there’s still a flicker of that storm inside him. “You don’t need to apologize,” he replies, his voice steady, but I can hear the pain beneath. “You’re not responsible for the choices of your leaders.”

“But I am part of the city,” I insist, feeling the weight of my own complicity. “I’ve benefited from its safety, its resources. And meanwhile, people like you… like Jo… are out here fighting for their lives. I should have known.”

“Freesia,” he says, taking a step closer, his intense gaze locking onto mine. “Have you ever been part of those decisions? Have you ever known about us, about what they’ve been doing?”

I shake my head vehemently, my heart racing. “No! I swear, I haven’t. I’ve never been involved in anything like that. I’m just a doctor, trying to help people where I can. I didn’t even know werewolves existed until Torren… ” My voice trails off, the weight of my ignorance settling heavily on my shoulders.

“Then you have nothing to feel guilty for.” His tone is firm, yet gentle, and I can see the fire in his eyes begin to cool. “You’re not them. You’re not the enemy.”

“But I lived in their world,” I argue, the thought gnawing at me. “I’ve ignored the signs, the whispers in the dark. I didn’t want to see the truth.” I take a deep breath, willing myself to focus, to push through the confusion. “What do we do now? If they’ve been watching you, if they’ve been planning… they won’t stop. Not until they have what they want.”

Raze’s expression shifts, a solemn resolve settling over him. “We fight back. We protect our own. That’s what we’ve always done.” He pauses, his gaze piercing through me. “But you need to decide where you stand. Are you with us, or will you go back to the city?”

The question hangs in the air, heavy with implications. I look around, taking in the training area, the laughter of my new companions, the fierce loyalty that radiates from Raze. This is a world I never expected to be a part of, but now that I’ve seen it, I can’t just walk away.

“I want to help,” I say, my voice steady. “I may not have known before, but I can’t turn my back on you all now. If there’s a fight coming, I’ll be here. I won’t let Jo down. I won’t let you down.”

A flicker of something… hope, perhaps… flashes in his eyes. “Then it’s settled. We’ll prepare, and we’ll stand together.”

Together. The word sends a surge of warmth through me, igniting a fire I didn’t know I possessed. I step closer to him, feeling the pull between us, the undeniable connection. “And what about the city?” I ask, a hint of worry creeping into my voice.

“We’ll deal with the city when the time comes,” he replies, a fierce determination lighting his features. “But first, we focus on Jo. She needs us now more than ever.”

I nod, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. “Right. Jo first.”

As we begin to walk again, side by side, my mind races with possibilities and plans. The city may have turned a blind eye, but I refuse to. I will fight for Jo, for Raze, for the pack. I won’t let fear dictate my choices anymore.

The world outside the city walls may be dangerous, but it’s also alive, vibrant with possibility. And I’m ready to be a part of it, to embrace the wildness within me.