The Flame-bound Wolf and Her Triplet Mates

12

Chapter Twelve

The first rays of dawn painted the horizon, but the mood in Tala’s camp was far from peaceful. Wolves moved quietly through the clearing, repairing defenses and preparing for a trek. Tala had decided to move camps and, at the request of the triplets, she had decided to move closer to our pack, knowing that our Alpha would help protect her and her pack.

Even though she was moving closer to safety, Tala’s grim expression remained, telling me everything I needed to know: time was running out.

I stood with Orion, Evan, and Flint near the edge of camp, the old map from the locket spread out on a flat rock before us. Tala knelt nearby, her brow furrowed as she pointed to the mark deep in the northern mountains.

“This is where you’ll find answers,” she said, her voice heavy with caution. “But the journey will not be easy. The rogues know you’re moving. They’ll try to stop you at every turn.”

“How much time do we have before they strike here again?” Orion asked.

Tala shook her head. “Days, maybe less. The rogues are regrouping quickly. If you’re going to leave, it needs to be now.”

Evan leaned over the map, tracing the route with his finger. “We can take this path through the forest. It’s longer, but it will keep us off the main trails where the rogues frequent.”

Flint snorted. “Longer means more time for them to catch us. I say we cut straight through and deal with whatever comes. We should also shift. Traveling in our wolf form will be faster.”

“I agree with you, Flint, but it's risky. Our scents are stronger in our wolf form, so we'll be easier to track.” Orion said.

“Enough,” I said, my voice firmer than I expected. All three of them turned to me, surprised. “We’re not going to argue about this. We’ll take the longer route. It’s safer, and I won’t let anyone else get hurt because of me.”

A tense silence followed before Orion nodded, his jaw tight. “Fine. We’ll take the forest path.”

Flint muttered something under his breath but didn’t argue further.

Tala stood, her staff tapping against the ground. “Before you leave, Millicent, there’s one more thing you need to do.”

The fire pit crackled in the early morning light, its flames rising higher than before. Tala stood beside me, her presence steady and commanding. The triplets watched from a distance, their expressions a mix of worry and pride.

“You’re getting stronger,” Tala said, gesturing for me to step into the fire. “But strength without control is dangerous. You need to learn to guide the flame, not let it guide you. If you are to leave here with anything, it should be that skill.”

I nodded, stepping into the fire. The heat wrapped around me like a second skin, but it didn’t burn. Closing my eyes, I focused on the spark inside me, reaching for it as I had before.

“Breathe,” Tala instructed. “Feel the flame. Shape it with your will.”

The fire responded to my touch, growing and shrinking as I willed it. For a moment, I felt a flicker of pride. Then, without warning, the flames surged, threatening to spiral out of control.

“Focus!” Tala barked.

Panic clawed at me as the fire grew wilder. Just as it began to consume the edges of the pit, Flint’s voice cut through my fear.

“You’ve got this, Plum,” he said, his tone calm and steady. “Just breathe.”

I took a deep breath, centering myself. Using Flint's voice as an anchor and slowly, the flames obeyed me, settling back into a steady glow.

When I opened my eyes, Tala was watching me with a faint smile. “Better. Your shadows will be of much help to you as you learn to control your flames. You still have a lot to learn though, but control will come with time. For now, I am ready to let you go on your way.”

We were preparing to leave when a wolf approached, his steps urgent. It was Nia, Tala’s second-in-command. “There’s someone here to see you,” she said, her eyes flicking to Tala before settling on me. “Says he has information about the rogue leader.”

The group exchanged wary glances before following Nia to the edge of the camp. There, a lone wolf stood, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. He was lean, with silver-streaked fur and a scar running down the side of his face.

“My name is Kael,” he said, his voice smooth and unbothered. “I’ve been tracking the rogue leader for months. I heard you’re looking for him.”

"From whom?" I asked.

Kael smirked, "It's not enough that you have the Thorn triplets for mates, but you are also an elemental wolf. There is always a lot of chatter surrounding flame-bound wolves."

I bristled. Just how many people knew about me?

"I won't bore you with the details of who my sources are, but I think the information I hold could be of great use to you."

“And why would you help us?” Orion asked, stepping in front of me protectively.

Kael smirked. “Let’s just say I have my own reasons for wanting to see him taken down.”

“What do you know?” I asked, stepping around Orion.

Kael’s eyes flicked to me, a hint of curiosity in his gaze. “I know the map you’re holding leads to a trap."

"What?" I said. I turned to Tala with questions in my eyes.

"That's a lie. I got it from one of my most trusted traders," Tala said.

"Who happens to be one of the rogue leaders' puppets?" Kael said. "That map was planted by the rogue leader to send you straight to him. It leads to one of his strongholds. He’s been amassing power there for years. In fact, he has been planning this journey you are on for years, planting hints and too good to be true clues along the way for just as long. You are blindly running into a trap."

I clenched my hand in frustration. "If that is the only way I can get answers, then so be it."

Kael smirked. "Fiery just like a true flame-bound wolf." He moved to get closer to me before stopping when the triplets took a step closer to him to push him back. Clearly they didn't trust Kael one bit. Kael smiled at their show. "If you’re heading that way, you’ll need someone who knows the terrain so you can avoid a trap. I can guide you.”

Orion growled low in his throat. “We don’t need your help.”

“You do.” Kael replied smoothly. “But that’s your call. Just know the rogue leader won’t stop until he has what he wants. And right now, what he wants is her and you three pups are just specks of dirt on his shoes that he will easily brush off to get to his most wanted possession.” He nodded toward me.

Tala raised a hand, silencing the brewing argument. “Enough. Millicent, the decision is yours.”

I hesitated, studying Kael. Something about him felt... off, but his knowledge could be invaluable and if he tried anything it was four against one. He would be done for. “Fine,” I said finally. “You can guide us. But if you try anything—”

Kael held up his hands. “Understood. You don't need to say anymore. Let’s move quickly. The rogues won’t wait for us.”

***

We left the camp under the cover of thick forest, the map clutched tightly in my hand. The walk would take about half a day as we had to trek through mountainous terrain.

Kael led the way, his movements silent and confident. The triplets stayed close to me, their eyes constantly scanning our surroundings for any sign of danger.

As we walked, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched. The forest was too quiet, the air too still.

“I don’t like this,” Evan murmured, his voice low. “It feels like a trap.”

“It probably is,” Orion replied, looking directly at Kael. “Stay alert.”

Kael glanced over his shoulder, smirking. “Relax. If the rogues wanted to ambush us, they would’ve done it by now.”

His words did little to ease my nerves. I tightened my grip on the locket, its warmth a constant reminder of the power I carried—and the danger it brought.

The sun was about to set when Kael stopped abruptly. “We’re close,” he said, his tone suddenly serious.

I stepped forward, my heart pounding. In the distance, I could see the mountains rising against the sky, their peaks shrouded in mist. The path ahead was steep and treacherous, but it was the only way forward.

“We’ll camp here for the night,” Orion said. “We need to be at full strength before we move any further.”

The group nodded, setting up camp quickly and efficiently. But as the fire crackled in the center of our small circle, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching us.

The rogue leader was close. I could feel it.

And he was waiting.