8
1532 Words
Chapter Eight
“You’re really going with them?” Jessa leaned against my door frame, her arms crossed and a disapproving frown pulling at her lips. This was probably the most emotion she had shown since I had come back from the forest, which only confirmed my suspicions that she knew the triplets were my mates way before today. I would confront her later as I had a more pressing issue at hand.
“I don’t have a choice,” I said, folding a jacket and stuffing it into the bag. “If there’s even a chance this seer can tell me what’s happening, I need to take it.”
Jessa’s expression softened as she pushed off the frame and stepped closer. “I get that. I do. But do you trust them? The triplets?”
I hesitated, the truth heavy on my tongue. “No. Not completely. But I need their help.”
She let out a low whistle. “You’re braver than me. Those three have trouble written all over them.”
True, but I believed I knew them well enough now to know when they were being serious. They would help me, especially since they had some vested interest in my safety.
A knock at the door cut off my reply. Evan stood there, his calm demeanor masking the tension in his shoulders. “We’re ready when you are.”
Jessa gave him a once-over before turning to me. “Stay safe, okay? If they try anything, you kick their butts and come back.”
I snorted. “I’ll keep that in mind. Tell my dad I’ll be back soon.”
As Jessa left, Evan stepped inside, his gaze flicking to my small pack. “That’s all you’re bringing?”
“I travel light.” I slung the bag over my shoulder. “Unless you’re offering to carry extra?”
He chuckled, the sound warm despite the weight of the moment. “Flint would never let me hear the end of it.”
Evan let me pass by him as I walked out my door. I led the way downstairs to where Orion and Flint were. Orion paced near the entrance, his jaw tight as he spoke in low tones to Flint. When he caught sight of me, his sharp gaze flicked to my bag, then to Evan trailing behind me.
“You’re late,” Orion said curtly.
I raised an eyebrow. “You gave me ten minutes. It’s been eight.”
Flint’s grin broke the tension. “That’s right, Plum. Put him in his place.”
“Let’s just go,” I said, brushing past them. The sooner we started, the sooner we could get answers.
We set out through the forest, leaving the pack borders behind. The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. It should’ve been peaceful, but every step away from the pack felt like a weight settling heavier on my chest. I shifted my pack on my shoulder and adjusted my footing, glancing at the triplets around me.
Evan walked beside me, his steady presence a quiet reassurance. Orion led the group, his sharp eyes scanning the trees for any sign of danger. Flint brought up the rear, whistling softly to himself, though his relaxed posture didn’t fool me—his eyes darted to every shadow.
“This seer,” I said, breaking the silence. “You’re sure she’ll help?”
“No one’s sure of anything,” Orion replied without looking back. “But she’s the only lead we have.”
“And you’re all so eager to be dragged into this with me because...?”
Evan’s gaze met mine, calm but intense. “Because we’re not letting you do this alone.”
Flint chimed in, his grin back in place. “And because we like adventure. Right, Orion?”
Orion’s growl of annoyance was all the answer Flint needed, and I found myself biting back a smile despite the circumstances.
With every step deeper into the unknown, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this journey would change everything.
***
We stopped to rest near a stream, the triplets scanning the area for threats as I crouched by the water to fill my canteen. The cold air carried the scents of pine and damp earth, but something else lingered—an unease I couldn’t shake.
“This seer,” I began, turning to Evan. “What’s her deal? Why does she live out here?”
“She doesn’t like the pack life,” he explained, his voice low. “She left years ago, claiming the pack’s rules stifled her. But she’s able to communicate to things only she can see. If anyone can help you, it’s her.”
“Or trap us,” Orion interjected. “We can’t be sure she’s trustworthy.”
“Then why are we going?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.
“Because I don’t have a choice,” he said, “We took a vote and I lost.”
“Vote?” I asked.
“We like to do things democratically,” Flint said from behind me before I heard him move closer. “But don’t worry, Plum. If things go south, we’ll keep you safe.” His grin was infuriating, but the sincerity in his eyes softened the sting.
I rolled my eyes, refusing to let him see the effect his words had on me. Flint had this undeniable charm that could easily break away any of the walls I had put up against the triplets.
I let the cool water from the stream run over my hands and let myself relax slightly.
The attack came without warning.
A rustling in the bushes was the only sign before shadows burst from the trees, snarling and snapping. I stumbled back as the triplets moved in unison, their shifts fluid and instantaneous.
Orion’s wolf was massive, black as midnight, his growls rumbling like thunder. Evan and Flint flanked him, their wolves moving with lethal precision, a blur of fangs and claws.
I shifted too, my wolf surging forward, ready to fight. The rogues were vicious but disorganized, their strikes wild and desperate. Still, their sheer numbers overwhelmed us.
And then it happened.
Flames exploded around me, hot and uncontrollable. My wolf howled as the fire surged from within, lashing out at the attackers but protecting my mates. The rogues yelped and retreated, their fur singed and tails tucked.
When the chaos subsided, I stood in the middle of a scorched circle, the ground blackened beneath my paws. My heart pounded, my breath ragged.
“Milli?” Evan’s voice brought me back. He was crouched nearby, his eyes wide with concern.
I shifted back, trembling. “I didn’t mean to—”
“You saved us,” Flint said, his voice unusually soft. “That’s what matters.”
But Orion’s gaze was hard, his wolf still prowling beneath his skin as there was a rogue who was barely alive near him. “And what happens when you can’t control it next time?”
The words stung, but I didn’t argue. He was right.
“Why should you make her feel bad about something she is just learning to control?” Evan bit back.
“She is my mate-”
“She is mine too, so you will be understanding,” Evan said. “I’d hate for the thing that’s supposed to unite us and make us stronger to be what breaks us apart.”
Orion didn't respond and instead turned his attention to the one rogue that was near him. It had been too injured to run away with the rest. Orion pinned him down, his claws digging into the wolf’s neck.
“Talk,” he growled. “Who sent you?”
The rogue shifted back, his face bloodied but defiant. “You’re already too late. The fire will consume her, just as it did the others.”
“What others?” I demanded, stepping forward despite Evan’s hand on my arm.
The rogue smirked, his teeth red with blood. “Ask your seer. If you survive her.”
Orion’s claws sank deeper, and the rogue’s smirk faltered. “You won’t make it out of this alive,” he spat, before Orion’s patience snapped, and the rogue was silenced for good.
***
I was afraid but the triplets forced me to continue with the journey. The forest thickened as we approached the seer’s house. Shadows danced among the trees, and the air grew colder. My wolf bristled, uneasy.
“Stay close,” Orion ordered, his voice softer than before.
We came upon the cabin suddenly, its gnarled wood blending into the landscape. Smoke curled lazily from the chimney, and the scent of herbs and something darker filled the air.
The door creaked open, and she stepped out—a woman draped in furs and beads, her silver hair wild around her sharp, calculating eyes.
“Millicent,” she said, her voice smooth and knowing. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
Her gaze shifted to the triplets. “And your shadows.”
The weight of her words settled over us, heavy and foreboding.
- Writer
