Chapter 14: The Tragedy

I quickly wiped my face clear of any possible tears that might have escaped and put on a smile for Atticus. When I looked back at him, his mask was back on too, the one that covered the emotion I had seen—or thought I had seen.

I was pretty sure I hadn’t imagined the shimmer of tears in his eyes, but as he came over to me, hovering in the threshold, he held nothing but his usual confidence.

“Why are you hiding, Fox?” Atticus asked softly, holding my chin as he brushed his thumb over my bottom lip that I hadn’t caught pouting.

I wasn’t about to tell him that being around singing was making my heart ache. They might have an idea about what I was, but I wasn’t going to confirm anything. I didn’t trust anyone with my secret yet. How could I when I had been tortured for years over it? It was why I was hunted, and I wasn’t sure if the alphas were keeping me around because of it.

They gave me pretty words—ones I desperately wanted to believe—ones that slowly melted the ice wall I had put around my heart.

But to admit it out loud? I wasn’t ready for that.

So I offered Atticus a half truth: “I’m not used to big gatherings. I guess it makes me homesick to see you all so together, singing happily. I remember a little bit of what that was like. My family would always sing, build big fires, and dance around them with our voices in the flames with us.”

I didn’t think there was any way for him to understand. He was a wolf. An alpha. These feelings were probably more human.

But instead of scoffing, Atticus pulled me into him, wrapping his arms around me. “I know what you mean, Fox.”

“You do?” I frowned into his chest.

“Music always brings home to me. I’ve been away from my pack for longer than I ever had, and I’m not used to it. There’s this longing—almost an ache in my chest—that I don’t think will heal until I am with them again.”

I closed my eyes against him. His words chipped away at that ice barrier a little more because it meant he truly did understand.

He was a hard alpha to get through, covering everything in snarky comments and quick jokes, but there was something beneath it all. Something I wanted.

I held him, my eyes still closed. “I feel that too.” My whisper had him clenching me closer.

“There you two are,” Dorian strode over, his forehead damp, his smile wide. Zachariah was his usual stoic self. He had his cloak up, separating the dwindling crowd of the banquet.

I frowned, not realizing most of the pack had left.

“Where has everyone gone?” I asked, pulling back from Atticus.

“To fuck. It’s the end of the celebration here,” Dorian smiled and pulled me in for a searing kiss.

I grinned against his mouth, his passion for me infiltrating my somber thoughts from before.

“Let’s take this back to the treehouse. I am getting rather sick of sensing the other wolves’ arousal around our claim.” Zachariah was glaring at two passing wolves who snapped their heads away.

Dorian grinned and let me go. He grabbed my hand and led me out of the door. I went, walking through the forest with the three of them under the night sky.

We crossed the river over the bridge, and I shivered as the brisk air landed on my skin through my clothes.

Zachariah came up behind me then, placing his cloak over my shoulders, turning me to clip it at my neck.

I smiled up at him, “Thank you.”

“Tell us when you are cold, Little Red. We’re to take care of you; we can’t do that if you don’t use your voice,” he said, kissing my cheek. I nodded and shivered against him, holding the cloak tighter.

I tried to ignore what he said about using my voice, but it cut. I wished it was that easy. I constantly had the craving to use my voice. It was a need I would never sate.

I walked silently with the alphas, our footsteps crunching on the leaves and brush of the forest.

“Did you enjoy your time with the Forest pack, Sweet Siren?” Dorian asked as we moved closer to his home.

I grinned and nodded, “Despite almost plummeting to my death, I had fun. I could see myself here,” I spoke the truth, warmth in my chest when I thought about staying.

Dorian grinned, “The pack enjoyed your company. They accepted you.”

That was a relief. “It doesn’t seem like they accept much,” I grimaced.

Dorian smiled, “They don’t. But they know you’re special too.”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t feel special. I felt like the pressure of my choice was weighing more heavily than ever. Tonight had been fun, spending time with the pack, with each alpha, dancing, fucking. I wanted it all. I didn’t want to have to give up two parts of that.

But I didn’t have a choice—and that was starting to feel like a death sentence on my future.

We came to Dorian’s home in all its grandeur, but we stopped before we made it inside.

Dorian stood in front of me, Atticus behind, Zachariah at my side.

We all faced Vivian, who was on the steps up to the treehouse.

She looked as beautiful and ethereal as ever.

“I thought I still had more time,” I whispered, panic creeping up my throat.

She nodded slowly, “You do.” Her voice on the wind made my skin prickle—especially since she didn’t move her mouth. I hadn’t forgotten how creepy that was.

“Then why are you here, Viv?” Dorian asked.

She stepped down a single step, “To remind you of the time limit.”

“The full moon. We know,” Atticus growled from behind me.

Vivian pointed up to the crescent moon, “When the moon is full, I will be back for an answer. Call my name if you make a decision before then.”

She disappeared in a blinding flash of gold, her cloak seeming to swallow her. I sucked in a breath and leaned into Zachariah.

“What happens if I can’t decide?” I asked him.

His face had no emotion when he looked down at me, “I don’t know, Little Red. But I assume it will be a fight to the death, winner takes all. Or they will decide, and you will have to be okay with it. But as far as I know, they cannot interfere that fully.”

I grimaced, “You’d have to hurt each other?”

I hated that. I didn’t want any of them getting hurt for me. Zachariah didn’t answer me, which told me what it was anyway.

Dorian led us up to his room, and we started stripping out of our clothes. I couldn’t stop thinking about the decision and what I was going to have to do. Hurt two of them by not choosing them.

“At least once I have picked, two of you will be free to choose your partners. Not have it forced on you. That’s a silver lining, right?”

“That’s not a silver lining, Sweet Siren, that’s a tragedy.” Dorian kissed me softly.

“You have time, Little Red. Don’t let it get to you until you must. Enjoy the time we have been given while we have it.”

Dressed in a small deep green nightdress, I climbed into the huge bed with Zachariah on one side of me, Atticus taking up too much room on the other. Dorian pulled on his training pants.

“You’re training now?”

He shrugged, “I have to beat the course time that was laid down today. I said I would in the morning, but we leave for the Water Pack tomorrow.”

I knew there was no point in asking him not to, so I nodded, “Come to bed soon?”

He smiled, “In five minutes and forty-three seconds, I’ll be here.” I grinned at how accurate he had to be, then blew him a kiss.

He left the room, and I snuggled down between the other two alphas. Zachariah pulled me against him, resting his head in the crook of my neck as I turned to Atticus.

He was grinning at me, his eyes filled with excitement.

“What?” I asked of his beaming smile.

“We’re off to the Water Pack tomorrow, and if you thought this place was fun, then wait until you see what my territory has to offer, Fox.”

I grinned at how excited he was, then fell asleep against them both, looking forward to seeing more of the world I had missed out on for so long.

~

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