Strange Reunions

Jodie

~Grant me the strength.~

~To guide her on this new path, O Matheius, and to share the powers you’ve so wisely shown me.~

~May you and your mighty wolf spirits grant me that wisdom, so I can teach my own flesh and blood how to harness her inner strength, so we can use it to honor you. To honor Vulpes.~

~Give me the power! Give me the power! Give me—~

“Excuse me, Alpha Jodie.”

My spiritual connection to the gods of Vulpes was abruptly severed as my clumsy Beta rudely barged into my chamber.

“Damn it, Carl! What the hell do you want?” I yelled.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, Alpha, but we’ve captured three Shadow Moon spies on our territory. I thought you should know right away.”

“Spies?”

~Shit!~

I always knew I could keep Quinn away from her pack, but I hadn’t expected her pack to come to us.

“Alright. I’ll decide what to do with these intruders. Bring them to my court for trial.”

“Yes, my Alpha.” Carl clicked his heels and turned towards the door.

“And Beta,” I called after him, “bring my niece and her mate to join me immediately.”

“Yes, Alpha,” said Carl as he left the room.

Maybe I could turn this into a teaching moment.

To show my impressionable niece my true nature.

And to show her how Vulpes deals with uninvited guests.

Sky

“Move it, you three! And keep quiet!”

A group of muscular guards led Harper, Zara, and me up a winding, rocky staircase into a dimly lit hallway.

The guards glared at us, trying to scare us.

But my friends and I were completely calm.

Everything was going as planned.

After sneaking through the vast network of caves that made up the rogues’ massive fortress, we hadn’t found any clues about where Jax or Quinn were.

The three of us had decided to surrender ourselves to get closer to the pack leaders, hoping to learn more about what happened to our friends.

Sure, it was risky. But at this point, it was our best shot.

I squinted as the guards led us from the dark, narrow tunnel into a large, bright cavern.

It was an amazing place.

Intricate columns were carved out of rock pillars, holding up sections of a tiled ceiling, which were scattered around the top of the rocky dome.

Sunlight filtered through narrow skylights in the cave roof.

The concentrated beams of light shone directly on a small, formal-looking group at the far end of the cavern, elevated on a rocky platform.

As we were marched down the guard-lined path, I started to recognize their faces.

Seated in a circular, rock-carved throne at the center of the group was a middle-aged woman. She was pleasantly plump for her age and wore a playful smile. Even though I knew I’d never met her before, there was something familiar about her that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

She was flanked on the right by a figure I couldn't mistake.

It was Carl, the rogue leader who had wreaked havoc on our pack.

But there was something different about him.

He wasn’t wearing that cruel smile anymore.

He looked tamed, subdued, almost like a statue.

To her left stood two other figures, backlit by the sun.

As I got closer, I heard one of them gasp.

I strained to try and make out their features through the shadows.

Once we stopped at the edge of the platform, I finally got a good look at them.

I recognized those puzzled, worried faces.

It was Jax and Quinn!

They were alive!

But what were they doing at the throne of Vulpes?

Quinn

“Sky! Harper! Zara!” I blurted out.

I couldn’t believe it.

What the fuck were they doing here?

I mean, it was great to see them, but not in such a dangerous situation.

My aunt had welcomed me because I was her niece.

Jax had only been tolerated because of me.

I was afraid she wouldn’t be so kind to my friends.

“Ah! So, you do know these spies,” my aunt concluded.

“Spies?” I asked, confused.

“Yes. Beta Carl tells me that these three were caught snooping around Fort Vulpes. Probably looking for their missing Alpha and Luna.”

~Shit.~

How could they be so stupid as to get themselves caught?

I knew them. They were smarter than that.

But that didn’t matter now. I had to plead their case to my aunt.

“Aunt Jodie, please. I know they're your enemies, but they’re my friends. You have to let them go.”

“Let them go? Oh, I couldn’t just let them walk away back out into the woods,” she laughed.

“If you know what’s good for you, that’s exactly what you’ll do,” growled Jax, stepping forward with his fists clenched.

“Calm down, Alpha!” Aunt Jodie scoffed. “Put those fangs away. You didn’t let me finish.”

My aunt rose from her throne and walked towards my friends.

“It will be dark in a few hours. I wouldn’t dream of sending you ladies out into the woods at night. You’ll stay here, as my guests, and be free to leave first thing in the morning.”

Sky, Harper, and Zara looked completely confused. This clearly wasn’t the reception they had expected.

Honestly, I was surprised, too.

But pleasantly so.

It meant a lot that Aunt Jodie was so welcoming of my friends, even though they were technically her enemies.

What incredible kindness she had.

“It just so happens that you young ladies chose the perfect time to come and visit us.” My aunt smiled at my friends, who wore stunned expressions.

“Tonight, we celebrate! It’s the autumn solstice. We’re throwing a party in the gardens, and you’re invited.”

~A party?~

This was news to me.

From what I’d gathered, the Vulpes pack was pretty serious.

But a party would be a great chance to catch up with my friends.

I wasn’t about to question my aunt’s generosity.

“Beta Carl, please show these ladies to their rooms.”

Her loyal Beta nodded and dismissed the guards.

Aunt Jodie then turned to me. “You should get ready, dear. I bet you have a busy night of catching up ahead.”

Harper

I didn’t like this.

Not one bit.

Why were the rogues being so hospitable?

Just a few months ago, they’d attacked our pack, leaving chaos behind.

Now they were wining and dining us at a fancy party.

Where did Vulpes get the resources for this lavish, champagne-filled event?

Or a personal seamstress to make evening gowns for me and my friends?

And how did they have their own jazz trio?

None of it made sense.

It was suspicious as hell.

And I wasn’t buying the rogues’ Alpha’s over-the-top hospitality, even if she was Quinn’s aunt.

Where was Quinn, anyway?

The party had been going for almost thirty minutes and there was no sign of her—or her mate.

Sky, Zara, and I stood at a cocktail table, looking at our champagne flutes.

“Think it’s poisoned?” Zara asked, smirking.

“I don’t know,” Sky replied, playing with her beautifully braided hair. “Everyone else seems to be drinking it.”

“Well, I'm not eating or drinking anything they give me,” I said. “I want to find Quinn and Jax and get out of here while it’s still dark.”

Sky reached out and held my hand.

“Hey. I get that you’re worried. You have every right to be. But nothing is going to happen right now. Let’s stay present, learn what we can, and talk to the two people we came to find.”

I sighed.

She was right.

I looked into her eyes. The bright autumn moon reflected in their blue depths.

They made me feel both calm and anxious.

I’d spent a lot of time with Sky. Even though she was a bit bubbly and high-strung, we were good friends.

But tonight, something about her felt different.

It sent a chill up my spine.

~What’s wrong with me?~

“Excuse me for interrupting.”

I turned to see a scruffy-looking kid grinning at Sky.

“I was wondering if the lady would like to dance?”

What the hell did this rogue think he was doing?

“Oh,” Sky giggled, “sorry, I’m not a great dancer.”

“You’d be surprised what a little moonlight can do,” he winked at her.

Before I knew it, Sky’s hand slipped from mine as the bold young rogue whisked her into the crowd.

I felt a surge of anger.

One that I didn’t fully understand.

Was it because a rogue was dancing with Sky?

Or because Sky seemed to be enjoying it?

Jaxon

“Well, Jax, I forgot how good you look cleaned up.”

I looked up from my plate of Chateaubriand to see Katherine sitting on a small stone bench in front of a wall of asters.

My jaw dropped at how beautiful she looked.

She wore a lacy white dress and her usual diamond pavé necklace. Her hair was in loose curls, and she looked just like she did on…our wedding night.

~How does she still look so young?~

“Hi Kat… I…uh...haven’t seen you in a few days,” I stammered. “What have you been up to?”

“Not much. Just exploring the woods, spending time with friends…”

~Friends! Oh my God!~

I had to find Sky, Harper, and especially Zara—Katherine’s best friend.

The last time they’d seen Katherine was when she took her last breath—after a fight with the rogues.

They had to know she was alive!

“Katherine! Stay here. I have a surprise for you!”

After pushing through the crowds, I finally found Zara, standing near a wall covered in ivy.

“Zara!” I yelled.

She jumped when she saw me running towards her.

“Jax! I've been looking for you and Quinn. Where is she?”

“I haven’t seen her all night. Where are Sky and Harper?”

“Sky’s dancing with some rogue and Harper is sulking somewhere. I don't know what’s going on!”

“Come with me. There’s someone you need to see!”

I took Zara’s arm and led her through the crowd.

“Where are we going, Jax?” she asked.

“You’ll see!”

Finally, I got back to the bench where I’d left Katherine.

But to my surprise, she was gone.

“Katherine! Katherine!” I called out, hoping she was still nearby.

“Katherine?” Zara pulled her arm away from me. “What are you talking about Jax?”

“She’s alive! Katherine. She lives here. I was just talking to her a few minutes ago.”

Zara’s face hardened, her eyes filled with disbelief. “Jax, I don’t know if you think this is funny or something, but it’s not. Not even close.”

“I’m telling you the truth, Zara! She’s alive!”

“You’re probably seeing things, Alpha,” she said, her voice heavy with resignation.

“Zara, I swear to you!”

“I need to find Quinn and the others,” Zara stated, her tone firm. “We have a lot to discuss. Where can we meet in private?”

“Just… come back here when you find her. I know a spot.”

Zara gave a small nod and melted into the crowd, her doubt in my words clear as day.

As I stood there, waiting for Zara to return, I scanned the sea of faces, desperate for another glimpse of her.

But Katherine was nowhere to be found.

Vanished.

Like a ghost.