When Phoenix emerged from the trees, his cheeks flushed and his expression both dazed and content, Raphael instantly knew his partner had gotten into something that would make him wish he'd tracked him down sooner.
"What the hell did you do?" Raphael blurted out to his best friend.
Phoenix froze, caught off guard like a deer in the headlights.
He suddenly snapped out of whatever bubble he'd been in, noticing the group in front of him for the first time.
"What do you mean? I, uh... well..."
Stella looked rather curious herself, because she knew what the witches were capable of and that they currently filled the woods, but both girls still hadn't gotten over what the Sylvie witch had just said.
"We'll get to that later. First, what was all that nonsense that woman just blurted out? Seems like you've got secrets, too. And on top of that, they call us the orphans," she said, gesturing to herself and Rhae, "which I'm guessing includes all the taken wolf pups. That means they know what we call ourselves. They must have spies in town or something."
Raphael wanted to calm the girls down, but he honestly had no idea how.
"Maybe they put you all in orphanages or something, and that's why they call you that. It doesn't mean they know you call yourself that or that they have spies."
Rhae gave him a look that suggested he might have a point, but also that he should probably keep quiet and avoid interrupting Stella.
The red-haired beauty confronted her friend's bae once more.
"Coincidences don't really happen in my world. I like you well enough, but if you put Rhae in any kind of danger, you'll disappear without a trace. Got it?"
Her emerald eyes locked onto his caramel gaze, and he could tell she was serious.
"Whatever secrets you're keeping, they'd better have nothing to do with us, hurt her, or cause her any pain. Understood?"
She smiled as she finished, casually telling him she hadn't been nice when she did it, then headed over to Phoenix.
Still, Raphael couldn't resist offering his rebuttal.
"As far as I know, I don't have any secrets. The witches are just doing what they do best, causing chaos. Alright."
If anything, Stella was nothing short of fiercely protective of her Rhae.
She didn't need it after what Raphael had seen not long ago, but she was, after all, her chosen sister.
With the Sylvie situation behind her, she was ready for the group to shift focus to the Phoenix issue.
Phoenix, however, was terrified by the way she handled his partner, who was, for all intents and purposes, like a brother to him.
What was she going to do to him?
He immediately went on the defensive.
"It wasn't my fault. She was a siren, with a voice like velvet, a face to match. She had me under her spell before I even knew it, and I couldn't break free."
"Raven," Raphael said with a cough.
Stella took a deep breath.
"Fucking witches. That's still no excuse. I know that once you're on your feet, the spell basically breaks, by the way. Not that they can't use glamours. So, what really happened? Not that I actually want to know."
Phoenix couldn't meet her eyes as he tried to explain.
"There was a siren, like I said, calling out to me, teasing and toying with me, daring me to chase her. When I was in wolf form, it was easier to keep up. Then I changed, and suddenly she looked just like you, honestly. Then she didn't, switching back and forth, messing with my head. She was so much like you, but her voice was so mesmerizing I couldn't resist."
As he spoke, his face slipped back into the dazed expression of a man lost in a drunken haze on an island.
The trio couldn't help but feel sorry for him after he shared his feelings.
"Fucking witches." Rhae echoed Stella's earlier sentiment.
"Can we get out of here now?" Stella asked, quickly turning to leave the area, but turned back to look at both men, "That doesn't mean we won't revisit these topics later."
The two men exchanged a glance filled with despair, knowing she was serious.
"Ayla Jr., right there," Raphael whispered to Phoenix, widening his eyes at him and glancing between her and him a few times to lighten the mood.
"I heard that," she growled.
"Sorry. Also, we still have to find Alexander and Ayla."
"Seriously, this is taking forever. Fucking witches. I swear, why did we even agree to come on this trip?" Rhae blurted without thinking.
"Because we want to check out the Moonlight Shifters pack. You want to officially join, and maybe we'll stick around!" Stella shot back at her best friend.
"It was rhetorical, but thanks for the reminder. Maybe I'll stay just so I never have to see another witch again," Rhae smirked.
At least now they were all heading the right way, the way Alexander had gone in search of Ayla.
In their wolf forms, free from the spell's grip, they ran swiftly, searching for both of the missing parties.
Fortunately, Alexander and Ayla were on the right path, making their way toward the Moonlight Shifters this time.
It was a good sign, the first they'd seen since leaving the apartment.
All they needed to do now was catch up before any more chaos broke out, but the day was slipping away just as fast as they were chasing after their friends.
They dashed from tree to tree until they finally picked up Alexander's trail, certain now they were heading the right way.
"Alexander, where are you? Did you find her?" Raphael projected.
"Let us know what's happening. We're all here to help," Stella joined in.
"Yeah, we've got your back," Phoenix chimed in.
With a sigh of relief, he finally said, "Thanks. I caught her trail, but it seems she took off running and never stopped. She's not like the rest of us. Ayla's used to being on her own. Chaos was her normal, and she knew how to live with it. The spell didn't seem to hit her the same way."
Phoenix and Raphael exchanged a glance and quickened their pace, glancing back to make sure the girls were still keeping up.
"Looks like we've got a long afternoon of running ahead of us," Phoenix said to the group.
"Yeah, sounds like it to me. Ayla was always on the run without her wolf. From what I can tell, she overpowered her wolf and took control of the lingering fear. That makes her dangerous," Raphael said as they moved ahead.
...
As all that unfolded and the pack advanced toward Ayla and the Moonlight Shifters, Dominic was busy handling the chaos of his own.
He was caught up in his own inner chaos, trying to manage the things that Alexander and Julius usually took care of.
The monitors displayed the two people Alexander had appointed to run the main companies, and while he kept a close watch on them, he also needed to keep an eye on the smaller companies.
As he went about his business, he kept watch on the town square, noting the comings and goings of the townspeople, looking for anyone who stood out or seemed out of place.
Keeping an eye on everything from the apartment building was simple, but it left him feeling uneasy.
Usually, he'd be out on the streets, taking in every scent, watching everyone, and letting his wolf instincts guide him in spotting trouble.
He wasn't a fan of hiding behind computer screens, and he felt the urge to get out and stretch his legs.
His wolf longed to be in nature, yearning for fresh air and natural light.
Unfortunately, he'd promised not to step outside the building.
So, he came up with a better idea, his only option, the rooftop.
Alexander left his apartment keys so he could check on it, giving him access whenever he needed.
With a plan in mind, he set off, but hadn't fully thought it through.
While running in wolf form across the rooftop, stretching his legs, he suddenly heard a buzz.
Then, as he let out a howl, he heard it again.
'Shit. Is it time for Deva to be here already?'
He hadn't noticed that while he was up on the roof, stretching his legs, feeling the breeze ruffle his fur, and letting go of the day's built-up stress, the sun had already begun to set.
Dominic had spent the whole afternoon running.
Shifting back to two legs as fast as he could, he hurried back to the office and glanced at the monitor to see who it was, but it wasn't Deva.
It was Lucas.
Why was Lucas ringing the buzzer at the apartment building, and how did he know that was the right door?
Had he caught the sound of Dominic up on the rooftop?
He was supposed to be dead, and if he discovered he was still alive, it could ruin everything.
At that moment, he had two choices: ignore the door or answer it, knowing the pack link had been severed and there was no way he should be able to sense him.
Lucas pressed the speaker button, certain he'd be listening.
"I can feel your presence, Dominic. I know you're not dead. Maybe you're hurt, maybe not, but I'm certain you're still alive. Phoenix and Raphael wouldn't have been able to just walk away from me if you were."
'Impossible. I thought the pack link was severed by now. How can he still sense me?'
When had he last seen Raphael and Phoenix, and was that the problem they had dealt with?
Dominic needed to find out when and where they were he had seen them, and whether they were okay.
What would happen if he let Lucas in, or told him outright that he was alive?
One thing he knew for sure was that he still hadn't returned to the pack, and that left him puzzled.
'BUZZ.'
Lucas arched an eyebrow and stepped into the building carefully.
He glanced down the hallway, uncertain of which way to head, and slowly began to step inside.
The last time he crossed paths with the elder wolf, it was a close call that almost ended in death, so he knew he had to be ready for anything.
That's when Dominic opened the office door and stepped out just far enough for him to catch sight of him.
"So, I was right, you did survive. I was really just taking a wild guess with that one. You're slipping, old man."
Dominic nodded.
"You were right. But you don't seem surprised. You didn't go back to the pack. Why not?"
Lucas thought about it for a moment.
"Loyalties. To you. The ones in the pack, true to you, would have my head for what Alpha found out happened, or thinks happened. And honestly, I haven't felt like they were my pack in a long time. You were always my pack. My home. When I thought you were lying to me, betraying me, it shattered me. But be real with me. You did lie. The whole time, you had the girl."
Dominic shook his head.
"No, Lucas, I didn't. But I get it. Everything changed when I found my son. I didn't want to leave him, and he didn't want to leave this place. My loyalty is with him, and I realized his loyalty was here."
Anger swelled in Lucas's chest.
"So, you found your biological son, and it was like forget all the other sons you raised. He asked you to protect someone, and you just went along without question? That's what you really mean by his loyalty is here, you mean her."
Dominic shook his head, seeing the hurt in Lucas's eyes.
"No, Lucas, I never wanted to hurt you. If you wanted a place at my table, you were always welcome, and you still are. It might be more complicated now, but it's still possible. You'll always be my family, Julius or no Julius."
Lucas walked toward Dominic.
"You're right, it's not as easy now. You messed everything up because you couldn't be honest with me. Now the witches are angry with you."
"How do you know that? Are you working with them? Please tell me you're not."
Lucas rolled his eyes.
"I needed help to hide after what I'd done. I'm not working with them, but they think I am. That's how I figured out you might still be alive. They saved me when Raphael and Phoenix came through."
"So, they spotted the group?"
"Yeah, it wasn't that big of a deal. They scolded them a bit for being cursed wolves, but gave them the choice to either come after me or move on. When they ran off without killing me, I knew you were still alive."
Dominic's heart sank.
"So, they're aware of cursed wolves, and Raphael was wandering through the woods by themself?"
"Yeah, they got all whispery and started doing their witchy thing, but I headed over here for you."
"You young wolves will learn in time, witches can't be trusted. They adore young wolves for certain attributes but despise being outsmarted. So, how did you know to come here?"
'BUZZ.'
Annoyed by the interruption, Dominic glanced back at the monitor, and this time he recognized the person at the door as the cheerful, lively young woman from earlier that morning.
"She shows up now? Great. Get in here and hide in the bedroom or something. Just stay out of sight."
He let her in after Lucas slipped away, waiting for her to light up the room with her natural warmth.
She brought it too.
Her speech was as lively and fast-paced as her personality.
"Good evening, Nic. I brought the special for you to try. I know you think you won't like it, but I'm sure you'll love it. Promise! Just give it a try, for me. Anyway, I had a bit of time and finished most of the reports before leaving for the day, and I picked up some things from shops they don't realize I know about. I'm thoughtful like that. Also, for tomorrow, what do you think about a coconut-themed day? Coconut shrimp with tropical rice, a coconut dessert, and a coconut cocktail."
Dominic was concerned, for a multitude of reasons.
"I think you've got a lot of pep and energy. Thanks for going the extra mile. It's really appreciated. As for the specials, why not? Pineapple today, coconut tomorrow… what'll it be the next day, watermelon?" he said with a laugh.
"Maybe. If I can find a dish, dessert, and drink that pair well together, it could work. If not, we'll have to break the trifecta."
"Seems like you enjoy everything, huh?" Dominic said.
"Of course. No reason to let life get you down; it's all about perspective. See you in the morning."
And just like that, she headed out the door.
Dominic waited until she left the building before giving Lucas the all clear.
Lucas burst out, "Who the hell was that?" He glanced at the screen and added, "Oh, wow. She looks incredible. Like sunshine bottled up in the tiniest jar. I could be around her forever."
Dominic huffed.
"You think you can handle that, but it's controlled chaos wrapped in a cute package. Before you make any decisions, we need to talk more."
Lucas glanced at Dominic with a curious expression.
"About what?"
"How you knew about this place. Julius, the team, the orphans, and Ayla."