"So I was right all the time. Lucas really is different. I knew it! He just... seems so off!" Rose sighed exhaustedly. "I can't believe he actually killed you and I can't believe you actually came back to life! Just like before."

Azura had told Rose everything that had happened since they left. Killian would sometimes add some stuff here and there while Zahair did what he did best. He was there, but hanging back and observing their surroundings. Azura twiddled with the necklace and ring hanging around her neck as she observed Rose while they informed her. 

The normally spunky and lively girl was now quiet, her brows pulled together in a frown and her lips pursed together. After the first initial awkwardness between her and the two men, she came around and relaxed letting Azura talk freely. It only confirmed for Azura she had made the right choice by letting Rose in on it. Especially when Rose told her she had her suspicions something was wrong.

"So... What is the plan now that you're here? And more important, Where are you guys gonna spend the night?!" Rose broke the silence as she adjusted her coat.

"We're going to sleep here. I just want to go into town tomorrow. I need some stuff from home. Killian and Zahair are going to wait here. They can't be seen in the city. I-"

"How are you going to pull that off without being spotted or smelled?" Rose interrupted Azura before she could continue.

Azura fiddled with the ring on the necklace before answering. "The city is no problem if we keep to the main roads. There are so many smells and scents there he won't ever notice unless he's right next to me. When I go to the house, I'll wear the ring. It should still mask my scent despite it has served its purpose. It'll hurt, but if I'm fast enough it shouldn't do any permanent damage." 

In the back of her head, Azura recalled how the ring had burnt her after the first time she had slept with Lucas. It had hurt like crazy and her whole arm had been affected by a burning and an excruciatingly painful feeling. 

"Besides," She continued. "It's sunny tomorrow, so sunglasses, a big coat and hiding my hair won't be that difficult. People barely look at each other on the street so we should be fine and Lucas is working, right?" Azura couldn't hide the slight disappointment in her voice. "So it's not like we'll run into-"

"You want to see him, don't you! You're going in to get a sneak peek of Lucas despite you saying you won't!" Rose interrupted her a second time. 

She flinched when Rose called her out. It wasn't a top priority, but Rose was right. She badly wanted to see him. Wanted to see how he was doing and somewhere deep inside, she hoped he would return to normal again. She longed for his arms around her and the whole trip to Pleyvale had her wanting it more and more. She had managed to keep her calm throughout the whole way but the insecure and gnawing feeling was there again. It chewed on her insides and as a result, the Phoenix was responding to it. The power was active, waiting for a chance, an excuse to come out. To let the madness run free.

"I- I... Yes... I need to see him," She admitted guiltily. "If I don't I feel like I'll lose it again. Knowing he's so close, I just... I'm drawn to him. I need him." Azura squeezed her eyes shut and bit her lower lip. "Fuck me! I don't want to be dependant on anyone and look at me now!"

She knew it the moment she opened her mouth to reply. She had lost control and her emotions crashed all over the place. She felt the dangerous anger as the fire inside her stirred starting raging inside. All she wanted to do was blame someone, take out her rage on someone and the urge to act upon that feeling was growing rapidly. When Killian grabbed hold of her, Azura pulled herself free and backed away from the three of them, her eyes wild and frantically moving from Rose to the two men and back again. Fear coated the anger rising behind her eyes. 

"I need to run... Sorry. I'll be back later! Rose... I'll see you tomorrow morning. I'll be there!" Just before she turned around, Azura caught the concerned look on Zahair's face as he reached out to her. She shook her head as she swallowed back the excess saliva that had formed in her mouth. They needed to stay while she would run as far away as possible. She needed to let out the frustration and if she would do it here, it would turn bad quick.

Azura spun around and took off. Her feet carrying her as fast as she could. She breathed in the cold air, focused on how it stung her throat and lungs. As soon as she was far enough out and was sure none of the three had followed her she stopped. It was dark and the night sky was covered with clouds making it even darker out than usual. Azura knew the area by heart. She had been here a lot before anyone even knew she was a shifter. She was still in the woods for now, but it wouldn't be long before the woods would disappear and mountains would take their place with wide-open areas. It wasn't visible from the city and it had been her safe place to shift before without anyone finding out.

Azura took off her clothes, let the ice-cold wind touch her bare skin and prepared herself to shift into the snow-leopard. It would normally calm her, being out alone by herself but inside the fire was raging, the anger was still there and she felt the madness creeping up on her. Her skin was crawling, itching all over. She was starting to drool as she felt the Phoenix tugging at her, trying to take control. Her mind was working overtime, but her thoughts became more and more hazy. Azura started panting and she knelt down cradling her head in her hands as she felt like losing all control. The Phoenix kept pushing, forcing itself out just like it had done before. She could feel the flames burning underneath her skin, and she knew she would not be able to keep resisting it much longer. 

*

"What just happened?" Rose stared confused at the empty spot Azura had left behind. She looked back at the two blue-eyed shifters who seemed quite relieved actually. "No seriously guys... Why did Azura leave like that?!" Both men turned towards the small woman.

Zahair glanced at Killian and gave him a small nod. He had not said a word ever since Rose had arrived and it was clear he was not intending to speak up now. Killian just rolled his eyes at him, leaned against the car and crossed his arms.

"Zahair, keep on a lookout for her but don't engage for obvious reasons," Zahair nodded at Killian and walked a little in the same direction Azura had run off to. He made sure to remain within eyesight as he kept on the lookout for Azura. When Zahair was gone Killian turned back to Rose and let out a soft sigh of defeat.

"She told you she has the full power of the Phoenix. What she didn't tell you is that it causes her to lose it sometimes. We, blue-eyed snow leopards, have shorter fuses than others at times. It depends per person how bad it is and how long someone takes to control it. You must have known Azura has a short temper at times right?" He started explaining the part Azura had not yet been able to.

"Well yes, I know she could get... angry sometimes. Lucas told us that he had to actually hold her back several times," Besides what Lucas had told Rose, she also remembered the way Azura had attacked Nathan when she fully unleashed herself.

"The power of the Phoenix has raised that anger. She slips into a primal state of madness when triggered. She will attack everyone and everything that she sees as a danger no matter who they are. She attacked me, challenged the Alpha of the werewolf pack she was with and attacked other members there as well. She doesn't know what she's doing. She has killed at least four in that rage. She probably felt it rising now, that's why she ran. As far as I can tell now it gets triggered by heavy emotional issues. She ran to protect us." 

Rose hopped from foot to foot uncomfortably the more Killian told her. Azura had told her Lucas was brainwashed and different, but hearing this, Azura had changed as well. The Phoenix had changed her. Rose shuddered at the thought that nothing would be the same again.

"Why did she come here if Lucas triggers her?" She asked with a thin fear-filled voice.

"Because she needs him to keep her sane. Not the way he is now, but the way he normally is. There have been three people able to calm her down in her life whenever she went ballistic. The first was her mother, second is Lucas and third is a young werewolf from the pack. The thing they have in common is that they don't fear her. Lucas has somehow gained the Phoenix's trust and knows she won't hurt him and thus he is not scared by Azura. The young werewolf is a different case. He sees people as good or bad. Azura to him is good. He knows by just observing. It's a gift. A child's innocence despite him being an adult. He does not fear her while he has seen the worst side of her. Her mother, well... I've seen that personally when we were young. A mother's love for a child can't be beaten," Killian paused for a bit and scanned the trees looking for a sign of danger and Zahair. When he saw a glimpse of the man he loved he turned back to Rose. "Her mother is dead.  The boy werewolf won't be allowed to join when things go south due to it being too dangerous for him so that leaves Lucas. To do what she needs to do, what the Phoenix needs to do, she needs him with her." Killian concluded.

Rose remained silent once more letting all the information sink in and fall into place. It was just over a month that Lucas and Azura had left but it made all the difference. Things really were not going back to how they were. In all earnest, with the thread of the nightmare shadow-like creatures hanging over them, Rose knew it would take a long time for everything to return back to normal. If there ever had been a normal since Azura had come to Pleyvale.

"You know..." A smile broke on Rose's face. "I'll just thwack the dude over his head. Knock some sense into him. With a hammer... A big hammer preferably."

Killian let out a snort when she spoke up, not expecting that reaction after seeing her look so troubled at first. "I think I see why Azura likes you so much." 

Rose's smile only grew bigger when he responded. She glanced at her phone to see the time before putting it back in her pocket. She blew some hot air in her hands after to keep them warm and kept hopping from one leg to the other to keep moving.

"Are you guys sure you're going to spend the night out here? In the cold?! It's freezing!" She asked.

Killian nodded to her and flashed Rose a reassuring smile. "Yes, we're feral shifters remember. It's not the first time we spend a night outdoors. It ain't for Azura either. I just hope she returns soon. You should probably head back. And please, don't tell anyone about us. It is vital Lucas doesn't know."

"Yep got ya! No problem! Take care. I just hope... Azura won't give you any trouble," Right as she said that Zahair came walking back to them.

"S-Sshe wonn--t. S-she isss f-far e-en-enough."