— • 🍂 Alpha Charlie 🍂 • —

"Its been a few days since she left, I don't know what it is, but the camp feels different, don't you think?" I turn to face my Beta, second in command, David.

"Yeah the air feels tight as if it can't breathe without her... the earth around us, feels almost as if it's dying." He says.

Hmmm... maybe... I mean I always thought she was different, but maybe she was different in a way I hadn't thought off.

"Uhhh sir, you kinda zoned out then." He says.

"Sorry, I was just thinking." I pause before continuing. "You kept an eye on Lucas and your sons? How are they coping without her?" I ask him, eyeing him up for any signs he could be lying. Any nervous shuffling, any uncomfortable glances.

"Well... Lucas, he... how I put this..." he starts.

I growl at him to hurry up.

"I mean, shouldn't you be checking on him, he's your son after all..." he trails off after he realised he basically insulted me.

My eyes glow orange, how dare he, I didn't give him beta position to get insulted by him.

"What. Did you. Just say?" I growl through gritted teeth.

I can see him waver in his decision now, uncertainty crosses his eyes. I smirk.

"I said. You should be checking on him, he is your son." He replies, dead to my face.

Only my best friend and second in command would have the guts to challenge me like this.

"I know he is my son, I don't need reminding." I say back.

I mean I love my son but he is never going to be alpha when he's chasing around young girls.

"You were like him once." I hear David say.

Crap he heard my thoughts.

"Yeah I did, you didn't shut the mind link, everyone in camp heard you."

Shit. Shit. Shit. How do I always do that.

Cause you're stupid that's why. My wolf whispers.

David erupts into laughter and I hear the noise echo across camp.

Did that really happen?

"Yeah it did." I get in reply.

I quickly close the mind link, making sure it's firmly blocked.

Honestly, you're an alpha, how can you keep doing things like that?

Shut up! I growl.

Fine, just know your son isn't gonna be very happy with you.

I know that, I don't need you to tell me.

Oh shut up, we both know you couldn't handle half the shit you do if it wasn't for me.

I just shut him out and turn to David.

"So now that's over, what do you know about the rouges, and what about those creatures, have you managed to analyse the venom yet?" I ask.

He smirks but replies with a serious tone.

"The rogues are gone, it seems they are taking a similar route Isabella took when she left. They've only been seen around the northern border. As for those vile creatures, no the venom hasn't been analysed yet." He says.

"Right well just watch the north border, more patrols. And why hasn't the venom been analysed yet?" I ask irritated that nothing gets done in this so-called pack!

"Because we-"

"You know what, bring me my son right now, get out of my sight." It's infuriating, no one listens. Especially that idiotic son of mine.

He's just like you you know.

Shut. Up.

Yep, same anger issues as well. He chuckles.

Bite me. I growl.

With pleasure darling.

Stupid wolf.

You love me.

You wish.

I block the link and wait, very impatiently, for my son to arrive.

— • 🔐 Lucas 🔐 • —

I came so close to finding her yesterday, I almost had my girl back.

I followed her trail for hours yesterday, miles I chased her scent, but it just disappeared at the base of a tree.

I just don't get it, what could have happened??

I've just been walking around aimlessly for the past few days, not really knowing what to do. Now I don't have my best friend to annoy.

I sit down on the log and stare at the fire embers that glow beneath the charcoal wood.

Someone sits beside me and I don't even bother to look who it is.

"Lucas, you wanna come hunting with me?" I hear a sweet voice ask. It's Abi.

"I'm alright thanks." I reply.

She mutters something under her breath, so quiet that I can't hear what it is, even with my enhanced hearing.

"Are you really gonna mope around all day. She's not coming back." She asks quietly.

"I'm not moping around, I've just lost the love of my life and you're telling me to go hunt. That's not going to fix anything." I growl back.

"The love of your life, pfffft what about your mate?" She asks, with a darker tone.

"I have no mate." I sigh.

"Yes you do, what's going to happen when you find her?" She bristles as she speaks.

I just hang my head.

"It doesn't matter, I have bella, I don't need my mate." I say defeatedly.

"That's stupid."

I'm done with this. I let out a warning growl and she flinches before looking at me with hurt eyes.

"My mate is fucking dead Abi, she fucking died. I tried to get over it and eventually just fell in love with Bella. Nothing was planned." I say, pain piercing my heart.

"I'm sorry. I-"

"Go." I snap.

"What about me?" Do I never cross your mind Lucas or is it all about Bella these days?" She says, nervously with a hint of hate thrown at the end.

"What do you mean?"

"You're there searching for Bella everyday, not coming any closing to finding her. You sit here moping and out of everyone in camp I'm the only one who actually cares enough to try cheer you up. When are you gonna realise..." she says softly, the words rolling off her tongue so delicately they could break.

I'm in shock. Wait does Abi like me?

Only just realising... stupid human.

Zafen I don't need this right now. I give out a growl to shut him up.

Don't growl at me, I'm just as affected by all this as you are. Especially because the girl you've chosen has no wolf. She's vulnerable, I want to protect her.

I know Zafen, but what can we do?

"Umm Lucas are you gonna reply or you just gonna argue with your wolf?"

"How did you-" I begin.

"Really? All you ever do is argue with your wolf."

Right.

"Abi, do you like me?" I ask.

"Do I like you, let's see? I'm always around when you need me, I always stick up for you, goddess, what don't I do for you? You're my everything Lucas and here you are, pining after some girl that doesn't love you enough to stay." She says with tears in her eyes. "Of course I fucking like you, you were just too blinded by her to realise." She lets out a low, sad growl.

Her words are like sweet venom that stabs my heart. Does Bella not love me either? Have I been played for a fool and been waiting around all this time when I had what I need right in front of me?

But Bella is our everything.

My emotions run stone cold. Not anymore she's not.

You can't just ignore you're feeling cause you don't wanna get hurt. That's-

Shut the fuck up!

You know what? Fuck you Lucas, I have to go through the pain of losing my mate, my soulmate, my whole world, my future, I lost everything. And now you're gonna make me lose the other love of my life. I don't fucking think so.

I feel myself shifting into my wolf. I try to stop it but I can't.

Don't try to stop me, you know what happened last time.

He growls and pushes forwards into my mind until I'm at the back watching the scene unfold.

Asshole. I can't believe you just took control like that.

He stands up and shakes his fur, before sprinting off into the woods.

— •🦋 Paige 🦋• —

I let out a long whistle. "Come here Hollie." I call my adorable border collie over.

She comes running to me and jumps onto my lap, knocking me over.

"What do you wanna do today girly?" I ask as I stroke her fur.

She barks and cuddles into my lap even further.

"Guess you want cuddles, huh?" I giggle.

I sit in the sunshine and it's all warm and cozy with her snuggling me.

"I miss her Hollie." I say, whilst stroking my dog, trying to not let the few tears that built up in my eyes fall.

She just whines and snuggles up closer to me.

"I know, I know, she was your favourite big cousin."

I roll the key between my fingers.

"She'd know what this key means." I murmur.

Maybe I should go looking for her.

Wait no. I might get lost.

Hollie lets out a long growl.

"Okay, okay I won't go." I giggle.

The key looks like one of those old ones, a long metal stick with a flat square at the end. Isabella's mum has some of these, I've seen before. Maybe she'll know what it means.

I gently push Hollie off my lap and stand up, patting my leg for her to follow.

"To find the key which will unlock
A secret place of love and loss
The good and bad they must die first
In order of the devils curse"

The words ring through my head.

The key? Maybe they mean the key I've found? It must be.

I beam, the key has meaning for something!

But what is the 'place of love and loss?' And 'devils curse?'

I sit back down, now really confused. There's a small flower to my right, it looks as if it's dying. I stroke the petals.

Death is so sad. But I guess it's peace for some people.

Suddenly the plant springs to life. Woah! Did I just do that?

No I can't have. I try with the flower next to it but nothing happens. Huh? That's weird.

Hollie barks and my attention turns back to her.

My mum is walking over. Great, let's see what she wants me for now.

— •🕊 Unknown 🕊• —

So the key has finally been found. It was never intended to be found by her but I suppose it will go ahead all the same. I'll have to watch her to make sure.

She finally knows about the prophecy, not in correct order, but it will all come in good time.

Finally the balance can be restored. Let's just hope they're strong enough to get through the troubles that await them.

Word count [1839]

So this was just an insight into the aftermath of Bella leaving camp.

Who thinks Lucas and Abi will get together? Or will he stay loyal to his bestie?

And anyone got any ideas for what the prophecy means?

- Bri xox