116

The scent of burning wood lingered in the air, the aftermath of the attack still weighing heavy on the pack. That night had been filled with chaos, and though the immediate danger had passed, the wounds—both seen and unseen—remained.

Inside the packhouse, Avynna and Baron sat in the dimly lit study, exhaustion carved into their features. The quiet of the room was broken as Steve walked in, someone trailing behind him.

“Alpha, Luna!" He greeted. “She is here."

He stepped aside to reveal Nancy. She stood there, dressed in a flowing black gown, as if in mourning. Avynna and Aaron rose to their feet, to welcome her.

“Nancy," Avynna spoke. “You didn't have to take the trouble of coming all the way here.”

Nancy shook her head. "No! Your pack was attacked, and you expected me to sit back and not show up. No, Avynna. I came as soon as I heard.” She said.

"Thank you.” Baron spoke up.

Steve excused himself, as the trio settled down.

Nancy asked. "How bad was it?”

Avynna and Baron exchanged looks, before Baron answered. “We didn't lose much warriors, they didn't seem aimed to kill. I noticed."

“Who's they?" Nancy asked further.

Husband and wife shrugged their shoulders simultaneously. “We have no idea." Avynna said.

Baron followed up. “They weren't normal, that we know."

Nancy furrowed her brows. “What do you mean they weren't normal?"

Avynna explained. “Nancy, I know it sounds crazy, but we were attacked by shadows. Dark shadows that had this unusual speed. Our attacks went through them. It was so… unnerving.”

Nancy's expression twisted into a frown, confusion etched into her facial features. "That's weird. That means they weren't werewolves?”

Baron shook his head. "No. Neither were they vampires, or sirens.”

"Demons maybe?” Avynna mumbled, following it up with a groan. "It feels like we're losing our mind, Nancy. We don't know what to do.”

Nancy heaved. “If they weren't werewolves, how did you manage to hold them off?"

“They retreated on their own." Avynna responded. “And Bavanda seemed to be the only one that fought and killed them."

Nancy's eyes widened. “Bavanda? How?"

“That's exactly what's killing us, Nancy. Bavanda hasn’t been the same since three months ago, at her birthday party. Nancy, it's driving us crazy. It feels like we're losing our daughter to forces we can't see.” Avynna admitted.

Nancy reached out, holding her hand and squeezing reassuringly. “Hey, relax! Don't talk like that, I'm sure we'll figure something out. Just calm down, and tell me what's going on with her.”

Avynna inhaled and exhaled, though it did little to calm the storm in her heart. "We can't even tell what it is, and the most crazy part about everything.” She began. "You know, she finally found her wolf after the incident with Loco, but it doesn't seem like a good thing. She's gotten violent, Nancy. She hurts people, like she isn't in control of herself. She… she killed a pack member during the battle.” She explained, the last part coming out as a whisper.

Nancy was visibly shocked, but she tried hard to hold it in.

"And there's this girl.” Baron chipped in. "Bavanda found her in the training grounds one certain night. Bavanda got violent over her, insisting that we had to let her stay. She claims to have been sold off by her pack 3 years ago, to men who used her as a sex tool. So we let her stay, but it seemed to have only worsened Bavanda's situation.”

"She has shut us out completely. We can't talk to our daughter without her leading it into an argument. She thinks we're scared of her.” Avynna said.

"Are you?” Nancy asked.

There was silence for what felt like forever, but it was broken by Avynna sniffing lightly. "Truth is… we are." She acknowledged. “I don't know about Baron, but I am. My daughter sees me as an enemy. It's breaking me apart, and I'm so scared. She's going through so much, but she has refused to let us in. I don't know…” Avynna trailed off.

Baron pulled her into his embrace, comforting her. "Nancy, please help us.” He said, calmly, even though his inner self was far from calm.

Nancy sighed. The years had changed her—softer lines around her eyes, a hint of gray in her dark hair—but there was still an edge to her, the kind of sharpness that never truly dulls.

"You’re sure you want my help?" she finally asked, her voice steady but low. "You remember who I used to be."

Avynna exhaled slowly. "If you must bring that up, then that’s exactly why we need you, Nancy."

Baron nodded. "You’ve worked for darkness before. You’ve seen what it does. We think…" He hesitated, exchanging a look with his mate. "We think we’re losing Bavanda."

Nancy listened without interruption, her mind already working through possibilities. "And you’re sure it’s the girl?"

"We don’t know," Avynna admitted, rubbing her temples. "We might be wrong, but we just know something’s wrong."

Nancy nodded once. "Then let me see her." She said, rising to her feet.

Nancy found Bavanda alone, standing by the large windows of the packhouse, staring into the night.

She barely looked up as Nancy entered.

"I was wondering when you’d show up," Bavanda said, her tone unreadable.

Nancy studied her carefully. There was something… off. Her presence felt different, heavier, almost suffocating.

"I came to help," Nancy said simply.

Bavanda finally turned to face her, and Nancy was struck by how different she looked. The sharpness in her eyes, the coldness in her stance—this wasn’t the same girl she remembered.

"Help with what?" Bavanda’s voice was almost mocking.

Nancy tilted her head. "With whatever’s happening to you."

Bavanda chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "There’s nothing happening to me. You think I don’t know why you’re here? My parents sent you because they’re scared. Scared of me."

Nancy took a slow step forward. "No. They’re scared for you."

Bavanda’s jaw tightened. "I don’t need saving."

Nancy watched her for a long moment before speaking. “Bavanda, I watched you grow up. Your parents and I care for you. We're worried, and we want to help you, but we can't do that if you keep pushing us away."

Bavanda scoffed painfully. “I already said it. I don't need your help."

“Is it because of her?" Nancy asked all of a sudden.

Bavanda shot her a glare, her eyes threatening. “Leave her out of this."

Nancy cocked her head to the side, intentionally pushing to rile her up—hoping to see how far she could go. “All of this for a stranger, Bavanda. You don't know her, you don't know who she might be working for."

Bavanda glared angrily at her. “She's working for no one. And she's not a stranger, she's my friend. You're in no position to see the worst in people, Nancy. Have you forgotten who you were before now?"

Nancy stiffened. Guess the tables had turned on her. Bavanda truly had changed. "Alright. Then I’ll talk to her."

Bavanda froze. "No, you won't.”

Nancy shot her an angry stare. "Stop me.” She dared. "If you can.”

Bavanda didn't.

Nancy found Theresa in one of the guest rooms, curled up in the large chair by the fireplace. She looked up as Nancy entered, eyes wide, almost fearful.

Nancy wasted no time. "Who are you, really?"

Theresa blinked. "I… I told them already. I was taken from my pack, used for years. I’ve suffered…"

"I don’t care about the story," Nancy cut in, watching her closely. "I care about the truth."

Theresa’s eyes filled with tears. "That is the truth."

Nancy studied her carefully. The girl’s demeanor was different—gone was the cryptic calm she had around Bavanda. Now, she was desperate, pleading. “What's your name?" She asked.

“Theresa." Theresa answered with her head bowed.

Nancy took a step closer, her eyes dark with something unreadable. “I'm going to ask for the last time. Who are you?"

Theresa shook her head, her eyes moistening. "I'm just a homeless girl who needs help.”

"Please," Theresa whispered. "I just want to belong. I want to be safe."

Nancy held her gaze, searching for a lie, for a crack in the facade. But she found nothing.

Finally, she sighed. "Alright." She needed to do more than this if she needed any answers.

She left the room, returning to Avynna and Baron.

"She’s not the problem," Nancy told them. "The problem is Bavanda."

Avynna gasped. “What?"

“She's not the problem." Nancy repeated.

“How do you know that? What do you mean?" Baron demanded, his voice edged.

Nancy looked from Baron to Avynna, hesitating. “I looked into her mind. All I found is memories of the things she said she faced. I think she's clean."

Baron and Avynna were speechless. Their only lead had been taken away.

Nancy heaved. “This seems bigger than me. I need to make a research, and ask around. I'll leave now, but I promise I'll return. In the meantime, the girl has nothing to do with this. It's probably connected to Loco."

Avynna made to argue, but Baron held her back. They watched Nancy leave, and their last bit of hope was utterly shattered. Why was this happening?

***

Bavanda wasn’t herself anymore. And she knew it.

The voices in her head, the dark thoughts creeping in—it was all becoming too much. But when she was with Theresa, the chaos quieted.

She found herself constantly drawn to her. And it wasn’t just attachment anymore. It was something deeper, something dangerous.

She wanted her.

She tried to fight it, tried to suppress the thoughts, but Theresa made it impossible. She always knew exactly what to say, how to push her just enough.

That night, as they sat in Bavanda’s room, Theresa turned to her with a knowing smile.

"You’ve been avoiding looking at me properly," she said softly.

Bavanda swallowed. "That’s not true."

Theresa tilted her head. "You can’t hide it from me, Bavanda."

Silence stretched between them, thick with tension.

Finally, Bavanda whispered, "I don’t know what’s happening to me."

Theresa reached out, her fingers brushing against Bavanda’s hand. "You don’t have to fight it."

Bavanda exhaled shakily. "I’m not supposed to feel this way."

Theresa’s eyes darkened. "Who says so?"

It was the final push. Bavanda closed the distance between them, capturing Theresa’s lips in a desperate, feverish kiss.

She felt everything at once—desire, relief, a strange sense of belonging. Like she had finally given in to something that had been waiting for her all along.

They didn't hear the door open, but they heard the loud voice that followed.

"Bavanda?"