Page 16 of Night with a Gamma
Wren stands in the center of the clearing, her arms outstretched as she twirls in a dance with the wind. Her long orange skirt swirls around her, and her laughter fills the air, brightening the world around her. I can’t help but smile at the sight. She seems to glow in the sunlight, a beacon of joy in a world that feels increasingly dark.
“Little Bird!” I call out, my voice breaking the serene moment.
She stops mid-spin, her laughter falling silent as she turns to face me. A smile spreads across her face, lighting up her ocean eyes. “Harrison!” she exclaims, her voice a sweet melody that sends warmth through my chest.
In an instant, she closes the distance between us, throwing her arms around me. I wrap her in a tight embrace, inhaling her familiar scent — pancakes and sunshine. It’s a fragrance that calms my racing heart and erases the tension that has been building within me.
“I was hoping to see you sometime today, mister,” she whispers, pulling back slightly to look into my eyes. “I could feel you were troubled.”
I nod, my heart heavy with the burdens of leadership and the rogue situation. “We had a meeting with Alpha Rex. Things are getting worse. There are whispers of something more sinister behind the rogue attacks, and I—” I pause, searching for the right words. “I’m worried about what’s coming.”
Wren’s expression shifts to one of concern, and she takes my hand, her touch grounding me. “You don’t have to carry that alone, you know. We’re in this together.”
Her reassurance washes over me like a balm, and I feel some of the weight lift. “I know, but it’s hard not to feel responsible for everyone. They look to me for strength.”
“You are strong,” she replies, her voice steady. “But even the strongest need support. Let me help you.”
Her offer brings warmth to my heart, and I squeeze her hand, grateful for her unwavering belief in me. “I don’t know what I would do without you, Wren.”
She smiles softly, and in that moment, the chaos of the pack, the uncertainty, and the looming threats fade away. All that matters is her presence, the connection we share, and the unspoken promise of support and love.
“Do you want to tell me about the meeting?” she asks, her tone gentle yet probing.
I take a deep breath, feeling the tension settle in my shoulders as I begin to recount the details. “Rex is being uncooperative. He claims that he’s dealing with his own rogue problems, but I can tell he’s hiding something. Dalton and I both feel it. We suspect there’s more to these attacks, something planned.”
Wren listens intently, her brow furrowing in thought. “What if it’s not just rogues? What if there’s someone manipulating them?”
“That’s exactly what we think,” I reply, feeling the knot in my stomach tighten. “But we need more information. We need to figure out who or what is behind this before it escalates.”
As I speak, Wren’s expression shifts, and I can see the wheels turning in her mind. “If there’s someone pulling the strings, we might be able to find out more by using magic. I can reach out to the forest, feel the energies, see if there are any traces of dark magic lingering.”
My heart races at the thought. “You would do that? You’d take the risk?”
“Of course,” she replies, determination shining in her eyes. “What’s the point of having magic if we don’t use it to protect those we love?”
Her words resonate deeply within me, igniting a spark of hope. “Then let’s do it. Let’s find out what we’re up against.”
Wren nods, her expression transforming into one of focus and intensity. She releases my hand and steps back into the center of the clearing, arms raised again as she begins to chant softly, her words a melodic incantation that flows like water over stones. The tattoo of an all seeing eye on her right forearm starts to show a shimmering spark from the magic flowing through her veins.
The air around us thickens, and I can feel the energy shifting, swirling with an undercurrent of magic. I watch in awe as the leaves rustle above us, responding to her call, and the ground beneath my feet vibrates gently.
Wren’s voice rises and falls like a song, each note resonating with the very essence of the forest. I close my eyes, allowing myself to sink into the rhythm of her magic, feeling it weave around us like a protective cocoon.
Suddenly, the world feels alive with energy. I sense the pulse of the earth, the heartbeat of the trees, and the whispers of the wind. It’s as if the forest itself is awakening, eager to share its secrets.
Wren opens her eyes, meeting my gaze with a fierce intensity. “I can feel something,” she says, her voice steady. “There’s a dark presence nearby, but it’s hiding. It’s afraid of being discovered.”
My pulse quickens, the weight of her words settling heavily on my shoulders. “What does that mean?”
“It means we’re on the right track,” she replies, her brow furrowing slightly. “But it also means we’re running out of time. We need to uncover who’s behind this before they strike again.”
I nod, feeling the urgency of our task. “Then we’ll do just that. Together.”
With renewed determination, we spend the next few hours exploring the forest, Wren guiding me as she channels her magic. We follow traces of energy, searching for signs of the dark presence that lingers in the shadows.
As the sun begins to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, we finally come across a clearing that feels different — charged, almost electric.
Wren halts, her expression shifting to one of focus. “This is it. There’s something here.”
