Page 68 of Framed and Forgotten
Surprised, they exchanged glances, but she left no room for doubt as she continued, “These lands have given us a safe place to grow and rebuild. For most of us, it’s the only home we’ve ever known.” She paused, the weight of reality settling over her.
“But this place is also known as the sacred haven of the Ashen Wolves,” she reminded. “While the magic barrier has kept us hidden until now, it won’t be enough anymore. Those who hunted us centuries ago will come again, and this will be the first place they’ll look for. It may not happen overnight, but they will find us. That much is certain.”
Quiet reigned again as they took some time to process her decision, until Elijah questioned, “Where will we go?”
Avril bit her lip, regret flickering in her eyes. “I’m not entirely sure yet.” Despite her confession, she didn’t let that uncertainty shake their resolve, quickly adding, “I’ll ask the Banyan - see if it can point us to our next haven.”
“In the meantime…” she continued, “We prepare. Our exodus should happen in the next forty-eight hours.”
The three of them nodded. “Yes, Alpha.”
Once the discussion ended, the three members of her team quietly left to carry out her orders. When it was just the two of us, her shoulders slumped, the confidence she’d wornunraveling as exhaustion and uncertainty cast shadows beneath her stormy eyes.
Taking her hand, I begged her to give me a role. “What do you need me to do, Avril?”
She let out a tired breath. “I’m afraid there’s not much any of us can do right now.” With a shrug, she shook her head and managed a half smile. “I’ll go to the Banyan. Try to get some rest while I’m at it, okay? I’ll come find you after.”
I doubted rest was possible, but I still nodded. She leaned in, pressing her lips against mine as if trying to heal my broken spirit. Surprisingly enough, it did help. Shortly after she left the office, I did the same, wandering the town square in search of signs that I still belonged with this pack.
And, as if the devil were determined to prove me wrong, I ran into the one person who probably loathed me the most.
Joe wore the same hostile expression he often had on around me, his arms crossed with menacing intent. Considering I hadn’t seen him since Avril and I made it back to Azure Smoke, I wondered if he had just been waiting for his niece to recover before confronting me. His timing was too coincidental, but I couldn’t blame him for having something to say after everything.
Soon enough, I realized he didn’t want to talk when he used his extreme speed to appear in front of me in the blink of an eye. Before I could react, his fist was around my neck, lifting me off the ground. Adrenaline shot through my veins, urging me to break free so I could breathe, but I ignored every instinct, accepting his aggression. I deserved his judgment, no matter how harsh.
“I told you not to come back here,” he hissed, his hand tightening around my throat, completely cutting off my airway. “You played my niece again, and this time, your indecisiveness almost killed her!” he roared, his eyes flickering red as his beast pushed forward. “I’ve had enough of you!”
Finally, he released me with a violent shove, tossing me several feet away like I was nothing more than a ragdoll. My body hit the ground with a thud, the impact knocking the wind out of me. I gasped, trying to fill my lungs with air, but it only made the pain in my chest worse.
Just as I pushed myself back up, Joe was on me. His fists slammed down one after another without mercy. The first hit landed on my face with a sickening crack. My head snapped back, blood splattering from my split lip, but I didn’t move. I didn’t raise my arms to block. I just...took it.
“Avril has gone soft because of you!”Punch.“You stole her focus.”Kick.“You ruined her!” he shouted as his knuckles collided with my ribs, and I could feel them bruise, maybe even break.
I fell down to one knee, hand resting on the other one as I coughed, blood mixing with saliva, and spat it to the side. “You’re right.”
The sound of my voice stopped him. His fist froze mid-air, hovering just inches above my already battered face. For a brief moment, his anger faltered. A short breath pushed through his lips as his chest heaved with fury, and the hardness in his eyes wavered.
Before I could even process it, it was gone. His face twisted, his eyes blazing with something darker than fury. He was a beast ready to tear me apart, and I had just lit the fuse.
Another punch, harder than the others, knocked me down again. Trying to get back up again, Joe pounced on me immediately, his hands colliding with my face over and over, snapping it from left to right. I endured every single one. Even when my own blood blurred my vision. Even as my system shut down, and all I could feel was numb.
“Fight me, damn it!” Joe screamed, his voice rising animalistically. His fist crashed down again. “Show me thatyou’re actually strong! That my niece didn’t fall for a fucking loser!” He pulled me up by the collar, shaking me viciously. “That the Goddess had a reason to make you one of us!”
Unfortunately, I had to disappoint him. I didn’t even try to rise. The weight of my guilt and failure crushed me more than the blows ever could. It only fueled Joe’s rage, his punches raining down relentlessly, and I just let them happen. Let him tear me apart. Let him punish me.
I deserved it.
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A V R I L
The Sacred Banyanwas more than just a symbol. It was a sentient being, the pillar of our kind and the source of our strength. A spiritual guide who showed us the path toward more than just survival. It warned us of dangers, led us to lost fledglings, and protected us from the world who despised us. If anything could help us find our way through the darkness, it was this tree.
While we usually only listened to the Banyan’s signs, it could also hear our prayers. I was sure it would give me a clue, offer me some clarity. And so, I connected with it, letting my question echo.
The visions of the Banyan were never entirely explicit. They were meant to be interpreted. Though communicating with it had always come naturally to me, after years, I had mastered the ability to decipher the leads it laid out for me. I emptied my thoughts, attuned myself to the ancient energy running through the tree, and waited.
