赤裸裸的滑稽故事

The room was quiet.

Ashleigh and Caleb sat together on the couch. They waited patiently for the response after having delivered their report on the events of Moonguard.

Though she had been warned about the betrayal by Moonguard and the elimination of the pack, Corrine was unprepared for the rest of the story. She found herself at a loss for words.

Axel sighed and rubbed his temples in frustration while Alice looked at Ashleigh with a curious smile.

“A year ago... this story would have had me sending you for evaluation at the hospital,� Axel groaned. “It still should. How the hell is this real?�

“I swear, Axel... it is,� Ashleigh said softly, pleading with her brother to believe her.

“Oh, I know it is,� Axel sighed again. “That’s the most irritating part. At this point, I don’t know if you could say anything that I wouldn’t believe... that is the world we have been living in.�

Ashleigh took a deep breath and nodded. She understood his frustration. As shocking as it was to learn about and meet an ancient being, it didn’t take her or Caleb long to accept that it was true.

“The werewolves were born of the fae. You guys are practically purebloods. Ashleigh has the mother of her pack living in her head and has met the other ‘great mothers’.... And now an ancient being. One that humans have written myths and legends about,� Alice smiled, keeping her excited eyes on Ashleigh. “You’re like an impossibility lighting rod....�

Ashleigh furrowed her brow and looked away from Alice’s gaze. She could hear in her voice that her words were filled with excitement and curiosity, but Ashleigh didn’t enjoy the spectacle of her life.

“You haven’t exactly led an under-the-radar average life, Alice,� Ashleigh mumbled. “Maybe you don’t realize what it’s like to feel the weight of responsibility for others on your shoulders.�

Axel let out a soft growl, and Ashleigh closed her eyes, knowing the dig was unnecessary. Caleb squeezed her hand, letting her know she had overstepped, but he was by her side.

Alice chuckled, and Ashleigh couldn’t help but lift her eyes to her.

“I think I did a pretty decent job of staying under the radar most of the time,� Alice replied with a smile. “But you’re right. My life was not average. We both have been watched and manipulated by forces beyond our understanding.�

Alice still smiled, but Ashleigh could see a change in her demeanor, a coldness in her eyes.

“You have become a champion to the ones that chose you. Given power, knowledge, and the chance to save everyone without losing any part of yourself.... While I was forced to be a weapon and a toy for the one that found me. Shedding pieces of myself again and again... I just find it so fascinating.�

Ashleigh looked at Alice with concern. They had fought before. They had bickered and poked at each other, but Alice had always maintained her composure and humor. The fight was almost always entirely on Ashleigh’s side.

But as she looked at her now, she saw anger, pain, misery. Something had changed, something big.

Alice took a deep breath and turned to Axel, who was already looking at her with concern. They whispered something only they could hear; Axel nodded and kissed her hand. Alice turned and left the room without a word.

Corrine let out a sigh and looked at Ashleigh.

“That was uncalled for,� she said.

“I know I started it, but... what I said was mild compared to what she said.�

“Ash...� Caleb sighed.

“What?� she asked.

“It’s not about you,� Axel said quietly.

“What’s going on?� Ashleigh asked, genuinely concerned.

Axel cleared his throat and leaned forward in his chair.

“First,� he began looking at her with tired eyes, “stop attacking her, mild commentary or not, just stop.�

“I really didn’t mean to this time,� Ashleigh said with shame. “I felt uncomfortable with how excited she sounded about what I’ve been through the past year. It hasn’t exactly been a good experience for me.�

“We all have our burdens, Ashleigh,� Corrine commented. “That girl has more than you could ever know.�

“I know,� Ashleigh nodded. “I really didn’t mean anything... I spoke without thinking.�

“Like I said,� Axel continued, “it’s not about you. Finding the cure... had a price. One that Alice had to pay. Coming to terms with that has been harder than expected.�

Hearing the hurt in his voice and seeing how he stared at the floor as he spoke, how Corrine looked away at the mention of the price. Ashleigh knew that whatever it was, it was life-changing.

“What was the price?� she asked gently.

Axel took a deep breath and shook his head.

“Not right now,� he said.

“Maybe there’s something we can do....� Ashleigh said, looking at Caleb.

“Ash,� he whispered, shaking his head. “Let it go for now.�

Ashleigh wanted to push a little more, but Axel was done talking about it.

“We need to talk about what’s been happening over the past few days,� he said, suddenly changing from the man hurting for the woman he loved into the Alpha of Winter. “There have been more frequent reports coming in from all over. Hybrid wolves are being spotted alongside fae monsters. Attacks happening everywhere.�

“Summer?� Caleb asked.

Axel shook his head.

“Summer, Winter, and Frostbite, we suspect because of their proximity to Winter, are the only packs that haven’t at least reported sightings near their borders.�

“Is there anywhere that is being hit harder?� Caleb asked.

“There seems to be a large force heading east. As of this morning, Galen has taken many of the remaining Summer forces to go after them. Most of the packs still left in the east are not prepared to deal with an attack this size. He hopes to either draw the attention back on his men or take them out before they reach their destination.�

Caleb let out a frustrated sigh.

“What about Summer?� Ashleigh asked. “Who is left to defend Summer if there is an attack.�

“Fiona stayed with a small defense party. She was confident that she, and all of the electronic defenses, would be able to hold Summer if there was an attack,� Corrine replied.

“Can we call on any of our allies to help head off the eastern attack?� Caleb asked.

Axel shook his head.

“Jonas already has his own trouble in the west. And most others are reporting the same problems developing in their territories,� he replied.

“Can’t Winter send a party of Cold Warriors to help Galen?� Ashleigh asked.

“We have already sent our men in all directions,� Axel replied. “Right now, we are receiving multiple reports from scouts from all over the territories. Our men are needed out there. We can’t pull them back.�

“Frostbite and the Nomads have done us a great service by reinforcing our borders,� Corrine added. “They have also sent search parties for the fleeing survivors that are coming from everywhere.�

Caleb took a deep breath and shook his head.

“It’s not ideal, but it’s maintainable for now.�

Axel sighed.

“Yesterday, I would have agreed with you.�

Caleb clenched his jaw and looked at Axel, trying to gauge his expression.

“What happened?� he asked.

Axel licked his lips and cleared his throat.

“We have kept scouts on a permanent watch of Burning Ember for a while now. Sofia has assured us that she has not seen or heard anything that has given her cause for concern. Even yesterday morning, I spoke with her, and she reassured me again that her people were safe and nearing completion of the weapons she promised.�

“What happened, Axel?� Ashleigh asked.

“Our scouts reported they had seen strange lights miles in the distance late last night. They requested permission to investigate, knowing it would take them hours away from the pack,� Axel began. “I granted them permission.�

Ashleigh swallowed. Her heart was racing now.

“Two hours ago, we got another report,� Axel continued. “The lights they had seen were fires. An attacking party was gathering roughly fifteen miles from Burning Ember. They said that even as they left to return to the pack, more and more creatures were gathering. Treants, hybrids, monsters they had never seen before.�

Caleb closed his eyes.

“They weren’t on the move yet, nor did it seem like the attack was happening right away,� Axel said. “But it will happen, and as it stands right now, Burning Ember will not survive.�