赤裸裸的滑稽故事

He sat down at his desk and picked up the nearest report. He had barely begun to read it when the door to his office opened.

Axel lifted his gaze to the entryway. He was surprised to see her standing there, but he said nothing as she closed the door and turned to look at him.

Corrine had told him about Caleb.

He had wanted to go to Ashleigh and offer his support. But even after he was released from the hospital, he was restricted in his movements. He had gone to the house she was staying in several times. But never found her there.

Myka told him she spent her days hiking all over the mountain, searching for something she would likely never find. If she wasn't there, she was in the library researching.

He knew she was suffering, but he didn't know what he could do for her. So he had sent scouts to investigate every place marked as a significant fae territory in the history books. But unfortunately, many of those places were currently overrun with monsters.

It seemed that even more of the creatures had started appearing than when the Dark Queen was around.

As he looked at his sister now, he could barely recognize her. She had lost weight; her face was pale and shrunk, and the bags below her eyes revealed how little sleep she was getting. But the most noticeable change in her was the dark, angry look in her eyes.

“It's good to see you,� Axel said softly, setting down the report.

Ashleigh was struggling with the thoughts and feelings at war within herself. She was genuinely glad to see him and to know he was all right. But, at the same time, she felt a bitter resentment when she looked at him.

“I'm glad you are feeling better,� she replied.

Axel looked carefully at her; he could feel the hesitation in her words. As much as he knew she was in pain, he had no idea why she was angry with him.

“I stopped by to see you a few times,� he said.

“I've been busy,� she replied quickly.

“Yes, I've heard.�

Axel sat back in his chair with a heavy sigh. He understood how much she wanted to find Caleb, but he wished she would take a break. Eat properly and sleep. She would put herself in an early grave at the rate she was going.

Ashleigh gritted her teeth at the expression on his face.

‘Just like everyone else,' she thought angrily. ‘He thinks I'm wasting my time.'

“Ashleigh, I hope that you--� Axel began.

“I need to take Myka to Moonguard,� she interrupted. “But he won't go without your approval.�

Axel furrowed his brow; he leaned forward in his chair.

“Myka is not an official member of Winter, and neither are you,� he said. “If you want to go, I can't stop you.�

“That's what I said,� Ashleigh stated. “But he insists that he wants your approval. So, if you just tell him you approve of our going to Moonguard, that's all I need.�

Axel kept his eyes on Ashleigh, but she could see he was thinking. Processing her request and declaring his judgments in his mind. She clenched her jaw, already knowing he wouldn't give the approval.

“I assume you are going in hopes of learning something to help find Caleb?� he asked.

Ashleigh felt a surge of anger.

“Of course,� she replied flatly.

Axel considered what to say next. He had read the reports, and he knew it wasn't safe. But he also knew she would not listen to anything he had to say now.

He took a deep breath and then spoke.

“The last report that we received said that there have been monsters in the area of the mound and the village of Moonguard,� he said. Immediately Ashleigh clenched her jaw, and Axel noticed. “That report was from a week ago. I will send a message for the scouts to look again. If they send an all-clear, I will approve the trip.�

Ashleigh's eyes widened in surprise. Only a moment ago, she was sure Axel would reject the plan.

“But if they report back that it's still too dangerous to investigate, I won't be able to give my approval.�

Ashleigh swallowed. It was reasonable, but it still angered her.

“If you don't give your approval, I'll just go without Myka,� she said.

Axel clenched his jaw and nodded.

“I know,� he replied.

Ashleigh turned to leave.

“It will take a few days at least,� Axel called to her. “The scouts in the area will have moved to the nearest pack to deliver supplies and a message to the Alpha.�

Ashleigh turned back.

“What message?� she asked.

“An invitation,� Axel replied. “For a summit to negotiate an alliance.�

“An alliance... for what? The war is over.�

“For unity,� Axel replied. “Even in times of peace, the packs must come together.�

Ashleigh furrowed her brows.

“Which pack?� she asked.

“All of them,� Axel replied.

Her eyes went wide, and she took several steps into the room.

“What? Are you trying to swallow up the smaller packs as a part of Winter?� she demanded angrily.

Axel furrowed his brow, staring at his sister in disbelief.

“Why do you hate me so much, Ashleigh?� he asked softly. “What did I do that made me such a terrible person in your eyes?�

Ashleigh pulled back on her emotions, swallowed, and then focused on neutralizing her expression.

“I don't hate you,� she said.

“Are you sure?� he asked.

A long, silent moment passed between them, but eventually, Ashleigh nodded.

“I don't have time to hate you,� she said, the dark look settling back over her eyes. “I need to find my husband since no one else will.�

“We are trying, Ashleigh. I promise you; no one has given up on Caleb,� he said, trying to reassure her.

The anger in her flared at his words.

“Really?� she growled. “Galen and Fiona went back to Summer. Myka won't help me anymore. Bell just wants me to accept that he is gone and start grieving! If no one has given up, why am I the only one doing anything to get him back!�

“We're doing everything we can within reason, Ashleigh,� Axel said. “We have scouts searching all of the ancient fae territories. There is a team in Summer and Winter going through every page of history, drawings, sketches, stories, and anything related to the fae or the ley lines. Looking for anything at all that might help.�

Ashleigh looked away from him. She swallowed as the anger became a hollowness that threatened to consume her.

“It's not enough,� she said, her eyes blurring from the tears gathering in them.

“Ashleigh...� Axel sighed. He took a deep breath and looked up at her. “I hope that you're right. That Caleb is out there, and you'll be able to bring him home.�

Ashleigh clenched her jaw tightly as she listened to Axel with angry tears running down her cheeks.

“But,� Axel continued, straightening his back. “Caleb is only one wolf, and we still have to think of the thousands of others right here.�

Ashleigh scoffed.

“You don't care about finding Caleb,� she spat. “If you did, you would be looking for him just like me instead of trying to hoard as much power as possible!�

Axel took a deep breath.

“I'm not trying to gather power, Ashleigh. I'm trying to give each pack more safety and security. I am trying to prevent any more losses like the ones we all just suffered,� he said, and then after a moment, he added. “Just like what Caleb wanted.�

Ashleigh looked back at him.

“What?�

Axel nodded.

“Unifying the packs was something Caleb, and I thought of together,� he replied. “We agreed that once the war was over, that was the first thing that needed to happen.�

Ashleigh clenched her jaw; she felt a cold grip on her chest so tight she feared she couldn't breathe. So unifying the packs was Caleb's idea? Why didn't she know that? Why hadn't he told her?

She looked at Axel, and for a moment, she softened. But as the painful chill of her sorrow spread, she reached for the heat of her anger.

“If that's true,� she said. “Then you should wait until he returns to follow through with those plans. If they were his plans, he should be here for it.�

“Ash...�

Ashleigh turned without another word and left the room.