Chapter 43
The journey back to Blackstone territory felt longer than it should have. Each step I took away from where we faced Ryder felt heavy, like it was always reminding me of how close we came to disaster. The forest seemed quieter, almost like it was healing from the magical fight that had happened there.
I walked beside Xander, drawing comfort from his steady presence. Aiden and Asher flanked us, with the rest of the pack spread out in a protective formation around the rescued prisoners. My gaze kept drifting back to the horizon, searching for any sign of the ominous energy I’d sensed after Ryder’s escape.
“Aurora?” Xander’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. “We should make camp soon. Everyone’s exhausted.”
I nodded, realizing for the first time how the lengthening shadows had turned the forest dim. “You’re right. Let’s find a clearing.”
We found a good place just as the sun was setting. While everyone was busy setting up the camp, I offered to take the first turn keeping watch. I couldn’t sleep because my thoughts were still going over everything that happened with Ryder.
I sat on a big rock near our camp, looking out into the dark. The night was too quiet, like the animals in the forest knew something unusual had happened.
“Do you mind if I sit with you?”
I turned to see Xander approaching, his familiar form a comfort in the gloom. I shifted over, making room for him on the boulder.
“Can’t sleep?” I asked as he settled beside me.
He shook his head. “Not when you’re out here brooding.”
“I’m not brooding,” I protested weakly, knowing he could see right through me.
Xander’s hand found mine, his touch warm and grounding. “Talk to me, Aurora. What are you thinking right now?”
I couldn’t keep it inside any longer. All the concerns and doubts I had been holding back just came out. “I failed, Xander. We had Ryder right there, and I let him slip away. Now he’s out there, planning who knows what, and it’s my fault.”
“Hey,” Xander whispered, turning to face me fully. “You didn’t fail. You stood up to him, and you didn’t back down. You rescued Aiden and the others. That’s not failure, Aurora. That’s heroism.”
I shook my head, unconvinced. “But what about that energy we felt? Something big is coming, Xander. I can feel it. I’m not certain we’re prepared.”
Xander paused, his thumb making gentle circles on the back of my hand. “Perhaps we aren’t,” he admitted eventually. “But we will be. We’ll train, we’ll prepare, and then when that moment comes, we’ll be in it, side by side. You won’t have to face this alone, Aurora.”
His words did not completely dismiss my apprehension, but they worked well to make me feel a little better. I leaned against him, finding comfort in his strong support.
Nothing bad happened that night, and at sunrise we continued on. We’d been walking for an hour when suddenly we saw an unexpected barrier of shiny energy that seemed to go on forever in both directions.
“This wasn’t here before,” Asher said, frowning as he studied the magical barrier. “Ryder’s work?”
I reached out with my senses, probing the barrier. “It doesn’t feel like his energy. But it’s strong. We’ll need to find another way around.”
Aiden stepped forward, his expression thoughtful. “Maybe we don’t need to go around. Aurora, remember what we did back at Ryder’s cave? I think we could create a passage.”
I nodded, understanding his idea. We positioned ourselves in front of the barrier, hands clasped. As one, we reached for that connection we’d discovered, our powers intertwining and amplifying each other.
The barrier resisted at first, but slowly, a gap began to form. It was like pushing apart a heavy curtain, the magic bending and stretching under our combined will. With a final surge of effort, we created an opening large enough for the group to pass through.
“Impressive,” Xander said as we stepped through to the other side. “You two are getting stronger.”
The praise should have made me feel proud, but all I could think about was how we’d need all of that power for what was ahead.
Our detour took us through a part of the forest I’d never seen before and hoped never to see again. The trees here were bent and rough, their bark dark as if burned. No birds sang, no insects buzzed. The silence was oppressive, broken only by our footsteps and the occasional whisper of wind through dead leaves.
“Ryder’s magic did this,” Aiden said softly, his face grim. “I can feel the residue of his experiments.”
I shuddered, imagining the forest screaming as dark energy tore through it. How much damage had Ryder done in his quest for power? And how much more would he do if we couldn’t stop him?
Our movement became slower as we moved through the dangerous landscape. It was while we were taking a short break I saw Alice, one of the young wolves we had saved, appearing weak and unsteady.
“Are you okay?” I asked, crouching down next to her.
She attempted to nod, but it seemed to make her feel more dizzy. “I’m just… tired.”
“It’s okay,” I said to her. “You’ve been kept prisoner for a very long time. Here, let me show you something that might help.”
Over the next hour, as we continued our journey, I worked with Alice. I taught her breathing exercises to help her and by the time we reached the outskirts of Blackstone territory, she looked happy.
“Thank you,” she whispered “For everything.”
Her gratitude made me feel good, like a little happy moment in the middle of my mixed-up feelings.
When we were almost home, some scout kids came out from the woods to help us get there. News about us coming must have traveled fast because, when we got to the big gates, it looked like lots of people from the pack were there to welcome us.
Everyone started cheering when we came into the area. People surged forward, clapping me on the back, shaking Xander’s hand, welcoming Aiden with open arms. Their joy and relief were palpable, but it felt wrong. Didn’t they understand that we hadn’t won? That Ryder was still out there, more powerful than ever?
I put on a smile, trying to be as excited as they were, but inside I felt empty. This wasn’t a happy return; it was just a short break before the real fight started.
The pack demanded a quick meeting, and soon I was telling them about what had happened in the last few days. When I talked about our encounter with Ryder, I had trouble finding the right words to explain how strong he really was.
“He’s… different now,” I said, frustrated. “Stronger. The ritual he did, whatever it was, transformed him. And I’m not sure if we’re prepared to deal with that.”
I could see the worry in the pack members’ eyes and I felt the atmosphere in the room change from joy to nervousness. Before the silence could grow too heavy, Asher stepped forward.
“Aurora’s right about Ryder’s increased strength,” he said, his voice steady and assured. “But we’ve learned a lot too. We know more about his rituals and his weaknesses. And we have something he doesn’t Aurora and Aiden’s combined power.”
Aiden nodded, picking up the thread. “The experiments Ryder conducted on me gave me insights into how his magic works. With time and preparation, I believe we can find a way to counter it.”
Their confidence bolstered the council, and soon they were proposing plans to track down Ryder and confront him once and for all. But as I listened to their strategies, all I could think about was how close we’d come to defeat last time. How could they be so sure we’d fare better in a rematch?
“We need more time,” I found myself saying, cutting through the discussion. “More training. We’re not ready for this, not yet.”
The room became quiet, and everyone looked at me. I noticed some people were shocked, while others seemed let down.
But Xander’s gaze held nothing but understanding and support.
“Aurora’s worries make sense,” he told the group of leaders. “We’ve just won a fight, but there’s still a long struggle ahead. I suggest we strengthen our protection and train harder before we start attacking.”
After discussing it, the leaders agreed. When the meeting ended, I felt both relieved and worried. We had more time to get ready, but would it be enough?
That night, I was surprised to see my friends had set up a little party in a shared space. Lights hung from the trees, giving a cozy light over tables full of food and drinks. People I knew well welcomed me with smiles and hugs.
“You didn’t need to do all this,” I said, touched by their kindness.
“Of course we did,” Selene replied, holding my arm. “We’re celebrating having you back safe and sound. And meeting your brother properly!”
I looked over to where Aiden stood, engaged in animated conversation with some of the younger pack members. Even though a lot was going on, I couldn’t stop myself from smiling when I saw him fitting in so easily.
As the night continued, I had peaceful moments with all of my friends. Selene told me stories about what happened while I was gone, and her laughter made me laugh too. Jaxon showed me some new runes he’d been working on, his enthusiasm for magic undimmed by recent events. Even Asher, who usually stays quiet, shared his concerns and hopes for the future.
Their nice words and encouragement were meant to cheer me up, but I couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling that had taken over me. As the group started to finish up, I quietly left and found myself back at the training area I knew well.
Without really planning to, I started doing fighting moves, pushing my body as hard as I could. Sweat formed on my forehead as I practiced, every move a promise to myself to get stronger, quicker, and better.
I’m not sure how long I trained, lost in the flow of working out, but eventually, I noticed someone behind me. I turned around and saw Xander looking at me, with worry on his face.
“Aurora,” he said softly. “It’s late. You should rest.”
I tried to argue that I needed more practice, but I couldn’t speak because I felt really dizzy. Everything around me started to disappear, and I had a clear picture in my mind.
I saw Ryder in the middle of a complex magical circle, with dark energy moving around him. He was focused and saying words I didn’t know. The air was full of energy, and I could feel that what he was doing was bad, deep inside me.
The picture went away just as fast as it came. I was back at the practice area, and Xander was holding me up because I was unsteady on my feet.
“What did you see?” he inquired, noticing the signs of one of my visions.
I looked into his eyes, feeling both fear and determination inside me. “Ryder,” I whispered. “He’s doing another ritual. Whatever he’s planning, Xander, it’s going to happen soon. We don’t have much time left.”
The seriousness of my words filled the space between us. As the first light of morning started to appear on the horizon, I realized that our short break was finished. Whether we were prepared or not, the actual fight was about to start.