Chapter 123

Abigail

The moon hung high and full in the sky, bathing everything below in silver light. The night air was crisp, and the shadows were long—perfect for sneaking out. It had been too long since I’d seen Theo, and I wasn’t about to waste another minute. Not when everything felt so chaotic.

The familiar path to the Peace Rock was quiet, the rustle of leaves the only sound in the distance. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so excited to see someone, especially when that someone was usually in trouble—or just one bad decision away from being in it.

But I wasn’t much better.

When I reached the clearing, I found Theo sitting on the rock, looking up at the sky with a brooding expression, his usual charm nowhere to be found. He was scrubbing at his face like he had an extra itchy cheek.

“Hey,” I said casually, walking up to him, pretending to be nonchalant but knowing my heart was doing somersaults. “Miss me, or are you too busy pretending to be deep?”

Theo looked at me, his usual smirk playing at the edges of his lips, but something was off. His face looked different—there was something dark and swollen near his eye.

I stopped in my tracks, furrowing my brow. “Woah, what happened to you?”

Theo reached up, almost absently, to touch his black eye. “Oh, this? Just a little family bonding moment,” he muttered, his voice a little tight. “Dad’s pissed I skipped training.”

I raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. “You skipped training? You? Theo, please. You’re the last person who’d do that unless something was really wrong.”

“Maybe I just wanted to see if you were as fun as your reputation suggests,” he teased, a smirk finally making it through the grimace.

I rolled my eyes and sighed. “You’re insufferable.”

Still, I couldn’t shake the worry bubbling up in my chest. Something was off, and it wasn’t just the black eye.

His face was different—hollowed out like he was tired in a way that had nothing to do with staying up late or being a pain. I didn’t even think about what I was doing as I reached up, cupping his jaw in my hand. He flinched slightly, and I couldn’t stop myself from dabbing at the bruise with a rag I had pulled from my bag, dipping it in the river’s cool water.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he muttered under his breath. “You’re getting more like a worried mom every day.”

I shot him a pointed look. “You’re lucky I’m not your mom, or I’d ground you for sneaking out like this.”

Theo chuckled lightly, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Guess I’m lucky then. Or maybe you are, considering I even bothering coming to see you.”

The joke fell flat, and the heavy silence that followed felt almost suffocating. I finished dabbing at his black eye, my hand lingered. There was a pause, a moment where neither of us seemed to know what to say.

I couldn’t stay quiet forever, not when everything seemed to be falling apart. “Theo,” I began, trying to sound casual even though I could feel my throat tightening. “Mark’s missing. No one’s seen him for days, and...”

Theo raised an eyebrow, leaning back against the rock. “Mark? You mean you’re new weird brother or whatever?”

I stiffened. “Uncle. And he’s not some weirdo. He’s just a recluse, but he is good hearted. Like you. He was protecting me and Owen, made a mess of our frist real pack meeting though. Then he just ran off, Mom’s a mess.”

“He… ran off like a scared pup?” he retorted, his voice edged with something I couldn’t quite place. “After hurting one of your pack? Yikes.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “It’s a mess, okay? I’m just... I don’t know. Everything’s spiraling. And no one is doing anything to find him. They’re all too busy with their petty arguments. It’s like no one cares.”

Theo’s expression softened just a little. He rubbed his neck, clearly trying to avoid something in my gaze. “Maybe it’s just not that simple, Abs. Usually adults know something we don’t.”

“Right, because everything’s always more complicated then what we can understand,” I shot back, my voice sharp. “But whatever. It’s not like anyone’s asking for my opinion anyway.”

Theo looked like he wanted to say something, but I didn’t give him the chance to speak before I added, “The point is, someone needs to do something. Someone has to. He deserves a home—” I paused, meeting his gaze, “Friends. People to count on.”

He was quiet for a moment, his jaw tightening. Then, without warning, the sound of footsteps broke the silence.

A scent shifted with the air, my heart dropping.

Sure enough, Owen stepped into the clearing, his eyes immediately locking onto the two of us. His expression went from calm to furious in the blink of an eye.

“Abigail,” he growled, his voice low and warning. “What the hell are you doing out here?”

I felt my stomach drop. “Owen—”

“No. Don’t ‘Owen’ me.” He stalked forward, stopping just short of me. “You think it’s okay to sneak out in the middle of the night? With him?! What are you insan!?”

Theo stood up, his posture defensive. “Hey, she’s just here to talk. Chill out, Owen.”

Owen’s eyes flared, and he shot a look of warning toward Theo. “Stay out of this, Theo.”

Theo’s jaw clenched, but he stayed silent, stepping back slightly.

“Abigail, I’ve had enough of your childish decisions,” Owen continued, his voice low, simmering with anger. “You think it’s cute to keep sneaking out, making stupid choices over and over, putting the family in more trouble than we’re already in? You think it’s fine to keep running off with people who—”

“Hey” I shouted, stepping forward, my voice trembling. “You can’t just keep treating me like a kid, Owen. I’m not a child. You don’t get to make all my decisions for me just because you think you know what’s best. What is with you!? Will you relax?!”

“I do know what’s best!” Owen snapped back, his face reddening. “You’re not ready for the kind of trouble you’re always looking for. I’m done letting you make these stupid choices. You think you’re protecting everyone, being strong, but you’re just getting yourself—and us—caught up in a mess. Look where you are! Who your taking to! That is the enemy's son! Hello? Are you brain dead?!”

Theo took a step toward Owen, his eyes narrowing. “Yo, lay off her, Owen. This was my idea, meeting up—”

“I know,” Owen growled, shoving Theo aside. “Because you’re up to some dumb crap again.”

Theo’s gaze flashed. “She’s my friend, Owen. I’m not letting you drag her like a damn puppet, she can do what she wants.”

“I’m not dragging her around, Theo. I’m protecting her,” Owen retorted, his voice dangerously calm now. “But you? You lied to her, us, almost got her killed—if it weren’t for that, none of this possible war would even be happening right now!”

Theo froze, his eyes wide with shock. Owen’s words hit harder than a punch. The entire world seemed to pause, the air thick with the weight of what Owen had said.

“Stay away from her,” Owen continued, his voice low and threatening. “Or else.”

Theo’s lips parted, but nothing came out.

I didn’t say anything. What could I say? “I… Owen that’s not—”

Owen grabbed my arm, practically dragging me away from the clearing. I could barely register the movement, my mind still spinning from the words Theo and Owen had exchanged.

“Owen, stop—” I started, but he cut me off, his grip tight, his anger all-consuming.

“No, Abigail. You don’t get it, do you? I’m done letting you make these stupid decisions. Whether you like it or not I am you’re brother, and Im going to protect you, our family. I’m not going to watch you put yourself in danger again.”

I was quiet then, for the first time all night. Owen’s rage—it wasn’t something I had seen before. And that scared me more than anything else.