Chapter 107: A Flame That Would Not Die
Chapter 107: A Flame That Would Not Die
Claire's Point of View
“You’re telling me he’s already inside the walls?” Derek’s voice was low, tight with tension as he stood beside me in the watchtower.
I slowly nodded, but my eyes were still on the note. Even though the cold wind pulled on my hair, I did not move. "That is what the message said." Someone close to me has lied to us. Once more.”
Derek made a fist with his hand. "We have locked all the doors." Since the battle, nobody from outside has been able to come in.
I said in a low voice, "But Callum is not just an outsider." "He is smart." Hold on. He most likely has been planning this since Kaid fell.
For a long time, there was silence between us. The wind was moving the trees below. The forest, which used to be calm, felt like it was holding its breath, ready for chaos.
Derek took the letter from me again and looked at the ink as if it could tell him more. "He would not have sent a message if he did not want us to keep an eye on him." It could be a trick. "Made to make people scared."
I looked him straight in the eye. "Or it is just a distraction." While he moves his next piece.
The next morning, I stood in front of the pack, trying to hide the storm that was building in my chest. I did not talk about the letter. Not yet. After everything we had been through, we all deserved a moment of peace. We had to keep in mind why we were fighting, even if there was still danger around the corner.
They got together for the first time in moons, not out of fear but to celebrate.
There were lots of wolves in the square, laughing, hugging, and even dancing. Long tables held hot bread, cooked meats, and bowls of forest fruits. Children ran between their legs with big smiles on their faces. The fires were very hot, and the orange and gold flames lit up the evening.
Maren had put up new banners in the council hall with the Redwater logo on them, which is two wolves standing together as one. The stitching was rough in places, but it made the meaning clear: we were united now.
Jared stayed still near the edge of the crowd and watched the dogs play chase. I could not put my finger on what he looked like in his eyes—maybe longing or hope. He did what he needed to do. No matter how much guilt he still felt, he was working to hide it by helping the pack.
I took slow, deliberate steps as I walked toward him.
I lightly teased, "You look like someone who does not know how to enjoy a party."
He smiled at me funny. "Putting on a happy face has never been easy for me."
I put my arms together. "Who said we are not real?" We got through it. We are still here, but that does not mean everything is fine.
Jared said yes. "I am still here. That is worth something.
My eyes went to Derek, who was laughing with Rowan near the elders. Elder Myra had just said something that made them both laugh. His eyes met mine, and even though we were far apart, I could feel his warmth.
I told them, "Tonight is not about what we lost." "What we have built is important."
Jared scuffed his boot and looked down at the dirt. "I do not believe I will ever deserve this spot."
I told her straight out, "Maybe you haven't." "You are trying, though." That is important.
He looked at me, really looked. “Thank you. For not giving up on me.”
“I wanted to,” I admitted. “But something told me not to.”
He laughed softly, but it was real. "I guess I have a debt to the Moon Goddess."
In the late evening, I was sitting on a stone bench next to Derek near the central fire. As the flames danced in front of us, sparks flew into the air like new stars.
"You did a good job today," he said quietly, putting his hand on mine.
I told her, "I kept waiting for something bad to happen." "Maybe though... it is okay to breathe."
He said yes. “We’ve earned it. Even if it’s only for tonight.”
I looked around at the people. Pups curled up against their moms. Warrior kids with food in their hands and smiles. Wolves from different packs are hanging out together without any problems.
Redwater did not feel like a fortress for once. It felt like a home.
"This was your idea," I told him. "A spot where we did more than just stay alive... we lived."
Derek gave me a smile, but his eyes were sad. "It is no longer just mine." Claire, you helped make it happen. “Maybe even more than I did.”
I did not know what to say so I looked down. But my heart was steady, and I spoke clearly. "Okay, let us keep it safe." It does not matter what.
As it got darker, the stars looked better than I remembered. As I walked through the camp by myself, I could hear the quiet happiness that was still there.
Near the edge of the forest, I saw a pair of shadows moving.
At first, I thought it was nothing.
But something did not feel right.
The next time I took a step, I made sure it was quiet. The sounds were quiet and tense.
"...he does not think anything is wrong," someone said. A voice of a woman.
I held my breath.
The other person said in a whisper, "I told you she would not see it coming." “She’s too soft. The old Luna was the same way.
I moved back. A branch broke under my foot.
The sounds stopped.
My heart was beating fast as I hid behind a tree.
I waited, barely breathing.
Unfortunately, the shadows were no longer there.
Took off into the woods like ghosts.
I quickly went back to the square and forced a smile at the wolves that were walking by.
My thoughts were screaming inside.
Callum was not pretending.
The spy was here. They were very close.
Not far enough.
As I looked around the crowd again, I tried to match voices with faces. But nothing stood out. There was nothing wrong. That scared me more than anything else.
Because the person or people were good.
They were still having fun with their game.
After a while, Derek stopped me. The stars were bright enough to light up his face, where we were standing near the east gate.
He told her, "Be quiet." "Too quiet."
After some thought, I told him everything I knew.
His face turned darker. "We will do two patrols."
I told them, "We can not scare the pack." "Not tonight."
He looked at me for a short time. "Then we will keep our eyes open." "Together."
I said yes. "Together."
But as I said it, I could feel the weight coming back.
One party would not stop what was going to happen.
And the fire in my chest refused to die down.
By midnight, most of the pack had retreated to their dens. Few people stayed near the dying fires and whispered or looked up at the stars.
I walked by myself again, but this time I was not trying to get away. This time, I was trying to understand.
Who is going to betray us now?
Who still had two faces?
As I walked by the training ground, I saw Maren on her knees writing something on a piece of charcoal next to the list of healer schedules.
“You’re still working?” I asked.
She jumped a little. "I did not see you there."
I walked toward you. "Is everything okay?"
She laughed. "Just changing the duties." Some bad guys want to help out in the hospital. I wanted to make room.
"Thanks for that."
She shrugged. Our goal is to find a place where we belong.
I said "yes" and then turned away.
But something about the way she wrote stopped me.
It looked like something you had seen before.
Way too familiar.
The same sharp angle.
The identically hooked "e."
The writing in the note is the same.
My heart stopped.
Maren. The person who has helped me from the start. Someone who cleaned up wounds, put bandages on broken bones, and comforted the puppies.
I looked at her again.
She looked up with big eyes. "Claire?"
I took a deep breath. "Who taught you how to write that way?"
She opened her eyes. "My mom." "Why?"
I tried to smile. “No reason.”
But my blood ran cold.
Could it be her?
Or did my thoughts now turn to everyone?
I stood outside the council hall that night and looked out into the woods. I wondered if Callum was watching from behind the trees.
He was ready.
For us to fall apart on the inside.
We wouldn't, though.
There was a fire in Redwater before.
We were not going to fall this time.