Chapter 225: What About the Other Threads

Chapter 225: What About the Other Threads
Evelyn's POV

Third day after the reinforcements arrived, the tribunal officials showed up.

Two of them. Both worked under Alpha King Nathan, handled cross-territory cases. Dark uniforms, tribunal badge on their chests—silver wolf head with a moon behind it.

They went to see Adam first. I wasn't there, but Magnus told me later they were in the office almost two hours. Door stayed closed. Couldn't hear anything from outside. Magnus said he walked past once and caught Adam's face through the gap—looked serious, but not angry. More like he was dealing with something heavy.

When they finished with Adam, they headed to where Brandon was locked up. Griffin was standing guard.

I was passing by when they went in. The door shut behind them, and after that, nothing. Total silence. I stopped at the hallway corner, didn't go closer. Just watched from there.

Griffin stood perfectly still, hands behind his back, eyes on the door. Didn't move the whole time I was watching.

Maybe twenty minutes later, the door opened.

The officials came out first. Then Brandon. He looked rough—something empty in his eyes, like part of him wasn't there anymore. Griffin stayed behind him, kept his distance.

I turned and left before anyone noticed me.

---

Next afternoon, the paperwork went through.

Officials signed everything. Brandon and Acacia's father got brought to the border. Black car was waiting—windows so dark you couldn't see inside. Magnus stood next to Adam watching. Lucian and Orion hung back a bit.

I didn't go. Mark, Sophia, and Cyrus did though.

Mark told me later it was dead quiet. No big scene. They put the guys in the car, car left. Done.

I sat up in the training ground bleachers. Could see the direction from there, but not the details. Just saw a car pull out and disappear around the bend.

Half hour or so later, Mark, Sophia, and Cyrus came back from the border. Heard their footsteps before I saw them. Mark had his hands shoved in his pockets, Sophia's arms were crossed, Cyrus looked like Cyrus.

They stopped at the bottom of the bleachers. Looked up.

Mark said, "What're you doing?"

"Sitting."

"Just sitting?"

I nodded.

Mark climbed up, dropped down next to me. Sophia and Cyrus followed. Four of us sitting there, staring at the empty training ground.

After a minute, Mark said, "So that's it. He's gone."

Sophia said, "Yep."

"Feels weird." Mark stopped. "Like something's off."

Sophia looked at him. "What, you wanted a big send-off?"

"No. I mean..." He shook his head. "Doesn't matter. Just thought there'd be more to it."

Cyrus said, "Quiet's better."

Mark thought about it. "Yeah. You're right." Then he shut up.

We sat there watching the sun move across the training ground. Long stretch of nothing.

Then Mark spoke up again. "Hey Cyrus."

"Yeah."

"This really over?"

Cyrus stared straight ahead. "Brandon's done. That part's over."

Mark turned. "What about the rest?"

"Still there."

"Right." Mark stood up, hands still in his pockets. "Guess we keep going then. We're all still here anyway."

He headed down. Sophia followed. Cyrus too. Watched them disappear down the hall.

I stayed put.

You think there's more coming, my wolf said.

Yeah.

What are you thinking about?

What happens next.

What's gonna happen next?

I thought about it. No idea. But I'm not dreading it anymore.

My wolf went quiet, but I could feel it smiling.

Footsteps came from the other direction. Didn't need to look. Elliot's footsteps were easy—heavier than most, steady beat. He climbed up, sat down next to me.

Neither of us said anything for a while. Just looked at the training ground. Everything was fixed now—equipment back in place, ground smooth. Empty though. Real quiet.

Elliot broke the silence. "What're you thinking about?"

"What comes next."

"And what's that?"

I glanced at him. "Don't know. But it doesn't feel bad anymore."

Elliot nodded. "Good." Then he stood up and pressed his hand on top of my head.

"Can you not do that?"

"Do what?"

"The head thing."

Elliot paused. "How about this instead?" Started ruffling my hair.

"That's worse."

"You said change it."

"Not to that."

"Then what?"

"Neither. No head touching."

Elliot stopped. "How am I supposed to show I care?"

"Just say it."

"I need the hand thing. It's how I communicate."

"Learn to communicate without it."

"That'll take time."

"So take time."

"Fine." He started walking off, got halfway to the stairs, turned back. "I'm gonna go find Freya. She's running the border. I'm going with her."

"She ask you to?"

"Nope. I told her I'm coming."

"And she said yes?"

"She said whatever." Elliot looked completely serious. "Didn't say no. Whatever is basically yes."

I laughed. "That's not how it works."

"Works for me." Then he actually left.

I watched him head down the hall. Few seconds later, Freya walked in from the opposite direction. They met in the middle.

Elliot said, "I'm here."

Freya gave him a look. "You followed me."

"I'm coming with you."

"Didn't ask you to."

"Didn't stop me either."

"I said whatever."

"Which is yes."

Freya stared at him. "Your logic is broken."

"My logic's fine."

She didn't answer. Just turned and started walking toward the border. Elliot fell in behind her. One after the other.

I sat in the bleachers watching the two of them disappear down the hallway, corners of my mouth pulling up without meaning to.