SAGE
The warmth of the fire filled the center hut, wrapping around like an old mory. I leaned back against the soft sofa, a slow smile pulling at my lips as I let my gaze wander around the space that had once been my haven.
The walls were still etched with faint symbols Diana and I had drawn when we were being magically adventurous. The air slled faintly of herbs and smoke, with the soft murmur of evening insects seeping through the cracks in the window slats.
Diana sat beside , her eyes bright and questioning. "So?" she pressed, nudging my arm. "How’s the mission going? You’ve been gone for weeks. Did the queen make progress? Or—" she lowered her voice, eyes twinkling, "—do you need to co help you deal with those Lycans?"
I laughed. "The last thing I need is you marching into the pack grounds and getting yourself caught," I said, leaning forward to flick her forehead. "Besides, you wouldn’t survive five minutes with their egos."
She pouted. "You’re underestimating again."
"I’m saving your life again," I corrected, still laughing. "And the mission’s... going fine."
Diana’s face softened. "You look tired," she said quietly.
"I am," I admitted, then added, "but I needed this. Needed to co ho for a bit."
She tilted her head. "You’re still competing tomorrow, right? That last fight?"
"Yeah." I sighed, rolling my shoulders. "My opponent’s... interesting. t him in the forest today. He asked strange questions."
Diana perked up instantly. "Questions? What kind?"
"Nothing you need to worry about," I said too quickly, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. I wasn’t about to tell her about the vampire. That encounter was mine to deal with. "Anyway, I’ll handle it. Just one more match and this part’s over."
"Still," she said, narrowing her eyes, "you always say that like you don’t plan to co back."
Her words caught sothing in my chest, but I only smiled. "Don’t be dramatic. You know —I always co back."
Diana snorted. "You better." She sat back, crossing her arms, and I couldn’t help but laugh again. She looked so much older than I rembered, her once-round face now sharpened with womanhood at fifteen, successfully growing out of the stature that made one think she was younger than her age.
I reached out to ruffle her hair, out of habit.
She smacked my hand away. "Don’t! I just brushed it."
That only made laugh harder.
The sound of footsteps drew our attention. Laura stepped in from the kitchen, carrying a tray that filled the hut with the scent of roasted spice and sweet butter.
"I knew you’d be here," she said, smiling as she set the tray down. "And I knew you’d be hungry."
My stomach growled in agreent, earning laughter from all sides.
"You haven’t changed," Peter said as he joined us from outside, ducking slightly under the doorway. His hair had gone greyer since the last ti I saw him, his hands rougher from farm work. But his eyes were the sa—warm, steady, the kind of eyes that could make you believe in family even when you knew you didn’t belong.
"I missed this," I said honestly, reaching for one of the steaming rolls Laura had made. "The sll. The laughter. All of it."
Laura smiled, wiping her hands on her apron before sitting. "Then stay a while. You don’t have to run off so quickly."
"I wish I could," I murmured. "But the mission doesn’t stop because I’m hosick."
Peter chuckled. "The queen still running you ragged?"
"You have no idea," I said, shaking my head. "She’s relentless."
I caught the way Laura’s eyes lingered on then—curious, motherly, knowing more than she said. I let the mont pass, focusing on my food. The roasted at lted in my mouth, the spicy stew warming in a way nothing in the pack ever could.
We talked for hours—about the village, the new children born, the minor feuds between the elders. I told them what little I could about the mission, carefully skipping over anything involving vampires or ancient prophecies.
Diana wanted to know about the fights, though, so I indulged her with tales of the contests, how the warriors fought under moonlight, how the crowd roared when blood hit the sand.
"You make it sound like a festival," she said, wide-eyed.
"In a way, it is," I said. "Only with more broken bones."
She winced, but laughed anyway.
Peter leaned forward then, voice dropping. "Tell , Sage. What’s the barren land like now?"
I blinked. "The barren land?"
He nodded. "The one beyond the eastern ridge. I heard rumors... that the queen’s soldiers have been exploring it again."
I hesitated before answering. Really? I wasn’t aware of it.
"It’s quiet," I said. "Too quiet. I didn’t stay long."
"That’s where the battle happened, you know," Peter said, his tone turning grave. "The great one between the witches and werewolves. Thousands died there. The soil’s never healed."
I nodded slowly, rembering sothing the Lycan King had once told back when I was still Dora—about sacred lands, cursed battles, and how it was the Queen’s fault. I pushed the thought away. I’d never believe a word that ca from their lips again.
Laura sighed. "That land should have been left alone. So wounds don’t need reopening."
I said nothing. The night stretched long, filled with the comfortable hum of family. For a mont, I forgot the weight of my mission. I let myself laugh freely, eat greedily, tease Diana until she threw a cushion at . It was dangerous, this feeling—too human, too soft—but I let it stay. Just for tonight.
When the clock in the corner struck eleven, I knew it was ti. "I should go," I said quietly, setting down my cup. "It’s already past midnight in the pack."
"You just got here," Laura protested.
"I know," I said gently, "but I can’t stay."
Peter stood and offered his hand. "Then we’ll walk you to the point."
Outside, the night air was cool and sweet. We walked in silence, our steps crunching on the gravel path until we reached the teleportation stones. The runes carved into them glowed faintly as I approached, responding to my magic.
Laura hugged tightly. "Be safe, Sage. Don’t take unnecessary risks."
"I’ll try," I said with a faint smile.
Peter clapped my shoulder. "We’re proud of you, no matter what. You’re still ours."
That hit harder than I expected. I nodded, my throat tight.
Diana, of course, looked ready to cry. "I hate when you leave," she mumbled, clutching my sleeve.
"I know," I said. "But you’ll see again soon."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
She still didn’t let go, so I leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "You’re strong," I whispered. "Don’t forget that."
She sniffled, managing a small nod.
I stepped onto the runic stone, feeling the magic gather beneath my feet. The light rose in a circle around , soft and warm. I looked at them one last ti and raised a hand in farewell.
Then the light flared, and the world folded in on itself, again.
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