The front door to the cabin was already wide open when Cheyenne stepped through them, her brown curls bouncing with each step. A dozen heads turned toward her—friends and family—all standing frozen in the crisp morning air, the scent of ozone still lingering after the divine clash.
Cheyenne placed a hand on her hip, cocking her head.
“What, y’all out here lookin’ for Christmas or somethin’? ’Cause last I checked, Santa doesn’t show up after an ancient god howls like he lost his voice.”A ripple of laughter passed through the crowd, breaking the tension like a sunbeam through storm clouds. Tora rushed forward first, throwing her arms around Cheyenne.
“You’re okay,” she breathed. “You’re really okay.”
“I told you I’d come back,” Cheyenne said softly, wrapping her in a tight hug. “Moon Goddess didn’t drag me up there for nothin’.
Cheyenne sat cross-legged on the edge of her bed, fingers tangled in the hem of her T-shirt, staring out the window at the silver moonlight bathing the trees. The house was quiet, the kind of stillness that only came when the world around you held its breath.“You’re worried.”Koa’s voice echoed gently inside her mind, warm and familiar, like a weighted blanket over a raw nerve.Cheyenne closed her eyes and rested her head back against the wall. “I’m always worried lately. But this time? I’m not just worried. I’m terrified.”“Because of Nalia.”A slow nod. “She’s trying so damn hard, Koa. But whatever’s inside her… it’s massive. And I’ve seen what it can do when it starts to crack through her control. If we don’t help her figure this out, it could destroy her. And a lot more than just her.”Ko
The moon hung low over the clearing, its pale glow brushing the tips of the pines like a secret whispered only to the stars. Tora stood just outside the training arena, the wind tugging at her thick braid and carrying the scent of pine, smoke, and something warmer—something distinctly him.Jax.She felt him before she saw him—his energy bold, steady, like the earth itself had chosen to take a breath. He stepped into the moonlight, shirtless and barefoot, his eyes dark and fixed on her like she was the only thing that had ever mattered.“I thought I might find you here,” he said, his voice a low rumble that always seemed to settle her fire instead of fanning it.Tora smiled faintly but didn’t move. “Habit. After everything, it feels strange not having to look over my shoulder.”“No more threats,” Jax said as he closed the distance between them. “Your father is on our side n
Cheyenne yanked the damp training shirt over her head, flinging it onto the nearby hamper with far more force than necessary.Gunner raised an eyebrow from where he stood by the bathroom sink, already shirtless and reaching for a towel. “You trying to start another war with the laundry basket?”Cheyenne grumbled something unintelligible and started pulling the hair tie from her ponytail, her movements jerky.He watched her for a moment, eyes narrowing. Something was off. She hadn't said a word since they left the field—not even a smartass comment when he tripped over the mat by the bedroom door. That was... suspicious.“You okay?” he asked, voice low, careful.“Peachy,” she muttered.He stepped closer, reaching for her wrist before she could escape into the closet. “Chey.”She looked up, and the second their eyes met, the wave of anger hit him—sharp, scorching, and completely
The packhouse was quiet.The kind of rare, golden silence that came after a long stretch of chaos and war. Most had gone to sleep or were winding down for the night, but one light still flickered in the far corner of the library—tucked behind thick velvet curtains and ancient shelves lined with dust-covered tomes.Chelsea padded into the room with soft steps, her infant son Darian nestled against her chest in a sling, sound asleep. She found Grammy waiting at the round table near the far window, a mug of tea steaming before her and a thick, worn leather-bound book opened in front of her.“I thought you said this wasn’t urgent,” Chelsea whispered as she approached, gently shifting Darian’s weight to her other side.Grammy smiled, but her eyes were weary. “It’s not urgent yet. But it will be.” She gestured to the empty seat. “Thank you for coming.”Chelsea eased herself down, careful not to
Tora’s place sat in a sun-dappled clearing near the edge of the forest, smoke curling up from the grill on the back patio. The scent of seasoned meat and baked bread drifted through the air, and laughter carried from inside.Cheyenne didn’t bother knocking. She opened the door and waved Nalia in.Inside, the warmth of the cabin wrapped around them instantly — a mix of natural woods, open windows, and the buzz of chatter.Tora appeared from the kitchen, dark braid over one shoulder, apron dusted in flour. “Took you long enough,” she said, smirking. “I was starting to think you got distracted.”“We did,” Cheyenne said, pulling Nalia forward. “Tora, meet Nalia. Nalia, meet the chaos coordinator herself.”Tora wiped her hands on her apron and offered a hand. “Nice to meet you. You’re the one who’s got Tyler in a mood lately, right?”Nalia blinked. “A
The sun had barely risen, casting a lazy orange glow across the horizon when Cheyenne found Tyler leaning against the trunk of a pine near the border trail, arms crossed tight and brows furrowed.He didn’t say a word as she approached—just looked at her with those same stormy eyes that used to be filled with laughter, now dulled by heartache and weariness.Cheyenne exhaled softly. “You called for me. I figured we’d talk where the trees don’t have ears.”Tyler gave a stiff nod. “Yeah. Just needed to know what the hell’s going on with her—with me. I feel like the earth shifted overnight and nobody bothered to send me the memo.”“You know that Grammy saw Nalia’s Guardian awakening,” Cheyenne said gently. “She’s not just another Phoenix, Ty. She’s something more. A Guardian, just like Koa told me I was. Chosen by the Moon Goddess. And now…&