Chapter 4

Our parents had set this up hoping we'd patch things up—right here, in the place that used to mean everything to us.

The four of us had been thick as thieves since we were kids. The more the elders told us not to do something, the more we had to do it. And it was in this very cabin that we—barely six years old, all of us—took down a rogue that had wandered into the Forbidden Grounds.

That fight nearly killed Kael. He'd thrown himself in front of me, and afterward, he was bedridden for three whole months. Orion went home and trained like a man possessed, swearing he'd become Alpha heir so he'd never feel that powerless again. And Zephyr? That was the day he decided to become a healer—so he'd always be able to save us when things went wrong.

So yeah. This cabin meant something to all of us.

Back here now, the three of them seemed to soften a little. They kept glancing at me, mouths opening and closing like they wanted to say something but couldn't quite get the words out.

Before any of them could speak, the sky went dark. The wind howled, rain slammed down like a wall, and thunder cracked so loudly it shook the ground beneath us.

A storm. A bad one.

Staying in this cabin wasn't safe in weather like this. Our parents had planned everything—wanted us to face something together, to remember what we used to be.

But Lilith was still down at the base of the mountain.

A fragile Omega, caught in a storm like this, without an Alpha to guard her? If she panicked and ran off, anything could happen.

The second the weather turned, all three of them went pale. Whatever this "reconnect" moment was supposed to be—it was over. They needed to get to her.

We scrambled to find the cars. Except... they were gone. Our parents had obviously had them driven away.

Perfect. Their plan was airtight.

Inside the cabin, there was only a single dim oil lamp. Kael, always the shortest fuse, kicked the wooden door in frustration. "God damn it. Lilith's alone down there—she must be terrified."

Orion was already holding his phone up, waving it around for a signal. "Nothing. Completely dead."

Zephyr paced in circles, hands shaking. "Lilith's always been terrified of thunder. She's probably crying right now. We need to get to her—now."

Honestly? If Lilith just stayed put, she'd probably be safer at the base than up here. But none of them were thinking straight. Their heads were gone.

There was nothing to do. So I sat down on a wooden chair in the corner, closed my eyes, and let their panic wash right past me.

Outside, the lightning split the sky. Kael suddenly charged toward the door, already half-drenched. "I can't wait anymore. I'm running down there."

Orion and Zephyr didn't hesitate. "We're coming with you."