Three

PHOENIX

Ten Years Ago...

Eight-year-old me sat on the semi-rusty swing, letting the cool spring breeze push me back and forth. I watched other young pups bounce around the half-empty playground while I chewed on my bottom lip, biting it in furious concentration.

My fiery red hair was up in pigtails, and I twisted the curls mercilessly in absolute nervousness.

A hand grabbed mine, effectively stopping my fidgeting. I raised my forest-green eyes to find warm hazel ones looking down at me. I shrunk into myself.

The owner of those beautiful eyes sat on a bench beside the swing and turned to flash me a dimpled smile.

"I saw you sitting alone, so I decided to keep you company," he muttered when I kept staring at him.

I shrugged.

"I'm Rain, by the way," he continued when I didn't say a word.

I shrugged again.

He sighed deeply, running his chubby fingers through his coffee-brown hair. I stared on.

"I'm eleven," he pressed, wanting me to at least say something.

I didn't.

He sighed again—deeper.

"Do you talk?" he mused, staring intently at me.

I shrugged.

"Well, if you don't, you don't need to worry. I can talk for the both of us."

And he launched into different stories of his rather adventurous life. I listened intently, smiling here and there.

My head snapped up when I saw my mom pull up in her car and wave me over. I nodded at her, picked up my backpack, and turned to leave. But just before I walked away, I threw words over my shoulder:

"I'm Phoenix. And I'm eight."

That was the day I made my first friend.

---

Four Years Later...

I sat watching a tadpole swish around in the pond. I looked longingly at it, running my finger gently down the length of its small body. It swished around merrily, eating the worms I fed it.

Turning to watch the sunset, a shadow blocked my view. I sighed, knowing exactly who it was.

"Are you trying to avoid dinner for that?" Rain giggled and took a seat on the edge of the pond, eyeing my tadpole suspiciously.

I looked blankly at him.

"Stop hating on my babies," I murmured.

He shrugged. "Mom wants us to come in."

I nodded and stood, dusting off my pleated skirt. Rain followed, and we started toward the house, walking across the linoleum floors and into the dining area.

The clicking of heels made me turn.

"Thanks for joining us for dinner, Phoenix," Celina said, pulling me into her arms. Her lavender scent set my nerves at ease.

A throat cleared.

"Thanks so much for forgetting about me, Mom," Rain said with a playful frown.

Celina sighed and turned to her son. "I see you every day. Phoenix, though—not so much."

I had to hold in a laugh at Rain's shocked expression. Celina winked at me.

"Have a seat. Dinner will be served soon," she said warmly.

"Thanks, Luna."

Celina's brow wrinkled at that, rising all the way.

"Just Celina is fine. Luna makes me feel old," she muttered.

I smiled at her.

Laughter floated into the dining hall as the Alpha took his seat.

"Phoenix, how are your parents?" he bellowed.

I looked down. "They're fine. They're on their way—must be stuck in traffic or something, Alpha."

He cackled at me. "Celina is right. Just Davis would do."

I nodded.

---

Four Years Later...

I grunted as I expertly dodged Rain's kicks and punches. We moved stealthily across the sandy terrain, kicking up dust as we sparred. I pulled him into a headlock and smiled.

"Tap out, Rain," I smirked, my tone strict.

He smiled, mischief clear in his hazel eyes. I furrowed my brows, trying to figure out what he was plotting. Before I could guess, he started tickling me—and my hold loosened.

"I win, you lose," he smiled, flashing those dimples that never failed to send hearts into a frenzy.

"That was cheating, Rain," I huffed at my best friend.

He chortled happily. "Tsk. You should always pay attention. That's the number one rule of training, right? Don't be distracted next time."

I smirked at him. "This is the only time you've ever beaten me. I could take you down any day."

His proud smirk vanished, and it was simply amazing.

"Really? I'm your Alpha. Show some respect," he joked, his hazel eyes twinkling in the sunlight.

"You're not Alpha yet," I laughed, making sure to walk away proudly, sashaying my hips as I passed by.

My beautiful exit was ruined when Rain chased after me, and I ran off toward home. Mom would be making something delicious—just thinking about it made my stomach rumble. After dinner, I'd play catch with Dad and Rain. It would be so much fun. I could already envision how the evening would go, and the thought brought a small smile to my face.

Rain followed behind me as I raced home.

I burst through the front door and into the living room, anxious to know what was for dinner. Maybe a steaming bowl of pepper sauce with rice and chicken casserole—or spaghetti with meatballs and garlic bread. Oh, yum.

I was snapped out of my reverie by sniffles coming from the kitchen.

That sounded like Mom.

"It's Mom," my wolf, Lisa, chided.

"I should check on her," I thought.

"Who else would?" she replied sarcastically. I guess she was still upset we'd lost at training this morning.

"A little upset?" she snorted.

I wasn't ready for another battle of words, so I blocked her out.

I speed-walked to the kitchen, hoping to smell something appetizing—only to find my mom huddled in a corner, crying her eyes out.

I approached her carefully, looking around for the reason behind her tears. When I knelt beside her, she looked up with her tear-stained face and burst into more tears.

"Mom, are you alright? Are you hurt? Is everything okay?" I asked worriedly, tucking her face into my shoulder.

"It's your father, Phoenix," she cried into my shoulder.

"What about Dad? What happened to him?" I asked, confused.

"H-he has—he h-has—he has left us, Phoenix."

She burst into fresh tears.

"What do you mean 'left us,' Mom? Mom, talk to me!" I yelled.

But I didn't get any answers from her. Not then. Not ever.

Rain, who had entered at that moment, turned back to run to the pack house to notify the Alpha that his Beta was missing. Dad had apparently left a note, but I was too shocked to read it.

Everything else happened in a blur.

The Alpha—Dad's best friend—arrived and sent pack warriors to look for him.

---

Weeks after Dad's disappearance, rogues attacked the pack.

The Alpha, Luna, and many pack members were killed. People blamed my father, whispering that he had partnered with the rogues after he left. I prayed every night for Dad to come back—but he never did.

Rain slowly drifted away from me. Our friendship evaporated until there was nothing left of it.

He blamed me for everything.

The note Dad left behind somehow linked his disappearance to me. Rain believed Dad's departure weakened pack security—half the warriors had gone looking for him, leaving the pack vulnerable. It made it easy for the rogues to attack, leading to the death of his parents and the near collapse of the pack.

The weight of the Alpha's responsibilities fell onto Rain's young shoulders. He had to take care of the pack, alone.

And he couldn't forgive me.

---

Meanwhile, my mother's health declined. She wasted away, lost in grief. I tried to snap her out of it, but the loss of her mate was too much. Soon, she slipped into a coma.

The doctors did all they could, but she had lost the will to live.

I had to support her.

I felt guilty.

Because Dad had left because of me.