ELEMENTAL SPY'S : I Know What I Wrote

Some useful relief

**A/N**
I'm utterly exhausted! 😭

----------------------Warnings----------------------
Blood, emotional moments, and a lot of drama ahead.

Just a heads-up-it gets pretty intense from here. (I really feel for them! 😢)

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Nova's whereabouts remained an enigma, like a ghost slipping through the shadows. It was as if she had vanished from the face of the Earth, her case growing colder by the day. Many had chosen to move on, convinced justice would never catch up with the criminal mastermind. However, for Axel and Zack, the hunt was far from over. The chaos she had unleashed was too monumental; they simply couldn't abandon their pursuit.

The afternoon sunlight poured into the office, casting a warm glow accompanied by cool, crisp air outside. The sky was painted with vibrant shades of orange and purple, fluffy white clouds drifting slowly by, reminiscent of scattered cotton candy. A flock of carcrows winged their way north, seeking refuge from the impending chill of winter. Inside, though, Axel and Zack were tangled up in their latest case, a mysterious disappearance of an Alpha-a situation that, while atypical for them, drew their particular attention given the recent events concerning Nova.

Axel sat at his cluttered desk, buried underneath a mountain of important documents, the only clear space being just enough for his steaming coffee cup. He couldn't shake off the feeling of impending trouble, especially with a hot drink so perilously close to his paperwork. Still, he brushed off the worry-Zack was the only other occupant in the room, and he regarded the ginger husky as someone who wouldn't rat him out... right?

Zack, stationed a safe distance away, knew all too well the consequences of carelessness. His eyes flicked around the office until they rested on an expensive vase precariously perching atop a gray metal drawer. He made a mental note to stay far away from it; if it shattered, the replacement cost would be a burden neither of them would want to bear.

"Hey, Axie!" Zack called out with a grin, mischief glinting in his emerald eyes.

"Don't call me that," Axel shot back, bristling a bit at the affectionate nickname.

"Sorry, but you seriously need a break. You've been at it for four hours; this can't be good for you. Your fur looks pale, and you're practically slumped over your desk."

There was a brief moment of silence, and Axel couldn't help but internally agree with Zack. He felt the fatigue settle in like an unwelcome guest.

"Zack, I'm fine," Axel insisted, his voice laced with a determination that was slowly faltering.

"No, you're not. Just look at yourself!" Zack pressed, concern etching across his features.

Axel turned away, returning his focus to the scattered papers before him, desperately searching for any significant leads regarding the missing Alpha. Just as he was about to dive into his notes, Zack's eyes lit up with an idea that broke through the tension in the room.

"Hey, you should totally join me at Rack's party tomorrow night!" Zack said, his enthusiasm unmistakable.

Axel's eyes narrowed, instinctively recoiling at the suggestion. "No, thanks. I've got better things to do than deal with that circus. You know how Rack can be."

Zack leaned forward, smirking. "But Ragely will be there."

At the mention of Ragely, Axel felt heat creep into his cheeks. His heart raced at the thought. "Okay, fine. I'll go," he relented, feeling a mixture of thrill and dread. "But on one condition."

Zack raised an inquisitive brow, eager to hear what the condition might entail. "What is it?"

"Don't push me into..." Axel hesitated, his words hanging in the air as he abruptly stood up. He walked towards the office door and opened it with a creak, checking to ensure the coast was clear before closing it again, almost conspiratorially. "...asking him out," he finished, his voice a whisper.

Zack rolled his eyes, exuding disbelief. "Why not? You hesitate around him all the time! I'm doing you a favor."

Those words struck a nerve in Axel, and he scoffed, arms crossing tightly over his chest. His eyes fixed on Zack, narrowing with determination as he employed his best scowl. "Is that so? Remember the time we were at Kyle's castle on his 24th birthday? The whole gang was there, including *him*. Afterwards, we had that afterparty, and you suggested we play Truth or Dare. When it was your turn, you asked me Truth or Dare. I answered Truth, and you turned it right around and said, 'If you could kiss someone in this room, who would it be?'"

Zack squirmed in his chair, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Come on! It was just a joke. I wasn't expecting you to answer seriously; I was gonna go with the dare. I swear!" He chuckled awkwardly, but the memory lingered uncomfortable in the air.

Axel sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration, feeling like an annoyed parent chastising a reckless child. "Just don't pull anything like that again, and I might forgive you."

Zack's face broke into a cheeky grin, excitement bubbling beneath the surface as he leaned back in his chair. "Consider it a deal, Axie. But mark my words, you can't hide from your feelings forever! The longer you deny it, the worse it'll be when you finally admit it!"

Their laughter faded into the backdrop of the setting sun and the looming mysteries still tangled around them. Axel knew the chase for Nova was still far from over, and with the party approaching, there would be plenty of distractions to navigate-not just of the heart, but of the shadows lurking in their lives.