Forever Luna

vengeance

noun ~ the punishing of someone for harming you, your friends or family

PHOENIX

Apollo was enjoying himself. That was the part I hated most.

Not the army gathered behind him, nor the odd-looking people standing amongst his ranks. Not even the silver crate sitting in the centre of the clearing like some grotesque display.

It was the smile and the ease with which he spoke. As though this were a social visit instead of the beginning of a war, and the lives hanging in the balance were nothing more than pieces on a game board.

Around us, the forest held its breath as Nova glared at him, all of us waiting for what would happen next. He was threatening her directly, and so far, she had done well not to strike first.

Hundreds of wolves stood ready behind us, muscles taut beneath fur and skin alike. Some remained in human form, others in wolf, but all of them carried the same tension. The same anticipation.

But the enemy line mirrored our own. A sea of unfamiliar scents drifted through the clearing, carried on a cold breeze that rattled the leaves overhead. Blood, sweat, and even silver passed through the wind, but not one of them seemed scared. Whatever Apollo had done to them to make them smell so sweetly had made them brave.

Apollo continued speaking, but I paid less attention to his words and more to the silver crate at his feet.

Far too small.

The sight of it made something dark twist in my chest when I pictured the boy, no, the man, I called my brother. The last time I'd seen him before he left, he had been sprawled across my sofa stealing food from my kitchen while Nova complained about him making himself at home.

The memory felt like it belonged to another lifetime, and now he was trapped inside a metal box.

As if reading my mind, there was a dull thud inside the crate, and Apollo's boot connected with the side casually. The metallic clang echoed through the clearing, and Nova stiffened beside me.

I felt her reaction through our bond immediately. She was pissed off, but she wasn't the only one. All the pack's emotions tangled together into something sharp enough to cut, and a low rumble built in my chest.

Just how did Pollux get into that small cage?

The crate moved again, only slightly, but enough that the metal groaned with the soft thump of a foot. Apollo stopped his pacing, eyes narrowing at the cage. He must've heard it too. The clearing fell into an eerie silence, and I automatically moved closer to Nova when I felt her fear spike.

A second later another bang echoed from inside, harder this time. The crate rocked visibly, and a small whimper came from inside. I snarled instantly, recognising the hurt in Pollux's tone despite how softly it came.

A murmur swept through our wolves as each of them slowly realised what was going on. That Pollux was alive and inside that box. And somehow, he was still fighting it.

Apollo's expression darkened, and genuine irritation crossed his features. But he wasn't mad, not yet, just annoyed. Like a child who interrupted his story to get him to pay attention.

Slowly, he bent down, gesturing another wolf closer. "He wants out. Open it."

The smaller man nodded, bowing down to unlock the door. The silver latch clicked, and the sound seemed unnaturally loud amongst the soft rumbling of various wolves. Beside me, Nova shifted her weight, her eyes wide as her heart hammered in her chest. I squeezed her wrist, locking my eyes on Apollo.