Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

A lena pushed her shopping cart through the aisles of the local market, her mind a swirling mess of conflicting emotions. While it felt good in some ways to be taking control of her fate, she couldn't deny that the idea of leaving town was also pretty scary. Short term would be no big deal, as she just wanted to get some distance from the madness so she could get her head on straight. But in the longer term, where would she go? Bridge Hollow? Lone Reach? Somewhere with other shifters, but far from the toxic feud that had torn her life apart? Maybe Lost Creek, she mused.

I heard they've resolved their differences there. God, do I need to sell all my stuff?

Her bear whimpered within her, longing for the comfort and safety of their mate. But she pushed down the primal urge, steeling herself against the pain. Zane had made his choice, and now she had to make hers. Regardless, it was for the best, right? Misty Vale was no place to raise their child. Yes, for the baby. For their future. She had to go.

Just as she reached for a box of crackers, a familiar voice piped up behind her. "Auntie Lena!"

Alena spun around, her eyes widening as she spotted Abi standing there, a knowing smile on her cherubic face.

"Abi? What are you doing here? Where's Archer? Or Ruby?"

The little girl shrugged, skipping over to Alena's side. "Ruby's looking at the veggies. But I knew I had to find you."

Alena's brow furrowed. "Find me? Why?"

Abi fixed her with a serious look that never ceased to make Alena smile. "Because you're planning on leaving."

Shock rippled through Alena, her mouth falling open. "What? How did you…?"

"Rainbow told me," Abi answered matter-of-factly.

Of course she did. Or he did?

"And you can't go, Auntie Lena. Not now. We're just getting to the good part!"

Despite the gravity of the situation, Alena couldn't help but chuckle at her niece's earnest expression. And if they were just getting to the good part, she couldn't imagine how bad the bad part must be.

"The good part, huh?"

Abi nodded vigorously. "Yup! Don't you know it's always darkest before the dawn?"

The profoundness of the child's words struck a chord inside Alena. Maybe it was just being seen. Because man, it sure had been dark. She could feel tears threatening to splash down her cheeks.

"That's a really nice thought, sweetie," she managed, her voice thick with emotion. "But sometimes, things just don't work out the way we want them to."

Abi reached out, placing her tiny hand on Alena's arm. "But that's the thing, Auntie Lena. Fate doesn't make mistakes. It's all happening just like it's supposed to."

"I-I don't know what you mean."

"Everything, Auntie. With the town, and with the dragon we met!"

Alena's bear stirred within her, a flicker of hope sparking to life amidst the despair. The dragon. Zane. Was it really possible? She had almost given up hoping. Almost. But she realized that hope was still there… though it made little sense. Could there still be a chance for her and Zane, despite everything?

Before she could respond, Ruby appeared at the end of the aisle, relief washing over her face when she spotted Abi. "There you are, Abi! You can't just run off like that!"

Abi grinned sheepishly, scampering over to Ruby. "Sorry, Ruby. But I had to talk to Auntie Lena. It was important."

Ruby's gaze shifted to Alena, concern etched in her features. "Everything okay, Lena?"

Alena forced a smile, nodding quickly. "Yeah, fine. Just doing some shopping, you know."

She could tell Ruby wasn't entirely convinced, but mercifully, her sister-in-law didn't push. With a final wave, she led Abi back towards the produce section, leaving Alena alone with her thoughts once more.

Fate doesn't make mistakes.

Abi's words echoed in her mind.

Yeah, sounds like a good bumper sticker.

Alena's mind raced as she paced her small living room, periodically looking up at the small assortment of bags she had, all packed and ready.

Her heart was torn between the desperate desire to leave the confines of Misty Vale and the tiny spark of hope Abi's words had ignited within her.

Fate doesn't make mistakes.

Could it be true? Could there still be a chance for her and Zane, despite the heartbreak and chaos that surrounded them?

Protect cub. Stay strong, her bear urged, the primal instinct to shield her unborn child from harm warring with the longing for her mate. It was beginning to feel like that instinct was on a loop.

Because it is. And it will always be now. This is not just about you anymore, Lena.

Alena shook her head, hoping it might clear her confusion.

Should I stay or should I go? Unbidden, the old song popped into her head. She would have laughed were she not so stressed out.

You have to think of the baby, too, Lena. But what if staying is what's best? Her mind was starting to go in circles again.

A sudden knock at the door startled Alena from her thoughts. Steeling herself, she opened the door a crack, only to find her brother standing there, his expression a mix of both mild relief and concern.

"Archer?" she called out, confusion and apprehension fighting within her. "What are you doing here?"

Her brother swayed from side to side, apparently from nerves. "We need to talk, Lena."

Alena's guard immediately went up. Great, more lectures on the evils of dragons. Just what I need right now.

"Look, Arch, I'm really not in the mood—"

"Ruby told me you're planning on leaving town," Archer interrupted, his voice softer than she'd expected.

Alena froze, her breath catching in her throat. Damn it, Abi!

"I… I don't know what you're talking about," she hedged, doing her best to keep her face neutral.

"Come on, Lena," he said softly, "Let me in. Can we talk?"

Alena hesitated, her grip tightening on the doorknob. "I don't know, Arch. Are you actually going to listen this time?"

Archer winced, rubbing the back of his neck. "I deserve that. Look, I know I've been an ass lately. But leaving town? I didn't realize you were that upset. Or that we had pushed you that hard."

Alena's heart clenched, tears stinging her eyes. "What do you expect?" she whispered, her voice cracking. "I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. I can't win. It's suffocating! I can't help how I feel for Zane! Oh, it's a mess. And I can't talk to you guys, that's for damn sure. You're so set on hating all dragons, you won't even hear me out!"

"Then make me understand," Archer pleaded, stepping closer. "I am willing to listen now. I don't want you to leave town like Artemis, sis. Please, give me another shot."

A flicker of hope bloomed in Alena's chest. Was he really ready to listen? "You promise you won't start talking over me?"

Archer held up his hand. "Scout's honor."

"Okay, well, I think you know it's about Zane," she admitted, her voice trembling. "But what you won't hear is that he's not the enemy, Arch. None of them are."

Archer paused, waiting to see if she had more to say. When she didn't, he spoke. "Livingstone. So, is it—I mean, you two have serious feelings for one another?"

"Yes. At least we did. You saw what happened. I don't know what's happening now. I guess he made it pretty clear where we stand."

Archer shifted, looking uncomfortable. "Look, Lena, I'm sorry. I know I haven't been the most supportive lately. It's just… Dragons are… that is, you have seen how things are in Misty Vale. I just don't want to see you hurt…"

"You say you don't want to see me hurt, but that's not it at all! You're so blinded by hate that you can't see anything else!" Alena cried, tears threatening to spill over. "There's more going on here than your stupid feud, Arch! Zane and I overheard the Riders plotting to tear the town apart, to turn bears and dragons against each other. But none of you care! You're all too busy rehashing ancient history to see what's right in front of you!"

Archer stared at her, his mouth agape. "What? Slow down. What are you talking about?"

Alena took a shuddering breath. "The Riders, Arch. They're playing us all for fools, using our hatred against us. And it's working! But God forbid anyone actually listen to me long enough to hear the truth!"

"You're sure?"

"Of course I'm sure!" She briefly explained the circumstances of how they had come to overhear it. "I didn't say anything because… well, we've covered that. You would have freaked out. And you wouldn't have believed me. That's the truth of it."

The weight of what she had said seemed to hit Archer.

"I… I had no idea," he murmured, running a hand through his hair. "God, Lena, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize I'd made it so hard for you to talk to me."

Alena felt a weight lift from her shoulders, relief and gratitude welling up inside her.

Maybe Abi was right. Maybe there was hope. She wasn't quite ready to say that fate was on their side, but she was feeling the first bit of optimism she'd had in days.

"Please, tell me everything," Archer requested. So Alena did.

The whole sordid tale spilled out—the overheard conversations, the threats, the heartbreak. By the time she finished, an hour had passed, and she was mentally exhausted. Still, she held back one little detail. Things felt better, but there was much more to be resolved before she imagined she would feel safe to reveal this last truth. She held her arms around her middle.

Cub. Safe. Protect, her bear rumbled, an underlying current of fierce love.

"Okay, I need to get the pack together. Dammit, if there is even the smallest amount of truth to this…" Archer pulled her into a fierce hug.

"Which there is," she said, deadpan, looking him in the eye.

"Right, of course, sorry. It's just a lot to process," he said before pausing a moment, lost in thought. "Look, we're going to get to the bottom of this Riders situation, and then we're going to knock some sense into those dragons. Starting with Zane."

For a moment, she reeled back, but that was before he gave her a wink. "What is that supposed to mean!"

"Just playing, sis. Right now, I need to deal with the Forsaken Riders. If we handle that, hopefully everything else will shake out."

Hopefully.

Everything still felt like a mess, but for the first time, Alena was beginning to dare to hope again.

"Hey, so you aren't leaving now, right?" Archer asked over his shoulder as he made his way down the walk from her apartment.

"My plans are on indefinite hold," she quipped.

"Good," he said, waving goodbye.

It's all part of the plan , Alena mused as she closed the door to her apartment again.

That's what Abi had said, right?