A pained gasp comes from my dry lips, eyelids rapidly fluttering in an attempt to clear the blur that covers my vision, and I lurch forward slightly, violent coughs forced from my smoke coated lungs. Chest heaving, I try to catch my breath as I push myself up with one arm, palm pressing into the dirt and getting indented with small twigs and pine needles. I slide my other arm out from around Willow, releasing her of my tight grip, and looking over her for any injuries.

Her plaid, lilac colored pajama pants are decorated in blotches of soot, and there's a tear in the sleeve of her shirt, but she only has a few small cuts or scrapes that were unfortunately inevitable due to the recent chaos that has occurred. Through tear filled, bright green eyes she watches me as I clamber to sit up, leaning back against the trunk of the tree for support.

Colorless tears roll down her pink cheeks as her small hands stretch out toward me. I wrap my arms around her, lifting her, and hugging her body to mine, soothingly running my hand over her straight, dark hair.

Delicate, wispy tendrils of white, glistening power roll off of my fingertips, and lightly lace over her body to coax her into a peaceful sleep while I rock her softly. It's a simple trick that my mother often used when I'd wake from night terrors or couldn't relax enough to fall asleep. Angel grace is naturally very comforting and warm, which makes it perfect to calm even the most restless. 

As soon as the tears stop and her eyes drift shut, I lift my head and search the surroundings. Warm blood leaks down my temple, but I pay it no mind, eyes squinting on Zeke's unconcious body that's still laying on the driveway, not too far from the torching flames that have completely consumed the house.

I think about trying to wake him from here, but movement at the edge of the forest on the other side of the yard catches my attention. I blink a couple of times before looking through the hazy smoke, and finally catching a clear view of what's quickly advancing toward the blazing, crumbling structure.

A small group, led by Thea and Gage, are racing out of the forest and flooding into the front yard, having not yet noticed my distant presense. I can recognize some of the faces from the house that Zeke and I first went to when looking for his parents.

A booming crash resonates through the night as the house ahead detioriates, and I can only assume that the second floor just fell through. Red, hot embers clash against the dark sky as they blow out of the structure in clouds.

I watch from afar as Thea freezes in place to take in the damage of their burning home, covering her mouth with shaky hands, and staring wide-eyed at the catastrophe. Alpha Gage's pace falters for a few seconds, before he notices Zeke's unconcious body and immediately sprints to him, Thea pushing away her shock and following not far behind.

Alpha Gage lightly shakes Zeke's shoulders, attempting to wake him while Thea crouches beside the both of them.

My eyes drift away and over the crowd, catching sight of Noah and Cayden as they appear to be caught in an emotional conversation. Noah's hands are fisted in his hair, his back to me as Cayden places a hand on his shoulder, speaking reassuring words to his distressed friend. 

Cayden shakes his head at something Noah says, his eyes flicking to the burning building and then trailing over the opposite treeline, clearly searching for something. Leaning my head against the tree, I watch quietly as his eyes fall on me, his brows furrowing in confusion as he squints to make out my figure.

Realization suddenly washes over his features, erasing any sign of confusion.

"They're over there!" he shouts, slapping Noah's shoulder before bolting in my direction.

Noah whips around with confusion written over his face until he spots me, eyes widening and gleaming with hope while his feet swiftly carry him in the same direction.

Thea's head snaps up when she hears Cayden yell, and I look back to them, noticing that Zeke's claws are fully extended, and his hands are latched tightly around his fathers wrists while he breaths erraticaly. I realize that he must have just woke up, acknowledging his frantic movements as he lifts his upper body from the pavement. Thea speaks a few soft words to him, cupping his jaw lovingly before she looks back to Willow and I. She stands, and quickly follows not far behind Noah while Alpha Gage stays with Zeke.

Cayden reaches me first and in only a few seconds, feet skidding to a halt before he leans down beside me.

"Victoria," he breathes, his eyes falling on Willow and he reaches out to gently brush a few strands of hair away so that her face is fully visible. "What happened? Where's Aiden?"

As soon as the words leave Cayden's mouth, Noah reaches us, but doesn't come to a stop like Cayden did.

"Aiden?" Noah yells as he charges past us, feet thudding against the ground.

Following the direction he's running to, my eyes land on a figure laying on his back in the grass not too far from where Willow and I ended up.

I breath a sigh of relief when I see movement from Aiden as he turns his head in Noah's direction, and starts to push himself off the ground. Theres a cut across the bridge of his nose, and just like Willow and I, his clothes have blotches of black soot and various rips, but he doesn't appear to have any serious injuries.

An onslaught of fast paced footsteps come to a stop near me, and Thea comes into view next to Cayden, her attention fixated on the small girl in my arms. She reaches out and cups Willow's cheek before her glassy eyes slide up to mine and she smiles softly. In one sudden movement, she leans forward and pulls me into a hug.

It's a warm, yet brief hug that expresses her gratitude, and I reciprocate the best I can without disturbing Willow.

"Thank you," she murmurs appreciatively before pulling back.

I lift Willow slightly, allowing Thea to slide her arms beneath her sleeping form, and cradle her daughter close, like she's afraid to ever let go.

Gripping the rough tree bark, I wordlessly rise to my feet. The cut on my temple is healed, yet fresh blood remains as a reminder, and the burn over my ankle is just a faint shade of pink that further disapears with every second that passes. I brush off some of the soot that coated over my clothes before pushing away from the tree.

Cayden eyes me cautiously, but I take no notice of it, and instead start up the steep hill that I recently tumbled down. With every step, I can feel my body gradually recovering from the hectic events that just transpired. My breathing evens out, no longer do I have to strain for a full breath or feel a burn in my throat when I inhale. The power that rolls through my veins is stronger than even, and humming steadily beneath my skin.

When I arrive at the top of the hill, I suck in a deep breath, and immediately inhale a faint scent that I recognize, my eyes rapidly searching for its origin. Against the opposite treeline, I find two familiar figures that are hardly visible behind the dense greenery and brush.

Alexander's ethereal eyes are on me, and his lips are quirked into his signature smirk. I'm sure he tracked my scent and decided to follow, which I expected him to do. Amy is beside him, her eyes taking in the sight of the burning cabin that has been reduced to a pile of charred lumber and stubborn beams that have not yet succumbed to the fire. I'm thankful that they're staying slightly hidden, as i'm not quite sure how the werewolves would react if they noticed them.

A chill rolls down my spine and my eyes narrow in suspition, power starting to buzz loudly in my ears and making my mind race with questions.

"What happened, Victoria? This house was fine earlier." Cayden's voice reaches my ears, his tone concerned and confused.

"Someone must of been watching us. They knew why we were going in there. It was intentional." I reply distractedly, voice trailing off into a mumble. My eyes aren't on him as I speak, they're scanning over the surroundings and my mind is spinning with theories and questions.

"What? What are you talking about?" Cayden's voice sounds distant, and I don't pay it any attention.

I twist away from him, goosebumps rising on my skin while I search through the neighboring woods, trying to see what's hiding in them.

"Victoria." It's nothing more than a faint whisper that could even be mistaken as wind, but I know better than that. It isn't wind, just like it wasn't a natural fire that started in the cabin.