Phantom's PoV
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I looked at Wolf desperately, pleading with my eyes. The bullies had managed to portray me in such a negative light. There was no way he'd fall for their words.....was there?

He opened his mouth, hesitating. Then, he spoke, looking me dead in the eyes.

He spoke the words that shattered my frozen heart.

His eyes bored into mine as he said those awful five words that will forever be etched into my memory.

"I can't do this anymore."

I stared at him, struggling to comprehend his words. 'Can't do this anymore. Can't do this anymore. Anymore. Can't anymore...' The words echoed around my head endlessly. I watched as he turned his back on me and walked over to them. They grinned and laughed, congratulating him.

Wolverine shot me a triumphant smirk, silently mouthing the words, "What a shame." Narwhal simply shook her head, eyeing me with false pity.

Suddenly, I staggered, gasping as I began to fully grasp what Wolf had said. I frowned, refusing to believe it. But my heart said otherwise.

My heart shattered, stuttering, hurting. My mind shouted at me not to believe it, but my soul knew it was true. Painfully so.

I fell, shaking all over. I couldn't believe it. He betrayed me. I trusted him, and he betrayed me. I should've known. How foolish of me to have trusted. After Avalanche.......

And yet I still trusted him. I poured my heart, my soul, out to him, and he I. And now look at me. Broken. Again. And it was all because of him.

It was all his fault. He shouldn't have believed their words. He should've known that they weren't true.

Traitor.

The monster within awoke, raging. 'It's all his fault', it hissed in my ear, urging me on. Red clouded my vision, until all I saw was him. Him and them. 'Killlllll......' I didn't question it. All I knew was that the monster was awake, and it wouldn't be satisfied until blood was shed.

He would regret everything he'd ever done to me. He would regret every lie, every laugh, every smile. I would slowly bring him down, and I would laugh at his pain. I would kill him, make him suffer. He would feel the pain he gave to me. I wouldn't care if he felt bad. It would be too late for all of that. It would be far too late. I was already too far gone.

I surged to my feet with a roar, rushing towards them all. Wolf spun, eyes widening and surprise etched on his snout. 'Good,' I thought. 'I didn't see my heartbreak coming either.' The monster within growled its satisfaction, lusting for the tang of blood on my tongue.

Rapidly closing the distance, I leapt, talons outstretched, ready to tear into flesh and stain the snow with a spattering of crimson. I wanted--needed-- to kill, and I didn't care who.

Suddenly, right before I reached them, I slammed into something. I bounced back, tucking into a ball and rolling back onto my feet, snarling. My tail lashed as I stalked back and forth in front of the invisible wall that had materialized out of nowhere.

I knew it. I knew it. He lied to me.

"WOLF!" I roared, glaring at him, livid with rage. He backpedaled, but the other four stared right back at me. 'That's right. You know you've done me wrong. Go and hide behind your 'buddies'. That's okay. I'll slaughter you all,' I thought.

"What?" Ox asked, tilting his head. "What did he ever do to you?" I laughed disbelievingly. Playing stupid wouldn't work on me. 'Play dumb all you want, you idiot. But that won't help.'

The beast within seethed, furious. It demanded release, but I forced it back. It thrashed, fighting viciously, but I held it back. It needed out, but it wouldn't help now. Not when he had proved his lie. It would have to wait.

I hissed, "You." Wolf's eyes widened, and he shrank back, cowering behind his wall of bodyguards. "You traitorous, lying bag of magical scales."

The light gray dragon flinched, as if my words had stung him. And I hoped they hadn't. I hoped that had taken his heart and ripped it out. I hoped they had stabbed him in a million different places and made his filthy blood visible for all to see.

The others turned to face him, incredulous. "What?! You're....you're an animus?" Narwhal asked, shocked.

Wolf hesitated, struggling for words. I smirked at him from across the barely-there barrier. Daring him to defy the words that had escaped her maw and hung in the air, silent, thick, heavy.

Exhaling heavily, he pawed restlessly at the snow. Finally, he dipped his head in conformation. "Yes, I am."

I grinned at him toothily, letting him know that he had just sealed his fate. His eyes met mine and something flashed through them, but then it was gone.

He was swept up by his new 'friends', who were showering him with delighted attention. But it was the wrong kind of delighted. I could see the wheels turning in Wolverine's mind and a thoughtful expression laid on Kodiak's snout.

They left, still chattering excitedly to him. They didn't give me a single backwards glance as they took to the air, talking to him. Even as they flew away, I could see Wolf's smile. I could feel his happiness.

Growling softly, the monster within made a silent vow. And I made it as well. Looking after the spot where they had disappeared, I whispered, "You ruined me. It's only fair I return the favor."

Wolf's PoV
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He was looking at me so desperately. A pang went through my chest, but I ignored it. He abandoned me. He left me, calling me a liar. He refused to believe me.

I had made up my mind. Raising my head so that I could glare him in the eyes, I snarled, "I can't do this anymore." I hoped he could see the hatred shining in my eyes. I wished he could tell my absolute disgust for him.

I'm starting all over again.

Wolf is no more.

Ghost is nothing.

I'm starting all over again. A new life. New friends. A new spot in the Circles.

They were right. He was pulling me down, holding me back it was because of him that I didn't see my true potential. It was because of him that I was weak.

Not anymore.

I walked towards the gang, my steps sure. They smiled at me, and I waved. Trotting over, they slapped me on the back. They told me I wouldn't regret it. I regretted Ghost. I wouldn't regret this.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

I heard a sharp inhale of breath behind me, and I knew it was him. Then there was the sligh shuff of shifting snow. A cold feeling settled in my gut, but I forced myself to shake it off.

A monstrous roar erupted, and I whirled around, surprised. His eyes glowing with rage, he hurtled towards me, teeth bared, talons outstretched. I froze with shock, my muscles locked tight.

Out of the corner or my eye, I noticed a small grin creeping across Wolverine's snout. He muttered something under his breath, while Ox cursed. But they weren't concerned. Confused, I glanced back and forth, but each one was relaxed, bored, even.

And then the enraged dragon slammed into something invisible. I reared back, my mind a mess. So many things were running through my head, and I couldn't sort through it all.

The hybrid rolled to his feet and growled at us, tail lashing. Without warning, he opened his maw and howled his rage into one word.

My name.

In my name I heard his hurt. His anger, his  sadness, his hurt, his confusion, his frustration. But most of all, his hatred. And it was directed at me.

Ox stared at him, mouth moving. But I didn't hear his words. Everything was muffled, as if I was under water. I shook my head, momentarily ridding myself of the fog.

Just in time to hear his words slice through me like a narwhal spear. "You traitorous, lying bag of magical scales." I jerked back, spines stiffening. I didn't do it! How dare he accuse me! Again.

I sidled more behind the four large IceWings, fear and anger coursing through my veins. They turned to stare at me, eyes narrowed.

"Are you an animus?" asked Kodiak, his talons flexing. Sighing, I glanced towards where the hybrid agitatedly paced, his tail lashing.

I glared at the snow, mad and upset I had to be in this position. I shifted uncertainly, exhaling heavily. Finally, I dipped my head. "Yes. Yes I am."

And in that moment, I felt powerful. As if nothing could stop me. A new life, a new beginning. A new world in which Wolf is no more, Ghosts don't exist.

Surrounded by my new companions, I grinned. The world was ours for the taking.

**A/N: OH BOY. THINGS ARE UNFOLDING. THE DRAMA. THE FEELS. EVERYTHING.

plz don't hate me too much.

But yeah. What do you guys think so far? You like? No like? Feedback is greatly appreciated. Love you all! ❤️❤️ -cycriss**