"It's your time to keep watch," I feel someone shake me awake from my slumber. I stretch and look at who was shaking me. Scarlett. I yawn, nod, and pad to the outside. The moon is almost exactly above me. I stare at it, just thinking.

I know we're getting closer to finding Ember, I can feel it. My eyes grow heavy from just staring at the vast darkness of the sky. I haven't got the chance to just sit in the middle of the night and watch in silence. I enjoy this, and hope to have the chance to do it again, maybe alone.

"Am I interrupting something?" Jasmine's soft voice interrupts my loud thoughts. I glance in her direction and shake my head.

"No. Just thinking," I mumble, laying my head on my paws. She gives me a sad smile and lays next to me in a friendly way.

"What's on your mind?" she asks. I can hear the concern in her voice. She's being genuine, but not in a prying way. My heart swells.

"I have this feeling, I can't exactly explain it, but I think we're getting closer to finding her," I explain, looking into her eyes. "I've been a terrible big brother; it's my job to protect her, and I've failed."

"Everest, I haven't known you for very long, but I know who you are. You are a great brother. Not everyone would travel this far from their home for someone like this. You have risked so many things to bring her home safely. You'll make an amazing Alpha one day, too."

"Alpha? I never told you I was next in line," I trail off as she gives me a knowing smile. There is a glimmer in her eyes that shows me that she knows more about me than she'll ever let on. "Thank you, Jasmine. I appreciate it."

"Anytime, hun," she blows a loose section of fur out of eyes. I look at her scar more closely, and I ask her about it. Her face immediately clouds over with anger and sadness. "There was a war. I was a front line warrior. We were winning until I got distracted. The most beautiful wolf I had ever seen was there. She had a bronzey golden coat that filled my heart with warmth. She saw me and we clicked. Or, at least, I thought we did." Jasmine hangs her head in shame as a silent tear slides down her face and onto the ground.
"I stopped fighting and ran to her. I couldn't control it and I approached her. She didn't even smile at me. She just growled and ran away. I tried to chase her, but...
I lost my wolf for a long time. In the middle of that very war, she left me and I was attacked. I would have died if it wasn't for my brother."

"Jasmine, I-"

"I don't want your apologies, Everest. It isn't your fault."

"No. I wanted to say that you are so brave," my tears glisten as her story bounces around my mind. "I can't imagine the pain you went through."

"Thank you," her paw flies to her face as she tries to rub her tears away. Her eyes meet mine and Jasmine is back; cold. Her eyes hold no emotion once again. Gone, just like her mate.

She stands back up and quietly pads away from me. I glance back up at the sky and I can see an hour or so has passed.

-_-_-_-_-

Rain pours down like tears from a crying infant. Never stopping. I jump to my feet; I had fallen asleep. I rush inside the tent, trying to protect myself from the harsh downpour. A booming crack causes my wolf to jump and whimper. Suddenly, a branch falls right where I had just slept. My eyes widen at the thought of it crushing me.

"What's happening?" Valencia's sleepy voice murmurs next to me. My eyes snap down next to her.

"Everest! We need to go!" I hear Jasmine's voice screaming in the distance. "There's a mudslide coming your way!"

I nudge Valencia up. She looks around in fear, eyes full of sleep.

"We need to go, it's not safe." I explain as I wake Scarlett and Axel. We all stumble out of the makeshift tent and grab our stuff into our mouths and run towards Jasmine's shouting. I feel Scarlett and Axel next to me, but I can't find Valencia again.

"Val?" I scream at the top of my lungs.

"Everest! Help me!" she screams back. I twist around to see her trying to pry her backpack free from under a log. I run back and yank the strap free and throw it onto my back. Together, we sprint ahead with the group. We stumble blindly through the dark and damp forest.

A large tree falls right in between Val and I. On one side, is Scarlett and I, and the other has Axel and Val. We keep running forward, hoping to run into each other again, but it is far too dark. The rain flies into my eyes until I resort to running with my eyes closed, and hoping I don't run into anything.

I glance towards Scarlett to make sure she is keeping up okay. Her mouth is twisted into a grimace as she runs as fast as she can.

"I can't see a thing!" she cries out as she trips over a root in the ground. I turn around and help her up.

"Are you okay?" my voice is barely audible over the howling of the wind. She nods her head. I help her up and we start running again.

A small cave is barely visible in the distant and I gesture for her to follow me in.

"We'll never make it out there, Scar. We need to wait it out," my voice cracks from talking so loudly for so long. She nods again and we head inside. Both of us barely fit inside together, but we can make it work until the rain slows. We shiver, suffering quietly next to each other.

"I'm scared, Scar." I whisper next to her, teeth chattering. She whimpers in agreement. "What if we can't find them again?"

"I don't know." she snaps at me, tears filling her eyes. "I'm terrified."

I scoot closer to Scarlett and rest my head against hers. Slowly, my eyes close and I can feel myself drifting closer and closer to sleep.

-_-_-_-_-

My eyes flutter open to see a pair of bright blue ones staring right back. I jump up, surprised. A comforting laugh fills the small space as I realise who it is.

"You scared me half to death, Scarlett," I pant, trying to slow my heart rate. She giggles at my fearful expression. Slowly, we try to work our way out of the tiny cave and stretch our aching limbs.

"I can't believe you actually slept in there," she scoffs, shaking her head. I give her a playful shove.

"Oh come on, you definitely slept too."

"How could I over your ogre like snoring?" she fires back, trotting peacefully beside me. I glare at her, but end up smiling too. We walk along side either in silence, listening to the happy chirping of the birds.  I try mind linking Val, but she isn't answering. I can tell that my worry is showing on my face by the way that Scarlett is looking at me. I grimace at her.

"I know you're worried, but it'll be okay," she murmurs to me kindly. I am unable to verbally agree, so I just nod. "I mean it, Ev. It'll be okay."

We continue to walk in silence when she huffs.

"I need to talk to you about something," she says, not meeting my eyes. She stops walking, staring at the ground.

"Okay," I say skeptically.

"It's about Jasmine. Do you think she likes me?" she is barely audible when asking. I sit across from her, shocked from her question.

"Scar, are you g-"

"I don't know, Everest," eyes filled with tears meet mine. I can tell she's in pain. "I've always thought I was straight, but Jasmine makes me feel..."

I listen quietly as she lists off several personal things about herself and Jasmine.

"You don't have to label it. Just be happy. If being with Jasmine makes you happy, do it," I say truthfully. She wipes at her eyes and nods.

"My dad would kill me if I brought a girl home, you know," she says with a bite of attitude. I roll my eyes.

"So screw him then. If he can't accept your happiness then you don't need that negativity. You don't need that in your life, Scar. You're too good for that," my voice is strong with emotion. I can't stand the thought of people starting drama because of something you can't help. You don't choose who you fall in love with.

"Thank you, Everest. I knew you would help me," she rubs her head against mine. Our wolves pur at each other.

"No, thank you, Scarlett. I think you're my best friend now," I say sheepishly. She grins goofily at me.

"You're my best friend too."

We start walking forward again, when I suddenly get a whiff of Axel's trail. We both glance at each other and take off in that direction. While running, a thought pops up in my head.

"Wait, does this mean we can discuss hot girls together?" I joke. She growls playfully at me. We smile kindly at each other and run as fast as we can, following Axel's scent.

I think we run for another fifteen minutes before the scent grows stronger for both Axel and Valencia. We start yelling their names like crazy. Stopping for a breath, we hear a faint shout in the distance. We share a wide eyed look as we stand back up. Our strong legs carry us another mile. I would sprint a whole marathon to see them again at this point.

"Everest! Scarlett!" I can hear Valencia's cries less than a mile away now. I howl out her name as I speed up again. I can feel Scarlett hot on my heels as we run.

"Valenica! Axel! We're coming!" Scarlett yells loudly. I hear Axel and Valencia exclaim excitedly at each other.

I can see her mocha colored coat a few hundred feet ahead of me. She turns around, gasps, and starts running. I don't think we have ever moved so quickly. Suddenly, we're rushing past each other. I skid to a stop, turn, and tackle her to the ground. I land several kisses all over her face. I can hear her soft giggles as I pin her down softly.

"Woah guys, get a room," Axel chuckles, flipping his hair out of his eye. Scarlett jumps onto him, growling at him for ruining our reunion. He yelps as she tugs on his ear.

"I've missed you," Val whispers underneath me. I give her forehead a quick lick, smiling.

"I think I missed you more," I reply, helping her back up. I rub my head against hers. My wolf is so pleased to be back with her again. Axel clears his voice.

"Remember what we talked about, Val?"

"What?" I ask, everyone is looking at me sadly.

"We think we found the building that Ember is in." Val says slowly, letting it sink in. I tense up.

"Let's go then. Why haven't we left yet? Come on guys!" I start walking forward. Nobody budges. They just frown at me. Scarlett steps towards me.

"Everest. She is in a highly secure building. There is over fifty guards just outside. It'd be suicide trying to storm the building. We can only get in if we know someone on the inside," she explains softly. I back away from her.

"No. We can't let that stop us. We have to go!" tears fill my eyes. This can't stop us.

"You have to listen to us. We want her back too," Axel says calmly. I growl at him. "We can't just break in anymore. It is way too risky. We have to think it out better."

"What're you saying?"

"We need help or we won't be getting her out." Valencia says beside me. My attention turns to her. Her chocolate eyes are filled with disappointment and hurt. I can tell my expression mirrors hers.

I didn't know that we'd get so close to breaking her out, and not even do it.

-_-_-_-_-

Author's Note:

I hope you all enjoyed this extra long & dramatic part !!

It was a lot of fun writing this chapter & I'm happy to be back at it again. This writer's block was really kickin' my butt hahaha.

Scarlett and Everest's friendship is so pure & cute, it absolutely kills me. I love that purely platonic bond, ya know? It's soooo cute to me.

Anyway, I hope y'all are doing well :))))

ILYSM ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT & VOTE, IT REALLY HELPS ❤❤❤❤

~Galaxy Potato

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