Chapter 100: Nightshade Revisited Anna POV

I couldn't get the chat with the rogue wolf out of my head; their tales were all proof of Oliver's brutality.

Like a predator constantly on guard, Lucas moved silently and fluidly next to me. His presence served as a continual source of solace and a reminder that I wasn't fighting this battle alone.

Lucas broke the silence by saying, "We'll stick to the northern trails. It's unlikely that they have scouts stationed there."

I adjusted the strap of the bag that was slung over my shoulder and nodded. It was little, containing just the necessities that we had gathered. “Do you think the rogues will come through for us?”

Lucas paused, staring straight ahead. "They may. But we cannot completely depend on them. If they fail to appear, we will have to proceed without them."

It was intimidating to think of taking on Oliver without any help, but I forced myself to ignore the thought. I couldn't afford to think about doubts.

The air became colder as we went more into the forest, and the tall trees cast long shadows across the small trail. Though it was filled with unsaid ideas, our quiet wasn't awkward.

After a while, I remarked, my voice hardly audible above a whisper, "I was thinking about Maia."

Lucas's face furrowed as he looked at me. “What about her?”

As we passed, my fingers grazing a tree's rough bark, I said, "She was my only friend in Nightshade. She always made me feel like I wasn't totally alone when things got tough."

Lucas's face became softer. "She seems like a decent person."

With a tiny smile tugging at my lips, I answered, "She is. But I’m worried about her. If Oliver finds out she’s been helping people…”

The concept was too terrible to finish, so I drifted off.

Lucas touched me firmly but reassuringly on the shoulder. His voice was firm as he said, "We'll protect her. Just like we’ll protect anyone who stands with us.”

I nodded, taking courage from his belief. “Thank you, Lucas.”

We refilled our water skins at a tiny stream by lunchtime. Though relaxing, the clear, chilly water did little to relieve the mounting stress in my chest.

"Have you ever wondered how this will feel once it's all over?" I broke the stillness by asking.

Lucas stopped and knelt by the stream, his eyes reflective. "Occasionally," he acknowledged. "But when all you've ever known is war, it's difficult to imagine what peace looks like."

I nodded, too familiar with the sentiment. “Do you think we’ll ever have a chance to just… live?”

His blue eyes were penetrating as he gazed up at me. “I think we’ll have to fight for it. But if anyone can carve out a place for themselves in this world, it’s you, Anna.”

I felt a glimmer of hope amid the uncertainties as a result of his words.

As the sun sank farther in the sky and the shadows became longer by the hour, we carried on with our trek. The way my heart pounded and the way the air seemed to hum with a familiar energy told me that nightshade was drawing near.

I gripped my bag's strap tighter as the first indications of the pack's area appeared. Unbidden memories came flooding back, some sad, others warm. I would take everything back here, even though I had lost so much there.

Lucas reduced his speed as his keen eyes scanned the surroundings. "We're close," he murmured quietly.

I nodded, feeling a mixture of dread and excitement constrict my chest. "Let's get this done."

We exchanged one more look before moving forward, the road ahead taking us directly into the storm's center.

With a scarcely audible voice, Lucas whispered, "Three guards." His gaze darted from scout to scout. “They’re rotating in a triangular pattern. We’ll have a ten-second window between shifts.” 

With my heart racing, I nodded. Just past these trees lay my pack, or what remained of it. After everything, being so close felt unreal. 

I was grounded when Lucas's hand touched mine. "Are you ready?" 

I forced down the rush of worry that threatened to overwhelm me by swallowing hard. "As ready as I will ever be." 

Together, we took deliberate, light steps. We slipped by the guards, but they were too busy with their routines to notice. The familiar smell of Nightshade, which included wet earth, pine, and subtle ash undertones, hit me like a blow to the chest as soon as we crossed the barrier. 

It was much worse than I had expected to see when we arrived. 

The village had been destroyed. Once-proud and lofty houses had now been reduced to shattered shells. Smoke, the remains of long-extinguished flames, hung in the air. With the exception of a few wolves moving with their heads down and faces hollow and defeated, the streets were empty. 

Lucas mumbled, his mouth clenched, "This is worse than I imagined." 

I didn't answer. My throat was too constricted to speak. Instead, I guided him through the narrow streets, using my muscle memory to find my way around the broken remnants of my house. 

When Leo's house finally came into view, my chest hurt. It was a little, decrepit building that was barely standing. The windows were boarded up and the roof drooped. It appeared to have been deserted for many years. 

I paused at the threshold, having to brace myself against the doorframe as memories came rushing back. 

"Anna?" Lucas spoke in a quiet, worried tone. 

I had to force myself to open the door after shaking my head. The air felt stuffy and the room was dark. However, I noticed movement in the corner as my eyes adapted to the darkness. 

“Who’s there?” With a sharper-than-intended voice, I demanded. 

I felt my breath catch in my throat as a familiar figure entered the light.  "Maia?" 

For a minute, nobody of us moved as her eyes widened in disbelief. Then she came running over to me and threw her arms over my neck. 

She screamed, "Anna!" as she pressed her voice to my shoulder. “I thought...I thought you were dead!” 

My own tears were streaming down my face as I held her close. "I'm so sorry," I stutteringly said. "I had no choice but to leave, even though I didn't want to." 

Tears stained her face as she withdrew. “I know. I know. I’ve been praying you’d come back.” Her eyebrows furrowed as she turned to face Lucas. "You" 

Lucas took a step closer, his face wary. “We are together now,” he said simply. 

After examining him for a while, Maia nodded. "You're welcome here if you're with Anna." 

Lucas said, "Thank you," in an earnest tone. 

With hurried, apprehensive movements, Maia motioned for us to sit. “You shouldn’t have come back,” she said, her voice low. “It’s not safe. Oliver’s men patrol the village constantly, and anyone who steps out of line…” Her gaze darkened as she drifted off. 

My hands clenched as my rage boiled to the surface. "How did things get so bad?" 

With a groan, Maia sank into a chair. “After you left, things got worse. Oliver become increasingly angry and paranoid. He's been clamping down on everyone he believes might betray him because he believes a rebellion is forming. People are terrified.” 

Lucas's jaw tensed as we looked at each other. 

"What keeps you here?" I asked quietly. 

Tears clouded Maia's eyes. "Because, Anna, I don't know where else to go. I’ve been hiding supplies, helping those who need it. I couldn’t just leave.” 

The strength it must have taken to stay made my heart hurt for her. I reached for her hand and said, "You're amazing." 

She smiled at me a little, dejectedly. "You are, too. You made it through. And you came back.” 

Lucas cleared his throat, drawing our attention. “We need to talk strategy,” he said. "We can't afford to make any mistakes if Oliver's hold is as tight as it looks." 

With a serious expression, Maia nodded. "What are you going to do?"

I paused, looking at Lucas. I acknowledged, "We're still working on it. But I need to find a way to rally the pack. We can’t do this alone.” 

Maia's expression dimmed. "That will be challenging. People are too afraid to defend themselves. They’ve seen what happens to those who try.” 

Lucas firmly stated, "Then we'll show them it's possible. We’ll give them a reason to believe.” 

Maia gazed at him, her eyes filled with doubt. “It won't work.” 

I stood, determination pouring through me. “It has to” I said. “Because if we don’t fight, we’ve already lost.” 

The room grew hushed, the weight of my words hanging over us. Maia’s stare remained on me, and I could see the flash of hope in her eyes. 

“Alright,” she said finally. “If anyone can do this, it’s you.” 

I nodded, my determination strengthening. This was my home, my family. And I would do whatever it takes to save them. 

As we began contemplating our future measures, a faint sound entered my ears—footsteps approaching the home. I gestured for silence as my blood turned cold. 

With his hand already on his blade's hilt, Lucas muttered, "Someone is coming." 

Maia's terrified eyes grew wide. Her voice was shaking as she said, "They must have seen you." 

I walked over to the window and peered through the board gap. There was a stranger coming, the shadows hiding their face. I looked to Maia and Lucas, my heart racing. 

"Prepare yourself," I muttered. "There may not be much time left."