They paid and stepped back out into the evening, the mall lights fading behind them as they turned down a quieter corner of the street. The air was cooler here, shadows stretching long between buildings.
Lunara slowed.
Her ears twitched sharply beneath the beanie. Her steps faltered, then stopped completely.
"…Something's wrong," she said.
Elara glanced back immediately. "What kind of wrong."
Lunara closed her eyes for half a second, breathing in.
Her tail stiffened under the coat. "Dangerous wrong."
Cassian froze.
"Cool. Love that. Hate that." He took one slow step backward. "I think this is where I respectfully remove myself from the situation."
Elara grabbed the back of his jacket without even looking. "Oh no you don't."
"What—Elara—" Cassian protested as she yanked him forward. "I am not built for mysterious danger!"
Lunara's gaze was fixed ahead, pupils narrowed. "Someone is watching us."
Elara's expression shifted—not scared, just serious.
A girls-girl kind of serious. "Alright," she said quietly. "You point. I follow."
Cassian groaned. "I did not sign up for being brave."
"You came with us," Elara shot back. "That's legally the same thing."
They edged closer to the corner. Lunara's hand lifted slightly, instinctive, ready. Her amulet pulsed faintly beneath her coat.
"Human... No Wolf scent," Lunara murmured. "But wrong. Heavy."
Cassian swallowed. "That's… very comforting."
Elara leaned closer to Lunara. "You're not alone, okay?"
Lunara glanced at her, surprised.
"…Thank you," she said, quietly.
Cassian sighed in defeat. "If I die, tell people I was hungry."
Elara smirked. "Relax. If anything happens, she'll bite first."
Lunara didn't deny it.
And whatever was waiting around that corner… was about to realize they weren't as easy to follow as expected.
Lunara's steps slowed again—this time for real.
"There," she said quietly.
Elara and Cassian followed her gaze down a narrow side street the mall lights barely touched.
The noise faded. The air felt heavy, wrong. Something was hunched near the wall, half-hidden behind a dumpster, shoulders shaking.
Crying.
Lunara moved first.
As she drew closer, the shape shifted—and her breath caught.
It was a wolf.
A male. Young.
Smaller than the warriors she remembered.
His white clothes were torn and stained, hanging off him like they'd been dragged through the street.
His ears were flattened tight against his head, tail muddy and rough, fur dull instead of proud.
He looked broken. Helpless.
Cassian sucked in a sharp breath. "Oh—"
Elara went still. Her voice dropped. "That's… one of you."
Lunara crouched slowly, careful, hands open.
"You're safe," she said in a low voice. "We won't hurt you."
The wolf flinched.
"No," he said quickly, scrambling back despite how weak he looked. "I ran. I'm not supposed to be here. I need to go."
"You're hurt," Lunara insisted, reaching out.
He shook his head violently.
"Please. I can't stay." Then, quieter, rushed—"Thank you. Truly."
Before she could stop him, he turned and ran—fast despite everything—disappearing into the dark between buildings.
Silence followed.
Lunara stayed frozen, staring at the empty street.
"That was—" Cassian began, then stopped, rubbing the back of his neck. "That was bad. That was really bad."
Elara stepped closer to Lunara. "Why didn't he recognize you?" she asked gently. "You're a wolf too."
Lunara's jaw tightened. Her hand drifted to the amulet under her coat.
"That's what scares me," she said. "He should have sensed me. Wolves always do."
She looked back down the street where he'd vanished.
"Unless," she added slowly, "the humans did something to block our scent. Or trained him to fear it."
Elara's expression hardened. "So he wasn't just running."
"No," Lunara said softly. "He was escaping."
Cassian exhaled. "Great. Another nightmare to add to the list."
Lunara straightened, eyes burning—not with fear, but resolve.
"This is worse than I thought," she said. "And now I know."
Elara nodded. "Then we don't ignore it."
Cassian sighed, resigned. "Guess groceries can wait."
The street remained quiet.
But whatever had been done here was moving—and it wasn't finished yet.
--
Cassian's car pulled up quietly in front of Theo's house, headlights cutting through the dim street. He stepped out with a grocery bag in one hand and another hooked over his arm, looking exhausted but composed, as always.
Elara was already there, leaning against the fence with her shopping bags, scrolling on her phone. Lunara stood beside her, coat wrapped tight, beanie pulled low, eyes alert even now.
Cassian stopped in front of Elara and said, completely straight-faced, "Next time you say 'it'll be quick,' I'm bringing a helmet."
Elara burst out laughing. "I love how funny you are when you're scared."
"I am not funny," Cassian replied flatly. "I am deeply traumatized." He glanced toward Lunara. "I fear for that wolf. What if—"
"Enough," Lunara cut in with a tired sigh.
Cassian shut up instantly.
The front door opened, and Eliot stepped out, backpack slung over one shoulder. He moved a little slower than usual, like the day had weighed him down. When he saw them, his shoulders relaxed just a bit.
Cassian unlocked the car. "Alright. Let's get everyone home."
They climbed in—Elara in the front, Lunara and Eliot in the back. Eliot slid into the seat beside Lunara, careful, respectful.
"How was the night out?" he asked quietly.
Lunara stared ahead. "Loud. Strange. Humans shop too much."
A pause.
"…But Elara was kind."
Eliot smiled faintly. "That sounds like her."
He hesitated, then asked, "And… everyone else?"
No one answered at first.
Elara looked out the window. Lunara's fingers tightened in her sleeves. Cassian started the engine without looking back.
"I just want to see you all get home safe," Cassian said finally.
Eliot nodded. "Yeah. Me too."
The car pulled away, engine humming low, carrying them through the quiet streets—away from the chaos, at least for tonight.