Outside, the bonfire rages. Soldiers and healers sit on logs in a circular formation around the blazing heap in the center. The officers are emerging from the dining hall to join them.
Meandering through the crowds with the heat of the fire on my face, I think about Tobias’s insistence on Jasper’s and my marking ceremony. From the outside the timing couldn’t be worse. We’re on the eve of the biggest wolf battle since the Wolf Wars—I think, history was never my strong suit—but, whatever, it’s bad. Everyone out here is doing their best to have a good time, to enjoy this one last night before the world is set aflame like the pyre to my right. But the air is heavy with dread and anticipation.
Then again, I start to wonder as I curve around the bonfire, looking for a familiar spot to land, even if Tobias’s intentions are misplaced, maybe there is something to his request. Jasper and I are about to face a kind of trouble we’ve never encountered before, and while we’ve gotten past the trials thrown our way in the past, this one is different, bigger—it seems more monumental than ever––and our survival is not guaranteed. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to make a statement about how we feel about each other before we’re potentially ripped apart.
Maybe I should say yes.
Finally, I spot a familiar face, well, actually, two familiar faces. Mason and Omar are sitting together, with a singleblanket draped over their knees, talking and smiling. Mason is chatting Omar’s ear off, telling some story that, judging from Omar’s overt reaction, is incredibly hilarious. Omar even nudges Mason with his shoulder to make him stop so he doesn’t suffocate from laughter, the nudge turning into a lean until Mason’s and Omar’s arms are pressed together.
Mason leans back smiling, notices something, an eyelash or a speck of ash maybe, on Omar’s cheek and he whisks it away with a gentle caress.
Things are going well for them it seems, which makes my chest feel a little lighter.
If their recent pairing can do this much for my state of mind, what would Jasper’s and my marking ceremony do for the entire pack?
I don’t want to interrupt them, they look so freaking cute and cozy, so I wander on.
A little further around the circle I spy Katie, sitting between Todd and Simon. The three of them look less jovial than the newlyweds I just walked by, they’re leaning close together, watching the fire, steely expressions on all of their faces, highlighted by the dancing flames and shadows.
But in her lap Katie is holding hands with both of her mates. They’re a solid unit. Ready to face whatever comes next.
Katie looks up as I pass and gives me her best encouraging smile. I tilt my head in response and shoot her a wink. I don’t want to disturb their moment either, so I continue on.
Somewhere beyond the circle, I spy Mia and Olivia over by the tree line, Mia is standing in front of Olivia, the latter’s arms wrapped around her mate, both staring at the blaze.
It seems everyone is with their someone, either trying to make the most of this night, or contemplating the battle ahead.
Lastly, I spy Aisha, and unlike everyone else, she’s alone.
“Mind if I join?” I say, already cozying up to her on her log.
To my right, a couple of soldiers are acting a little drunk, they have their arms on each other’s shoulders and are singing and swaying. Somehow their drunken chorus only adds to the weird malaise of emotions and expressions swirling around this night.
“Jasper busy?” Aisha asks.
I nod. “Last-minute strategy meeting.”
We sit quietly.
“You think we can win this thing?” Aisha asks after a long while.
I stare into the fire, the heat almost too intense against my cheeks.
“We have to,” I say. Then, after a beat, “Do you think you and Troy will get married someday?”
She sits up straighter and turns to look at me like I’ve just turned purple.
“That’s what you’re thinking about right now?”
I shake my head. “No, yeah, I guess, all this just has me thinking about the future.”
She lowers her gaze and her tone. “There’s plenty future to come, Max.”
“I hope so.”
We both turn back to the fire, and I think the conversation is over until Aisha starts talking again.
“It’s real easy to make decisions based on fear when things are as uncertain as they are now. But whatever you are thinking of doing”—she turns to me again, her expression nothing but that of an amazing friend, wanting the best for me—“just promise to make sure it’s for the right reason and not because of external pressure, okay?”
