Flora stood at the edge of the clearing, her heart pounding in her chest. The weight of Maxwell's words hung in the air, thick with warning. Bianca had crossed a line—she had made it clear that she was no ally. But what did that mean for Flora? What did it mean for the pack?
The sharp snap of a branch underfoot startled her, and she spun around, her heart leaping into her throat. But it wasn't Bianca. It wasn't anyone from the pack. It was Maxwell, emerging from the shadows with that usual calmness about him, his eyes unreadable.
"You're still here," Flora said, her voice quieter than she meant it to be.
Maxwell's gaze softened ever so slightly, though his stance remained guarded. "I had to make sure you were alright after… everything." His voice trailed off, the unsaid words hanging between them.
Flora wasn't sure if she wanted to talk to him about Bianca, about the growing tension, or about the dark pit that had settled in her stomach since the sparring session. She swallowed hard, trying to steady herself.
"I'm fine," she replied, though her tone betrayed her. "Just trying to figure things out."
Maxwell took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. "Flora…" His voice was low, the underlying urgency clear. "I need you to be careful. I don't trust Bianca. And I don't want to see you get hurt."
Flora clenched her fists, the sudden surge of emotion catching her off guard. She had spent so long building walls around herself, never letting anyone close enough to see her vulnerabilities. But Maxwell's words... his concern for her... it cracked something inside her.
"I can handle myself," she said, her voice firmer than she felt. "I'm not helpless."
Maxwell held her gaze, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then he nodded, almost imperceptibly. "I know. But that's not what I'm worried about."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence felt thick, almost suffocating, until Maxwell finally broke it.
"There's something you need to know," he said quietly, his eyes flickering toward the trees. "Something about Bianca. Something you won't want to hear."
Flora's pulse quickened. "What is it?" she asked, her voice tight with anticipation.
Maxwell hesitated before responding, as if weighing the consequences of his next words. "Bianca's involvement with the vampires... it's deeper than we thought. She's working with them."
Flora recoiled, her heart slamming in her chest. "What? No… that can't be true."
"I wish it wasn't," Maxwell said, his jaw clenched. "But I've seen the signs. She's been meeting with them in secret. The question is… what's she planning?"
Flora's stomach twisted. Bianca, the girl who had been like a sister to her, was involved with the very creatures that had torn their world apart. It didn't make sense.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Flora asked, her voice breaking slightly.
Maxwell's eyes softened with something that almost resembled guilt. "I didn't want to believe it either. But now… we don't have time to waste. You need to stay away from her, Flora. I mean it."
Flora's mind raced. She needed answers, but the thought of confronting Bianca filled her with dread. The trust she had once placed in her seemed like a fragile thing now, easily shattered by this new revelation.
"I'll be careful," she said, though the words felt hollow. "But I can't just stay away from her. Not yet."
Maxwell's eyes darkened, a flicker of frustration passing across his face. "This isn't a game, Flora. The vampires are dangerous, and Bianca's loyalty is no longer to the pack. I don't know what her endgame is, but she's using you. And I can't let that happen."
The finality in his tone struck a chord within her. Flora didn't know how to respond. The swirling emotions inside her made it hard to think straight, let alone make sense of this mess. But there was something deep inside her that resisted the idea of giving up on Bianca, even now.
"I won't let her use me," Flora said finally, though she didn't quite believe her own words. "But I need to understand what's really going on first."
Maxwell seemed to hesitate, his eyes lingering on her for a moment before he gave a single nod. "Alright. But be careful, Flora. There are things about Bianca you don't know. Things you may never want to know."
Flora swallowed hard, watching Maxwell walk away. She felt like the ground beneath her was shifting, the stability she had clung to for so long crumbling.
Later that evening, Flora found herself standing alone in the pack's common area, her thoughts tangled and chaotic. The weight of the truth Maxwell had shared pressed down on her, suffocating her. Bianca. A traitor. How could she reconcile that with the girl she had known, the girl she had laughed with and shared secrets with?
A quiet voice broke through her thoughts.
"You look lost," Luke said, his voice as calm as ever.
Flora turned, forcing a smile. "Just thinking."
Luke raised an eyebrow, taking a step closer. "About what?"
Flora hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. Maxwell's warning echoed in her mind. She didn't want to drag Luke into this, not if it was going to be as dangerous as Maxwell seemed to think.
"I don't know what's real anymore," she said quietly.
Luke's gaze softened, his expression understanding. "It's not easy, Flora. You don't have to figure everything out all at once."
Flora shook her head, frustration bubbling up. "But I do. I have to."
"Why?" Luke's voice was gentle, but there was a firmness beneath it. "Because of them? Because of Bianca?"
Flora met his eyes, a mixture of sadness and determination in her gaze. "Because if I don't, I'll lose everything."
Luke nodded slowly, but there was something in his eyes that Flora couldn't quite place. "You won't lose everything. Not if you let the right people help you."
Flora didn't know what to say to that. She hadn't let anyone close for so long, and now it felt like everything was slipping through her fingers.
Before she could respond, a loud bang from outside interrupted them, followed by the frantic shouting of voices. Flora's heart skipped a beat, and her instincts kicked in.
"Stay here," she ordered Luke, her voice urgent.
Without waiting for a response, she rushed toward the door, her heart pounding in her chest. Something was happening, something dangerous.
But as she stepped outside, she froze.
In the distance, at the edge of the clearing, Bianca stood. She was surrounded by a group of
vampires. And from the look on her face, she wasn't planning on stopping anytime soon.