Two Red Strings

Chapter 17

"Olivia and the rest are in the backyard. I'll bring cookies out to you sweetcakes soon!" She chirped before hurrying back into the house as Myers led Magnolia to the back via the side gate. "Mrs. Kirkwood is such a nice lady!" She commented. "You should see Candy's father before he left. He looks almost identical to Mrs. Kirkwood's twin brother." He added. As soon as they reached the backyard, a water balloon was thrown at Myers's face.

Jackal snickered before shifting into a wolf with a midnight blue coat. He trotted over to Candy who was resting under the treehouse and rested his head on her lap. "Boss! You're here!" Brûlée cheered, poking her head out from the treehouse. "Is it alright for us to shift just like that?" Magnolia asked as they walked in. "Yea, Mrs. Kirkwood tends to her garden very well, so it hides the backyard. And she knows of our identities." He explained before he shifted into a white wolf, tackling Jackal off the pastel girl. "Fight! Fight! Fight!" Brûlée joked as Xiăo Lóng hurried down, just in case they got hurt in their play fight.

"We should come up with a name for the cupcake." Candy suggested, stopping the boys. They shifted back into their human forms. "Or, we could have the formal introductions of ourselves." Xiăo Lóng suggested. Everyone agreed and sat in a circle. "Boss, you should start first," the Third nudged his arm. He sighed. "Myers 'Ophiuchus' Firmament. Codename: Boss, or Little Master. Alpha of Silver Hearts. My wolf is Astra and my color is white." He started.

"Viktor Vashchenko. Codename: Jackal. Beta of Silver Hearts and an honorable member of All Blue. My wolf is Anastasii, which is Russia for 'resurrection' and my color is midnight." Jackal introduced, flashing a pair of ivy green eyes that belonged to Anastasii. "I'm Olivia Kirkwood. Codename is Candy. I'm the Beta Female of Silver Hearts." She smiled. "Francesca Chevalier. Codename: Brûlée. Third of Silver Hearts and Third Female of Violet Heels. My wolf is Cendrillon and my color is plat blond." Brûlée answered, flashing a pair of sullen purple eyes that belonged to Cendrillon. "Third Female?" Magnolia quizzed. She nodded. "I found my mate when I was 12 before I came here, so he's Third in my place." She answered, yawning.

"I'm Yang Kuan-Lin. Codename is Xiăo Lóng. An honorable member of Silver Hearts and Yellow Sand. My wolf is Hé, which is 'lotus' in Chinese and my color is rosewood." Xiăo Lóng introduced herself, flashing a pair of dark blue eyes that belonged to Hé. Everyone turned to Magnolia, awaiting for her introduction. "I'm Magnolia Ethel Wolfsbane. I am the Luna of White Fang. My wolf is Lacrimosa and my color is white." She smiled, flashing a pair of golden yellow eyes.

"And since you're in Silver Hearts, that makes you our Luna too." Jackal added. Everyone nodded in agreement. "Children, I've brought the cookies!" They heard Mrs. Kirkwood. "Thanks mum!" Candy chirped as they turned around to see her mother approaching them with a wide tray of the baked goods. "Make yourselves at home. You're always welcomed to come here anytime." She smiled at Magnolia.

Mrs. Kirkwood settled the tray in the middle of their circle before heading back in. "If you want anything else, I'm just inside." She added. "Yes mum!" Candy acknowledged. "So, what should Magnolia's codename be?" Brûlée quizzed. "It can be her favorite dessert." Candy suggested. "Or animal." Jackal added.

"So, what are they?" Myers asked. "I like parfaits and rabbits are my second favorite." Magnolia replied. "Parfait?" Brûlée questioned the pack. "There's no ring to it." Jackal complained, only to be snarled at by the Alpha. "It's nice, actually." Magnolia agreed to her new codename. "Well, if the little lady agrees." Jackal gave in.

・・・

"Thanks for sending me back home Myers." Magnolia thanked as he pulled over in front of the lavender house. "I'm still curious how you knew where I lived." She added. He smiled as she hopped off. Myers pulled his leg over and sat on his bike after making it stand. "I have my ways." The boy smiled, leaning in to place a kiss on her lips.

"I love you Magnolia. I really do." He said, from his heart as he parted. Magnolia pursed her lips, feeling his hot breaths. "I love you too." She suddenly said without thinking. When she realized the next moment, she began to blush madly. "It's okay if you still like Myosotis. I'm fine with it, actually." Myers whispered. "Can I ask you something?" Magnolia asked. He looked towards her. "Will you still love me if I were to leave you?" He asked.

Silence was thrown over them for a moment. "Would you still like me, much less love, if I leave?" He asked once more. Suddenly, lavender filled her nose and she started feeling drowsy. "Mmm..." she mumbled, drifting to sleep. She felt her mate pull closer to her. "I'm sorry, Magnolia." He whispered, just before she fell asleep.

・・・

"Myers!" Magnolia awoke to a quiet and warm morning. She looked around for the clock. It was 10:47, on a Saturday morning, the first day of the spring break. She looked at her messy bed. "A dream?" She wondered. She shook her head. It did happen. She realized that when she turned to her desk. The prized egg sat on its tiny silver stand.

She emerged from her room to wash up. After which she crept into Diego's room to give him a wake up call. His bed was empty. The Luna returned to the corridor and peeked into Hunter's room; empty. And so the others. Magnolia headed downstairs. "Hello?" She called out. But there wasn't any answer. There wasn't anyone. Not even Diego sleeping on the couch.

Magnolia walked into the kitchen She saw three notes on the table. She picked up one of them. It was from Hunter.

"Dear Magnolia, this is very sudden but, we've been called back to the pack house by Father.Urgent matters. You are not to come back. At least not now.
-H
P.S., there are instructions for you on the fridge."

Magnolia tried to hold back her tears. She picked up the next one; from Diego.

"Cheer up Maggy! We'll be back before Thanksgiving! We're inviting Father, Uncle Gil and Martin over! It's gonna be great!"

She felt her tears swell, threatening to fall as she picked up the third and final one; from Pantherlily.

"Dear Magnolia, this is for your own good. Please wait for us to come back. Don't worry, we'll show Golden Bell who's the Alpha."

Tears fell like water gushing out from a broken dam. Magnolia arranged the notes together before she ripped the notes to bits. The paper bits fell to the side of her feet. "You're such a horrible family!" She cried, sinking to her knees. She sat beside the dining table, for a solid two minutes, just crying. Someone knocked on the door. And they were impatient ones.

'Magnolia, it"s me.' She heard Myers. She slowly stood up and walked over to the sink, washing her face to hide her tears. Magnolia hurried over and opened the door. The youth quickly rushed in and locked the door behind him. "Myers? What's wrong?" She asked, watching her mate hurry from window to window, locking it and drawing the curtains. He drew the last curtain by the fireplace. "Magnolia..." He puffed.

"It's Golden Bell. They've discovered that you're alone. And if you don't escape now..." Myers eyes turned light blue. "Get down!" Astra shouted, running over to Magnolia. He grabbed the snow haired girl and pulled her under the dining table.

As if on cue, bullets simultaneously flew through the windows and damaging house items. Magnolia cupped her ears as bullets ricocheted. Glass shards flew about as dust aroused in the atmosphere. It lasted for a out a full minute before silence was thrown over them. Magnolia held her breath as she heard glass shards being stepped on.

'I"ll lure them away. Once the coast is clear, head to Olivia's house. It should be safe, for now before you fine better refuge.' Astra kissed Magnolia's forehead. "I'll be fine." He whispered, shifting. Magnolia shifted as well. She nudged her nose against his. In a flash, Astra leapt and pounced on a full grown man that was approaching the dining table.

"There she is!" One shouted. "Shoot it!" Another shouted. Magnolia sensed four disappearing presences. All were humans. Once silence filled the room once again, Magnolia darted out from the backdoor and ran to his house.