DELONIX [COMPLETED]

Chapter 69

| RED POV |

The night enveloped us like a shroud as Uncle J gathered a group of guardians and warriors from Nicholas' pack. The air crackled with tension, a palpable sense of urgency hanging in the atmosphere. Shadows danced and flickered, casting eerie silhouettes on the forest floor. We were embarking on a treacherous journey-a quest to find him.

A man, tall and imposing, approached me. His eyes held a glimmer of determination as he introduced himself as Nicholas' Beta. "Don't worry, Luna," he said, his voice laced with reassurance. "We will find him."

Luna? The unfamiliar name echoed in my mind, but amidst the confusion, I nodded, my heart heavy with grief. The group assembled, a collective force bracing for what lay ahead, and we ventured deep into the heart of the forest-a territory unknown to me.

The path we treaded diverged from the familiar, verdant foliage I had grown accustomed to. A sense of foreboding washed over me as we delved deeper into the abyss. I held my breath, the air thick with tension and the scent of danger. This part of the forest was different-oppressive and suffocating.

Whispering quietly to Uncle J, I asked, "Isn't this the forest where we were once chased by wolves?" His grip tightened on his gun as he took each step with calculated precision. "Not exactly," he replied, his voice low and filled with caution. "Some paths intertwine with the one we knew before."

I nodded, my eyes scanning the faces of my friends who followed closely behind. Dean's hands trembled, his nerves laid bare for all to see. Ana, sensing his unease, held his hand tightly with a warm smile on her face before she left him and walked towards Avery. After I noticed she was no longer there, I mustered the courage to approach him.

"Hey," I whispered, his gaze shifting to meet mine. A fleeting smile graced his lips, but his eyes betrayed a hidden turmoil. "Hey," he replied.

"Are you okay?" I asked, my concern palpable. "You know, you didn't have to come. Aunt May would have welcomed you staying with her back at school." I had pleaded with Aunt May to take care of Xavier's mother, as she was the only one who knew about her peculiar condition.

"It's fine, Red," he replied, his voice tinged with resignation. "I've got this. Besides, it wouldn't be fair if the others came here and I didn't." His gaze shifted to Ana, a flicker of something unspoken passing between them.

"So, what's going on between you and Ana?" I prodded gently, hoping to alleviate the tension that clung to the air. His eyes widened, and he stumbled over his words. "N-Nothing," he stammered, his gaze darting nervously around the darkened forest. His attention, however, was abruptly diverted by something else.

"Do birds inhabit such places?" he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible. I followed his gaze and found myself staring into the unwavering eyes of an owl perched on a nearby branch. Its gaze penetrated my soul, a sense of foreboding emanating from its piercing stare. Suddenly, the forest erupted in a cacophony of bird calls, as if the very creatures of the wild sensed the impending danger.

The moon, once a beacon of light, now shrouded by a swirling mass of birds, cast an eerie glow upon our surroundings. Darkness descended, clinging to every corner of the forest. Uncle J's voice broke through the tension, his declaration sending shivers down our spines.

"They are here," he announced, his voice laced with a grim certainty.

"Who?" one of the men inquired, his voice trembling with curiosity.

"All of them,"

The tension in the air was stifling as we waited for his command, our eyes trained on the darkness that enveloped us. Suddenly, as if summoned by some unseen force, shadowy figures emerged from the depths, their forms twisted and contorted. Without hesitation, Nicholas Beta's voice pierced the night, his command ringing out with authority. "Attack!"