Chapter 554: Introductions in the Midst

The tension hung thick in the air, but the brown-haired man’s entrance had shifted it, somehow amplifying the unease rather than easing it.

The blonde man glanced at him sharply, his eyes narrowing. "Must your entrances always be so... dramatic?"

The brown-haired man rolled his eyes, exhaling slowly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "I wasn’t trying to be dramatic," he said evenly, though the corner of his mouth quirked as if he found the accusation slightly amusing.

Annabeth watched them both carefully, her mind racing to piece together the dynamics she was witnessing. She turned her gaze toward the blonde man. Her tone was measured, but there was an undercurrent of curiosity.

"Do you know him?" she asked.

The blonde man’s eyes flicked toward the brown-haired man, a faint acknowledgment passing between them. Then he turned his gaze back to her and nodded.

"Yes," he said. "The one who just entered... dramatically, even though he wasn’t trying to be dramatic," he pointed at the brown-haired man, "is Orion. Alpha of the Nightshade Pack."

The blonde man gestured toward the dark-skinned woman with the silver-colored eyes. "That is Brynhild. And I," he said, pointing at himself, "am Ronan."

Orion’s gaze swept over the group, assessing. Without a word, he stepped forward, walking toward Annabeth.

Ronan shifted, gesturing toward him as he spoke. "Annabeth here is from the Silver Creek Pack. Apparently, she’s the Alpha."

Orion’s expression softened, if only slightly, as he nodded. "I heard that," he said, his voice carrying the weight of authority and curiosity simultaneously. Then his eyes turned to Annabeth directly, "Where is Benny?"

Annabeth hesitated, a slight tightening in her chest. She shook her head, the gesture small but meaningful. Orion’s eyes didn’t need her to speak; he observed the group around him, reading the expressions, the slight hesitations, the tension in their bodies. He knew without a word that the news wasn’t good.

"Is anyone else injured, or in critical condition like Tobias is?" he asked.

They shook their heads.

"We are more exhausted than we are injured," Annabeth spoke. "And though some people have injuries, none are as critical as Tobias."

Orion turned to her. "What exactly is the situation with Tobias?" he asked.

"He was poisoned."

"By who?" he asked.

Annabeth knew from his tone that he was probing to see if her people had been the ones who had poisoned Tobias.

"It wasn’t us. He was helping us, but... a warrior sent by Victoria did it," she told him.

There was a beat of silence after she said it. She expected anger, but instead Orion just nodded.

He cast a look around her pack members, then nodded. "It must have been a taxing journey," he said.

Annabeth nodded. "We only made it here because of Tobias."

"Perhaps after we get to the Nightshade Pack and after you’ve rested a bit, you’d be able to inform us of what exactly happened?" he asked her.

Annabeth nodded again.

Her pack members had relaxed now, their weapons sheathed. Many heaved a sigh of relief.

Orion turned to address them. "I understand that you guys have been through a lot, and while this path isn’t filled with beasts—though you can never predict them—I’d advise we all head to the pack where you will be given shelter."

The pack members turned to each other and then nodded. They were safe from Victoria now. All they had to do was get to the Nightshade Pack.

A child, barely five, clutched at Ronan’s trousers, his tiny hands gripping the fabric tightly as if it were a lifeline. His eyes, wide and uncertain, reflected the turmoil he had witnessed.

"Are... are you really from the Nightshade Pack?" the child asked, voice small but trembling with curiosity and a hint of fear.

Ronan bent slightly to meet the child’s gaze, a reassuring smile softening his features. His voice was warm, calm, and carrying the weight of a promise. "Yes," he said gently. "We are from the Nightshade Pack. And just so you know, I’m a good fighter. I’ll keep you safe."

Brynhild scoffed at that. "Showoff."

"Says the captain of the guards," Ronan told her with a smirk.

"Want me to carry you?" Ronan asked the boy with a smile, and the boy nodded eagerly.

Ronan wasted no time picking the boy and placing him over his shoulders.

Annabeth relaxed at that. They were safe now. She didn’t know for how long, but for now, they were safe.

Benny’s sacrifice had not been in vain.

They all began walking toward the pack, Ronan at the front with the boy, while Brynhild, Annabeth, and Orion brought up the rear.

---

Immediately after they passed through the gates, Orion instructed the injured to be taken to the medical facility and then sent for a woman, Serena, to help secure homes for the members. Then he, Brynhild, and Ronan went to the medical facility.

Sam was outside the facility. She just crouched down, staring into nothing when they approached.

"How is Tobias?" Ronan asked her.

She shook her head. "I don’t know."

Orion and Ronan exchanged a look and then nodded. They entered the facility where they met with Marta and Ethan, who looked grumpy.

"What’s this one’s issue?" Ronan asked Marta, gesturing at Ethan. "It’s not like he can help with the work you guys do here."

"You wouldn’t be wrong about that," Marta said with a laugh.

Ethan gave a mock laugh too.

"I’m stuck here because my best friend is taking care of Tobias," Ethan said grumpily. Then, in a low voice, he muttered, "She could’ve chosen to be a hunter, or even a cook or a blacksmith, but no, she had to be a healer."

"Last I remembered, you encouraged her," Orion said to him.

"And I’m proud of her, but this should be our time," Ethan replied with a sigh.

Orion turned to Marta. "Genevieve is treating Tobias?" he asked.

Marta nodded. "And don’t worry, she’s good at her job."