The van jolted over a pothole.
Theo's hands gripped the seat in front of him like he was holding the vehicle together.
"Okay," he said, voice clipped, "listen up. Safety precautions. No horseplay. Seatbelts. No touching the equipment in the back. No yelling. And do not—under any circumstances—get distracted."
Rex grimaced, leaning back with a hand over his eyes. "Oh, fantastic. My fun meter is already dead."
Theo didn't even glance at him. "I'm serious. One mistake, one second of carelessness, and—"
Rex snorted. "Yeah, yeah. Mr. Safety. Got it."
At the back, Eliot's fingers flexed over his backpack straps.
Leon's eyes were on him, calm, assessing.
"Eliot," Leon said quietly, low enough that no one else could hear, "you sure about this?"
Eliot swallowed. "I have to be. If Mira's right… the wolf's in danger."
Leon nodded, jaw tight. "Then we stay sharp. No heroics. Watch each other. That's all that matters."
Eliot exhaled slowly. "Okay. Watch each other. Got it."
Leon's eyes flicked to the road outside. "And don't let your guilt lead. You know how it starts—one slip, someone gets hurt."
Eliot nodded again, quieter this time. "I know."
Theo's voice cut through from the front. "And no arguing with the driver. Mira—stay focused. Everyone else—stay alive. That's all."
Rex muttered, "We're going to die of boredom before anything else."
Lunara, hidden under her coat and beanie in the back corner, let her tail twitch once.
Humans.
Always talking too much.
Adrian, wedged between Elara and Cassian, blinked repeatedly. "…I… I don't understand half of what you just said."
Eliot glanced at him.
"Welcome to our world," he muttered quietly.
Cassian smirked faintly, whispering to Adrian, "You'll get used to it. Maybe."
Elara's eyes stayed on Mira, quiet and sharp, while Mira kept her focus on the road but threw a glance back at Cassian, subtly warning him.
The van bounced again.
Four boys in the back tightened their group instinctively.
Theo muttered another checklist.
Rex grimaced at every word. Leon and Eliot exchanged a look.
Silent agreement.
They were ready.
Chaos was coming.
Ashfall City waited.
And the wolf didn't know they were coming.
The van finally rolled to a stop.
Eliot's head lolled against Rex's shoulder—Rex sleeping despite the chaos—soft snores rattling against the window.
"Everyone, come down," Mira's voice called from the lobby door, crisp and controlled.
Adrian blinked rapidly, straightening. "…Wait, what? Down where?"
Theo groaned softly, already dragging his backpack behind him, but a small smile tugged at his lips when a bellhop grabbed their suitcases.
At least someone else was doing the heavy lifting.
Rex muttered without opening his eyes, "I swear, my spine's going to file a formal complaint about this road trip."
Leon just exhaled, calm as ever, shoulders squared. Eliot blinked awake, rubbing his eyes, muttering a quiet,
"Morning already?"
Mira guided them inside. "Hotel's booked. Four rooms."
She paused, scanning the group. "Room assignments are as follows: one three-bed—Mira, Elara, and Lunara. Two beds for Cassian and Adrian. Theo and Eliot. And Rex and Leon."
Rex opened one eye. "What? I'm stuck with him?"
Theo smirked, tapping his suitcase happily. "At least it's convenient. Suitcases go straight to the room."
Adrian swallowed, bewildered. "Wait… you just… decided all of this?"
Mira didn't blink. "I booked it for efficiency. Rest now. Tomorrow is going to be… significant."
Elara glanced at Lunara, who stayed quiet under her beanie and coat, tail flicking once.
Lunara didn't answer but didn't argue either—humans weren't worth it.
Cassian raised an eyebrow at Adrian. "Welcome to the deep end. Try not to drown."
Adrian frowned. "…Right."
Eliot yawned, rubbing his eyes. "Can I… just collapse?"
"Keys," Mira said, handing them out, "and rooms. Go. Sleep. Tomorrow is long."
The group split naturally—some grumbling, some dragging luggage, some just following quietly.
Rex muttered at the hallway ceiling, "I hate everyone already."
Theo grinned, juggling his backpack like a victory. "I love everyone already—my suitcase made it."
Adrian trailed behind, still processing. Mira's expression was unreadable, but every move was deliberate.
Eliot finally let his head fall back, eyes closing again.
Tomorrow, he thought, will be… hell.
Or something worse.
The hotel corridor echoed with footsteps, luggage wheels, and quiet mutters—Ashfall City waiting just beyond the doors, ready to throw them all into the storm.
--
Leon sat on the edge of the bed, book open but untouched.
His eyes drifted around the room, taking in the quiet after the van ride—the soft hum of the air conditioner, the faint scent of unpacked luggage, and Rex's steady, contented snore.
Rex sprawled across the bed like he owned it, one arm dangling over the edge, the other tucked under his head.
His phone lay face-up on the blanket, thumbs frozen mid-text. He'd drifted off with a small, satisfied sigh.
"Finally," Leon muttered, closing his book. "Five minutes of peace before… tomorrow's chaos."
Rex shifted, one eye cracking open. "Yeah… peace. Too bad Theo and Eliot don't know the meaning of the word."
Leon's lips twitched. "Little energy bombs, you mean."
"Exactly," Rex whispered, stretching, "constantly thinking, planning… exhausting just to watch."
Leon leaned back against the headboard, letting the soft quiet wrap around him.
For a moment, the world felt small, soft, and manageable.
Then knock knock.
Leon's head snapped toward the door.
Rex cracked open an eye.
Theo and Eliot stood there, pajama sleeves wrinkled, hair mussed, faces tired but bright, like sparks threatening to ignite.
"Uh… hi," Theo said fast. "We—we thought we could… sleep here. Maybe tomorrow we won't get the chance."
Eliot's voice was soft, careful. "Yeah… we overthought it. But we thought—Rex will cheer us up. And Leon… you'll just… be there."
Leon nodded once, calm. "Alright."
Rex yawned, dragging the blanket to make room. "Come on in, tiny humans. Plenty of bed for a small country."
Theo practically dove onto the mattress.
Eliot followed slowly, careful of every crease, like the bed itself was fragile.
"Soft…" Theo whispered, stretching like he'd discovered heaven.
Rex chuckled, fluffing pillows. "Sleep prep: blankets—check. Pillows—check. Good-night vibes—triple check."
Eliot glanced up. "What about you?"
"I sleep when everyone else wakes up," Rex said, smirking.
Leon closed his book, letting the warmth of the group settle around him.
Minutes passed.
Theo tried to hog all the blankets.
Eliot leaned into him, small and careful.
Theo draped an arm over him.
"Don't… take all the blanket," Eliot murmured, half-asleep.
"Never," Theo whispered back, hugging him tight.
Rex shifted to the edge, Leon mirroring him. Leon's shoulder brushed Rex's as he leaned back.
"You always claim the edge," Rex murmured quietly.
"Somebody has to keep an eye on the tiny humans," Leon replied, teasing, soft.
Theo yawned, burying his face in Eliot's shoulder.
Eliot hugged him back without thinking, small, safe, warm.
Soft murmurs began to bleed into sleep:
"Stay… stay here," Theo whispered, voice almost lost in the rhythm of his breathing.
"I won't… I won't go," Eliot answered, barely audible, hugging him tighter.
"Don't… let go," Theo mumbled against Eliot's shoulder.
"Never," Eliot murmured back, voice soft and steady, like a promise.
Rex pretended to groan, nudging Leon lightly. "Hey, your turn to make sure they don't float off the bed."
Leon rolled his eyes, smirking. "I've got it. You just… stop snoring."
Bop. Theo smacked Rex lightly. "Turn off the light!"
"Hey!" Rex protested, grinning anyway.
The room fell quiet again.
Four boys, one bed. Countless unspoken bonds.
Soft. Sharp. Safe.
Outside, Ashfall City waited—but here, for now, the night was theirs.