The apartment had turned into something else entirely.
Not quite a home anymore.
Not quite a battlefield.
Somewhere in between.
The kitchen table was buried under maps and half-finished plans. Kieran had drawn glowing runes across several of them, marking thin places in the Veil and possible entry points into the In-Between. Axel had dragged in a heavy wooden chair and was sitting backwards in it, arms resting across the back while his wolf paced beneath his skin.
Dante lounged on the edge of the counter like this was the most normal evening in the world.
Caspian stood near Mary, quiet but attentive.
Silas lingered near the wall, half-shadowed as usual.
And Mary—
Mary stood near the window, staring out into the dark city.
Her hand rested loosely at her side.
Violet magic flickered faintly around her fingers.
And that thread…
That invisible pull behind her ribs.
Still there.
Still alive.
Still pointing north.
Marvin.
Axel watched her for a minute before speaking.
"You're doing it again."
Mary blinked, pulling herself out of the distant pull of the thread.
"Doing what?"
"That thing where you stare into the distance like you're about to collapse a continent."
Dante snorted.
"That's actually a fair description."
Mary sighed and turned toward them.
"I'm not collapsing a continent."
"Yet," Dante added helpfully.
She ignored him.
"I'm tracking him."
The room quieted a little.
Caspian stepped closer.
"You can still feel him?"
Mary nodded slowly.
"They moved him."
Kieran straightened from the table.
"How far?"
Mary closed her eyes briefly.
The thread stretched again.
Long.
Thin.
But stronger than before.
"They're still heading north," she said quietly. "But deeper… farther than before."
Silas rubbed his face tiredly.
"…that means they're pushing him toward the Veil."
Dante frowned.
"Why does everything involving the Veil sound like a terrible idea?"
Silas looked at him.
"Because the Veil separates reality from the In-Between."
Dante blinked.
"Okay yeah that sounds terrible."
Axel pushed himself upright from the chair.
"So we go get him."
Mary shook her head immediately.
"Not yet."
Axel frowned.
"Why not?"
Mary walked back toward the table, resting her hands on the map.
"Because they want me to rush."
Silas nodded slightly.
"Of course they do."
Mary glanced around the room.
"We need everyone."
Dante tilted his head.
"You mean your friends."
Mary nodded.
"Avery, Jada, Miles."
Axel smiled faintly.
"They'll come."
Mary didn't doubt that for a second.
She didn't even bother with a phone.
Instead she let her magic reach outward.
It wasn't a spell exactly.
More like a pulse.
A signal.
Within minutes—
the front door opened.
Avery stepped inside first.
Her presence filled the room instantly.
Tall, confident, dark curls pulled into a loose tie behind her head. Faint glowing sigils shimmered along her forearms like living tattoos.
She stopped when she saw the room.
"…wow."
She looked at the maps.
The weapons.
The broken hallway wall.
"Okay."
She pointed toward the wall.
"Someone want to explain why this looks like the aftermath of a supernatural bar fight?"
Jada walked in behind her, golden light flickering gently around her like warmth from the sun. Her power always had a calming presence, even when she was tense.
Miles followed last, mage runes faintly glowing across his hands.
He looked around the room.
"…this feels serious."
Mary stepped forward.
"It is."
Avery crossed her arms.
"What happened?"
Mary didn't sugarcoat it.
"Marvin's been taken."
The room went quiet instantly.
Jada's light dimmed slightly.
Miles' posture straightened.
Avery didn't even blink.
"Who."
Mary answered simply.
"Malakor."
Miles let out a slow breath.
"Well."
"That's… not great."
Jada frowned.
"Where is he?"
Mary lifted her hand.
Violet energy flickered faintly.
"In the In-Between."
Avery leaned against the table slowly.
"Of course he is."
Silas nodded.
"They're moving him toward the Veil."
Miles rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yeah, that sounds like something a centuries-old villain would do."
Mary looked at the magic in her palm.
"I can still track him."
Miles glanced down at the faint glow.
"That's new."
Mary nodded slightly.
"It's more than tracking."
Axel straightened.
"What do you mean?"
Mary hesitated.
Then she lifted both hands.
The magic responded instantly.
The air in the apartment shifted.
A low hum vibrated through the floor.
Jada felt it first.
"Mary…"
Mary looked down at the swirling energy gathering around her fingers.
"I think I can move us."
Miles blinked.
"…move?"
"Between realms," Mary said quietly.
Silence fell over the room.
Kieran shook his head slowly.
"That shouldn't be possible."
Mary gave him a small shrug.
"Yeah."
"I know."
But deep down—
she knew exactly when the power had changed.
⸻
The Dream
The forest was quiet.
Silver moonlight filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the ground. The air smelled like rain and wild earth, like the moment just before a storm breaks.
Mary walked slowly through the clearing.
She already knew where she was.
Her mind.
Her wolf's territory.
But something about tonight felt different.
Heavier.
Real.
Usually when she came here she could feel her wolf.
The presence.
The strength.
The bond.
But tonight—
she saw her.
The massive black wolf stood between the trees, violet eyes glowing softly in the moonlight.
Mary stopped.
Her chest tightened.
"That's new."
The wolf studied her quietly.
Yes.
The voice echoed through Mary's mind, deep and calm.
Mary shook her head slowly.
"I thought seeing each other like this was rare."
The wolf stepped forward, her paws silent on the forest floor.
It is.
Mary frowned slightly.
"Then why now?"
The wolf stopped a few feet away.
Close enough that Mary could see the power rolling beneath her fur like living thunder.
Because you're changing.
Mary crossed her arms.
"I feel that part."
The wolf huffed softly.
Not amused.
Not annoyed.
Just… knowing.
You stopped surviving, Mary.
Mary raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
The wolf's violet eyes burned brighter.
Now you're becoming what you were always meant to be.
The wind picked up through the trees.
Magic stirred in the forest.
Mary felt the power building inside her again.
Wild.
Uncontrolled.
"What does that mean?"
The wolf stepped closer.
Close enough that Mary could feel her breath.
Storms do not stay in cages.
Mary laughed quietly.
"Is that your way of saying I've been holding back?"
The wolf's eyes softened slightly.
Yes.
Mary exhaled slowly.
"…I kind of figured."
The wolf lowered her head slightly.
You can open paths now.
Mary frowned.
"Paths?"
The wolf touched her forehead gently.
The moment they connected—
the forest exploded in violet light.
Power flooded Mary's body.
Reality twisting.
Space bending.
Worlds overlapping.
Mary gasped.
"Portals…"
Yes.
Mary steadied herself.
"And the timing?"
The wolf's voice softened.
You're ready.
Mary swallowed.
"…because Marvin's gone."
The wolf didn't deny it.
Because you believe you can bring him back.
The forest shattered.
⸻
Back in the Apartment
Mary opened her eyes.
The power was still there.
Alive.
She lifted both hands.
Violet energy spiraled outward.
The floor beneath them lit up as glowing runes formed in a massive circle.
The air twisted.
Reality bent.
Silas stepped forward slowly.
"…that's Veil-walking."
Kieran nodded quietly.
"She's opening a gate."
The air tore open.
A swirling violet portal erupted into existence in the center of the room.
Lightning crackled along its edges.
Inside—
darkness stretched endlessly.
The In-Between.
Avery blinked.
"…okay that's insane."
Jada stared in awe.
"That's beautiful."
Miles rubbed his face.
"That's terrifying."
Dante grinned.
"I love it."
Mary looked around the room.
Her friends.
Her mates.
Her people.
"We go together."
Axel stepped forward first.
Wolf blazing.
"Always."
Kieran followed.
Caspian nodded calmly.
Dante cracked his neck.
Avery rolled her shoulders.
Jada's golden light brightened.
Miles' mage runes flared.
Silas sighed quietly.
"…this is going to cause several cosmic problems."
Mary smiled faintly.
"Probably."
She turned toward the portal.
The thread pulled again.
Marvin.
Alive.
Waiting.
Her eyes glowed.
"Let's go get him."