Chapter 29: 29. Moonflower bloom hunt time!
FEW DAYS LATER
MICHAEL
The forest was... alive. Not in a nice ’birds chirping’ way, but in a ’I’m sure that tree is watching me’ way. Magic hummed through every leaf, every rustle, and my wolf hated it. Zavier moved like he belonged here, silent, steady, silver eyes scanning the ground for danger. I, on the other hand, tripped over roots, bark, and basically every other inconveniently placed thing in the forest. My wolf growled, annoyed on my behalf.
"Keep up!" Zavier hissed, already ten feet ahead, his tail flicking like he was barely trying.
"I’m trying!" I snapped, my paw catching a root and sending me sprawling into a bush.
A bush. A very sharp, very angry bush. My wolf yelped. Charlie was skipping through the trees like a hyperactive elf, completely unharmed, glowing with the kind of glee that was simultaneously adorable and terrifying.
"It’s okay, big brother! Just follow my lead!"Charlie said.
"Lead me to death, maybe!" I muttered.
Behind me, the other alphas were arguing, naturally. Adrian kept trying to show off his ’expert tracking skills,’ Terrence was muttering about ’storm energy interference,’ and Xavier had taken to stalking silently with a glare so sharp I was convinced he might slice the air with it. Every time one of them got close to Charlie, Michael groaned... wait, I groaned, because I was stuck running around in this chaos while Zavier stayed by my side like a smug, perfect shadow. Hours, or maybe ten minutes, I’d lost track passed. My paws were sore, my fur was dusty, and I was pretty sure I’d hallucinated a tree winking at me. But then, through the dense magic haze, I saw it. The moonflower. Bathed in a single beam of silver light, petals glowing like tiny flames, delicate, impossible, terrifying. And absolutely surrounded by an intricate pattern of glowing roots, the kind of magical snare that would make a normal omega scream and run. I froze. Heart pounding. Wolf bristling. Everything told me: step carefully, little wolf, or die. Zavier crouched beside me.
"I’ll go first." He murmured, confident as always.
I blinked at him.
"You go first? You’re supposed to be the one who’s going to die if we fail."I said.
He smirked.
"Then you’ll be the one left standing."Zavier added.
Yeah, right. I glared. The other alphas tried to step forward, one by one. Adrian tripped over a glowing root, Terrence yelped as a sudden spark scorched his armor, and Xavier... well, Xavier just froze, staring at the flower like it had personally insulted him. Charlie giggled from the edge of the clearing.
"Maybe you should try, big brother!"Charlie said.
"What? Me?" I blinked. My paws were shaking. My wolf was humming a desperate ’this is a terrible idea’ song. But somehow... something in me clicked."Aren’t you the main saint omega.?"
"You not wrong big bro, but you and Zavier need it!."Charlie grinned.
Maybe it was panic. Maybe it was instinct. Maybe it was the goddess laughing somewhere in my head. Whatever it was, I took a careful step, then another, then another. And, somehow, absurdly, I got there first. Zavier’s silver eyes widened.
"You’re... taking it?"He asked.
"Yes." I hissed, teeth clenched, trying not to trigger the snare. "I’m taking it before it kills me."
Charlie clapped wildly.
"Yay! Big brother did it!"He said.
I gave him a pointed glare.
"Do not encourage me."I frowned.
And yet, my wolf purred with the absurd relief of someone who might survive a deadly flower snare. Carefully, I plucked the Moonflower from its beam, holding it like a bomb about to go off. Every root flared dangerously, every leaf quivered... and somehow, I got out alive. Zavier stepped up beside me, silver eyes gleaming, hand brushing mine.
"Impressive." He murmured. "And exactly why I’m keeping you."
My face heated.
"Really necessary to tell me that now?"I asked.
Charlie bounced around, grinning.
"I knew you could do it! You’re amazing! I’m so proud!"He said.
Rose appeared at the edge of the clearing, arms crossed, smirking like she knew exactly how this would go.
"Well." She said slowly, eyes flicking between me and Zavier. "I expected him to be dramatic. I did not expect him to succeed. Looks like the little wolf isn’t entirely useless."
Selene muttered something that probably qualified as a curse. And the Moon Goddess herself? She floated above the clearing, laughter tinkling like silver bells, clearly delighted.
"Ohhh, this is far better than I imagined." She said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "The Silver alpha, the little omega, and your tiny saint omega companion... chaos and bravery in equal measure. Exactly what I wanted to see!"
I swore I heard Zavier groan quietly behind me, either because I’d survived, or because the goddess was clearly enjoying my suffering a little too much. Charlie waved the moonflower around like a flag.
"Mission accomplished!"He said happily.
I groaned.
"Yes, yes, mission accomplished. Can we please stop celebrating before the forest collapses around us?"I asked.
Zavier chuckled and pressed a kiss to my temple.
"You did well, little wolf. Truly."He said.
I melted despite myself, but only for a moment, because Charlie was already bouncing around, clearly plotting the next chaotic adventure, and I realized: my life is officially insane.
I was already regretting life. Mostly because the forest had decided to make everything I touched magically dangerous, and Zavier was grinning like this was some kind of romantic comedy instead of near-death survival.
Charlie skipped ahead, waving the Moonflower like a victory flag, completely ignoring the snare lines pulsing beneath our paws. I growled.
"Charlie, stop waving that thing like we’re at a parade!"I shouted.
"Relax, big brother! It’s fine!" Charlie beamed. "Look! The flower wants you!"
I blinked. The moonflower, yes, the freaking glowing magical flower I just risked my life to grab started twisting in my hands. First, a faint shimmer. Then, petals unfurling like silk ribbons. Then... magic. It exploded around me. Literally.
I yelped as silver light swirled, wrapping me like some ridiculous enchanted cocoon. My fur, my hair, even my claws shimmered and shifted. When the petals finally settled, I was standing there like the forest itself had decided to make a sexy magical warrior outfit specifically for me. Zavier’s eyes nearly bugged out. Silver heat practically radiated off him.
"...That’s... illegal." He breathed.
I looked down. My claws gleamed, my fur shimmered with soft silver embroidery, and somehow, magically, my face looked sharper, my eyes brighter, basically, everything about me was screaming main character energy. I could practically hear my wolf purring in appreciation. Charlie clapped.
"Wow! You look amazing! The Moonflower really likes you!"He said.
"I almost died to get this flower and now it’s giving me a fashion makeover?"I groaned.
Zavier pressed close, silver eyes practically glowing, wolf rumbling low.
"I... like it." He cleared his throat."...A lot."
I muttered under my breath.
"Of course you like it. You’d like a stick if it sparkled and obeyed you."I said.
Charlie laughed.
"You two look perfect together! Like a power couple! I love it!"He said.
And yes, I felt my face heat up. Of course. Then came the chaos. Because the flower’s magic wasn’t done showing off. The snare lines, apparently offended by my sudden fashion transformation, started flaring, flashing, and snapping at us. One false step and the entire clearing would light up. I stumbled forward, panicking.
"Zavier, help! I don’t want to die sparkling!"I shouted.
Zavier caught me mid-fall, chest pressing against mine. "Then stay still!" He growled, silver eyes sharp as blades. His arms wrapped around me protectively. My wolf practically melted into him.
"I can’t!" I hissed, trying to step around a snapping snare, the silvery petals of my costume shifting with every movement. "It’s... too... shiny... and dangerous..."
Charlie bounded past us.
"You’re fine! Just look at the flower! Oh! Don’t touch the roots!"Charlie said happily.
I growled.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious!"I said.
Every alpha was losing it behind us. Adrian tripped over a glowing vine, Terrence muttered something that sounded like a curse and possibly an apology to the forest spirits, and Xavier... well, Xavier’s expression was somewhere between fury and envy as he watched me sparkle in my Moonflower couture. We scrambled, Zavier holding me close as the snare lines danced around us.
"Watch out!"Charlie said.
And somehow, in the middle of the chaos, I realized, my wolf was thrilled. My heart was pounding, my cheeks were flushed—not from the running, but from being pressed against Zavier, my ridiculous moonflower outfit glowing in the forest, with Charlie cheering like this was all a hilarious adventure. Finally, Zavier and I leapt over one last snare line, tumbling into the clearing near the camp. I landed hard, glittering petals falling off in soft bursts of light. My wolf yowled, purring loud enough for everyone to hear. Zavier pressed a hand to my cheek, eyes blazing.
"You... look ridiculous. And amazing."He said.
Charlie beamed, tugging at my hand.
"You did it! You got the flower and didn’t die! I’m so proud of you!"Charlie grinned.
I groaned, collapsing into Zavier’s chest.
"I hate everything... except you, apparently... and maybe Charlie... and definitely not this outfit..."I groaned.
Zavier just laughed softly, low and rumbling.
"You look perfect. And you’re mine. Flower or not."Zavier grinned.
I blinked, heat climbing, wolf purring shamelessly. The Moon Goddess laughter echoed faintly in my head, delighted. Somewhere, I knew she was grinning at this ridiculous scene, the glittering, screaming omega, the smug silver alpha, and the giggling little saint omega.
And yes... I may have melted a little.