Chapter 101: The Journey Ahead

CALEB "I'm going to fix this, Kyle," I said quietly, too inaudible for Brielle to hear. "I'm leaving tonight with Marcus to get what we need for the potion. You just have to hold on a little longer." Brielle turned to look at me, her face softening. "Just… come back, okay? I don't want to lose you too." I nodded, unable to promise her anything more. I gave her a quick hug before stepping out of the room. I exhaled, trying to keep my breathing steady. ********* Later that night, I met Marcus outside the hospital. He was leaning against the car, staring off into the distance. He looked….happy. 'Where's your wheelchair?" I yelled, walking closer to him. 'I tossed that thing away last night. Figured it's time I used my legs a bit. I approached, feeling the tension between us thickening with each step. "Time's running out," He said without preamble. "I know." I replied, rubbing my face. "Is everything set?" "Almost." He said. 'I've got the maps and the contacts we need. The places we're going… they're not going to be easy to get to. But if we can find the ingredients, we've got a shot." I tightened my jaw. "I'm not interested in 'maybe.' I need this to work. Kyle doesn't have time for guesswork." Marcus met my gaze. "I wouldn't have brought this to you if I didn't believe it would work. But this isn't going to be a walk in the park, mio fratello. There's a reason these ingredients are so hard to get. We're talking about dangerous territories—creatures that don't take kindly to strangers, and witches who don't exactly play nice." Witches? My stomach twisted, but I forced myself to stay calm. "What about the wolfsbane? How are we supposed to counteract something that potent?" I did a little bit of digging myself. "There's a plant, the Moonflower." He explained, pulling out a map and pointing to a remote location in the northern mountains. "It's rare, but it can neutralize the wolfsbane if we can get our hands on it. It's going to be tricky, though. The longer Kyle's exposed to the poison, the harder it's going to be to reverse the damage." I nodded, steeling my resolve. "Then we don't waste any more time. We leave tonight." He slung a backpack over his shoulder, looking at me with a serious expression. I probably have never seen him this serious. "Be ready for anything, Caleb. This isn't just about finding a plant. We're walking into dangerous territory, and we might not all make it back." I swallowed hard, my thoughts drifting to Brielle and Kyle. They were my family, my entire life. "I'm not coming back without what we need," I said, steadying my voice. "Let's get moving." AARON. I climbed the stairs, the old wood creaking underneath my feet like always. Gosh, my head was still spinning from my last shift at the restaurant. It had really been a day full of emotions that I did not see coming at all. Fredo and Alessandro, I owe you both one. I was not going to lie, throwing a surprise farewell had left me feeling both touched and a little awkward. They even named a dish after me, Aaroni Al Pomodoro which was nice but also a little embarrassing. I mean, my name would practically be called every time someone ordered. Being the center of attention was definitely not my thing. Saying goodbye was tougher than he'd expected. I paused at the door, and took a moment to breathe.. Moving to Lunaville wasn't something I envisaged me doing for a long time. It would be scary, but also exciting. I hadn't been there in months, and I knew a lot of would have changed. And then there was Helena. Sweet, naive Helena.. She was the reason I was even considering the move. I pushed open the large mahogany doors, and stepped inside. Different scents greeted me and I exhaled. The scents of home. There was the familiar hint of vanilla from the candles, and the lingering smell of whatever Luna had whipped up earlier. There was another scent though, faint, but it was there. I could hear soft laughter coming from down the hallway. I quietly kicked off my shoes and made my way towards the living room. I spotted Helena and Veronica… That was the scent from earlier. When did she return? Why didn't Helena warn me? Veronica was mid-story, chatting excitedly. Her hands moved dramatically as she talked, and Helena leaned back, smiling. That relaxed smile that always made something in my chest squeeze. I stood there for a moment, just watching. Eventually, Veronica noticed me, her eyes lighting up with that familiar mischievous glint. I braced myself. 'Well, look who finally decided to show up!" She called out, her tone playful as she got up from the couch. 'Come here, Aaron. We were just talking about you. Oh my goodness, you've gotten bigger!" She exclaimed as I walked towards them. I would not lie, I missed her tauntings. She had a way of teasing me, especially when it came to Helena, that was both annoying and endearing. More annoying than endearing though, just for context. 'Hopefully, all good things. And what do you mean I've gotten bigger?" I said, trying to sound casual as I reached the couch. 'Only the best," Veronica grinned, pulling my ear the second she got a chance. 'Hey! Those are sensitive." I wailed, trying to pull her fingers off. 'Welcome back, Aaron. We've missed you." I glanced at her. We? I couldn't help but smile though. Beneath all the teasing, Veronica had a way of making me feel at home. 'Good to see you too, Veronica." I said, rubbing my ears. She stepped back, glancing at me from head to toe.'You look wiped out. Long day?" 'Yeah," I admitted, glancing at Helena, who was watching us with a look of quiet amusement. 'It was my last day at work. They threw me a little going-away party." 'Aww, how sweet," Veronica said, her tone dripping with mock sincerity. The key word here is mock. 'Did you cry? I bet you cried." 'Werewolves don't cry." I pointed out. 'But I'm going to miss those guys." They were like my own family outside home. 'What do you mean werewolves don't cry?" She asked, a little amused. 'Everyone cries. No matter if they hide it. And you should miss them," Veronica said, giving me a playful nudge. 'This is a big step. New city, new adventures... and who knows, maybe even a new romance?" My heart skipped a beat, but my expressions remained neutral.