Nixx

I've searched every known and unknown rogue location that anybody could possibly think of, and I still have nothing. I'm panic driven, fear riding and anxiety running. I'm a mess, my wolfs a mess, everything is a mess. All because Noella isn't safe.

I can't think straight, can't think of anything at all besides the fact that I don't know where she is and that she's likely in danger.

I have been looking almost all day, but It's like she vanished off the face of the earth.

I halt, my brain turning, rolling with the possibilities I just set in place.

Off the face of the earth, or off the face of the forest?

He took her to the human's side? My wolf asks.

I clench my jaw as I reply, only one way to find out.

Meet me at the edge of the forest, and bring Tristan, I mindlink Kyler.

Nobody could search with me given my panic hewn races across the forest, so I'm alone in this discovery. If Foxley took her to the human side, then to the humans side we will go.

•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•

Noella

He brought me back to the other side. The normal side, or some say, the safer side.

It's not safer, not in the chilled dark as the sun says its final goodbyes. Not in the snow and cold when all I have is a light jacket and boots that are already soaked from that wolf's spit. It's a mess of search and survival.

Something icy hits my nose, and I swipe it away before another one hits my cheek, and then my eyelash, and then my lip.

I glance up, almost growling at the earth's humour. Of course it would be snowing when it's already freezing cold outside. My toes start to tingle, and I wiggle them as much as I can, but eventually, they go numb, and I'm left with wobbling feet that stumble through the dark.

My fingers ache in my pockets, already succumbing to the early stages of frostbite, and I clench them into fists as I walk faster.

I think I know where I'm going. The Old Man's Cabin resides about five minutes to my left, so, if I'm correct, that would mean if I keep walking straight, I'll hit the edge of the forest in 16ish minutes give or take. It's not that long. I can last 16 minutes, and then I'll find a pack. Any pack besides a rogue one would be good, and I can warm up in their house while I sort my head out.

Everything is going to be fine. It will be. I know it will.

A giant gust of wind slams into my side, my body so rigid with cold that I stumble into the snow, my hands reaching out to catch my fall and landing in the plush white clouds.

Or fabric. It could be fabric.

But it feels more like cotton balls or marshmallows. Soft white marshmallows that you could just lie your head in and-

"Noella!"

I think I may have forgotten what my name was.... Is my brain trying to remind me?

"El!"

I could sleep forever to the sound of that voice. rich and deep and oh so beautiful. Like the melody of a song you play for hours.

"The human side is massive, Alpha. She could be anywhere from here to in a different state by now."

"We're not leaving until we find her. Just keep looking."

There's that voice again. And, maybe footsteps? That can't be right. I'm sleeping, not walking.

"Noella!"

I jolt. The voice, it's right there. A little fuzzy, but right there.

"Nixx?"

My intention was to yell, but my voice comes out scratchy and quiet.

"Was that her?"

"It was, I swear it was!"

"Noella!"

I try to clear my throat before saying again, "Nixx!"

It's louder, and before I know what's happening, a body lands next to mine, arms engulfing my body in warmth.

•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•

Nixx

Being on the human is... weird, to say the least. It feels normal but not. The air is different somehow. Calmer. It doesn't make any sense that a couple of trees could separate worlds, but here we are, standing in the proof.

"Can you get air sickness?" Kyler asks, rubbing his arms. "Because something does not feel right."

Rowan chuckles before saying, "Stop being such a baby."

"I am not being a baby! My arms feel all tingly and shit. It's weird!"

"We're not meant for this side," I mutter as I look around. "It's normal for the atmosphere to feel strange."

"I think the atmosphere loves me," Rowan states proudly, and I hear the distinct sound of a body thumping to the ground, laughing following the sound.

I shake my head. "You guys are truly children sometimes," I say with a sigh.

Kyler throws his hands up. "My inner child won't leave! Kya thinks it's cute though, so I'm not working too hard to erase it."

The reminder of his mate, safe at home and waiting for him to return to her, makes my heart twist, gut clenching in a way I've never experienced.

"Noella is my mate," I blurt, unable to deny it anymore, and, honestly, not sure I want to.

I kept it a secret purely to keep her safe, but the situation we are in right now is evidence that danger will come no matter what titles I reveal.

"You know," Rowan starts, crossing his arms. "I knew something was off. Nothing gets you this riled, especially not a human you've just met." He smiles. "Congratulations, man."

"I could pretend that I didn't know, but I like to think my pep talks in the dark really helped you make a move," Kyler says with mock proudness in himself.

I shove him into the snow.

A twig snaps to my left, and I whip my head around, eyes scanning and searching.

"Noella!" I call.

Kyler walks further up before shouting, "El!"

"The human side is massive, Alpha. She could be anywhere from here to in a different state by now."

I shake my head, desperation clawing at my throat as I walk further up.

"We're not leaving until we find her. Just keep looking," I command.

I keep walking, my feet carried by a need that I know comes from my wolf.

"Noella!" I call again, hands cupped around my mouth.

It's useless to yell, I know. She's probably holed up in a basement somewhere, cold and alone and-

My wolf growls a low warning, and I stop my mental track from going any farther.

"Nixx?"

The voice sends electricity zipping down my spine. I know that voice.

"Was that her?" Rowan asks.

"It was, I swear it was," Kyler says excitedly.

"Noella!" I shout, my feet moving with a destination now.

My eyes don't stop looking, investigating every inch of snow.

A large lump.

It could be snow...

Or it could be a person...

"Nixx?" It croaks, and my body lurches, relief hitting so hard that I almost gasp.

My arms finally make purchase with her body, and it feels like coming home. It feels like holding my home.

"I-is it r-really you?" Noella asks, voice rough with cold and shivers.

I lift her out of the snow, her figure fitting perfectly in my arms, before saying, "It's really me, sweetheart."

Her face nestles into my neck, a contented sigh escaping her lips.

Her hands wind around my neck, and I have to keep myself from jolting at the ice-cold feeling of them.

"I m-missed you," she murmurs.

My grin is so big I'm surprised my cheeks aren't aching as I say, "I missed you too, Noella. Let's get you home and warm, ok?"

Her lips tilt as her eyes close. "Ok."