Page 67 of Chasing Stripes

They finished dressing quickly, the peaceful morning shattered. Bartek could feel the change in his own body—the relaxed contentment replaced by the coiled readiness of the alpha protecting his territory. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror as they hurried toward the door and noticed his eyes had shifted slightly to their amber tiger state, reflecting his heightened alertness.

Together they made their way through the connecting hallway to the main house, where the family had gathered in the dining room. The twins sat unusually subdued at the table while Gloria served breakfast with tight-lipped efficiency. Hudson stood by the windows, his posture rigid as he spoke in low tones with an unfamiliar wolf shifter bearing the council’s insignia.

Conversation halted as Bartek and Artemis entered. The messenger—a lean, sandy-haired man with alert eyes—straightened immediately.

“Alpha Arbor. Ms. Blu.” He offered a small bow. “Mayor Leonid sent me directly. Council security has been breached.”

“Sit,” Bartek instructed, gesturing toward an empty chair. “Tell us what happened.”

The messenger remained standing, his posture betraying his agitation. “The prisoner who attacked Ms. Blu escaped overnight. There was some kind of delayed magical explosion that took out half the holding cells and injured three guards.”

“What?” Artemis stepped forward, her eyes wide. “How could that happen? The cells have magical dampers.”

“That’s what we’re trying to determine.” The messenger pulled a sealed envelope from his jacket. “The mayor asked me to deliver this directly to you, Alpha.”

Bartek accepted the letter, breaking the wax seal with his thumb. His expression darkened as he read. “The prisoner is gone.”

The messenger cleared his throat. “There’s more, sir. The prisoner left a message burned into the wall of their cell—’The Arcane Collective reclaims its own.’“

The twins huddled closer to Gloria, their eyes wide with fear. Hudson moved protectively toward his family while Haavi—who had entered silently during the conversation—positioned himself near the doorway, guard-like.

“The Arcane Collective?” Artemis repeated, reaching out to touch the letter in Bartek’s hands.

The moment her fingers contacted the paper, she gasped sharply, her body going rigid. Bartek caught her elbow to steady her as her eyes glazed over, staring at something none of them could see.

“Artemis?” Alarm surged through him as the golden marks on her skin flared painfully bright.

“I see them,” she whispered, her voice distant. “People in robes... standing in a ritual circle...”

“What else?” Bartek urged, keeping his voice calm despite the fear clutching at his chest.

“There’s a leader,” she continued, her eyes still unfocused. “They call themThe Collector. They’re discussing—” She shuddered. “Harvesting magical artifacts and people with unique abilities.”

“Like couples in our situation,” Bartek concluded grimly, the implications churning in his gut. He held her steady until the vision faded and awareness returned to her eyes.

“Are you okay?” he asked softly, his thumb stroking the inside of her wrist where her pulse raced beneath golden-marked skin.

She nodded shakily. “I think so. That’s never happened before.”

The twins edged closer to their grandmother. Lily whispered something to Jade, who nodded solemnly. Bartek caught the word “shadows” passed between them.

“The note mentions something else,” Bartek said, returning his attention to the letter. “The eclipse in three days is significant to them.”

Artemis’s face paled. “Eclipses amplify magical connections—both creation and severance.”

The implication hung heavy in the air. “They’re planning something during the eclipse,” Bartek realized aloud. “And we have very little time to figure out what.”

The messenger shifted uncomfortably. “There’s one more thing Mayor Leonid asked me to tell you personally... The surveillance equipment detected a magical surge near Honeycrisp Bakery last night. Nothing was disturbed, but someone was definitely there.”

Bartek and Artemis exchanged alarmed glances. “We need to go to Honeycrisp,” they said almost in unison.

“Now,” Bartek added, already heading for the door. “Haavi, come with us. Dad?—”

“I’ll increase security here,” his father said before Bartek could finish. “And alert the pride.”

Gloria stepped forward, gathering the twins against her sides. “Be careful,” she called after them, voice tight with worry.

Bartek nodded once, appreciation for his family’s quick understanding flowing through him. This was what a pride meant—instant support without questions, everyone automatically taking their protective positions.

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