Phantom Rift

Phantom padded through the forest, her steps firm and deliberate. To the pack, she was strength personified—a sharp thinker, a skilled hunter, and a leader others admired. But today, her usual assuredness felt like a fragile mask.

As she neared the clearing, she overheard Marbled speaking to Roost. "Ashen's been talking about pups. They'd make strong additions to the pack."

The words struck like a claw to her chest. She forced herself to keep moving, raising her voice just enough to be heard. "Careful with that optimism, Marbled. You know pups double the work for everyone else."

Marbled laughed. "Maybe, but it's worth it. Besides, you'd handle that challenge better than anyone."

Phantom responded with a sharp grin and a quick retort, masking the ache that pulsed beneath her calm exterior. Once she was out of earshot, she let her pace slow, the tension in her chest building.

In the quiet solitude of the trees, her thoughts spiraled. "They can't know," she muttered to herself, her tone low and bitter. "They think I'm unstoppable. What would they say if they knew I can't…?"

She swallowed hard, unable to finish the thought. Even Madre's voice echoed in her mind, but it wasn't judgment she feared. It was pity.

By the time she rejoined the pack that evening, her posture was flawless, her wit sharp. She laughed and planned as though nothing had changed. No one noticed the effort it took to hide the cracks, not even Petechia, who usually saw through her like clear water.

For now, Phantom resolved to keep her secret buried, carrying her insecurity in silence.
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Phantom watched IndigoDapples approach, his steps measured and unhurried. She braced herself, knowing he had noticed something—he always did. Of all the wolves in the pack, he was the hardest to fool, and she hated how calm he always seemed, like nothing ever ruffled him.

"Everything okay?" he asked, his tone so neutral it was almost infuriating.

She met his gaze, her own unreadable. "Why wouldn't it be?"

He didn't flinch, didn't pry. "Fair enough. But if it's not, you know where to find me."

And just like that, he turned and walked away, leaving her feeling exposed in a way she hadn't expected. For a moment, she considered calling him back, letting some of the weight she carried spill out. But the thought of admitting her weakness, even to someone as fair-minded as IndigoDapples, made her stomach twist.

She watched him go, his quiet confidence a stark contrast to the storm raging in her chest. As much as she tried to ignore it, his words stuck with her.

"If it's not, you know where to find me."