The forest was silent, save for the occasional snap of a twig under a horse's hoof. Alexander, Logan, and Cara rode cautiously through Crosswater Forest, the winter air crisp and biting. Alexander's mind, however, was elsewhere—calculating, planning, predicting. Elena had entrusted him with Cara for her training test, but the forest held dangers far beyond mere lessons.
Logan's eyes darted nervously. "Alex… I think we're not alone."
Alexander froze. In the clearing ahead, a group of Death Bringers loomed, half-hidden behind trees, weapons gleaming in the moonlight. "Stay calm," he whispered. "We sneak. We don't fight… unless we have no choice."
Cara's hands clenched the reins. "They don't even know who I am… but that won't stop me," she muttered, her voice tight with suppressed fury. Before Alexander or Logan could stop her, she spurred her horse forward. "Take me to your leader!"
Alexander's eyes widened. Logan lunged, but it was too late. In an instant, all three were surrounded, disarmed, and bound. The Death Bringers wasted no time dragging them to the Wells mansion, its stone walls looming like a fortress.
Inside, Isabelle Wells, Cara's mother, caught sight of her daughter. "Untie her!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the hall. Cara demanded Alexander and Logan be freed as well. Isabelle's expression softened for a moment, but Cara's anger burned hotter. "After what you did in Willowbrook, you'll answer for everything!" she snapped.
Henry Wells, the patriarch, emerged from a meeting. His eyes narrowed at the scene. "Cara!" he barked. "One warning. Silence."
The room fell into a tense, suffocating quiet. Henry settled into his twenty-year-old royal chair, a relic of his past authority, and demanded an explanation from his men. "Why is she here?"
"They brought her," one of them stammered. "She… she wanted to come."
Henry's gaze fell on Cara. "Speak."
Cara's voice trembled, then grew steady as she recounted her story: the love she had found, the marriage she had taken in secret, and the hatred she bore for her father—especially for the massacre of innocents, including Noah Blake. Henry listened, his jaw tight, before responding bluntly, almost informally:
"You think I don't care? I do. I just… I show it poorly."
Alexander watched closely. He could see the hidden layers of regret and love in Henry's eyes. When Henry ordered Cara to leave, he warned Alexander and Logan: one wrong move, and they would feel his wrath.
Outside, Logan's voice was sharp. "Why'd you do that, Cara? You could've gotten us killed!"
Cara's eyes flashed. "I had to make him see. His biggest mistake… he needed to feel it."
Alexander, unseen by her, slid a small piece of paper to Logan—a coded plan. Logan read it, brow furrowed. "It's… risky," he whispered. Alexander merely shrugged. "It's our only way."
The trio began their journey back, taking a route Cara didn't recognize. Suspicion flickered in her eyes, but before she could question them further, Alexander moved silently, pressing a chloroform-soaked cloth over her mouth. Her eyes widened in shock, disappointment clear, but Alexander whispered softly: "It's only temporary. Trust me."
They reached The Iron Spurs' small base, and as Alexander approached, every gun in the compound leveled toward him. But Lucile Thorn, one of the two leaders, stepped forward. "Who are you? What is this?"
"My name is Ethan Brooks," Alexander said, bowing slightly. "I bring the daughter of your rival's leader as a hostage. You get her, call Henry, and… take him out."
Lucile paused, questioning his motives. Alexander's response was simple: "I want payment in return."
Satisfied for the moment, Lucile accepted, and Alexander and Logan rode swiftly back to Henry Wells.
Logan's voice trembled, half-exasperated. "Alexander… what kind of insane plan is this?"
Alexander's calm was infuriating. "By using the Death Bringers against the Iron Spurs, we weaken the rival gang. Cara will regain her trust in her father when she sees him fight for her."
Henry, enraged at Alexander's audacity but seeing the logic, mounted his horse, leading his gang into battle alongside Isabelle. Alexander and Logan shadowed them from the treeline, sniping any who aimed at Henry, ensuring Cara's safety.
The battle was brutal. Gunfire rang through the forest as arrows and bullets tore through the air. When Cara awoke, she witnessed her father fighting not for glory, but for her. The Iron Spurs' gang was decimated, leaving only Lucile Thorn alive. Henry handed her to Isabelle. "Finish it," he commanded. Isabelle did so, a single shot ending the threat.
After the carnage, father and daughter shared a silent understanding. No more shouting, just the quiet acknowledgment of love and regret.
The next day, as they traveled home, Cara scolded Alexander relentlessly. "I thought you were like a brother! But you… you're a reckless bookworm, thinking you can fix everything!"
Alexander only smiled faintly, accepting her words. Deep down, he knew she was right.