Marisol feels her hackles rise. She hated the fact that she couldn't take so much as a step within Redwood without being subjected to blind judgment and hostility without a chance to even explain.
"And I wasn't of the idea that you just go around peddling false rumors." Marisol resorts and Maya snorts, a challenge in her eyes.
"What did you just say to me?"
Jake, still amused by the unfolding events, laughs again before intercepting, "Ladies, Ladies..... let's all calm down," he urges.
But that has always been known to never work on anyone, as growls can now be heard in the room, the atmosphere boiling with animosity.
Finally, Ryan, who had been silent the whole time, spoke up, "Cut it out, Maya. Maybe anyone would believe you if you didn't make it so painfully obvious that you're just jealous of her."
The room is thrown into silence once again, the occupants seemingly needing a few seconds to process the words, until Maya screeches loudly.
"What?!"
Ryan is back to looking impassive but doesn't shy away from her glare.
Marisol shifts uncomfortably in her seat. The last thing she'd want would be to cause a rift amongst friends.
"I mean..... she is definitely a sight for sore eyes, I'll admit to that," Jake adds with a shrug, his words doing nothing to ease the tension as Maya's face grows red in anger.
"I can't believe this!" she huffs, her face flushing in embarrassment. "I'll leave then! Have fun staring at her face since she's so beautiful!" She makes a show of grabbing random items thrown haphazardly on the couch, and Marisol quickly springs to her feet, taking that as her cue to leave.
"I'm sorry for ruining the moment by coming uninvited. I'll leave instead and not displace anyone. I didn't mean to cause any trouble."
Maya remains silent, wearing a sulky expression. She gave each of them a sideways glance. The rest of the individuals in the room, however, shared secret smiles.
The whole atmosphere was now much different than it'd been when she first walked in, and Marisol wanted nothing more than to be away. With another awkward smile, she began to shuffle out of the room.
"Stop," Maya suddenly calls out. "You don't need to leave. I was wrong. That was really mean of me."
Marisol blinks, unsure how to react or respond. Lily rolls her eyes and beckons Marisol closer, the latter remaining unmoving.
"We were just testing you," Jake explains with a mischievous grin, and Marisol only grows more confused.
"Huh?" Marisol blurts out.
"I'm so sorry. It's just something we tend to do. We're embarrassed, I know. Let's forget about that. Have a seat, Marisol. Can I get you something to drink?" Lily says this time, and Marisol is certain she must look like a fish out of water.
"We're sorry for the little prank. We just wanted to see your reaction," Lily further explains.
Still processing the unexpected turn of events, Marisol tentatively takes a few steps closer until she's at her seat again.
"Well, now that the drama is over, let's go back to enjoying the evening," Jake says, and almost like his words physically pulled the weight off, the atmosphere shifts into a more lighthearted one again.
As the evening unfolds, Marisol finds herself genuinely enjoying the company of her newfound friends. Jake's humor, Ryan's intelligence, and Maya's chattiness created a dynamic and engaging atmosphere. To her surprise, the friends were deeply invested in Cedric's curse and its implications for the pack.
Their discussions revolved around the activities of the witch coven, with a particular focus on Guinevere. They firmly believed that another attack was imminent, and they had been actively investigating Cedric's patterns of attack, delving into aspects unknown even to Caleb or the pack council.
"Cedric has never attacked this part of the pack, and no one knows why," Maya discloses in the course of their conversation.
"Cedric is also known to target witch spies. Redwood is crawling with them. He's mostly prowling around the border and attacking corrupt officials. He still attacks many innocents when he's on a rampage, but we've noticed a pattern." Ryan adds leisurely, and if Marisol's eyes could grow any wider, it would. It made sense.
"Explains why this place is a lot more peaceful." She muses. "The dark energy revolving around the main pack house can not be found here. Do you think that's the cause?"
All the attention is suddenly on her, and Marisol shifts, unsure how to react.
"What do you mean?" Lily finally voiced.
"You don't sense it? This place is a lot calmer, with a different kind of energy. It eases my wolf. Ever since I stepped foot into Redwood, my wolf has been disturbed, but it's different here, and I'd wondered why."
"That's a new insight," Maya notes with a hum.
Marisol was curious about a lot of things, and most importantly, she wanted to know if they knew about the prophecy that was tied to her. But she would have to wait and discuss it with Lily first.
Amazed by the wealth of information at their disposal, Marisol walks home with Lily, feeling a renewed sense of excitement and purpose. The revelations from the evening had opened new doors, offering insights that could potentially reshape their understanding of the challenges Redwood faced.