Becca’s POV

When I first met Kallisto, I saw in her eyes that she was a killer. She was brutal, rough and dangerous. And yet in her actions… she was compassionate and almost kind. I watched her smile. She looked evil, almost. Like a wolf waiting for its prey. I had trust issues, that was it. Couldn’t be more than that. I was wrong. I was.

Of course I had trust issues. The last time I trusted someone, I fell off a cliff.

“Come on, Becca!” I had been tearing, running from the wolves.

Kassidy took my hand. “We have to run.”

I nodded. We ran through the forest, the wolves following close behind. We ran, and reached a cliff.

The wolves growled. Kassidy cried and looked at me.

“You’ll always be my best friend.” Little Kassidy had tears running down her cheeks. With a swift motion and a flick of her hand, she had pushed me, and I was falling. Falling down my rabbit hole of distrust and terror.

It was obvious that I didn't trust her. I never kept a secret. And yet, watching her loyalty made me rethink my decision.

“Jax just LOOK at him! Arsh has 2 choices, take the bullet out and let him die of blood loss, or keep it in and keep him alive for 2 hours, at most! Arsh knows his stuff, but he needs time. Who’s gonna protect Arsh and Castor while he’s patching him up?”

I had stood in silence, respect building up in me. Kallisto was loyal, and she had only known us for one day. Never got a chance to even know all our names. But yet she decided to trust us completely.

Now watching Arsh work on Castor…. There was no way Kallisto would have wanted to stay for this.

But she sounded so sincere.

Castor groaned. I turned and walked to him.

“Castor… Open your eyes.” Arsh nodded, his forehead beaded with sweat. He sat down heavily, gesturing to the gause in his bag.

I took it and began to wrap it around Castor’s arm.

Thoughts echoed in my head. Were they still alive? Was Jax leading them? Did they get hurt? Worries played like a never ending playlist. I shook my head.

Clear up your thoughts, Becca! I chided. It’s no time to worry.

Castor’s eyes fluttered open. “Becks? Arsh? What happened?”

I stroke his hair. “You were shot. Arsh had to put you to sleep.” Castor gave us a small smile.

“W-where’s Kallisto? And Jax and Ava?” I pursed my lips together.

“They went ahead to the safe haven.” I continued to run my hand through his hair.

He moaned. “I split the group? This is all my fault…”

I shook my head. “It isn’t, Cas. It’s not your fault A.S.H shot you. But we have to get moving. Can you stand?”

He nodded.

“Thanks for patching me up, Doc.” He gave Arsh a hug, rubbing his knuckles into Arsh’s curly mess of hair.

Arsh laughed. “Let’s go.”

***

Kallisto’s POV

I watched as Jax’s sanity crumbled.

“Ava…” He mumbled her name again and again, his eyes cold and distant.

Lines of worry and stress creased his face, so that the once charming leader was replaced with a tired, weary cosplay. He didn't seem himself without Ava.

“Jax… we need to move. Jax?” It had been an hour. Jax hadn't moved from his corner throughout, unspeaking.

In a raspy voice, he acknowledged me. “Why did you leave her? Why, Kallisto?”

I watched his face light up with pain.

“I-I had no choice, Jax.” I hung my head.

He nodded. “Choice is more important than my Ava.” Laughing, he walked up to me. “Kallisto… she was the world to me.” He cupped my face, cradling my cheek. Fire burned in his eyes, anger reflecting off every surface.

“Do you know what we used to say? That someday, she wouldn't be Ava Takahashi. She'd be Ava Wright. We’d have a little girl and a little boy. Wylie and Elliana Wright. Don't you think thats cute? She was my other half, Kallisto. She's dead now. As good as dead. It was naive of us to think we could ever have a future… but because of you. We will never have that future.”

With each word he said, he stepped closer, as I stepped back.

“J-Jax… I'm sorry! I had no choice.”

He laughed, his sanity slowly slipping away.

“You did, Kallisto. You just didn't take it.” He mind seems to bend and break. He crumbles to the floor, gasping for air.

“K-Kallisto I can't…. I really can't.” Tears shone. “Please…. I can't keep together.”

I knelt next to him, embracing him in a hug. “The Pack needs you, Jax. We need you. Please keep it together for our sake.”

He nodded, whimpering. I rubbed his back, hauling him up.

“You okay?” He nodded.

“Then let’s do this. For the Pack.” I watched as purpose and determination seeped back into our leader’s face. He seemed at ease, away from the tortured voices in his head.

“Alright.”