Stuck with the enemy

The Day of the Meeting

The night before the meeting had been an endless cycle of doubts, pacing, and restless thoughts. Choosing the final members of the team was harder than I'd imagined. As dawn broke, I felt the weight of certainty settle on my shoulders. I had my final picks.

Arden and Caden-twins as different as night and day, yet two halves of the same whole. Arden was a thinker, his mind always three steps ahead. Calm, calculated, and steady, he was the person you wanted steering the ship in a storm. Caden, on the other hand, was raw energy and brute strength, a whirlwind of action who sometimes acted before thinking. While Caden's impulsiveness was a liability, together, the brothers balanced each other like two sides of a perfectly weighted scale.

And then there was Jasmine. Arden's mate and a quiet powerhouse in her own right. Jasmine had a way of moving in silence but speaking with impact-a sharp mind and a fierce heart that couldn't be ignored. She was the final piece to the puzzle.

Now all that was left was to tell them.

I sat on the edge of the couch, phone in hand. My fingers hovered over the screen before I finally sent a message to Kai, who lived just two houses down from the twins. "Bring them to the meeting tonight," I typed, then leaned back with a sigh of relief.

"That leaves one," Derya's voice echoed in my mind, calm and steady as always.

"One more," I whispered aloud, staring at the ceiling. Who would it be?

My thoughts were interrupted by a sharp knock at the front door.

Before I even answered, I already knew who has to be by the knock: two short, three fast. I opened the door to find him standing there, breathless and determined, his messy hair falling into his eyes.

Tommy.

"Deniz!" he exclaimed, stepping inside uninvited. His sneakers squeaked against the floor as he moved.

"Tommy, what-" I started, but he cut me off.

"Listen! You have to let me join the team too!" His hands were clenched into fists, his eyes wide and pleading.

I frowned, crossing my arms. "Tommy, you're too young. It's dangerous."

"I'm not a kid anymore!" he protested, his voice cracking slightly. "I can handle myself, Deniz. You know I can."

Jacob, who had been lounging on the arm of the couch, perked up at the commotion. He grinned, sipping his coffee like he was watching a show. "Oof, this is getting good," he muttered, clearly enjoying the drama.

Aras, on the other hand, was more serious. He stood up from where he'd been leaning against the wall, his expression stern. "Tommy, this isn't a game," he said, his deep voice cutting through the room like a knife. "We're not just playing hero. This is real."

"But I'm ready!" Tommy insisted, his voice shaking with frustration. "I've been training! Ask anyone in the neighborhood-I'm strong enough, fast enough. Please, just give me a chance."

He's so desperate. The thought whispered through my mind, and Derya's voice followed it. "He means well, but you know this isn't right for him."
I know, I replied internally. But he's not going to let this go.

Tommy's voice broke through my thoughts. "Deniz, you believe in me, don't you? I just want to help. And maybe I'll find the opportunity to join the paramedics forces too."

I hesitated, glancing at Aras and Jacob for backup. Jacob shrugged, still smirking like this was the highlight of his day. "Kid's got heart," he said lightly, though I could tell he wasn't taking this seriously.