29. Frankie

Chapter 29

Frankie

Leo’s face twists with frustration and shame. Before I can say anything, he turns and bolts. I glance back at the classroom, still buzzing with shocked whispers and Professor Everett’s attempts to calm everyone down. Dorian catches my eye, nodding slightly as if to say, Go . I take off after Leo, my heart pounding. The shadow beast trots behind me, leaving a trail of gasps in our wake. Great, just what I need, more attention, but right now, all I can think about is Leo and that look on his face. I’ve never seen him like this before.

“Leo, wait!” I call out, chasing him down the hallway. The sound of my footsteps echoes off the walls, mingling with the whispers and gasps of onlookers. Leo doesn’t slow down, his shoulders tense and fists clenched at his sides, as if he’s trying to hold onto the last shred of his dignity.

I finally catch up to him in an empty courtyard. The afternoon sun casts long shadows across the neatly trimmed grass. Ancient stone benches line the perimeter, their surfaces worn smooth by countless students over the years. Leo stands with his back to me, his body trembling slightly, silhouetted against the walls of the surrounding buildings.

“Leo,” I say softly, reaching out to touch his shoulder. His skin is warm beneath my fingers, and I can feel the tension in his muscles, coiled tight like a spring ready to snap. He flinches but doesn’t pull away.

“I couldn’t help you,” he says, his voice cracking. The pain in his tone is palpable, a raw wound that makes my heart ache. “I couldn’t even summon a simple shadow. What kind of shadow shifter am I if I can’t protect the people I care about?”

I breathe in deeply. It smells like grass and... Leo. That cologne of his always gets me. “Hey,” I murmur, gently turning him to face me. His eyes, usually dancing with mischief, are now clouded with doubt. “You don’t have to protect me all the time, you know.”

Am I weird for liking that they all want to protect me? Even when I can kick ass myself? I wonder if other shadow shifter girls feel the same.

Leo’s lips quirk into a half smile, a ghost of his usual grin. “Yeah, well, fat lot of good I’m doing as part of the pack right now. Maybe I should just stick to being the pretty face.”

My heart does a little flip at his smile, even if it’s not his usual megawatt grin. God, how does he do that to me? Even when he’s down, there’s just something about Leo that pulls me in. I push the feeling aside, focusing on the task at hand, but I can’t help wondering if this is what it’s like to be part of a pack—this intense need to protect and comfort

I chuckle, relief flooding through me at this glimpse of the Leo I know. “Well, you certainly have that covered, but you’re so much more than that, Leo. Your powers don’t define you.”

Before Leo can respond, Matteo shows up, panting a bit. He must have seen us running and followed. His eyes dart between Leo and me, concern etched on his face. The shadow beast settles at my feet, its presence causing Matteo to raise an eyebrow.

He’s always so gentle with him and with me.

“Fascinating,” Matteo murmurs, his eyes lighting up with that familiar spark of curiosity. “This is a great chance for us to gather data and analyze it. Leo, your current struggle with harnessing your powers could be caused by multiple factors such as stress, external conditions, or a temporary loss of energy.”

Leo blinks, taken aback by Matteo’s enthusiasm. “You make it sound like a science experiment, not a total failure.”

“Because that’s exactly what it is,” Matteo insists, his voice gaining momentum. “Each obstacle is an opportunity for growth. With consistent training and attentive analysis, I am confident we can greatly enhance our mastery. My latest algorithm, designed to monitor power variations, may offer valuable insight from this situation.”

I can’t help but smile at Matteo’s unwavering belief in the power of data. It’s oddly comforting.

“See?” I say, squeezing Leo’s arm. “It’s not about being useless. It’s about learning.”

Leo’s expression softens, a hint of his usual playfulness returning. “Well, when you put it that way, I guess I could be your lab rat, Matteo, as long as you promise not to hook me up to any weird machines.”

“I make no such promises,” Matteo replies with a grin.

Matteo’s eyes light up with that mad scientist gleam. “Actually,” he says, already reaching for his ever-present notebook, “I’ve been developing a prototype that could quantify shadow energy output and?—”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Leo interrupts, backing away with his hands up. “Time out, Professor Frankenstein. I take it back. No weird machines, no quantifying, and definitely no using me as your guinea pig.”

I can’t help but laugh at their banter. It’s so... them. Matteo with his endless curiosity, and Leo with his dramatic flair. How did I end up with these goofballs?

I laugh, feeling the tension dissipate. “How about we start with something simpler? We could practice together, all of us.”

Goddess knows I need all the practice I can get.

“That’s an excellent idea.” Matteo nods approvingly. “Collective training would allow us to observe and learn from each other’s techniques.”

Leo hesitates for a moment, then shrugs. “I guess it couldn’t hurt. As long as I’m not the only one making a fool of myself.”

“Trust me,” I say, grinning, “there’s plenty of foolishness to go around. You should see me try to control this guy.” I gesture to the shadow beast, which is now playfully chasing its own tail.

Damn it, I should name him.

A loud announcement crackles over the campus-wide speaker system, making us all jump. The shadow beast bristles, its form momentarily losing cohesion before solidifying again. “Attention, all students. Please make your way to the main building and proceed to the auditorium immediately. This is not a drill. Repeat, all students to the auditorium immediately.”

We exchange worried glances, the moment of comfort shattered like glass. “What now?” I mutter, the shadow beast pressing closer to my leg as if sensing my unease. Its fur, if you can call it that, feels cool and insubstantial against my skin, like trying to touch a cloud.

Just another day in the endless abyss of hell, right? Because apparently, existence at Shadow Locke wasn’t torturous enough already.

As we make our way toward the main building, the campus is a flurry of activity. Students hurry in groups, their voices a mix of confusion and fear, creating a racket that echoes off the old stone buildings. The shadow beast trails behind us, its smoky form rippling with each movement, causing a wake of startled exclamations and pointed fingers. The air feels charged, as if the atmosphere is aware of the impending change.

We run into Dorian and Tori near the entrance to the main building. Dorian’s face is a mask of concern, his usual confident demeanor replaced by tense alertness. His fog blue eyes scan the crowd, as if searching for hidden threats. Tori looks pale and shaken, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her shirt.

“Do you know what’s going on?” I ask them as we join the crowd of students streaming into the auditorium.

Tori shakes her head, her voice steady despite her obvious worry. “No idea, but after that shadow beast attack, it can’t be good.” Her eyes widen as she notices my new companion. “Speaking of...”

Dorian’s gaze fixes on the shadow beast, his eyes darkening like storm clouds gathering on the horizon. “Interesting company you’re keeping, Frankie,” he murmurs, his voice low and intense, a brow raised in question.

We find seats at the back of the auditorium, huddling close together. The room buzzes with nervous energy, whispers and theories flying back and forth like frantic birds. The shadow beast flops down at my feet. It’s weird, I can feel it against my ankles, but it’s like touching cold smoke.

The dean steps onto the stage, her heels clicking against the polished wood. The sound echoes through the auditorium, sharp and final, like the closing of a trap. The room falls silent, tension thick in the air.

“Students,” she begins, her voice carrying easily through the room, “in light of the increasing shadow beast attacks and other concerning incidents, we’ve decided to implement immediate changes for your safety.”

My stomach does this weird flip-flop thing. Oh crap, this can’t be good. I feel a strange tingling sensation spreading through my body. It’s as if my newfound powers are responding to the nervousness in the room, making my skin hypersensitive.

“Effective immediately, all students will be required to join pack houses. If you haven’t chosen a pack, you have twenty-four hours to do so and move in. This is nonnegotiable.”

A ripple of shock runs through the crowd. Suddenly, it’s like I can’t breathe right. The whole room feels stuffy. Pack houses? I’ve heard of them, but they were usually voluntary. My mind races, thinking of the implications. The shadow beast shifts restlessly at my feet, its movements synchronized with the ebb and flow of my anxiety.

The dean continues, her voice cutting through the murmurs. “Furthermore, any juniors and seniors interested in becoming guardians should meet back here tomorrow morning. All classes are canceled for the week to facilitate these changes.”

As she goes on to explain more details, I turn to my friends, my head spinning. “Pack houses? Is she serious?”

Dorian nods grimly, his voice low and tense. “It’s an old tradition, born from times of great danger,” he explains. “Pack houses are more than just dorms. They are like... fortresses. They rise from the shadow realm and will appear across the island. Magical barriers, shared power, heightened senses—everything’s amplified when you’re with your pack. It’s meant to be the ultimate protection against threats.”

I frown, trying to wrap my head around it. “So we’re basically creating our own little shadow shifter armies?”

“More like families,” Dorian corrects, his expression softening slightly. “But yeah, with teeth. The fact that they are implementing it now... I think they are hiding something big.”

“Honestly, I don’t care what they are hiding—pack houses?”

His gaze softens as he looks at me, a hint of his usual charisma breaking through. “Look, pack life’s no walk in the park, but it has perks. Mainly safety in numbers.”

It doesn’t matter who is protecting whom, Valerie taught me that. You can have the greatest protector in the world, and they can fall in a split second.

“Tori,” I say, grabbing her hand. Her skin feels cool and clammy against mine. “You’ll join our pack, right? We need to stick together.”

Tori bites her lip, looking torn. Her voice is firm despite the pain in her eyes as she responds. “Frankie, I... I can’t. My family needs me right now. With everything that’s happening, I need to be there for them.”

I feel like someone just sucker punched me. Tori’s not coming with us? This can’t be happening. The thought of facing this new reality without her by my side is almost unbearable. “But... we need you. I need you.”

She doesn’t reply right away as the assembly ends and students begin to file out. We linger behind, trying to process everything. The auditorium empties around us, the sudden silence oppressive after the buzz of the crowd.

“I’m sorry, Frankie,” Tori says softly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “My mom and aunt… The bar. I can’t leave them alone right now, but I’ll still be here, I promise, even if we’re not in the same pack house.”

I nod, trying not to cry like a baby. I get why she’s doing it, but damn, it still sucks. The shadow beast whines softly, sensing my distress. Its smoky form seems to stretch toward Tori, as if trying to bridge the gap between us.

Leo puts an arm around my shoulders, his touch warm and comforting. “Looks like you’re stuck with us then,” he says, flashing a weak smile. “At least life won’t be boring, right? And hey, at least you’ll have the best-looking pack on campus. Silver linings and all that jazz.”

I manage a small smile at Leo’s attempt to lighten the mood, but my heart feels heavy. The reality of our new situation is sinking in, and it feels like the ground is shifting beneath my feet. “I guess so, but where are we going to live?”

“We should start looking for a suitable pack house,” Matteo says, ever practical. His eyes are already darting around, as if mentally cataloging potential locations. “The sooner we secure a place, the better our chances of getting something decent.”

Dorian nods in agreement. “I know a few places that might work. We’ll need somewhere with enough space for all of us, plus room for training.”

As they discuss potential locations, I feel a sudden wave of exhaustion wash over me. The events of the day—the shadow beast attack, Leo’s struggle, and now this bombshell about pack houses—have left me drained. The shadow beast, sensing my fatigue, presses closer to my leg, its cool presence oddly comforting.

“Guys,” I interrupt, my voice sounding tired even to my own ears, “can we deal with this tomorrow? I think I need to process all this.”

They turn to look at me, concern evident in their eyes. Tori reaches out and squeezes my hand gently. “Of course, Frankie. It’s been a hell of a day.”

“We all need to crash,” Dorian says, sounding weirdly nice for once. “Let’s deal with this pack house crap in the morning.”

As we make our way out of the auditorium, the reality of our situation starts to sink in. The campus is like a ghost town. There are a few groups of students scurrying around, looking equal parts psyched and freaked out. The shadow beast trots obediently at my heels, drawing curious and fearful glances.

“Alright, Umbraxis.” I scratch his head, his name feeling right. “Let’s go rest.”

He—and I’m sure it is a he—weaves between my legs before taking off toward the tower dorms.

How did he know?