Chapter 6

SHE WOLF

“What’s up with the gates?” The metal frames barring the outside world from Moretti Academy hung at an angle.

“That barrier is down,” Claudia muttered as the little Accord we rode in crept past the gates and the broken sign. Everything about the winding road, surrounded by over-grown foliage, had remained the same in my absence. The magnificence of the view never failed to bring me awe. It was testament to the power of magic, because without it, the lush trees wouldn’t be possible in the Nevada climate.

“Should we leave the car somewhere here?”

“No.” I pressed on the gas. In the distance, the massive buildings of Moretti Academy came into sight. The road led between dorm building four and the Union and would take me right through the middle of everything.

It’d been so long since I’d seen a Moretti Academy uniform: a short red and black skirt with a button-down, sometimes donned with blazer. Classes had gone on—life had gone on—in my absence. Returning felt foreign. Students shuffled out of the road, and I revved past. At this time, they would be headed to classes.

I peeked at dorm room four where I’d shared a room with Sandra before I’d been taken. The left window had been ours. A nostalgic pang traveled to my throat and made it hard to swallow. Refocusing on the road, I sped down the incline leading into the parking garage.

I didn’t know how healers worked, but what if Iyla could tell he was a full-on human? That would bring questions I didn’t have answers to, but I’d risk it for him. If they caught me and took me back—my hands trembled on the wheel. I turned into a parking spot and tossed the keys at Claudia. In no time, I was out of the car and opening the back.

Adrien shivered, and I pulled him into a standing position. Claudia urged her shoulder under his other side, balancing him out so it wasn’t too much strain on his injury. We shuffled into the elevator, dripping blood with each step we took.

I swallowed hard . Please, just hold on a bit longer .

Sweat beaded on his forehead, and a dark blond chunk of hair fluttered near his eyebrow.

“Helen,” he croaked, shaking his head. “I’m sorry for everything that happened. I’m sorry for not saving you sooner.” It would have hurt less if he’d reached into my chest and squeezed my heart with his hand.

“Stop. We’re almost there,” I breathed. His head drooped, and he hummed. As soon as the door dinged open, we sprang down the hall. A few stragglers hurried to their classes, but they didn’t bother stopping to ask questions. A bloody, half-dead person wouldn’t raise the alarm at Moretti Academy. I kicked Iyla’s door open, and we placed him on the first bed. Now that I shifted, I smelled the difference in here, an underlying hint of blood coated the back of my tongue and mixed with a strong cleaning substance. One of the fluorescent lights buzzed above head—they were all things I’d not noticed before.

The metal frame creaked under Adrien.

Iyla turned on her rolling chair, and her eyes bounced to him as I helped him lay down. He hissed out a breath, curving to his side.

“You kids and your dominance fights,” she tutted, standing as she rolled up her white lab sleeves. “Move aside,” she snapped and hovered over him, peeling his eyes back. She pursed her lips and ripped off the bandages, exposing the injury. I scowled, mouth opening to tell her to be gentle, but Claudia tugged my arm. Isla’s fingertips dug into the wound and a charge lifted the hair on my arms. Blood pooled under her touch at an alarming rate, but within seconds, the constant leaking tapered off. “Wait, who is this?” She squinted at his features.

“He’s a new student,” I interrupted before Claudia could open her mouth. The edges of the wound wobbled, and the top began to knit together. So close.

“You brought him just in time.” She raised her gaze to mine. “Wait.” Iyla frowned. “Helen Futz?”

As much as I tried to contain my reaction, a cold sweat washed over my neck. She lifted her eyes to Claudia.

“The Volkov girl.” Her eyes flared. She removed her hands from Adrien. I gasped, gripping his arm as he roused. I flexed my hand around his bicep, unable to close my grip around the muscle. Iyla moved back. Shit, I might have to make a run for it, but could I pick him up? Claudia hovered at my side, gnawing at her lower lip. I didn’t know how much help she would be.

Screams exploded from outside.

Iyla narrowed her eyes at me.

“Do not leave. Cyrus needs to know about your return.” Iyla disappeared with a soft curse and the slam of her door that cut off all sound from outside.

Shit, shit, shit, we needed to get out of here. Adrien’s wound still remained, but at least the incessant leaking had stopped. She’d begun healing it and had hopefully staunched what had been punctured.

“Can you get up?” I whispered, hovering over him.

He swung his legs over the edge of the mattress, the supporting legs groaning from his mass. As soon as he stood, he staggered.

“Adrien!”

His palm caught his fall and he steadied himself. With a roll of his shoulder, he straightened and cupped my cheek briefly. “I’m good, let’s go,” he said.

“Wait, it’s still bleeding. Claudia pass me a bandage.” She did as I asked, and I wrapped a fresh bandage around his chest and tied it off. While I worked, his breathing leveled out, no longer sounding as labored and close to death.

Thank God.

“Let’s get out of here,” I whispered.

Adrien hurried to match my pace, gingerly clutching his side.

Screams rang out from one of the classrooms at the end of the hall, and a student flew through a door, their body exploding upon impact. We careened to a stop, gawking at the blood-splattered wall. My stomach lurched, but I couldn’t turn into a vomiting mess.

What was going on? My heart thundered in my chest, but I couldn’t freeze up.

I yanked Adrien in the opposite direction, toward the main entrance of the Administration building.Unnaturals and humans ran in various directions. Watching it from this side of the windowpanes, they looked like headless chickens.

A hand wrapped around my shoulder.

I whirled and gasped at the purple haired fae staring down at me with shock and disbelief playing across her expression.

“Helen,” Sandra cried and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. I squeezed her waist tight.

“I never thought I’d see you again.” I sniffled into her shoulder. “Your back doesn’t hurt bending all the way down here?”

Just as she chuckled and straightened, a body went flying and landed in a pile outside of the building. Blood leaked from his gouged eyes. I gasped, nausea returning to my esophagus.

What the fuck was going on?