Chapter 2

I left the dining hall without touching the rest of my food.

My wolf had been restless ever since Slade walked out, and the farther he got, the worse she became. She kept pulling me toward the same direction he'd disappeared in, like some invisible thread had been tied around my ribs and she was determined to drag me after him.

I hated it.

"Stop." I nearly snapped but she refused to listen.

I veered down the corridor, following the faint pull without even realizing I was doing it.

I made it around the corner before slamming straight into someone.

"Watch it."

A hand caught my arm before I lost my balance completely but I jerked away.

"I'm sorry."

The words came automatically.

"I mean, you were standing in the middle of the doorway." I murmured, lifting my chin and the corner of his mouth lifted.

"Interesting."

"What?"

"You apologized and insulted me in the same breath." The guy said and I glanced at him properly for the first time.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, and annoyingly composed for someone I'd just crashed into. Dark hair fell over his forehead, and his eyes moved over me with open curiosity.

Then his gaze landed on the silver pin attached to my bag.

I was already preparing myself for the usual reaction when he held out his hand.

"Caelan."

I hesitated before shaking it.

"Sorscha."

His fingers closed around mine for barely a second before he released me.

"Sorscha," he repeated.

Something about the way he said my name made my stomach tighten.

My wolf stirred anyway and I frowned.

"Something wrong?" Caelan asked

"No." I said too quickly, but thankfully he didn't press.

"First day?"

"Is it that obvious?" I asked and he nodded smiling.

"Your clumsiness gave you away." He mentioned.

"Of course it did." I scoffed. My wolf pulled again.

My body turned before I could stop it, my gaze instinctively searching the corridor behind me.

Slade wasn't there.

Caelan followed my gaze.

"Looking for someone?"

"No."

His lips twitched.

"Sure."

I glared at him.

"I wasn't looking for anyone." I almost yelled at his face.

"Then whatever you're following must be very important."

"Whatever I'm following?" My face was puzzled.

"Your feet." Caelan pointed at my feet and I was already standing with my body angled toward the corridor Slade had taken.

My wolf had betrayed me again.

Before I could answer, Caelen stepped aside.

"See you around, Sorscha."

I watched him walk away.

My wolf gave one last restless pull.

I didn't know what was happening to me.

I'd spent eighteen years with her behaving normally.

Then I met Slade for five seconds, and suddenly she wanted to chase after him like she'd lost her mind.

I needed a distance.

Maybe if I stopped thinking about him, she'd settle down.

---

[SLADE'S SUITE.... SLADE'S POV]

"You're bleeding again. Why isn't it stopping"

Astrid's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I looked down at my palm.

Blood had soaked through the cloth wrapped around it.

She was good at healing minor injuries. Being a witch had its advantages.

So did being the person I occasionally shared my bed with.

Usually, I appreciated both but tonight, I barely noticed her.

My mind was still in the dining hall.

The goddess had a sick sense of humor.

Out of every woman at Blackthorn, she'd chosen an Omega as my mate.

An Omega whose presence made my wolf react against everything I'd spent years believing.

Astrid finished tending to my palm.

"What are you thinking about." She asked

"Drop it Astrid." I growled

"I noticed your..." Astrid trailed off. I glared at her and she raised both hands in mock surrender.

"Fine." She snorted.

Then, all of a sudden, something felt wrong.

My heart was beating too fast.

I pressed a hand against my chest.

Help.

I froze.

The voice was so faint I almost thought I'd imagined it.

I looked around the room.

Astrid frowned.

"What?"

I didn't answer.

Help.

There it was again.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

Someone had breached my mind.

Impossible.

I reached for my mental barriers and strengthened them but the voice slipped through anyway.

I stood and Astrid stepped back.

"Slade?"

I ignored her.

Who the hell had invaded my mind?

I closed my eyes and searched for the source.

Just darkness.

Then the voice came again.

This time, I felt a pull that hooked beneath my chest and tugged.

My wolf rose instantly.

Find her.

I opened my eyes.

"Who are you?"

There was no answer.

Only another broken whisper.

Help.

I moved toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Astrid asked.

"I don't know."

That was the truth.

But whatever was calling me had already begun pulling me somewhere.

And I was going.

---

[SORSCHA'S POV]

I should have listened when they told us not to enter the western forest after dark.

One of the dorm supervisors had made it very clear earlier this morning.

Students were forbidden from entering the western forest after sunset.

At that time, I hadn't cared but now I wished I'd asked why.

I had no idea when I'd wandered this far.

Some minutes ago, I left the dorm because I couldn't sleep and right now, I couldn't see the academy anymore.

I stopped between the trees and turned slowly.

Nothing looked familiar.

I couldn't even tell which direction I'd come from.

I wrapped my arms around myself and took a cautious step backward.

A twig snapped behind me which made me spun around but there was nothing.

"Hello?" I called out.

I took a step backward as another sound came from the trees.

Then something large moved between them.

My breath caught as nine enormous heads rose above the dark coils of a serpent so massive that its body disappeared between the trees.

"Oh, no."

The creature hissed and I ran.

Branches slapped against my arms as I pushed through the trees, not caring where I was going anymore.

The serpent followed.

I tripped over a root and crashed to the ground.

Pain ripped through my ankle.

I scrambled backward as the serpent emerged from the trees.

All nine heads opened their mouths.

"Help!" I screamed, throwing myself sideways as it lunged and one of its heads struck the ground where I'd been a second earlier.

"Somebody help me!"

I crawled backward, tears burning my eyes.

"Please!"

I screamed louder as another head snapped toward me.

"Help me!"

The moment the words left my mouth, the forest went completely silent.

The serpent froze and I slowly opened my eyes.

Something had entered the clearing.

The creature slowly turned its heads toward the trees.

So did I.

A figure stepped out of the darkness.

My heart stopped.

Slade.

He looked furious as his eyes locked onto me.

"You." He said, his face hardened and I swallowed.

"Slade."

His gaze moved from me to the serpent.

Then back again.

"Why did you call me?"

"I didn't." I cried and his eyes narrowed.

"You were screaming for help."

"Yes, but I didn't call you."

He stared at me like I was lying.

The serpent attacked again and Slade moved.

I barely saw him.

One second he was standing several feet away.

The next, a violent force ripped through the clearing.

The serpent's body slammed against the trees.

All nine heads shrieked at once.

Slade lifted one hand and a violent force ripped through the serpent.

The creature hit the ground with enough force to shake the earth beneath my feet.

Then everything went still.

Slade lowered his hand.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then he turned away.

"Wait." I called out but he kept walking.

"Where are you going?"

"Back." He hissed.

I frowned.

"Without me?"

He didn't stop.

"You know the way."

"I don't." I retorted.

He finally looked over his shoulder.

"Then you shouldn't have come." He glared and I lowered my eyes.

"I lost my way. Thanks for coming anyway" I whispered, biting my lower lips.

"Don't mistake what happened tonight for kindness."

There it was.

I looked away, swallowing the embarrassment burning my throat.

"Fine" I rolled my eyes. He should go to hell for all I care.

Slade turned to leave and as I forced myself to stand, another load of anguish shot through my leg that I nearly fell.

"Wait!." I screamed. Slade stopped but didn't turn.

"Take me back please."

"Find the way out yourself"

I stared at his back.

"You've got to be kidding me."

He started walking again.

Desperation made me speak before pride could stop me.

"Fine. Let's make a deal."

He stopped.

"A deal?" Slade asked.

"I owe you."

"I don't want anything from you." He spat with disgust.

I wasn't going to back down easily unless I wish to be eaten by the next serpent that'd definitely show up in a few minutes.

"Get me back to the academy, and I'll owe you one favor."

"What kind of favor?"

"Any favor."

"You're offering me a blank favor?"

"I don't have anything else."

He considered me for several seconds.

Then he nodded once.

"Fine."

Relief loosened something inside me.

"Follow me" he muttered, then he started walking.

I stared after him.

Then I tried to follow but my injured ankle gave out.

I caught myself against a tree.

My vision blurred that I batted my eyes very hard.

The ground gave way behind me. I reached for the tree again but missed and everything went black.

Slade had already taken several steps before his instincts screamed at him to halt.

He turned and lo, Sorscha was falling.

His arms caught her just before she hit the ground.

Her head fell agains

t his chest, her body completely limp.

He stared down at her and his arms tightened around her.

His wolf went strangely quiet.

Slade looked at her unconscious face and whispered, "What the hell are you doing to me?"