Chapter 42

Chapter 42
Roman’s POV

Fright from Sylvia’s threat hammered in my chest, it still echoed in my ears like a curse, and I knew one thing for sure, tomorrow she would not fail to do what she promised. If anything, she would burn the whole camp to ashes just to get what she wanted, literally she can do anything and would do anything to make sure I stay away from Elisa.

I sat on the edge of my bunk, elbows on my knees, staring at the shadows that shifted across the wooden floor, the one I created in my mind. Elisa was asleep, tonight she wasn't going back to her cabin to stay with Sylvia but was here with me. Somehow I felt she wasn’t asleep. Her wolf’s energy pulsed faintly.  She was awake, restless, thinking of me.

I shouldn't let her stay here. Not when Sylvia had already sworn that tomorrow Elisa wouldn’t survive.

I stood quietly and grabbed my jacket. My wolf growled in warning. 

Don’t wait till dawn. Take her now.

The risk was insane. If the college authorities discovered we had left in the middle of the night, I would lose my position as the professor. If the other students found out, rumors would shred Elisa’s name apart. And if Sylvia noticed we were gone? She would chase us with every trick she had as a werewitch.

But keeping Elisa here meant death.

I slipped out and circled around to the other side of my cabin where Elisa laid. My hand hesitated on the door, but when I opened it, I saw her already waiting by the window. Her eyes were wide, glistening in the moonlight. She hadn’t changed out of her camp clothes.

“You weren't asleep for sure,” I whispered.

She nodded. “I heard everything she said. She’ll try again tomorrow. You believe her too, don’t you?”

I swallowed hard and stepped closer. “Yes. That’s why we should leave tonight, let's confuse her. We will mask our scent to prevent her from tracking us.”

Her lips parted in shock. “Leaving? Tonight?”

“Yes. We’ll make it look like we went missing. That way, tomorrow Sylvia won’t have her game to play. The students will be too busy searching for us. It’s the only way to protect you.”

Her breath hitched. “And us?” she whispered.

My chest tightened at her words. Us. I wanted nothing more than to claim her, but it was too dangerous. Still, I reached out and touched her hand. “As long as you stay with me, nothing will happen to us.”

She nodded slowly. “Then let’s go.”

It wasn't something she could debate. 

We masked our scent. It would make our trail vanish, confusing even the sharpest wolf. 

By the time we slipped past the last cabin, the camp was silent. The moon hung low, lighting the dirt road that stretched into the woods. Every step felt heavier, like the night itself was testing me. I didn't know where I was going but prayed it didn't turn out to be like my first meeting with Sylvia where I'd wandered deep inside of the forest. 

Elisa walked close beside me. I could hear her breathing, fast but steady. She didn’t speak until we were far from camp. “Roman, will they really believe we’re missing?”

“They’ll have no choice,” I muttered. 

“Tomorrow, when they don’t see us, the competition will be delayed. The focus will be on finding us.” I told her.