Chapter Twenty-Two: Lycan Academy is The New Hell

Chapter Twenty-Two: Lycan Academy is The New Hell

“Do I really have to go back, mom?” Ember asked. She was laying on her bed, relishing the comfort of being back in her own room. It had been ages since she had a good night's rest without the smell of something musty in the air.

Mrs Doyle nodded and made her way to Ember’s bed. She sat on it and cradled Ember’s face softly. “You have been holed up inside this room since you got back. Going back to the academy will be great for you, believe me”

“If I had a dollar for every time you told me to believe you, I would be a billionaire” Ember teased her mom and watched as Mrs Doyle tipped her head back in laughter.

“But seriously, mom, do I have to go back there?” Ember’s voice had a hint of hysteria. She could not picture herself back in school. She had just walked out from one hell and now she was expected to just walk into another?

“Ember!”, Mrs Doyle called out, it was obvious that her patience was running thin. “Every Lycan is going to be watching you now, you have to act responsible. The first step to that is going back to the academy”

“I honestly don’t care about every Lycan, mom” Ember retorted. Mrs Doyle rolled her eyes playfully at her daughter. “But you care about me, right?”, she asked.

“Honestly, I’m starting to reconsider that now. Why are you not on my side? You could teach me everything I need to know right here” Ember told her.

“You know that’s impossible”, said Mrs Doyle. “Stop being such a baby about this. Everyone in school would be excited to have you back”, she chimed.

“Easy for you to say. You’re not the one who ran away from your mating circle”, Ember retorted. 

Mrs Doyle shrugged, “I’m sure you had your reasons for running”, she said. Ember appreciated the fact that her mother was not being judgmental about it, but Mrs Doyle was her mother. Other lycans in school wouldn’t give two thoughts about using that against her.

“Worst part is… I don’t even remember running. I still don’t remember anything” Ember replied. Mrs Doyle tapped her shoulders in a bid to comfort her. She said, “I’m sure you’ll get your memories back. It’s just a matter of time”

Ember groaned. “Okay, fine, you win. I’ll go”, she said. She just needed her mom out of her hair. “Great! I’ll make you breakfast” Mrs Doyle chimed excitedly.

Before she left Ember’s room, she said. “Your dad is around, you know. He really wants to talk to you”. Ember shut her eyes, groaning inwardly. Could they not talk about this right now? “Well, I don’t want to talk to him”, she replied.

With that, she pulled the bed cover over her head and stayed there until she was sure her mother was gone.

Truthfully, she didn’t think she would ever be ready to speak to her dad. He had abandoned her when she needed him most. He made it clear to her that the pack was more important than his own daughter.

It would be best if they lived without existing in each other’s space.



Lycan Academy...

10:45 AM. The huge clock in the center of the halls chimed loudly, pulling Ember back into the hallway. As she walked, she bent her head and tried to avoid contact with anyone.

The sick feeling she always got whenever she was in school trailed her, and all she wanted was to turn around and head back home. Since she couldn’t do that now, she would keep her head low and try not to run into any of her worst nightmares, especially Juno, Lyra and Lisa.

As she walked stealthily through the hallway, she caught his scent and paused. He smelled of lemongrass and orange, a nice and delicious scent. Ember’s breath hitched in her throat as his figure came into view. He was taller than the last time she had seen him and his blonde hair was longer, almost grazing his shoulders.

“Hey, Pete” she called out, a wide smile forming on her lips. If he had recognized her as Ember, Pete did not show that. Instead, he just continued walking away, laughing loudly with his friends.

Ember’s smile faded and her heart dropped. She did not know what she expected from Pete when she finally saw him, but it sure as hell wasn’t this. He had just acted like she was invisible, like she didn’t exist.

Feeling all the more vulnerable and annoyed, she scurried away to her classroom and plopped into a seat in the far corner. She knew it was going to be a long day.

“OMG! Look who it is” A voice chirped excitedly and the owner of that voice came into view. She strolled over to Ember’s seat and a cynical smile formed on her lips.

“Ember, I heard you were back from the dead. I just had to confirm for myself”, she said.

“Lyra” Ember said her name like it held a bitter taste in her mouth. “I’m not back from the dead, because I wasn’t dead”

Lyra sat opposite from Ember, crossing both her arms and legs. “So, the rumors are true then, you ran away from your pack on the night of your mating?” She asked. 

Ember scoffed loudly because she was in no mood for Lyra’s drama. “Why do you care?”, she asked. Without waiting for a reply from Lyra, she gazed around in search of something. “And, where is your queen bee? Are you not supposed to be swarming all over her like a good little worker bee?”

Lyra shook her head slowly. “Fuck you”, she spat. “This is why you have no friends and now, no mate. All I came to do was check on you but you’re being such a bitch”

This was just the kind of drama Ember wanted to avoid and now she had been sucked into it. “You and I know you don’t give a shit about me, Lyra. You are just here to gloat” she replied.

She stood up and narrowed her eyes in Lyra’s direction. “Did Juno put you up to this? Go back and tell her that she and her uncle already ruined my life at the tribunal”

Lyra sprang up to her feet and was now face to face with Ember. “You are already a pathetic loser and a piece of trash, Ember. You didn’t need Juno for that”

Ember felt her blood boil in her veins on hearing that. An uncontrollable anger filled her and she swung her arm forward, hitting Lyra’s face with a great force. 

Lyra’s head whipped backward as the impact of Ember’s punch sent a wave of pain through her skull.  “You bitch!” Lyra screamed.

She lurched forward and tackled Ember, throwing her to the floor. A series of rapid punches connected with Ember’s face.

She tried to block Lyra’s punches but the girl was feral. Her eye color changed from its honey brown to a very bright green and she bared her sharp fangs. The impact of the blows weakened Ember and made her sight blurry.

“Hey, let her go! Lyra!” Pete’s voice sounded in the distance. The last thing she saw was Pete pulling Lyra away from her and then everything went blank.