Chapter 120
KATHERINE.
Another ten missing students. Another ten students that the school would barely try to find. Another ten students who might end up being found dead in a pit and whose murders would be covered up.
The thought of them dying reminded me of the phrase my dad had told me – A werewolf’s life is measured in full moons – and I swallowed as I sat on the couch, trying and failing to push those thoughts to the back of my mind. A knock came on the door, finally snapping me out of them, and I glanced at the doorway to see my uncle standing there. “Is everything alright?” he asked, his brows furrowed and I rubbed my forehead while nodding.
“Yep,” I replied before he walked into the room and I shifted to the side so he could sit next to me. I didn’t want to tell him about the new batch of students that went missing because he’d most likely freak out even worse than I was and wouldn’t want me to go back to Blackwood. “How are things going at the pack?”
“Fine, fine,” he muttered as he sat next to me. “We’re still clearing up what used to be the meeting hall and uh– Oh, there’s a council meeting this evening. Would you like to sit in?” he added and I raised my brows, silently asking him ‘Really?’ before he shrugged. “If you want to.”
I enthusiastically bobbed my head with a smile on my face. The first and last time I sat in on a council meeting was after my parents died, when the members were trying to figure out what should happen next. “I’d like that.”
He nodded before tipping his head to the side, giving me a serious look. “So… Where are you at with your mate?” he asked and my smile faltered before I set my mouth in a hard line and that made his brows furrow even more.
“Well…” I wondered if I should give him a vague answer or change the topic before I heaved a sigh, deciding to tell him the truth instead. “I think he’s going to reject me.”
Uncle Lander’s brows shot up while his lips parted for a moment and I couldn’t help but wonder why he was so shocked when he’d assumed Blake was going to do that weeks ago. Then he frowned. “Oh, uh…” He looked like he didn’t know how to react, like he was wondering if he should hug me or if he should get mad on my behalf or both, and I shrugged.
“It’s alright.” The picture I’d seen of him and Lenore in Hunter’s sketchbook came to mind and even though the picture had been taken a year ago according to the date at the bottom, it still brought a bitter taste to my mouth.
“No,” Uncle Lander stated firmly, sounding annoyed. “No, it’s definitely not alright.” He let out a harsh breath and his frown deepened before he returned his attention to me. “What made you think that?”
I shrugged again, not wanting to show him that this bothered me because I might just burst into tears if I did. “He’s been avoiding me. He doesn’t reply to my messages or answer my calls, and I rarely run into him on campus.”
“Shit… You don’t need him,” he said and I shot him a look because finding my mate was the reason I’d gone to Blackwood in the first place. “You don’t,” Uncle Lander repeated and I heaved a sigh, but before I could say anything, he continued, “He’s a piece of shit. He doesn’t deserve you. Those Fogarty’s… Are you going to let the council know?”
I shook my head sideways. “I should wait till he rejects me before doing that,” I replied and he gave me a sympathetic look before placing a hand on my shoulder.
“I’m really sorry, Katherine. If he does reject you, he’s a fool,” he said and the corner of my mouth turned up.
“You’d say the same thing if he accepts me. You don’t like them.”
His lips curved with a small smile. “I really don’t… I’m sure you’ll find someone ‘way’ better than him.”
Theo immediately came to mind the moment he said that and I swallowed while heat rushed to my cheeks. Then I remembered Hunter’s sketch of him and couldn’t help but laugh, earning a weird look from Uncle Lander.
“I’m still sane. Don’t worry,” I said when I finally stopped laughing and he raised a brow.
“I doubt that. You beat someone up in the dining hall,” he replied and I rolled my eyes at the reminder.
“Ugh. She got what she wanted.”
He tipped his head to the side. “You being suspended?”
“No. To be beaten up.”
He blinked at me before shaking his head and getting to his feet. “I’m not going to say anything to that. Your aunt is going to be the one to discipline you regarding that, young lady.”
“You can’t discipline your Alpha,” I said, a smile playing on my lips, and he gave me a blank look that drew another laugh from me. “Oh, I’ve talked to Lenore,” I added when he began to head towards the door and he immediately came to a stop, turning to face me with wide eyes that asked ‘Really?!’. “She’s going to talk to her dad about it. She might have already.” His eyes widened even more at that and he opened his mouth to ask something but closed it and shook his head sideways. It seemed like he couldn’t believe I’d actually talked to her about it and I snorted. “Don’t tell the council yet though. I need to talk to her on Monday first.”
He absent-mindedly nodded before once again giving me a look that said ‘Really?’ and when I nodded, he smiled. “Good job, Katherine. I’m proud of you.” With that, he headed out of the room while a warm feeling washed over me and my smile widened before I made my way over to my bed. I plopped down on it and as I glanced around, I realized that my room felt… different.
It was the same, with its soft pastel walls and the same posters and pictures in it, but something was off and it wasn’t just the layer of dust that had settled on my books and knick-knacks. I heaved a sigh as I realized that I felt that way because I’d gotten used to my room in Blackwood and the thought of Blackwood reminded me of Theo.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and opened my messages. [Me: I’m home now. Are you done arranging the books?]
After hitting send, I tossed my phone on the bed because he didn’t reply to messages immediately, but when I was about to get off the bed the next moment, my phone buzzed. I immediately picked it up.
[Theo: Surprisingly, yes. Turns out it was just your presence that slowed me down earlier.]
I snorted, wondering if he was still at the library or in his dorm room right now. [Me: Does that mean I make you lose focus?] I only realized how it sounded after hitting send and the typing bubbles appeared, but disappeared a moment later and when several moments passed without them coming back, I sent another text. [Me: Are you still in the library?]
{Theo: No. Art studio. I’m trying to figure out where the students were last seen.]
The mention of the missing students made my heart tighten in my chest and I sat upright on the bed, wondering what state they were in right now. They’d gone missing over two weeks ago so I also wondered if they were still alive or already dead. I hoped it wasn’t the latter. I still suspected the Heltons of having something to do with it but Theo had said Hunter wasn’t the culprit and I believed him. That just left the other Helton in the school – Professor Lucas Helton – but I’d been doing my best to avoid him ever since I found out they were descendants of the Hellaton that killed Killian Blackwood.
[Me: With Hunter?]
[Theo: Yeah.] Moments later, he sent another text. [Theo: I’m a bit busy right now. I’ll talk to you later.]
My shoulders sagged and I heaved a sigh at having to end our conversation so soon, but I was glad that he was trying to do something regarding the missing students. [Me: Okay. Bye, Theo.] I then dropped my phone from the bed before heading over to my window. I could see the ruined meeting hall from here and once again, I was grateful that no one had gotten hurt before anger at Silver Bow stirred within me.
“Bastards,” I bit out before glancing down and my anger was immediately replaced by joy when I saw Kit running towards the house while Aunt Vivian trailed behind him. She spotted me first and narrowed her eyes at me, probably thinking about the fight I’d started which resulted in me being suspended, and Kit spotted me next before excitedly yelling ‘Kathy’ while waving his hands in the air.
It was good to be home.