Chapter 81 HARSH POSSIBILITIES
CHAOS.
The lighter clicked on and off in my hand, the small flame flickering for half a second before disappearing into nothing.
I wasn’t burning anything; I was just passing time. Keeping my hands busy seemed to help. Now that the elixir was off the table, I had to find other ways to occupy myself and, more importantly, my wolf.
Tonight, that meant doing something I didn’t usually let myself do: following my mate.
Even after all this time, it still felt strange to think of Merrielynn as my mate. That word carried weight, more than I wanted to admit. But it was the truth, and my wolf reminded me of it every chance it got.
I was parked just outside the school, where I knew she’d been holed up for hours. Between the planning committee and her school paper job, she’d clearly decided sleep was optional.
I flicked the lighter again, the tiny flame illuminating the dark interior of my car as I sat back, waiting.
The sky was dimming, evening falling fast, and she still hadn’t come out. I thought about going in there to drag her out myself. She overworked herself constantly, and it drove me insane.
Then the door to the school swung open, and there she was.
The wind tugged at her hair as she stepped outside, her arms wrapped around herself. She didn’t see me, parked where I was, but just watching her made my heart pound.
My fingers tightened on the steering wheel, and I sat up straighter, the lighter forgotten in my lap.
She paused for a moment, looking around like she was deciding what to do next. I waited, wondering if she’d hail a cab. But no, the stubborn idiot started walking.
At this hour? Seriously?
It wasn’t late enough for the streets to be empty, but it was late enough for me to worry. There were too many reasons for someone like her not to walk alone. My frustration bubbled over, and before I could think it through, I was stepping out of my car.
If she was walking, then I’d follow her on foot.
Why was I doing this? I didn’t even know. Part of me wanted to call her out for being reckless, to tell her she was making stupid decisions. The other part just… needed to make sure she was safe.
I kept my distance, staying in the shadows as she made her way down the path toward the dorms. The breeze picked up, and I could smell her scent on the air, faint but distinct. It tugged at me like it always did, making my wolf restless.
She started glancing over her shoulder after a while, her steps picking up.
I frowned, looking around. Was she nervous because she felt like she was being followed? Did she know I was here? Or was there something else making her uneasy?
I scanned the area, my instincts flaring to life. Something wasn’t right.
Then it happened.
A figure moved out of the shadows, fast. Before I could react, the person hit her hard, and she crumpled to the ground.
The rage that erupted in me was instant and all-consuming.
I was on them in a heartbeat, my wolf taking control. My hands grabbed the hooded figure, yanking them away from her. The hoodie slipped back, revealing a man’s face—older, unfamiliar, and filled with fear.
“Prince—” he started, but he didn’t get to finish.
My hand closed around his throat, and I squeezed. The anger coursing through me was blinding, and I didn’t stop until the light drained from his eyes and his body went limp in my grip.
I let him drop with a dull thud, my focus immediately shifting back to Merrielynn.
She was lying on the ground, unconscious, her breathing shallow but steady. My chest ached at the sight of her like this, so fragile and still.
I crouched down, scooping her up carefully. Her head lolled against my shoulder, and I felt her stir slightly, but she didn’t wake.
I needed to get her out of here.
Looking around to make sure no one else was nearby, I carried her back to my car. The walk felt longer than it should have, every step heavy with the weight of what just happened.
When I reached my car, I placed her gently in the passenger seat before getting in and starting the engine. I didn’t even think about taking her to her dorm.
No, she was coming with me.
Back at my apartment, I carried her to my bedroom and laid her down on the bed. She shifted slightly, a small noise escaping her lips, and relief washed over me.
She was okay.
I tucked the blanket around her, my hands lingering for a moment as I checked her temperature. She didn’t feel cold, which was a good sign.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I watched her for a long moment, the rise and fall of her chest soothing the knot of anxiety in my stomach.
But then the questions started.
Who was that man?
He wasn’t just some random attacker; that much was obvious. He’d known who I was right off the bat.
Could it be someone from the palace?
The thought made my jaw tighten. My father didn’t know about Merrielynn’s return—or at least I didn’t think he did. If he had, he would’ve made a move long before now.
But what if one of the servants had said something?
Back from that time I'd gone with her for the moonstone.
I hated the thought. The people at the palace had always loved Merrielynn. They wouldn’t sell her out like that. Would they?
The doubt gnawed at me.
I leaned back, pulling my phone out of my pocket.
Another thought crept into my mind, one I didn’t want to entertain.
I opened my messages, scrolling to the last conversation I’d had.
Valtor.
He’d sent me a text earlier, something I hadn’t had time to reply to yet. I stared at his name, my thumb hovering over the keyboard.
The idea felt wrong, but I couldn’t ignore the possibility. He knew things—things he could use against me if he wanted to.
I typed out a quick message.
'Hey, man.'
I watched as the text was delivered, my chest heavy with unease.
As I looked back at Merrielynn’s sleeping form, the weight pressed harder against me. Whoever had attacked her tonight wasn’t acting on their own. Someone had sent them.
The question was: who?
And the another lingered too. More pressing than the first.
Could Valtor... betray me?