Chapter 12 CHAPTER 12

Chapter 12 CHAPTER 12
Chapter Twelve

Henna’s POV
The morning sun hits the high mountains, but the light in my room feels cold. I sit up and rub my eyes, immediately looking at the other bed. It’s empty. Caroline is already gone.

Last night was weird. When I finally came back to the room, I could swear I heard her sobbing. She was lying on her side, facing the wall, her shoulders shaking under the thin blanket. I tried to speak to her, to ask if she was okay, but she wouldn't talk to me. She just stayed silent, acting like she was already asleep.

A buzzing sound on the nightstand makes me jump. I grab my phone, seeing Mom flashing on the screen.
"Henna! Oh thank god," Melody’s voice cracks the second I answer. "We’ve been waiting for your call. Are you okay? Is the school... normal?"

"I'm fine, Mom," I lie, forced to keep my voice low. "The campus is huge. It’s like a castle. Gary, is the car okay?"

"The mechanic is working on it now," Gary says, his voice booming in the background. "Just stay safe, honey. Call us every night."

After I hang up, my phone dings with a dozen texts from my best friend, Chloe. I hit the video call button, and her face pops up instantly. She’s sitting in our favorite coffee shop back in Seattle, looking like she’s from a different planet.

"Girl, show me!" Chloe squeals. "Is it full of hot, rich guys? Are you living the dream?"

"It’s... complicated," I say, tilting the phone so she can see the dark wood and stone walls of the dorm. "Everyone is a bit intense here. And the internet is weird. Chloe, do me a favor? Search 'Lycan Academy' on your laptop."

I wait while I hear her typing. "Nothing," she says, her brow furrowing. "Just some fan-fiction sites and a high-end clothing brand. Are you sure you’re at a real school and not in a cult?"

I let out a shaky sigh. "I have to go to class. I’ll call you later."

I hang up and stare at the blank Google search on my own screen. It’s creepy. How can a school this big, this old, not exist on the internet? My mind drifts to Ulric. I haven’t seen him since he left with that girl, Olenna. Who is she to him? His girlfriend? His sister? The way she looked at me made my skin crawl.

I shake the thoughts away and get dressed for my first day. I pull on a simple sweater and jeans, grab my bag, and head for the door.

I don't even make it three steps into the hallway before I’m blocked.

A group of students I’ve never seen before are standing there. They aren't wearing the standard sweaters; they look like they’re dressed for a photoshoot, but their eyes are hard. They size me up, their gazes lingering on my shoes and my hair like I’m a bug under a microscope.

"How did you get into this school?" one of them asks. Her voice is sharp, lacking any hint of a greeting.

I pull my bag strap tighter, trying not to feel insulted. "I got accepted into the school. Just like everyone else."
"Got accepted?" another one repeats. They exchange quick, knowing glances that make me feel like I’ve missed the punchline of a very bad joke.

"How did you get past the borders?" a third one asks, stepping closer. "A human shouldn't be able to even see the gates."

I look at them, my confusion turning into frustration. Why is everyone so obsessed with the road I drove in on? "Why do you all care so much? I have my letter. I’m a student."

"Why do you all want to know?"

The voice is familiar and smooth. I look up and see Ulric leaning against the stone archway a few feet away. He pushes off the wall and strolls toward us, a playful but protective look on his face as he pulls into the center of the group.

There is a lazy, dangerous grace in the way he moves that makes the group of students instantly shift their focus. The hard, interrogating glares they were shooting at me vanish, replaced by bright, hungry smiles.

"Ulric!" one of the girls squeals, her voice jumping an octave.

Before he can even reach me, they swarm him. It’s like watching a pack of puppies suddenly find their favorite toy, except these puppies have designer clothes and sharp teeth. They surround him, snuggling into his sides and babying over him. One girl loops her arm through his, leaning her head on his shoulder, while another reaches up to fix the collar of his jacket, her fingers lingering just a little too long on his neck.

"We missed you at the after-party last night," a tall brunette purrs, pouting her lip. "The VIP lounge was so boring without you to spice things up. You promised you’d show us that new bike."

"Did I?" Ulric asks, his voice smooth as honey. He doesn't pull away. In fact, he seems to lean into the attention. He catches the brunette’s chin with his thumb, tilting her face up for a second. "I must have been distracted. My apologies, darling."

"You’re always distracted lately," another girl chirps, pressing herself against his other arm. She’s wearing a silk scarf that probably costs more than my tuition. "We’re having a bonfire at the North Cliffs tonight. Just the elite circle. You’re coming, right? We already saved you a spot by the fire. And a bottle of that vintage red you like."

I stand there, clutching my bag strap so hard my knuckles are turning white. A strange, sharp heat rises in my chest, jealousy. It’s ridiculous. I’ve known this guy for less than forty-eight hours, but watching them crawl all over him makes me want to roll my eyes and walk away at the same time.

Ulric laughs that seems to vibrate through the hallway. He plays along perfectly, touching one girl’s waist and leaning down to whisper something into another’s ear that makes her giggle and blush. He’s a total flirt, a professional at making every girl in the circle feel like she’s the only one he’s looking at.

"A bonfire sounds tempting," Ulric says, finally beginning to untangle himself from their grip. He plants a quick, playful kiss on the forehead of the girl holding his arm,  "But I have a very full schedule today. Duty calls, ladies."

"Oh, come on, Ric! Don't be a bore," one whines, casting a nasty side-eye at me. "Is this about the human? Is she why you’re suddenly too busy for your actual friends?"

Ulric’s expression doesn't change, but the air around him seems to cool just a fraction. "I think I’ve had enough questions for one morning," he says, his tone still light but carrying a weight that shuts them up instantly. "Go on. You’ll be late for Advanced Combat, and you know how the instructor gets when the front row is empty."

They grumble, shooting me one last look of pure disgust before they finally disperse, whispering to each other as they disappear down the hall.

Ulric watches them go for a heartbeat before he turns to me. He steps into my personal space, his boots clicking once on the stone floor, and gives me a slow, deliberate wink.

"Hey," he says, his gaze traveling over my outfit. "Dressed for class, I see."

I find my voice, though it sounds a bit drier than I intended. "You must be really popular with women around here."