Chapter 38 Fury in the Shadows
Simone Pov
I was walking past building C when I saw Calix and Maddie together. Fury started building in my chest. Hot. Violent. I'd told him to stay away from her. I'd warned him what would happen if he didn't. But here he was. Meeting her. Being near her. Probably touching her.
Calix practically ran down the hallway. Didn't even look around. Just left. Disappeared around the corner.
A few minutes later Maddie came out. She looked different too. Her face was red. Her eyes were puffy like she'd been crying. She locked the door with shaking hands. Stood there for a moment just staring at nothing.
Then she walked away slowly. Headed back toward the dorms.
I stayed behind my tree. Watched her go. The fury in my chest twisted into something darker. Something more dangerous. Something that demanded action.
He'd been with her. In that storage room. Alone. Something had happened between them. I could see it in their faces. Could feel it in the air. Could sense it in my bones.
No. This word echoed in my head. Over and over. No. Not her. Not that pathetic wolfless girl. Not someone so beneath us. Not someone so worthless.
Calix was mine. Had been mine since we were children. Our fathers arranged our marriage. Our futures were linked. We were supposed to rule the pack together.
She couldn't have him. Wouldn't have him. I'd make sure of it.
I turned away from building C. Started walking back toward my dorm. My mind was already spinning. Already planning. Already figuring out what came next.
The wolfsbane in her shoes had been a warning. The rumors had been an attack on her reputation. But clearly those weren't enough. Clearly she was still here. Still breathing. Still trying to take what was mine.
Fine. If she wanted to play games I could play better. I could play dirtier. I could play in ways she wouldn't see coming.
My father had resources. Had connections. Had ways of making people disappear. I'd already talked to him about the Maddie problem. He was willing to help. Willing to do what needed to be done.
But I'd held back. Thought maybe the smaller attacks would be enough. Thought maybe she'd leave on her own. Clearly I was wrong.
It was time to escalate. Time to stop playing nice. Time to eliminate the problem permanently.
I pulled out my phone. Texted my father.
"We need to talk. About that issue we discussed. It's gotten worse."
He responded immediately. "Come to my office tonight."
"I'll be there," I typed back.
I shoved my phone in my pocket. Walked faster. The fury was still burning in my chest but now it had direction. Had purpose. Had a plan.
Maddie Vale thought she could steal my future. Thought she could take what I'd worked for my whole life. Thought she could win.
She was wrong. So completely wrong. And she was about to learn exactly what happened to girls who tried to take what belonged to me.
I reached my dorm. Went inside. Started getting ready for dinner. Put on makeup. Fixed my hair. Made myself look perfect. Made myself look like the future Luna I was meant to be.
In the mirror I saw my mother's eyes staring back. Cold. Calculating. Ruthless. She'd taught me well. Taught me that sometimes you had to destroy your enemies. Had to remove obstacles. Had to do whatever it took to get what you wanted.
And I wanted Calix. Wanted the position. Wanted the power. Wanted everything that was supposed to be mine.
That wolfless girl was just an obstacle. A temporary problem. A bug that needed to be crushed.
And I was very good at crushing bugs.
My phone buzzed. Text from one of my friends asking if I wanted to grab dinner. I ignored it. Had more important things to do tonight than gossip over pasta.
I finished getting ready. Checked myself in the mirror one last time. Smiled. Practiced my sweet innocent expression. The one that made adults trust me. The one that made me seem harmless.
But I wasn't harmless. Not even close. I was dangerous. Ruthless. Willing to do anything.
And Maddie was about to find out exactly how dangerous I could be.
I left my dorm. Walked across campus toward the administration building where my father's office was. The sun was setting. Orange and pink across the sky. Beautiful. Peaceful.
But I didn't feel peaceful. I felt energized. Excited. Ready.
This was war. Had been war from the moment Maddie showed up. From the moment Calix looked at her. From the moment she became a threat.
And in war there were only two options. Win or lose. Kill or be killed. Destroy or be destroyed.
I chose to win. Chose to kill. Chose to destroy. Whatever it took. However dark I had to go. However ruthless I had to become.
Calix would be mine. The pack would be mine. The future would be mine. Not hers. Never hers.
I reached the administration building. Went up to the second floor. Found my father's office. Knocked twice.
"Come in," his voice called.
I opened the door. Stepped inside. Closed it behind me. My father sat at his desk. Looked up when he saw me. His expression was neutral but I could see the question in his eyes.
"It's time," I said simply. "We need to handle the Maddie situation permanently."
"Permanently?" my father asked. Raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," I said. Sat down in the chair across from him. "She's not leaving on her own. The small attacks aren't working. She's still here. Still breathing. Still trying to steal what's mine."
"What do you want me to do?" my father asked.
"Make her disappear," I said. Kept my voice calm. Even. Like I was asking him to pick up groceries. "Make it look like an accident. Make sure nobody suspects anything."
My father was quiet for a long moment. Studied my face. Looking for hesitation. Looking for doubt. He wouldn't find any. I'd made up my mind.