Chapter 226: The First Kidnapping

Chapter 226

RAVENNA

I turned to the other warriors, my voice shaking. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry about my behaviour back there."

I paused, my hands trembling. "Please don't tell my father about what happened. Please."

But instead of looking angry or afraid, they looked impressed.

One of them—a younger warrior named Caleb—stepped forward. "How strong are you exactly? That was incredible."

Another warrior nodded. "I've never seen anyone take down a rogue that fast."

"Stop asking her that," Darius said sharply, his arm still around my waist supporting me.

The warriors fell silent, but they kept glancing at me as we walked back to pack territory.

I forced a smile at them each time our eyes met, trying to appear normal when I felt anything but.

We were all sitting around the table for lunch later that day.

Theodore. Darius. Torren. My father. And some of the pack warriors who'd been on the supply run.

Darius kicked my leg under the table suddenly.

I kicked him back harder.

He laughed quietly, and I felt some of the tension leave my shoulders.

My father looked up at both of us and just shook his head, a small smile playing at his lips.

"You two are children," he muttered.

Theodore cleared his throat. "Have you heard what happened at the academy?"

I stiffened.

I'd taken my mind completely off anything about the academy since my suspension.

It wasn't my business anymore.

My father set down his fork. "What happened?"

Darius's expression grew serious. "A student was announced missing during breakfast yesterday."

He paused. "His name is Tommy. Fourteen years old, small for his age. He's from a minor wolf pack in the Midwest."

"When was he last seen?" Torren asked.

"He never came back to his dorm the night before last," Darius explained. "His roommates reported it immediately when they noticed he was missing in the morning."

Theodore leaned forward. "The academy is organizing search parties to find him. They'll need every bit of help they can get."

I felt my chest tighten. "That's terrible. When are the parties gathering?"

"I don't know exactly," Theodore replied. "But they've already started searching with the volunteers they have."

I stood up abruptly. "I'm going to help."

My father's hand shot out, gripping my wrist. "That's not the best thing to do."

"Why not?" I demanded.

"You're suspended," my father said firmly. "You need to not interfere in school affairs until they're done reviewing your case and granting you access to return."

I pulled my hand free. "Being suspended doesn't mean I can't help find a missing child."

"I'm scared for you," my father said quietly. "You go back there, and people will blame you. They already think you're dangerous."

I sighed heavily. "Darius, Dorian, and Theodore are all going to be with me. That's three protectors. You don't need to worry."

My father looked at me for a long moment, conflict clear in his eyes.

Finally, he nodded. "Fine. But you stay with them at all times."

"I will," I promised.

I set out for the academy the following morning with Darius, Theodore, and a few volunteers from my father's pack.

The moment I stepped onto academy grounds, I felt the weight of everyone's stares.

Students stopped and pointed. Whispered to each other. Some looked afraid. Others looked angry.

I kept my head down and ignored all of it, joining the search party as they filed out toward the forest.

We searched for hours.

Combing the academy grounds, the surrounding forest, calling Tommy's name until our voices were hoarse.

Nothing.

There's no scent trail, signs of struggle or clues at all.

It was like he'd simply vanished into thin air.

As the sun began setting, the search coordinator—one of the academy security staff—called everyone back.

"We're calling it for today," he announced, his voice tired. "Thank you all for being here to help. We'll resume at dawn tomorrow."

People dispersed slowly, their expressions grim.

I walked back to where Darius was waiting for me, exhaustion making my legs heavy.

"Nothing?" he asked quietly.

I shook my head. "It's like he was never here."

The following day at lunch, Theodore brought news.

We were all gathered around the table again, the same group as before.

Theodore's expression was grave as he spoke. "There's been an update on Tommy's case."

Everyone stopped eating, attention focused on him.

"A package arrived at noon yesterday," Theodore continued. "Delivered by standard post to the principal's office."

My stomach dropped.

"Inside the box was a severed finger," Theodore said, his voice tight. "It's small and clearly belonging to a young teenager."

Someone gasped.

"There was also a note," Theodore added. "Written in blood. It said: 'The MoonWolf's curse. More will follow unless she leaves.'"

Silence fell over the table.

My father's fork clattered onto his plate. "Who is this person asking to leave?"

Theodore looked directly at me. "From the mention of MoonWolf, everyone is guessing it's Ravenna."

My father's jaw clenched. "So whoever this kidnapper is, they know Ravenna. And they're using this child against her."

"It appears so," Theodore said quietly.

I couldn't breathe.

A child was being tortured because of me.

Because I existed.

Darius took my hand under the table, squeezing it gently. "Ignore it. Just focus on what you're doing. This isn't your fault."

But it felt like my fault.

We tried to forget about it and let life move on.

Darius was juggling between coming to see me and helping his father rebuild Mooncrest Pack.

I continued my training with Torren, my pack duties, trying to stay busy enough not to think about Tommy.

A week passed.

Then another.

I was on my way to morning training with Torren when I noticed a small gathering near the packhouse.

Wolves clustered together, their voices low and urgent.

I shifted closer, my enhanced hearing picking up fragments of conversation.

"Another one?"

"Just like the first."

"How many does that make now?"

My blood ran cold.

I pushed through the crowd. "What's happened?"

One of the pack members turned to me, his expression grim. "There's been another kidnapping. At the academy. Another teenager went missing last night."

Again?