Chapter 86 Scars and Secrets
Wynter's pov
Time passed quickly, and before I knew it, the first day of the new semester had arrived.
I adjusted the strap of my bag as I walked across campus, the familiar buildings looking almost welcoming in the early morning light.
Winter break had been a whirlwind of difficult conversations and harder choices, and part of me was oddly grateful to be back at the Academy where at least the routine was predictable.
The path from the main gates to the dormitories took me past the flower gardens, where early spring blooms were just beginning to push through the last remnants of frost. The air smelled of damp earth and new growth, and I found myself slowing despite my desire to reach my room.
That's when I saw her.
Anne Kaine lay crumpled on the ground near one of the raised flower beds, her body folded in on itself like she'd simply collapsed. Her dark hair spilled across the flagstones, and her face was pale enough to make alarm spike through my chest.
For a heartbeat, I stood frozen. This was Anne—the girl who'd destroyed my Bond mark, who'd made my life hell for months. Every rational part of my brain said I should keep walking.
But then I saw the tremor running through her body, the way her hand pressed against her side, and I was moving before I'd consciously decided to help.
"Anne," I called out, dropping to my knees beside her. "Can you hear me?"
Her eyes fluttered open, and confusion flickered across her face before recognition hit. I watched her expression cycle through shock and suspicion before settling into defensive pride.
"What are you doing here?" Her voice came out strained. "Come to gloat?"
"I came to help," I said, already assessing her condition. "Can you stand? We need to get you to the medical wing."
"I don't need your help," Anne said, but when she tried to push herself upright, she gasped, her hand flying to her ribs.
"Stop being stubborn," I said firmly, sliding my arm around her shoulders. "You're hurt."
For a moment, I thought she might refuse. But then something in her expression crumbled, and she sagged against me.
"Why?" she asked, genuine confusion in her voice. "After everything I've done to you—why would you help me?"
"I only saw someone who needed help," I said simply, carefully helping her to her feet.
---
The walk to the medical wing felt endless, Anne's weight heavy against my side. Students stared as we passed, but I kept my gaze forward, focused on getting Anne the help she needed.
Dr. Reeves looked up sharply when we entered. "Miss Vaughn, what happened?"
"I found her collapsed in the gardens," I explained, helping Anne onto an examination bed. "She's in pain—her ribs, I think."
Dr. Reeves moved with practiced efficiency. Anne flinched when he pressed against her side.
"I need to check for internal injuries," Dr. Reeves said. "Miss Kaine, I'll need you to remove your shirt."
I glanced at Dr. Reeves, who nodded, and moved to stand near the head of the bed.
Anne's hands trembled as she unbuttoned her uniform shirt. When she finally slipped it off her shoulders, I had to physically bite back a gasp.
Her torso was covered in bruises—some fresh and angry purple, others fading to sickly yellow-green. They covered her ribs, her stomach, her back in patterns that spoke of systematic violence. But it was the marks on her wrists that made my wolf snarl—thin lines from restraints, the skin raw and inflamed.
I felt shock crash through me. Anne was an Alpha's daughter—how could she have injuries this severe?
Dr. Reeves's expression remained neutral, but his jaw tightened. "How long have you had these injuries, Miss Kaine?"
Anne whispered. "Less than two days."
He began treating her injuries with gentle efficiency—cleaning and bandaging wounds, wrapping her ribs, applying salve to the restraint marks. Through it all, Anne remained silent, her gaze fixed on some distant point.
When he was finally done, Dr. Reeves stepped back. "You'll heal quickly—your wolf will see to that."
"I'll give you two some privacy," he said quietly, and then he was gone.
For a long moment, neither of us spoke.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" Anne finally asked, her voice small. "After everything I did to you—why would you care?"
"Because I saw someone who needed help," I said. "It doesn't matter who that person is. Right now, you just needed help. That's all."
Anne stared at me, tears streaming down her face. "I don't deserve your kindness."
"Maybe not," I agreed. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to withhold it."
Silence fell again. Anne's hand tightened on mine.
"I need you to promise me something," she said desperately. "Don't tell anyone about this. Please, Wynter. These injuries—they'll heal in a day or two. My wolf healing is strong. By tomorrow, there won't be any visible evidence."
Every instinct screamed that keeping this secret was wrong. But I also understood the fear in her eyes.
"Alright," I said quietly. "I won't tell anyone."
Relief flooded Anne's expression. For a moment, we just sat there in silence.
Then Anne's expression shifted. "There's something else I need to tell you," she said. "Something important."
My stomach tightened. "What is it?"
"I found Lily Fletcher," Anne said, the words coming out in a rush. "Owen's sister. She was in one of our territory's labor reformation facilities. I pulled some strings, claimed I needed a personal attendant, and got her released into my custody."
Shock crashed over me. "You what?"
"I kept her as my attendant for a few weeks," Anne continued. "Made sure she was safe, fed her properly. And then, before I came back to the Academy—I let her go. Helped her get to a safe house."
I stared at her, trying to process what I was hearing. "Why?"
Anne’s expression crumbled. “Maybe your assessment of my father was right,” she whispered. “I can no longer be sure he’s an innocent man.”
I squeezed Anne's hand. "Does Jax know? About Lily?"
"Not yet," Anne said. "But she's safe, Wynter. I made sure of it."
Tears were streaming down my face. "I'll tell him," I promised. "And Anne—thank you."
Anne nodded. For a moment, we just sat there.
Then Anne's expression shifted again, something haunted crossing her face. "There's one more thing," she said quietly. "Something I saw at the Bloodrock compound."
She stopped, struggling with how to continue. I waited.
"Late one night, I was walking past the window overlooking the courtyard," she finally said. "And I saw four of our labor supervisors moving through the darkness. And with them were three children. Small, thin, wearing suppression collars. Rogues."
My blood ran cold. "The missing children."
"Maybe," Anne said, doubt coloring her voice. "Or maybe I was just exhausted and seeing things. Because when I looked again, the courtyard was empty. And the next morning, when I asked our head of household, she insisted we don't employ any Rogues."
She looked at me with desperate uncertainty. "So I don't know if what I saw was real or if my mind was playing tricks."
I felt like the ground had dropped out from under me. "I need to tell the others about this."
"But what if I didn't really see it?" Anne interrupted, fear evident. "What if I was just seeing things?"