Chapter 168: 168

MILLICENT

“It shouldn't be, except, everyone knows Silverfang and Dranox hate each other’s guts. They’re a rival pack. Old blood feud. Annoying history. That kind of vibe.”

I frowned, trying to chase the memory tugging at the back of my mind. Something about that name pulled at me, but I couldn’t reach it. Could’ve been some passing conversation I overheard, like he said.

Zayne swung his legs off the bed and ran a hand through his hair. “Why the hell would Liam, come here? To our school? No Dranox wolf gets past border scrutiny unless they have a reason. And disguise.”

“Milicent,” Xander said quietly. He didn’t even have to explain. The moment he said my name I felt my stomach dip.

“I mean… it makes sense,” Zayne admitted. “But we don’t know for sure. And if we’re wrong, we’d be attacking the right person for the wrong reasons.”

“And if we’re right,” Xander added, voice low, “then someone from Dranox infiltrated Silverfang territory and got close to our mate without permission.”

Zayne’s jaw clenched. Xander’s breath deepened. The air changed between them, not angry exactly, but sharpened like they’d just stepped into a fight they were obviously not prepared for. Not in those shirts.

“So what now?” I asked, rubbing my fingers together unconsciously. My hands still felt weird but I was doing a pretty good job pretending.

“We stay calm,” Zayne said. “We don’t accuse him of anything yet.”

“We watch him,” Xander added. “We figure out what the hell he’s planning. And we don’t let you out of our sight until we know.” I nodded even though the heaviness pressing on my shoulders didn’t lift.

Then Xander looked at me—really looked—and his expression cracked a little. “Next time you take something dangerous off your wrist,” he murmured, “warn me first.”

Xander suddenly had a hurt expression looking between me and Zayne. I realised we hadnt told him yet and neither did we fill him in on the reason. “Well actually Xander–”

“Doesnt matter. Zayne would rather chain you than let you take that bracelet off if it were too harmful so it's fine.”

Zayne got closer and brushed his thumb over my jaw. “Or at least don’t pass out in my car like you’re trying to give me heart failure.”

I rolled my eyes, but my chest warmed. “You two are so dramatic.”

“We’re mates,” Zayne replied softly. “We’re allowed.”

Xander smirked. “And we’re not done arguing about the bed situation. You owe me a turn.” Zayne groaned. “Please shut up.”

I couldn't help but let out a laugh as I made space for Xander on the bed. This time, I wrapped my arms around him and pressed my head to his bare chest. Before I knew it, the darkness swallowed me whole.

Morning came too fast, like the night had been ripped in half and stitched back together wrong. I sat between Zayne and Xander at the edge of Zayne’s bed, all of us still in sleep clothes, hair a mess, eyes heavy. But the air was tense the way it gets when you know the day is about to demand something ugly from you.

Xander paced, dragging a hand through his hair over and over. Zayne leaned against the dresser with his arms crossed, thinking way too hard. I was just sitting there, feeling the leftover ache in my limbs from last night and trying not to drown in it.

“So what’s our next move now that we know Liam isn't safe?” I finally asked because someone had to say it. “We can’t just… pretend nothing happened. Liam being a Dranox isn’t small news.”

Zayne nodded. “It’s not. Which is why we need to be smart.” Xander scoffed. “Smart would’ve been him staying in his damn pack instead of marching into ours and getting too close to comfort to Fiona and Milicent. Why Fiona?”

“He’s hiding something,” I said. “Obviously. Every time he talks, it’s like he’s picking his words. Like he’s scared the truth might slip.”

Zayne’s eyes flicked to me, thoughtful. “Exactly why we’re going to use that.” I frowned. “Use what?”

His voice was calm, too calm, which always meant both Xander and I weren't going to like what came out next. “I want you to get closer to him.”

Xander froze mid-pace. “Absolutely. Not.” I shot up, heat rising in my chest. “No. No way. I’m not doing that. Zayne are you insane.”

Zayne held up his hands. “Listen—”

“No,” Xander snapped, cutting him off. “You’re not using her as bait. She’s not going near that snake. Not when she could be his reason for even being here in the first place. Look what he did to Fiona.”

My jaw tightened. Fiona’s name was enough to twist a knot in my stomach. The bruises she hid under her shirt. The way she couldn’t look me in the eye when she told me she fell. I didn’t want to be near him either.

“We make him think his plan is working–”

“I’m not doing it,” I said again.

Zayne pushed off the dresser, stepping closer. “Princess. He won’t trust me. He won’t trust Xander. There's literally not a soul in that school that he'd trust enough to get close to him. He’d expect us to be suspicious. But you? You’ve been neutral with him before the Fiona drama. You’re the only one he’d ever be less guarded with.”

Xander growled under his breath. “I hate this plan already but you guys never listen to me.”

Zayne kept going, stubborn as always. “If we approach him directly, he’ll hide everything. But if you’re close to him, if you talk to him and fake interest. Manipulating his feelings knowing he's your secret pen pal, we’ll find out what the hell he’s doing in our territory.”

“I don’t want to be around someone who hurt my friend,” I whispered.

Zayne’s expression softened. “I know baby. But this isn’t about him anymore. It’s about what happens if we don’t figure out what he wants. If Dranox sent him for you…”

The silence after that was heavy enough to crush my ribs.

Xander knelt in front of me. “I don’t like it,” he murmured. “But Zayne’s... Painfully right. You’re the only one he’ll slip up around.”

“And we won’t let you out of our sight,” Zayne added quickly. “You’ll report everything to us. Every word. Every weird look. We’ll be right behind you the entire time.”

I looked between them. Their protectiveness, their fear disguised as irritation, the way they were both ready to burn the school down if I got a scratch on me; and my refusal started to feel useless.

“Fine,” I said, even though it tasted bitter. “I’ll do it.” Xander grumbled something that sounded like a curse. Zayne let out a breath he’d been holding.

“It’s settled then,” he said.

Yeah. Settled. But my stomach still felt twisted.

And that’s how I ended up in this stupid hallway, being walked to class by the two-faced rival who thought he was slick, acting like I couldn’t see the hidden strings attached to everything he did. Liam Micheal Quinn walked beside me with that casual confidence that made him look harmless, but I already knew better now.

We walked side by side down the long corridor, students brushing past us like we weren’t playing a dangerous little game right here.

“What?” Liam asked when he caught me staring.

“Nothing.”

He raised a brow. “You sure? You’re looking at me like I grew wings or something.”

I forced a shrug. “Maybe I’m just tired.” He hummed, that deep sound in his throat like he was trying to read me. “You do look pale today.”

I didn’t answer. My gaze dropped instead… to our hands.

Because he was holding mine and he wasn’t letting go.

When did he even grab it? And why wasn’t he dropping it like it was forbidden?

Every few seconds his thumb brushed the side of my hand, subtle, like he didn’t even realize he was doing it. And the way he stood close, the way his eyes softened whenever he looked at me compared to everyone else—yeah. Either I was terrible at understanding things or Liam Quinn truly had something for me.

Which only made everything worse.

“So…” I said, pretending to sound casual. “Can I ask you something weird? I just kinda need advise from someone neutral.”

He smirked. “You can ask me anything. Doesn’t mean I’ll answer.” I rolled my eyes. “I’ve had this… mysterious pen pal. Since last semester.”

He slowed a little, listening.

“He writes to me almost every day and I don't even know who he is. No name. No face. Nothing. Just long messages about stupid things like what I looked like at school or how cold the classrooms get when I'm not in it. It’s like he knows stuff about me. Stuff I don’t tell people. And sometimes I wish I could… know who he is.”

Liam’s expression didn’t change, but something in his eyes flickered. “A mysterious pen pal?”

“Yeah.” He tilted his head. “Didn’t you already have a mate?”

I shrugged, letting the hallway lights blur overhead. “Yeah. But… I don’t know. We’re all still so young. And the thing with the twins—it feels like the bond pulls us like magnets. Like half the emotions might not even be ours.”

He stayed silent.

“I want something real too,” I muttered. “Something that’s not controlled by nature or fate or whatever. Something that’s just… romantic. You know?”

Liam’s jaw moved like he was biting back a reaction. “And this pen pal gave you that? The idea of it?”

“Yeah. Kind of.” His eyes drifted to our linked hands again and I noticed his expression light up. “Interesting.”

Before I could figure out what that meant, he glanced toward the staircase. “My class is that way.”

“Oh. Yeah. Mine’s upstairs.” He didn’t let go immediately. Just stood there, staring at me in a way that felt too deep for a casual hallway goodbye.

Then he loosened his fingers, almost reluctantly. “See you later, beautiful.”

“Yeah,” I whispered. “Later.” He walked away, blending into the crowd like just another student. But Lord knows he wasn't 'just' a student.

Fiona’s eyes found mine the second I slipped through the doorway, like she’d been waiting for me or maybe just tracking me the way a cat watches a moving light.

She had her chin propped on her hand, her red curls spilling everywhere, and she smiled. It was small, soft, nothing dramatic, just this gentle curve that made my chest loosen for a heartbeat.

I smiled back before I even made it to my seat, trying not to look too desperate for normalcy, but God, I needed it this morning. I needed something that didn’t involve bloodlines or rival packs or waking up in Zayne’s arms with Xander whining in the doorway.

I slid into my seat, pulled out my notebook, and tried to focus as Professor Cassie started pacing in front of the class with her glasses low on her nose like she was two seconds from announcing someone’s death sentence. She always sounded like she was delivering bad news even when she was teaching something simple like pack treaties or the effects of moon cycles on wolf stamina. I wanted to pay attention, I swear I did, but five minutes in, the weird sensation began again.

It started at the back of my neck. This crawling feeling, like a tiny bug was running circles under my skin. I slapped at it quietly, hoping no one noticed. The feeling darted down my arm instead. Then my side. And suddenly everything itched. Not like normal itching. Like fire wanting out. Like my skin was too tight.

“Not now,”