Chapter 86 ~Countdown to Prom~
(Fiona’s POV)
Yara groaned loudly as two girls, giggling and chattering, walked past us. They were members of the student council and they were carrying some boxes, I assumed, contained decorations for the hall in preparation for prom.
“If I hear one more person giggling about prom, I'm going to barf.” Yara rubbed her temples in exasperation.
I forced a laugh, but soon realized it sounded nothing like a laugh.
Since the council meeting, I hadn't been the same. I wondered if indeed I was some cursed, wolfless, she devil.
And besides, the visit to the shaman would determine whether or not I would be kicked out of Silvereign.
And I know… I know. I was planning to leave either way, but it wouldn't hurt any less.
I looked up and was met with Yara watching me intently. “Gosh, you're doing that stuff again.”
“What stuff?”
“Overthinking.” She held my hands as we took a seat. “So I'm all ears. What is it this time around?”
I didn't tell her about the council meeting. I wasn't planning to, either.
So I exhaled roughly. “You know what?”
She eyed me with caution. “What?”
“Let's talk about something more positive.” I said. “Like, our last freaking days in Northvale High. I'm not ready to spend them feeling bad or having negative thoughts.”
“Word.” Yara snapped her fingers. “So, what do you suggest we talk about?”
“I dunno.” I shrugged. “Prom?”
“Oh my fucki—Jeez, not you too.” She nearly screamed. “But… since I love you so much, I will tolerate it this one time.”
I giggled. “Yeah. So what's the plan for outfit and makeup?”
“Uh, honestly, anything will do.” Yara said. “At least we can't say we don't have prom dates.”
“More like prom mates.” I groaned along with her at my terrible dad joke.”
“But I saw this really awesome couture dress when I went shopping last time that I think will look so awesome on you.” Yara squealed in remembrance. “It's this ginger, crimson-y shade… exactly your hair color.”
“Nice.” I nodded. “But like, how much is it?”
She grinned guiltily. “Err… it's kind of affordable, actually.”
“Of course.” I muttered, sarcastically.
“Don't worry about that. Alpha Xander will handle it.” Yara said. “Besides, you deserve it.”
“Hmm.” I hummed softly.
As I looked at Yara, I noticed she was no longer meeting my eyes.
“Oh, what is it, Yara?”
“I don't know how I'm supposed to be happy about Prom and all these things when I know you're leaving afterwards.” When she looked at me, I could see that she was blinking back tears.
Now, I could see why she hated the talk of prom, because it reminded her that I was leaving.
I squeezed her hand.
“It's hurtful, you know.” She was saying. “I just found my best friend and in less than a year, she's already leaving and I hate it.”
I hated it too.
But yesterday only solidified my decision. I could potentially be a bad omen in Silvereign.
Was it selfish to want to go into isolation to discover who I really was?
Then maybe I'll make sense of my life and stop listening to different people telling me different things about my life - about my identity.
Fatherless. Tribrid. Cursed. Luna…
“I get it.” I said to Yara. “Don't think about it like it's a bad thing.”
Who knows what a journey of self-discovery could birth? I could come out better and stronger than ever.
“Yeah.” Yara smiled. “Yeah, you're right.”
We heard a distant shuffle, startling us from our conversation.
We turned to see that it was Ian, my seatmate, who I always thought had a crush on Yara.
“Ian.”
“Hi, Fiona. Yara.” I saw him color when he called Yara’s name.
“Hey, Ian.” Yara smiled sweetly. “What's the matter?”
“Uh, I needed to tell you both something.” His tone was one of concern.
“Oh, what is it?” I asked.
“It's about Brianna, Jasmin and Frances.”
Certainly not what I was expecting.
Yara and I exchanged curious glances. “What about them?”
“Er… I normally do Jasmin's math homework.” Ian fidgeted with his backpack’s strap. “I'm her boyfriend on Thursdays.”
“I'm sorry, what?” I coughed. “Never mind… continue.”
“I heard her talking with Brianna and Jasmin, about you and Yara.” He said. “Actually, they've been talking about you both for like forever, calling you both weirdos, but I guess I never thought much of it until yesterday.”
“Okay?”
“They were plotting about revealing some huge secret they had about you and they said they're planning to expose it on prom night.”
“Secret?” I asked, astonished.
What secret did they know about us?
“So I thought I should tell you both ‘cause it sounded really fucked up.” He turned to leave.
“Thanks for the heads up, Ian.” We both said.
“Also, I've broken up with her, Yara.” He said before he finally ran out.
I faced Yara, speechless. “What the actual fuck?”
Yara was deep in thought, then slowly I saw her eyes widen in realisation. “Fiona, remember the day you confronted Cassia in the girl's bathroom?”
“Uh, huh?”
“Remember The Plastics were by the door... What if they heard everything?”
Oh no. My eyes widened.
Were The Plastics planning to tell the entire school that we were werewolves?
“This doesn't sound good… at all.”
–--------------------
(Xander's POV)
Was this what it felt like, hiding something from someone you cherished?
I felt like something was gnawing at my chest most of the time. I was always on edge. I felt dead inside.
I felt torn between telling Fiona everything and pretending that nothing had happened, hiding it from everyone, including myself.
And like the coward that I was, I chose the latter.
Heaving an exasperated sigh, I opened my locker. I needed to hydrate.
As I opened it, another envelope, this time blood-red, fell from it.
I snatched it from the ground and opened it. My pulse was thrumming loudly under my skin as I tore it open.
I read aloud.
“Tick-Tock, Alpha.
I'm closer than you think.
Counting down. Four words.”
I snapped my locker shut with a loud bang. It reverberated through the hallway.
“Who the fuck left a letter in my locker?” I yelled loudly.
‘Cause I'm sure as hell that neither Beckett nor Loki goes to Northvale.
So whoever the sick fuck they were using to drop these letters, they better pray I didn't get them.
The students in the hallway all looked at me in confusion. A low murmur spread among them.
“Fuck it!” I grabbed the bottle of water and headed to the bathroom.
I needed to mindlink Calvin… now.
‘Calvin.’
‘Alpha? Is there a problem?’
‘Yes, actually there is. I received another letter now.’
‘I just went through security rounds with the head of security. And, I can assure you that in a few days, we'll make sure all the weapons and security measures are kick-started.’
I exhaled roughly.
‘What if the attack isn't happening in Silvereign pack?’
‘Wh- Why do you say so?’
My mind flashed back to the letter
~Counting down. Four words~
‘Because I have a strong feeling it isn't.’