Chapter 32 When Control Breaks

Chapter 32 When Control Breaks
Lena’s POV

“I’m not leaving you behind,” she said immediately.

I tightened my jaw. “Yes, you are.”

“Lena…”

“Zara, listen to me!” I snapped, “You shouldn’t have come here in the first place.”

Her expression hardened.
“I’m not just going to abandon you.”

I let out a frustrated breath.
“Then at least get help…”

“I’m not leaving you alone with him!”

Before I could argue again, her eyes dropped to my wrists.

Her expression changed instantly.
“What is that?” she asked, stepping closer.

“Don’t touch it,” I warned quickly.

But Zara was already reaching out.
Her fingers brushed the rope and nothing happened.

There was no burn or reaction.

“It’s wolfsbane,” I said through gritted teeth. “It weakens werewolves.”

Zara’s brows furrowed.
“But I’m a witch.”

“Exactly.”

Hope flickered inside me.
“Which means you can untie me.”

Zara instantly crouched in front of me, her fingers already working at the knots.

“I swear, Lena, if you die before I save you, I’m breaking up this friendship.”

For a moment… It felt like we might actually get out. But then a slow clap echoed through the room.

Zara froze. And my heart dropped.
“Well… isn’t this touching.”

Professor Hawthorne’s voice. I looked up slowly. He stood at the entrance, his expression darker than I had ever seen it.

“You just couldn’t stay away, could you?” he said, his gaze locking onto Zara.

Zara stood up immediately, stepping slightly in front of me.
“Let her go,” she said.

Hawthorne tilted his head slightly.
“And why would I do that?”

“Because whatever you’re doing, it’s wrong.”

He laughed.
“Wrong?” he repeated. “You have no idea what’s at stake.”

Before either of us could react, he raised his hand. A surge of energy filled the room.

“Zara!” I started. Too late. The spell hit us both. Everything went black.

When I woke up, the first thing I felt was pain. Sharp. Heavy. And the rope was still there.

I groaned softly, forcing my eyes open.
The room spun for a second before settling. Then I saw her.

“Zara…”

She was tied. Just like me. Except her ropes weren’t wolfsbane. Regular but it looked tight. Too tight.

She stirred slightly, her head lifting.
“Lena…?” she whispered.

“I’m here.”

Relief flashed across her face. But it didn’t last.
“Guess that escape plan didn’t work,” she muttered weakly.

“Yeah… no thanks to your dramatic entrance.”

She huffed softly. “At least I tried.”

Before I could respond, Hawthorne stepped into view again.

“Good,” he said. “You’re both awake.”

My entire body tensed.
“What do you want?” I demanded.

He stopped in front of us, his eyes settling on me. “You.”

Silence. Unsettling.
“What about me?” I asked, my voice steady despite the unease creeping in.

“You’re a threat,” he said simply.

Zara scoffed.
“She’s not…”

“Silence.”
The word cracked like a whip.

Zara flinched. I felt anger rise instantly.

“She’s not a threat,” she said firmly. “Whatever you think you know, you’re wrong.”

Hawthorne’s gaze darkened.
“No, Zara,” he said quietly. “You’re the one who doesn’t understand.”

He began to pace slowly facing my direction.
“You are an anomaly. A hybrid. A being that shouldn’t exist.”

My heart pounded, but I didn’t look away.
“And?”

“And creatures like you draw attention,” he continued. “Things that have been hiding for centuries… will come out because of you.”

A chill ran down my spine. “What things?”

He stopped and smiled faintly.
“That is not for you to know.”

Zara shook her head.
“This is insane. She hasn’t even done anything…”

“Yet,” he cut in sharply. His gaze snapped back to me.
“And I cannot risk what you might become.”

I swallowed hard. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know enough.”
His voice was final.
“And because of that…” he continued, “you cannot be allowed to live.”

Zara’s eyes widened.
“What?!”

I felt something in my chest tighten but I refused to show fear.
“You’re going to kill me?” I asked quietly.

“Yes.”

The word echoed. Simple but terrifying.

Zara struggled against her restraints.
“You can’t do that!”

Hawthorne ignored her. Instead, his attention shifted.
“To make things easier… I’ll use her.”

My stomach dropped.
“What?”

Zara froze.
“Wait… what do you mean?”

Hawthorne’s lips curved slightly.
“I need power to drain your energy and destroy you,” he said. “And Zara has it.”

Zara shook her head immediately.
“No. Whatever you’re planning, it won’t work. I won’t help you.”

“You misunderstand,” he said calmly.
“I don’t need your permission.”

Before we could react, he raised his hand again. Energy surged through the room. I felt it immediately. It pressed against my chest, squeezing the air out of my lungs.

“Zara…!” I gasped.

Her body tensed as the magic wrapped around her.
“No… stop!” she cried.

Her eyes glowed faintly as the power was pulled from her. Channeled and directed at me.

Pain exploded through my body. I screamed. It felt like something was tearing me apart from the inside.

My vision blurred. My strength drained rapidly. I could barely breathe.
“This is what you are,” Hawthorne’s voice echoed. “A danger that must be eliminated.”

“Stop!” Zara cried. “You’re killing her!”

“Exactly.”

My body went slack. The world began to fade Darkness started creeping in.
And then a loud crash came from behind.

The pressure disappeared instantly. I gasped, sucking in air desperately. My vision cleared just enough to see who it was.

Adrian.

He had Hawthorne pinned to the ground.
“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Adrian snarled, his grip tight.

Hawthorne struggled beneath him.
“Let go of me!”

Adrian didn’t. Instead, he knocked him out cold. Silence fell.

Broken only by our ragged breathing.
Adrian rushed to me first, quickly undoing the wolfsbane rope even though it was hurting him. 

The moment it loosened, strength slowly began returning to my body.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice tight.

“I’ll live,” I muttered, already reaching for Zara.

He untied her quickly. “We need to go,” he said. “Now.”

I nodded. We moved fast.

And then Zara suddenly gasped from behind.

Her body jerked backward.
“No!”

I turned sharply. Hawthorne had her. One arm wrapped around her.
The other was holding a blade. Just like my vision.

“No…” I whispered.

“Let her go!” Adrian growled.

Hawthorne’s eyes were wild now.
Unstable.
“You should have let me finish this,” he snapped.

“Don’t hurt her,” I said quickly, stepping forward. “Please… I’ll do anything.”

For a split second, he hesitated. Then something in his expression snapped.
“You’re the problem!” he shouted.

And before anyone could react, he drove the blade into Zara. Everything stopped. Zara’s body went still. Her breath hitched.
Then… Blood.

“ZARA!” I screamed.

Something inside me broke completely. My vision turned red. Power surged through me. Wild. Uncontrolled. My claws shot out.

My body moved before I could think. I launched at him. Pinned him to the ground. And drove my claws straight into his chest.

His scream echoed. But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Rage consumed everything.

“You don’t touch her!” I snarled, my voice no longer sounding like my own.

I raised my hand again, Ready to finish it.

“Lena… STOP!” Adrian’s voice.