Chapter 43

Allison hated this. Every second of it.

She sat in the back seat of the car, arms crossed, scowling at the window like it had personally offended her. Sophia, of course, was in the front, chatting away with their mother like this was some family bonding trip instead of a forced escort service.

“I can’t believe it’s been so long since we drove to school together!” Sophia said, smiling. “Feels kinda nice, right?”

Their mother, Isabella, sighed as she switched lanes.

“I’m sorry, honey. I’ve been so busy, if not I would have been taking you everyday. But no more of that, you come first.”

“It’s okay.” Sophia reassured her. “You work hard. I get it. But it’s nice when you do things like this. Even if the reason isn’t exactly great.”

Isabella’s grip on the steering wheel tightened.

“Not great is an understatement. You two could have been seriously hurt.”

Allison rolled her eyes.

“Mum, we’re fine. Sophia, quit being a Diselbow princess and tell mum that she doesn’t have to do this.”

“Yes, but I want to do it. And it is safer.” Isabella shot back. “And that thing, whatever it was that Sophia described, it could come back. And until we know exactly what happened, I’m not taking any chances.”

Allison groaned, leaning back into the seat. She hated being treated like a child. She didn’t need her mum breathing down her neck, and she definitely didn’t need a bodyguard. Plus, that was probably just a rogue attack, and her mum was being careful because she didn’t want Sophia to know about their people.

Sophia, ever the perfect daughter, just hummed in response, clearly trying to keep the peace.

When they pulled up in front of the school, Allison barely waited for the car to stop before reaching for the door handle.

“Allison.” Isabella called, her tone sharp.

She sighed, turning back.

“What is it, mum?”

“I’m going to see the principal before I leave. I want answers.”

Allison frowned.

“What answers? It was some crazy guy who attacked us with his wolf. What more is there to know?”

“A lot. And you talk a lot of nonsense.” Isabella said, giving her a pointed look. “Now, go. And please, be careful.”

Allison didn’t argue, but she made sure to slam the car door a little harder than necessary as she got out of the car.

Sophia stayed in for a bit.

“Bye mum.” She said before following her sister inside.

Isabella watched them disappear into the school before she exhaled heavily. Then, setting her shoulders, she pulled into the visitors’ parking lot before getting her ID out.

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Inside the school, the hallways were buzzing with quiet conversations. Students were still very much shaken, whispering about the attack. Some spoke in hushed voices about the bloodstains still visible near the classrooms, the shattered windows, and the eerie silence that followed every time students passed the class by.

Allison ignored it. She didn’t care what people thought. She just wanted to get through the day.

Sophia, on the other hand, was clearly deep in thought. She barely spoke as they made their way toward their lockers.

“You okay?” Paige asked, falling into step beside them.

Sophia hesitated before nodding.

“Yeah. Just thinking.”

“About the attack?”

“About what that guy said at the assembly.” Sophia admitted. “That there was a man before the wolf.”

Allison stiffened.

Sophia noticed.

“You saw him, didn’t you?”

Allison turned to glare at her.

“I don’t want to talk about it, and I don’t want to talk to you!”

Sophia frowned.

“Why not?”

“Because it doesn’t matter.”

“It does.” Sophia said.

Allison clenched her jaw.

“Sophia, drop it.”

Sophia sighed but didn’t push further.

Paige didn’t say anything, just watched them both. Sophia stood around, wondering why Caleb was nowhere to be found, and he didn’t tell her that he’d be absent.

Before she could ask any questions about him, the bell rang, forcing them all to head to class.

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Meanwhile, Isabella sat across from Miss Flora in the principal’s office, arms crossed.

“I want to know how something like this even happened.” She said. “How did a man get into this school and try to attack my daughter?“

Miss Flora sighed.

“Mrs Anderson, I assure you, we are just as disturbed by this as you are.”

“Then what have you found out?” Isabella pressed.

Miss Flora hesitated.

“Not much. The wolf disappeared before we could properly investigate, and we didn’t see his human form. And, according to our sources, it wasn’t from this pack.”

Isabella’s eyes narrowed.

“Sources?”

Miss Flora pursed her lips.

“The Alpha’s people have looked into it. No one recognised him or his scent. Meaning, whoever or whatever he was, he wasn’t one of ours.”

Isabella didn’t like that answer. That meant that the danger was still out there, and there was very little hope of safety.

“So what you’re telling me is…” Isabella said, getting up slowly. “…that my daughter was attacked by a rogue with no known ties to this pack, and you have no way of finding him?”

Miss Flora nodded stiffly.

“I’m sorry, but that’s the truth for now. But rest assured, we are doing everything we can.”

Isabella shook her head angrily.

“You’re not doing enough! You have to do better.”

Miss Flora met her eyes evenly.

“I intend to.”

There was a tense silence. Then, Miss Flora softened slightly.

“If it helps, Sophia was incredibly brave. She ran in without hesitation to get Allison out of there. According to the students who witnessed it, if it weren’t for her and her friend, things might have ended much worse.”

Isabella smiled. She was worried, but at that time, extremely proud of Sophia.

“Of course she did. She’s a brave girl.” She muttered.

Miss Flora hesitated before continuing.

“I understand that you’re scared. But I promise you, we will protect them.”

Isabella looked her for a long moment before she nodded, getting up.

“See that you do.”

Without another word, Isabella turned and walked out.

*************** ***************** ********************** ****************&

When Isabella got back home, Lucas was laughing.

He sounded so excited and carefree. Isabella frowned as she closed the front door behind her. She followed the sound towards their bedroom, only to find her husband lounging on the bed, phone pressed to his ear.

“Lucas?” She said, getting closer to him, pressing her lips to his face.

He abruptly ended the call before he turned, smiling.

“Hey, love.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

“I thought you were going to go to work today.” Isabella asked.

“I was, but then I wasn’t feeling it, so I decided to stay home.” He shrugged.

“Well, that’s okay.” Isabella said, taking off her clothes. “You work so hard anyway.”

“Thanks.” He sighed.

“So who were you talking to?” Isabella asked, keeping her tone light.

“It’s nobody, just Vera.”

Isabella tilted her head.

“Vera? That’s nice. I’ve not met her before.”

Lucas ran a hand through his hair.

“Yeah. She’s a good friend. I met her during my travels and it was great.”

She frowned but didn’t push. Instead, she sat beside him, playing with his hair.

“She sounds like a funny person.”

He closed his eyes and chuckled.

“Oh, she is hilarious.”

Isabella studied him. Something felt off, but she decided to just let things be.