I can't deny there's a part of me that wants to explore this more as excitement blossoms in my chest. Another new. But I'm aware we don't know how much time we have, and every second counts.
Shaking my head, the movement feels so strange, but I’m quickly pulled from my confusion when I hear the door swiftly open and close. A quick glance over my shoulder confirms that it’s Ocean setting things in motion.
“Let's go,” Thorne says, leading the way.
I stay a step behind him, awkward as hell as I try to coordinate four legs. To my surprise, I make it down the stairs without slipping into a ball, finding myself in the garage with the others in no time.
The cars aren't coming out tonight, though. They would draw too much attention. Instead, Kael puts on his helmet, kicks his leg over the bike that's waiting patiently, and floors it the second the door is open enough.
He blasts out into the night air, causing an uproar in those waiting around, ready to attack, and that's when I need to move.
Slipping out into the shadows, I’m instantly disoriented by the feeling of the ground beneath mypaws. Everything I felt inside has become heightened. The overwhelming onslaught of noise leaves me lightheaded, just like Rion told me it would, but it's the reminder of the other thing he said that comes to mind.
“Chase the feeling of running, Elodie. Don't let anything else distract you.”
Determined, I move, heading for the tree line as fast as I can. I almost tumble over my own little legs as I go. Like a deer trying to walk for the first time, I scramble as fast as I can.
The night sky is illuminated by the moon, leading the way as we somehow make it out of Institute Thirteen untouched.
Rion appears a step ahead of me, taking the lead, and I bask in the moment, acknowledging it’s just the two of us. We coast through the shrubbery and trees until The Vale appears in the distance.
It's strange to think I've never really seen a wolf out here. All I can do is hope everyone is still camped outside Institute Thirteen or too distracted by Kael’s bike to be here.
When Rion gives the all clear and darts out across the pathway, I follow after him. Hope blossoms in my stomach as we make it all the way to the Academy building. By some stroke of luck, thesecond I hear the double doors click closed behind me, a pained groan rips from my throat as I shift back into my human form.
Panting, I lie on the floor staring up at the ceiling in disbelief.
“Holy shit, Elodie.” Ocean beams, appearing at my side with a little bag in her hand, reminding me of just how naked I am right now. She silently offers me the bag we'd filled before we set everything into motion. “Have fun?” she asks, and I nod.
“That was insane,” I breathe, pushing up onto my feet, only to sway with jelly legs as I clutch the bag to my naked body.
“Use the classroom beside the portal room to get changed. Rion's just circling the property to make sure everything's safe. Thorne’s already in the portal room, trying to get everything sorted, and I can hear Kael in the distance now,” she explains, and I nod again, following her advice and seeking out the room I need.
It takes me a moment to walk with confidence again, but I quickly find the room she’s referring to and step inside, flicking the light on and paying no mind to the space around me.
A shiver runs down my spine, encouraging me to get dressed. Rifling through the bag, I pull outfresh underwear, a random t-shirt, joggers, and an oversized hoodie, along with my sneakers.
I can still feel the adrenaline running through my veins as I get dressed, slipping my sneakers on before I reach for my hoodie. As I pull it over my head, my spine freezes, fear turning to ice in my veins.
I’ve always been terrified when putting my hoodie on. It shields my view, dulling my ability to protect myself, and the panic is valid as my head slips through and the hoodie rests on my shoulders to reveal that I’m, indeed, not alone.
“Miss Blackwood, how does it feel to almost escape?”
I clear my throat, standing as tall as I can while I glare at the woman before me. Her deep-red nails match her crimson lips as she sneers at me. Her icy white hair is pulled back off her face like usual, but the loose tendrils falling haphazardly around her face hold my attention.
She's always put together, but not now.
Offering the fakest smile I can muster, I shrug. “Unfortunately, Cordelia, I can't answer that, because I'll never know. And so we’re clear, it’s Elodie Silverthorne.”
She scoffs, planting her hand on her hips. “Ican't let you leave.” The look of disdain on her face is withering.
I brush my hair back off my face. “And I can't let you stop me.”
Today has been a fucking whirlwind already—the past hour being some of the worst of it—and dealing with her now only tops it all off.
She's moving fast and I've got nowhere to run. All I can do is brace for impact, and as she curls her fingers around my upper arms, my hands connect with her chest. Her scream is ferocious, but the anger in her eyes burns even brighter, and before I can dodge out of the way, her teeth elongate, ripping into my throat.
A gargled scream of fury rips from my lungs, and it's quickly mixed with the pain of my teeth matching hers as my eyes darken and the thirst for blood becomes real.
