章 28: Chapter Twenty Eight

Ash sat in the slowly emptying classroom trying to complete the work that had just been handed to them by the teacher. Catching up when one was actually trying to live a decent life wasn't as easy as it sounded, but it was better than having to be on high alert every time in your life and making sure to take pills that hide who you are

Remaining suspicious of everyone around you for probably knowing your secret and making sure to act natural while you lived with people that you knew were your enemy. Living that life was hard, although getting out of it didn't seem to be something that was easy.

Some of his friends that found out about him immediately unfriended him while the ones that sympathized remained close to him even though those were also cut in half when they were threatened to be alienated just like he was. Nonetheless, he did not mind any of that. He had been initiated into the Lycaon pack and was finally feeling a sense of belonging that beat the fake friendships of high school. He continued writing, slowly losing track of time as the students got out. Soon the class was empty and he was the only one there. His sensitive ears picked up on the silence. He was happy to get to feel his wolf's presence without fear of it being suppressed again.

Footsteps got his attention prompting him to raise his head to look at the door as someone entered the classroom. He sighed in relief when he recognized who it was. Someone he knew and could trust to have his back. "Someone looks jumpy," the newcomer said.

"Yeah, I'm still a bit jumpy. It will pass… that much I know."

"I wouldn't be so sure. How is the work going?" something seemed odd about the person talking to Ash. He wasn't the type to just walk around alone.

"Can I ask what…"

"You don't get to ask anything…" the tone changed into one that was cold and hostile, "not after betraying us like that." The smell of wolfsbane was the first to hit Ash's nose before his breath was cut off. Ash's assailant stood holding a blade covered laced with wolfsbane, one that dripped blood that was stained purple from the poison having slit Ash's throat in the blink of an eye. Ash's body fell to the ground and started to convulse and release more blood. With his throat cut the way it was, he couldn't make a single cry for help. The killer had made sure to make this quick and quiet. "You know it doesn't even matter if they find you. I'll be out of here real soon and by the time they find out… well, I'll be long gone."

The assailant threw the blade out the window and walked out of the classroom like nothing had happened, counting on the sick odour of the wolfsbane to keep the wolves away before they could smell the blood. He couldn't help the smirk that formed on his face and the feeling of satisfaction on getting rid of a traitor and in turn causing so much trouble for the hunters and the Lycaon pack. 'Oh dear Katie, I wonder what you will do now. I'm practically dying to know,' he relished his sadistic thoughts, his heart devoid of all feelings of remorse…

.....................…

Cole sat partially attentive to the math teacher and partially trying to think of different ways to make the evening one to remember. That was right before the sharp pain in his chest hit like a hurricane. He cringed at the pain and put his head on the desk trying to figure out what it was that was ailing him. Caden noticed his master's condition and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I don't know… pain, unbearable pain in my chest. Like something's been severed," he said. Caden stood up from his seat in such a hurry that it caught the attention of the entire classroom.

"Mr Caden, if you have a question… Mr Caden, Mr Caden, get back here," Caden was out of the classroom before anyone could stop him, his nostrils flaring, looking for the one scent that mattered to him in the school other than Cole's. He ran down a few stairs before the repulsive smell of wolfsbane hit his nose. He almost turned to go back when the scent of blood mixed into the one of wolfsbane. It wasn't just any blood though, it belonged to the person he was looking for.

"Cole, get out of the classroom right now. Something terrible might have happened to the new pup," Caden said through the mind link. His body was frozen in place, a feeling of dread taking over him. Cole emerged from the classroom staggering, the teacher following behind him.

"If you needed to go to the infirmary, you could have just said so," the teacher yelled in exasperation.

"This has nothing to do with my medical condition. Get back to the lesson," Cole said to the teacher in an authoritative tone, "and excuse my other comrade to come with me." The teacher rolled her eyes in disbelief and simply walked back into the classroom. Seconds later, Jason came out and helped Cole walk, catching up to a frozen Caden at the staircase.

"Hey Caden, what's with the…" his question stopped halfway when the scents got to him as well. An alpha would be heavily weakened if it didn't know the cause of the feeling of loss and this was what was happening to Cole right now. Caden knew what the pain he described meant which allowed him to make the suspicion that Ash was in danger, but now he stood frozen unable to continue for fear of the reality that his mind kept trying to prepare him for.

"Caden," Cole's voice had a hint of anger to it, "stop wasting time."

The message was clear in his words and was enough to get Caden moving again. He ran ahead allowing Jason to lead Cole there at his own pace. The scent was impossible to miss and soon enough classes were werewolf students were starting to run out of the classes away from the source of the smell. Panic was taking a bit longer to set in which worked well for Caden since he was able to go through the hallway before it filled up with panicking students. Unfortunately, this also meant that the culprit had all the time in the world to make a swift getaway.

He finally found the classroom that was supposed to be the smell was thickest and got in, his hand on his nose. He turned to face the back of the classroom and froze at the sight before him, his body began to shiver in rage, fear and loss. Emotions that, up until now, had never been invoked at the same time at such a magnitude. Ash lay in a pool of blood, his eyes lifelessly staring up like he was looking at the someone towering over him. the smell of wolfsbane originated from a slit in his neck that ran across his throat. He wouldn't have been able to scream for help with that kind of wound. He also didn't know how to mind link since he was only recently a pack wolf. 'Who would do such a thing?'

"Did you find the source of the blood?" Cole's voice came in strained through the mind link.

"Yes, alpha, I found the source of the blood," he said.

"You rarely refer to me as your alpha… What happened?"

"Just get here… and see for yourself," Caden's voice was completely empty of all emotion. All he knew was anger and a strong sense of revenge. It took everything he had to keep himself rooted to the spot on the ground. He wanted to hunt down the person that had committed this heinous atrocity and end their lives in the most creative and painful way he could think of.

A little over a minute after talking to Cole, he turned up with Jason, "Damn that scent is thick in here," Jason said, his voice sounding, "Hey, Caden, is this…"

"Is this supposed to be some kind of joke? If it is, then it's not a funny one…" Cole spoke, his voice spelling danger.

"That pain in your chest is what an alpha feels when they lose a pack member…" Caden spoke, "Ash… is dead," the three of them shared the same thoughts of murderous intent as they stared at the dead body of the fifteen-year old that they had only recently taken into their custody. Memories of Ash's innocent smile and crybaby nature only helped to fuel their anger.

"He was innocent. He was only a child," Jason was about to start rambling.

"Stop speaking in the past tense. It doesn't help quell this rage," he said.

The first people to arrive were Sandra along with some of the teachers. Katie was nowhere to be seen in the group of people that came. Sandra steeled her face and made a call to the Hunter Agency to tell them of what had just transpired within the school. There was an uncomfortable silence for some time before the sound of sirens could be heard in the distance, however, they were not the first to arrive.

No one noticed how or where she passed when getting in. Katie just appeared frozen at the front of the classroom, her body shivering with fear. Sweat beaded her forehead and stray strands of her hair stuck to her face. To the werewolves, she still had an overwhelming scent of the forest with her which showed she'd been running. 'Where is she from?' thoughts originated from the three werewolves as well as Sandra. Sandra had noticed her leave with the principal, but she did not know where exactly she had gone.

One more thing that caught their attention was Ash's hand. In his own blood, using the last of his strength, he had endeavoured to write something on the ground but wasn't able to finish. His energy had only allowed him to write one letter. The letter, 'K'…

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