Chapter 48

Rowena

The line stretched on endlessly ahead of me, a snaking queue of uneasy students and staff alike. My grip tightened reflexively around the strap of my satchel as I watched another cluster of students get ushered away by the grim-faced guards stationed at the checkpoint, their hazmat suits gleaming dully beneath the morning sun.

An icy trickle of dread wormed its way down my spine. The girl in front of me had briefly mentioned something called ‘Wolf’s Fury’, but I hadn’t heard of it before. Just what was this strange virus that had the whole camp on such high alert?

“Hey.”

The sound of a familiar voice made me startle, and I turned around to find Emma lingering a few paces behind me, her expression uncharacteristically meek. A pang of remorse worked its way through me as I remembered how our last interaction had ended—with her storming out of the cafe, trying to hide tears.

“Emma. Hey,” I replied, managing a small smile despite the anxious knot in my stomach. “I didn’t expect to see you here so early.”

She shrugged one shoulder, not quite meeting my gaze. “Figured I may as well get this over with.” A moment of silence passed between us before she finally looked up, her eyes searching mine. “Listen, about the other day…” She swallowed. “What you said really hurt.”

My chest tightened as soon as I heard her speak. Truthfully, I had spent the weekend thinking about it and I had realized that what I said that night may have been too much.

“I’m so sorry, Emma. I never meant to…” I paused, lowering my voice. “Imply that you should just give up your family for Liam. I only meant that you shouldn’t let outdated traditions and ideals hold you back from being with the person you love.”

Emma’s lips twitched. “I know. And that’s why it stung so badly—because you were right.” She exhaled and ran a hand through her blonde hair. “My parents’ disapproval shouldn't matter, not when it comes to my fated mate. Liam and I…” Her voice caught ever so slightly. “We’re meant to be together. No matter what.”

Before I could respond, the line shuffled forward a few paces. Emma fell into step beside me, our shoulders brushing ever so slightly. “So listen, this whole Wolf’s Fury thing…” She arched one eyebrow. “You really think it’s this big of a deal?”

I shook my head, chewing on the inside of my cheek. “I’ll admit, this is the first I’ve heard of it. Do you know anything about it?”

Emma nodded. “Basically, it’s a virus that triggers a form of rabies,” Emma explained in a low tone, as if not to be overheard. “Makes the infected become feral, frothing at the mouth—they’ll even try to attack others, spread it through biting and scratching.”

A shiver ran down my spine at her grim words. Feral, rabid attacks? This was far worse than the simple flu virus I had envisioned. I opened my mouth to respond, but was cut off as we reached the checkpoint at last.

“Names and identification,” the guard barked gruffly, barely sparing us a glance through the plastic faceplate of his hazmat suit.

I fumbled for my camp ID, handing it over with suddenly clammy fingers. As Emma produced hers as well, the guard scrutinized them closely before shoving them back. Then, with what felt like as little decorum as possible, another guard strode up to us, shoved q-tips up our noses, then stuck the q-tips into a solution.

“Ow,” Emma whined, rubbing the side of her nose. “Could’ve warned us.”

The guards didn’t answer. Instead, they simply muttered amongst themselves for a moment—then, when the solution turned a bright blue color, the first guard turned back to us.

“Remove your jackets and roll up your sleeves,” he ordered. “You’ll need to be disinfected before entry.”

Emma shot me an alarmed look, but I could only shrug helplessly as we complied. The sharp, antiseptic tang of disinfectant stung my nostrils as a thick mist enveloped us in a dense cloud. I squeezed my eyes shut, suppressing a cough—but at least the process was over quickly.

“You’re clear,” the guard finally grunted. “Move along.”

…

By the time evening fell, I felt utterly drained—having spent most of the day tending to a seemingly endless influx of students streaming into the clinic. It seemed that my popularity as a combat manager was still on the rise, so much so that I was almost wondering if I might benefit from asking the head manager for a trainee to come and help manage the desk for me.

I had just settled in to begin the tedious process of updating my files when a sharp rap at the door made me look up with a start.

“Come in,” I called out.

The door swung open to reveal a sleek blonde striding in with her usual casual arrogance, and instantly, I felt my stomach drop. Heather’s lips were curved upwards into a silky smile, but her eyes glinted with an undisguised malice that I had become too accustomed to lately.

“Hey, Rowena,” she purred, sauntering towards my desk. “Burning the midnight oil, I see?”

I forced a tight smile, setting my pen aside to give her my full attention. “Something like that. Staying on top of my duties, you know?”

Heather smirked, leaning closer and pressing her palms into my desk. She lowered her voice, her breath tickling a strand of my hair as she spoke. “It sure is convenient how well things have been going for you lately,” she said softly. “Especially when it comes to your… romantic endeavors.”

My muscles tensed, hackles raising on instinct just at the sound of her voice. “I’m not sure what you’re implying.”

“Oh, I think you know exactly what I’m saying.” Heather’s smile didn’t waver, even as her tone took on a distinctly mocking lilt. “It’s sweet of Adrian, giving the wolfless dork a chance. You’re not his usual type, you know.”

I recoiled, pursing my lips. “Spit it out, Heather.”

Heather scoffed. “You do know Adrian just wants to get back at your brother for usurping him as the camp’s best warrior, right?” she cooed, checking her nails. “He just wants to seduce you and piss Eric off so badly that he screws up and gets kicked out.”

Anger churned in my gut. “That’s not true,” I spat out. “Adrian and I hit it off. You’re just trying to stir the pot because you’re afraid you won’t make it to the championship.”

For a moment, Heather’s eyes flashed. But then, she turned, striding over to the file cabinet by the far wall. “Maybe that’s true,” she admitted. “And that’s exactly why I have a deal for you.”

“A deal?”

“I can make Adrian stay with you for real—as long as you do one little thing for me.”

“And what would that be?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.

In an instant, Heather’s eyes snapped over to me, as narrow and soulless as a snake’s eyes. “Drop out of the championship running,” she said, her voice cool despite the malice in her gaze. “That’s all I ask: you pull out, admit that you’d never win against me, and I’ll make sure that your crush stays with you.”

I gaped at her, stunned into speechless incredulity. I had expected an ultimatum like this, honestly, but hearing it now felt like a knife in my gut. It seemed simple—to pull out of the running for the championship for the sake of finding love.

But as the weight of her vile demand sank in, scorching anger propelled me to my feet. I had worked too hard for this to give it all up for a man. And besides, she was bluffing anyway. I was sure of it.

“You’re out of your goddamn mind if you think I would ever—”

Heather cut me off with a chuckle, quickly regaining her composure as she straightened and made her way over to the door.

“Have it your way, then,” she said in that sing-song voice of hers as she tossed her ponytail over her shoulder. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you. When Adrian ditches you after he’s had his fun, leaving you heartbroken and alone…”

She paused in the doorway, glancing at me one last time with another poisonous smile on her lips. “Well, we’ll see how important that championship is to you.”

With that parting statement and one final smirk, Heather turned on her heel and sauntered out of my office.