Chapter 83

Rowena

I whirled around at the sound of Adrian’s voice cutting through the chaos, my heart leaping into my throat when I saw him storming toward us.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Eric immediately stepped in front of me—his broad frame forming a protective barrier between me and Adrian.

“What do you want?” Eric growled.

Adrian didn’t so much as break his stride, his lips curling back in a sneer as he rapidly closed the distance between us. When he was just a few feet away, he jabbed an accusatory finger in Eric’s direction.

“You’re infected,” he bit out. “I know you were bitten! I saw everything the other night!”

Before I could open my mouth to protest, Adrian’s hand whipped out and seized Eric’s wrist in an iron grip. With a harsh tug, he yanked Eric’s arm forward—causing the sleeve of his jacket to ride up and reveal the stark white bandages I knew were concealing the bite mark hidden beneath.

My stomach flipped as I watched Adrian rip the dressing away, exposing the angry red gashes to the harsh afternoon sunlight—and the entire camp.

“Everyone, get the hell away from him!” Adrian bellowed over his shoulder, his voice carrying across the parking lot as all eyes turned toward us. “Eric Griffith has been bitten—and he’s trying to hide it from all of us!”

A chorus of horrified gasps and murmurs immediately rippled through the throngs of watching students and staff. Desperately, my gaze swept the crowd—searching for any sign of the medics or combat managers who would be able to regain control of this rapidly deteriorating situation.

But my panic was broken by Adrian’s furious shout directed back at me.

“Rowena!” He held his hand out for me. “Get over here—get away from him before he loses it completely!”

I hesitated for a split second, suddenly frozen beneath the dozens of eyes that were now boring into me. But then I felt Eric’s hand clamp down on my wrist with bruising force, effectively anchoring me in place at his side.

“She’s not going anywhere with you,” Eric growled.

An involuntary gasp slipped from my lips as my free hand immediately flew to the iron grip of his fingers digging into my flesh. I knew Eric didn’t mean to do it, but he was hurting me. Adrian didn’t miss a beat—he noticed everything.

“Just look at him!” he howled. “He’s erratic, he’s volatile—it’s only a matter of time before the infection fully takes him and he goes completely feral! You’re in danger just being around him, Rowena!”

My heart pounded against my ribcage as Eric’s head whipped around to look at me—his eyes widening. For one endless, agonizing moment, our gazes met and held, and I immediately understood the unspoken question burning in the depths of his bright blue irises.

Did I believe Adrian? Did I think he was truly a danger to me now?

I didn’t have the chance to respond, however, because in the next instant, Eric’s gaze hardened. He roughly released his grip on my wrist, leaving me to suck in a sharp inhale of relief at the returning flood of circulation.

But then he turned and began striding away—shoving his way through the clusters of gawking bystanders.

“Eric, wait!” I cried out, already moving to follow after him—only to have my path abruptly blocked by Adrian’s broad chest slamming into my field of view.

“Let him go, Rowena,” Adrian said, looping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me close before I could react. “He’s a monster for letting himself be around you knowing that he was bitten. You’re safer with me.”

A hot spark of fury ignited in my chest, and I immediately began struggling against Adrian’s hold. “Are you delusional?” I spat out through gritted teeth, digging my heels in as I watched Eric’s retreating form growing smaller and smaller. “Eric would never hurt me. You, on the other hand… I’m not so sure.”

Adrian’s fingers dug deeper into my flesh at that, his expression twisting into a scowl. “Rowena, I know he’s your brother,” he insisted, “but you don’t know what he’s capable of. Just trust me. It’s safer this way.”

A shudder of revulsion rippled through me at his touch. I redoubled my efforts to break free, but it was no use—Adrian was far too strong for me, a wolfless loser who was half his size.

And I could already feel the beginnings of tender bruises blooming across my skin.

“Let go of me!” I growled.

Adrian scoffed. “You can thank me later, Rowena—”

“She told you to let her go, asshole.”

The sound of Eric’s low voice coming from somewhere behind me made me freeze. I turned my head slowly to see him standing there, his hands curled up into fists at his sides and his nostrils flaring.

No... no, he shouldn’t have come back…

But he had, and Adrian’s grin only stretched wider.He released one of my shoulders to instead clamp his fingers around my wrist, effortlessly trapping me against his side once more.

“I figured you’d come back,” Adrian crooned, flashing his teeth in a mocking smile. “Come to put on a little show for us, tough guy? Let Rowena here see exactly what kind of monster her belove brother truly is—”

Adrian’s words abruptly cut off as Eric launched himself forward in a sudden blur—his movements uncharacteristically jerky and frenzied as he collided with Adrian like a freight train. I shrieked, stumbling back so quickly that I fell backwards onto the pavement. If it weren’t for Emma suddenly materializing behind me and catching me, I would have clattered to the ground.

The two men went down in a snarling heap—punching, shoving, kicking and growling with an animalistic ferocity. Adrian clearly had the upper hand, and once again, I was reminding of Eric’s form that night when he had fought off those feral warriors.

Slow. Weaker than normal. Dull. Only this time, there was an added discoordination to his movements.

If Eric wasn’t careful, he was going to get himself hurt.

“Eric, stop!” I pleaded frantically, struggling against Emma’s grip. “Just walk away—he’s not worth it!”

But it was like Eric couldn’t even hear me over the red haze of rage consuming him—his pale cheeks were flushed crimson, his eyes wide, spittle flying from his mouth.

Then, my breath caught in my throat as I watched him pull back his arm to deliver a crushing uppercut that would undoubtedly put Adrian down for the count—

Only for him to freeze.

Adrian immediately scuttled backwards, a triumphant grin stretching across his face as he used his thumb to wipe blood away from his nose.

“There, there,” he sneered, clambering to his feet. Several burly guards surrounded Eric, and it was only then that I saw it: the tranquilizer dart sticking out of his neck. Adrian chuckled. “Night night, Eric Griffith.”

I watched in numb horror as the medics caught Eric just as he began to crumple. They lifted him in their arms and began carrying him away—toward a large white van with QUARANTINE and WARNING: BIOHAZARD stamped in bold yellow letters on the side.

“No—Wait!” I called out, but it was no use. Emma tightened her grip on me, pulling me back.

“Rowena, stop,” Emma said softly, gathering my weeping form into her arms. “He’ll be alright. He’ll be alright…”

Sobs wracked my frame as I saw Eric’s now-limp body being loaded into the van.