Chapter 89

Rowena

I strode down the hallways at camp, feeling like I was walking on top of the world. The week-long quarantine period had ended, and classes had resumed—even though we really only had less than a month left before the semester was over at that point.

Outside, the fall leaves had mostly made their way to the ground, the air taking on a chillier atmosphere. In a few weeks’ time would be the winter dance. Then, after that, we would all be enjoying holiday break with the Lunar Solstice just around the corner.

Eric was still in the hospital—he would remain there for another week, according to the physician. They needed to monitor his condition to make sure that Wolf’s Fury had truly been eradicated from his body.

It was saddening, but I understood why it had to be done. My special blood serum seemed to do the trick, but we still couldn’t be sure. It was safer this way.

And it was also safer to keep things quiet—for now, at least. Not only to keep false hopes in a cure from arising just in case it didn’t work, but also…

To protect my identity as the missing Northern princess.

I still remembered that day that I had climbed into my father’s car and we had peeled away from the quarantine center.

“You’re still my dad, you know,” I had blurted out, reaching over to touch my father’s hand. “I want you to know that.”

My father had shot me a rare warm smile. “You know I don’t expect you to—”

“I know. You’re still my dad, and Mom is still my mother. Maybe not biologically, but… That doesn’t matter to me.”

I had promised to keep my identity a secret. I did, of course, want to eventually meet my biological family. But not now. Not until it was safe. Not until I could publicly announce, “I am the missing Northern princess… and I am in love with Eric Griffith.”

I didn’t know when that would be, but it didn’t matter. Nothing else mattered except for the cure.

“Rowena? Is it true?”

Turning toward the sound of the voice that had pulled me out of my reverie, I saw another student scurrying after me, his books clutched to his chest. I stopped, shooting him a quizzical look.

“Is what true?”

The student stopped in front of me, slightly out of breath, and hiked his books up a little further on his chest. “About the heir to New Moon pack,” he said. “About your brother…”

I frowned, turning to face him fully now. “I’m not sure what you’re implying,” I said, hoping that word hadn’t gotten out about Eric’s ‘miraculous’ recovery just yet. No one was supposed to know.

“Well…” The student glanced around nervously for a moment, making me grow even more impatient, before he finally continued. “There’s a rumor going around that Eric may not live through the Wolf’s Fury virus.”

“No one lives,” I said. Not unless they take my antidote, I thought inwardly, although I kept that part to myself.

“Yes, but…” The student sighed and shrugged. “Well, some people are saying that with Eric gone, a new heir will be appointed to New Moon pack. And people are saying that Adrian Almond would be the most logical choice.”

I could barely contain the snort that escaped me then. “Adrian?” I echoed, wondering if this was some kind of joke. “Why wouldn’t I be the heir? I’m Alpha Griffith’s daughter.”

The student shifted nervously from foot to foot, his cheeks reddening beneath my glare—clearly, he was being serious. “Adrian Almond is the top warrior at camp with Eric gone,” he said. “And… Well, don’t take this the wrong way, Rowena, but you’re a girl.”

My shoulders deflated a bit at his words. He was right; girls were rarely appointed as heirs to packs, even in modern society. And besides, I wasn’t actually my father’s biological daughter. By the time it got to that point when the heir would take my father’s place, I would have already claimed my namesake as the missing Northern princess.

But Adrian? Fat chance. Besides, Eric would be back soon. Just one week, and then he would be released from the hospital and Wolf’s Fury would be eradicated with my serum.

“Well, it’s just a rumor,” I said with a dismissive wave of my hand. “Adrian isn’t going to become the heir of New Moon.”

As I turned to stride away, however, the student’s voice caught my ears again.

“If Eric dies, then Adrian can compete to become the heir!”

I stopped in my tracks, feeling my shoulders tense up. By now, half of the students in the hallway had gone quiet and were watching expectantly for my reaction. I turned slowly, gritting my teeth, and managed a terse smile.

“Eric will return,” I announced loudly. “His position as heir of New Moon pack will not be contested. And Adrian Almond will never be the heir of anything.”

A tense silence fell over the hallway at my words. The remaining students who had still been chatting were now staring at me, mouths slack and eyes wide. I held my stance, pulling my shoulders back and jutting my chin out.

Suddenly, another shrill voice pierced the silence.

“What did I tell you?” Heather called out. “The only cure for Wolf’s Fury is death.”

I turned to see Heather striding toward me in her cheerleading uniform, her hair slicked back into that signature blonde ponytail of hers. Her shoulder bumped against the student who had been speaking to me before as she passed by him, knocking the books out of his arms, but she didn’t even seem to notice as he hurried to pick them all up. She didn’t stop until she was a few paces away from me.

“Not for Eric,” I retorted.

Heather let out a barking laugh and placed her hands on her slender hips. “What makes you say that? Did you already find that cure you were looking for?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but then shut it again and grit my teeth. I couldn’t tell anyone. I couldn’t risk exposing myself.

Realizing that I wasn’t going to retort this time, Heather turned slowly to address the rest of the students. “As the lead combat management intern, I will vouch for Adrian!” she cried out like a queen addressing her subjects. “Adrian is the top warrior at camp, and he has worked hard to reach his position! It was not merely handed to him through nepotism!”

The students shifted uncomfortably, murmuring amongst themselves. Heather finally looked at me again. “Adrian will be the new rightful heir,” she cooed. “And I will support him every step of the way.”

Once again, I opened my mouth to let out a retort but shut it again. No, I thought to myself. Not now.

Instead, I simply turned on my heel and stormed off.

They would all learn when Eric returned. Then, only then, they would be proven wrong.

…

“So you see… bradykinesia… slow reflexes…”

The professor’s words barely registered as I sat in class, doodling on the corner of my paper. I already knew all of this content anyway, and besides—my mind was wandering far too much to focus today.

Heather’s words kept echoing in my mind: “Adrian will be the rightful heir.”

Yeah, right. As if I would believe a word that ever came out of Heather’s mouth. Eric would return soon and show all of them that his place as heir of New Moon pack would never be contested.

But Heather was also cunning. She had methods of getting her own way, and, well…

Frankly, I didn’t trust her.

Suddenly, the sound of murmuring by the window caught my attention. I picked my head up from my doodle to see that a few of the students sitting by the window were leaning over in their chairs and pointing at something down below.

“Excuse me?” the professor called out. “Pay attention, please.”

But whatever was happening outside was apparently more important than bradykinesia. More students were gathering now, giggling and murmuring. And then, a moment later—the sound of music wafted up from the ground below. A romance song.

“Take your seats, please! The lecture isn’t finished!”

“Look!” a student called out, ignoring the professor. “Adrian Almond is down there!”

“How romantic…”

“Ugh, I’m so jealous!”

Frowning, I got up to take a look myself. I wished I hadn’t, because Adrian stood on the lawn below the window, a stereo playing a love song by his feet and a sign in his hands.

“Rowena Griffith,” the sign read, “I love you!”