Beth put on a worried look. "Oh, I'm so scared."
Then she smirked, her tone turning mocking. "Do you have any evidence?"
She was right—I didn't have any.
"Besides," she added with a smirk, "you should be more worried about the challenge at the graduation ceremony." With that, she turned and walked away with her group.
"Is she out of her mind?" Eileen muttered beside me.
"She's always like this. She loves messing with me," I shrugged, honestly used to it by now.
"She probably means she's going to challenge you at the graduation match."
"Yeah, I figured she'd been waiting for this day."
At our school, there's a tradition of holding a duel at graduation because werewolves often have grudges against each other.
The person being challenged can't refuse.
There are rules—no deaths. It's meant to be a friendly match with no bets, so it's not tied to the packs.
Although the rules say no deaths, people still end up in the hospital sometimes. Even with werewolf fast healing, it takes time to recover from serious injuries.
After school, Eileen left early for some family stuff, and I got a message from Raymond.
Raymond: How was your day?
Caitlyn: Not bad.
Raymond: I'm coming to pick you up.
Caitlyn: Thanks, Mr. Raymond!
I felt a warmth in my chest as I read the message.
I stood at the school gate, waiting for Raymond, unaware of someone approaching from behind.
Raymond's POV
I sat back in my wheelchair, deliberately putting on a sickly, gentle demeanor. The car stopped at the school gate.
Not seeing Caitlyn, I felt a wave of unease. My wolf sensed something was wrong.
I called Caitlyn, but there was no answer.
I tried again, but still nothing. My expression darkened. I turned to the driver and yelled, "Now! Go find her immediately!"
"Yes, sir!" he responded, quickly making the call.
In less than three minutes, I got a message from Caitlyn saying she'd been taken by a scarred wolf.
"Let's go!" I said.
I hadn't felt this anxious in a long time. Why does this girl always seem to be in danger?
Caitlyn's POV
I woke up to find my feet were tied. The musty smell of the place hit me right away.
It looked like an abandoned warehouse—broken glass, dusty floors, and junk scattered everywhere.
I struggled against the ropes, but they were too tight.
"You're awake," a rough voice rasped. I looked up, and even though it was dark, I could see his face clearly. It was John.
But his face was covered in deep, unhealed scars, making him look monstrous.
Even with a werewolf's natural healing, those scars wouldn't have healed completely, which meant his injuries had been severe.
"What do you want?" I asked, trying to keep my tone calm.
"Still remember what happened six months ago?" His eyes gleamed with malice, and behind him, the sound of low growls echoed.
One... two...
Ten wolves stood behind him, their eyes glowing with threat. Their sharp teeth were showing, and they growled—like beasts ready to attack.
"You did this to me. Today, I'll tear you apart, piece by piece!"
"I didn't do anything!" I cried out, my wolf growling in warning, sensing the danger.
But I couldn't move. These damn ropes held my body in place.
"You've forgotten everything!" His voice was full of anger as he yelled at me.
With a gesture, one of his wolves lunged at me and sank its teeth into my shoulder.
With a wave of his hand, one of the wolves attacked, biting down hard on my shoulder.
"Ah!" Pain exploded through me, and I couldn't help but scream.
The wolf's fangs pierced my shoulder, and I felt a crisp "crack" as my bones broke.
The pain was unbearable, leaving me struggling to breathe, unable to think or focus. What was he talking about?
When had I ever hurt him?
The wolf bit down again, this time tearing into my arm.
The sharp agony nearly knocked me out. But just before everything went black, I heard Raymond's voice—cold, sharp, and filled with anger. It was a sound I'd never heard before.