apter 96 Flames
CADE
I turned at the sound of my name.
“Mr. Winters.”
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Coins!
He walked slowly, hands clasped behind his back, posture stiff with authority. His voice, when it came, was smooth yet chilling.
“This is just the beginning,” he said, and I found it ironic that the two of us thought the same thing.
I tilted my head slightly; my pulse didn’t even quicken. I’d expected him to act like this already.
“The beginning of what?” I asked. “Your downfall? Yeah, I figured.”
But Mr. Winters merely smiled.
“No,” he said. “Yours.”
He took another step forward, just shy of invading my personal space. His breath smelled like scotch and rot.
“This is the start of your downfall. Of everything.”
“You should be glad you have your parents,” he added with a smirk. “Because quite frankly, you’d be six feet under if you didn’t.”
I reached into my pocket and clicked a button.
Mr. Winters didn’t notice.
He lifted his chin, his voice dropping to a hiss. “Everything you’ve worked for will go to waste. This is what you get for messing with my system. You really think you can outsmart me?”
He chuckled–a bitter, sharp sound.
“I’ve worked too hard,” he continued, “too damn hard to get where I am. I’ve buried secrets
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deeper than the vaults of this school. Broken alliances, bribed officials, eliminated obstacles. You think you’re my biggest problem? You’re nothing, Cade.”
I didn’t respond.
754
His hands trembled slightly; he was holding himself back, but the villain beneath the polished surface was clawing its way up.
“You should try protecting what you still have,” he sneered. “Because it won’t be much soon. Especially that woman.”
My jaw tensed, but I didn’t look away.
“That snarky, arrogant girl,” he spat. “Arden Stone, was it?”
He laughed to himself, the sound menacing.
“Her family doesn’t even want her. She was discarded like a broken toy. And now, I’ll ensure you won’t live properly either. I’ll take everything–everything you both love.”
He looked at me then with something resembling pity. “I’m sorry. You… you triggered something in me.”
The smile returned, sharper this time.
“But if you stay out of my way,” he said, his voice suddenly softening, “I’ll make sure to spare your faction. The North has always been annoying–so proud, always trying to be the greatest. But I feel generous at this moment.”
He tilted his head, still smiling, the menace retreating momentarily.
“Think about it. If you know how.”
Then he turned as if he hadn’t just issued a threat on my entire bloodline. He walked a few paces before pausing.
“Oh,” he added, glancing over his shoulder. “And Cade?”
I raised my chin defiantly.
“Tell Honey I miss her.”
My blood ran cold, but I didn’t flinch. I refused to give him the satisfaction.
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Only when he was gone did I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone–it had been recording the entire conversation.
I clicked it off and stared at the screen.
“Gotcha.”
Just as I was about to pocket it again, my phone vibrated in my other hand.
I looked down–Cora.
Cora never called. Not unless…
I answered instantly. “Cora?”
“Alpha Cade,” she breathed. Her voice was strained and frantic.
I froze.
“Help,” she whispered. “Someone’s raiding the facility.”
My blood turned to ice.
“Who?” I asked, but she was already gone.
I didn’t move for a full second. Then, I ran.
ARDEN
I didn’t hear from Cade that night. Not the next morning either. I tried messaging him twice, then five more times. Eventually, I called, and when he didn’t answer, I called his parents. Still nothing.
I stood in the restroom, my phone clutched to my ear, listening to another tone ring out. My classes had just ended, and all I wanted was to see him. He had told me he would just be emptying his lockers before calling me back.
The worst–case scenario crept into my mind, but I shook my head. There was no way Cade would do that.
We had just found each other.
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We were second–chance mates.
So why did it feel like something was already going wrong?
The only explanation that made sense wore a face I hated–Mr. Winters.
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I sighed and pushed the restroom door open. I’d splashed water on my face, trying to clear my head, but it didn’t help. Everything felt murky. I just wanted to talk to Cade.
Unfortunately, the person I ran into in the hallway wasn’t Cade.
It was him.
Mr. Winters stood just outside the restroom door, too close for comfort. His eyes swept down my body like I was some kind of exhibit. A sick smile stretched across his lips.
“There she is,” he said smoothly. “You look better now. Fresh–faced.”,
I didn’t respond but took a step back.
He stepped forward.
“There’s a special project I’ve been working on,” he said, licking his bottom lip. “Only a few select female students are eligible–smart ones, pretty ones. I think you’d be… ideal for it.”
My skin crawled. My fingers twitched at my sides, but I didn’t move. If I moved, he might reach out. I felt frozen, like my brain had short–circuited with disgust.
“I—”
“There you are!”
Tessa’s voice cut through my revulsion. I turned, and she grabbed my arm before Winters could say another word. She glared at him, then dragged me down the hallway before I could catch my breath.
We didn’t stop until we were back inside our dorm.
Tessa locked the door behind us and dropped onto the couch. “What the hell was that?”
“I don’t know,” I muttered, still shaken.
She frowned. “That guy is really the worst. How is he the number one candidate right now?”
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I sat down beside her.
“You okay?” she asked.
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“I don’t know,” I repeated. I tried to shake it off, but the way he looked at me remained burned in my mind.
I looked at her. “Tessa…”
“Yeah?”
“We’re mates.”
Her mouth dropped. “You and Cade?”
I nodded.
For a second, she just stared at me, then she shrieked with delight, jumping to her feet and bouncing. “Oh my god! You two are perfect for each other. That makes so much sense. I’m so happy for you.”
“But…”
“But?” she asked, still grinning.
“I haven’t heard from him since yesterday.”
That made her freeze.
“What?” she exclaimed, narrowing her eyes. “Wait… did he ghost you?”
“I don’t think so,” I answered right away. “It’s not like him. Cade’s not like that.”
Tessa slowly sank back onto the couch. “Yeah. Cade’s not like that. If he hasn’t responded, then he must be caught up in something.”
I leaned into the cushions beside her. “That’s what I’m scared of.”
Tessa grabbed the remote and turned on the television. “Let’s just chill for a second, okay? Maybe something will come up. Let’s hope he contacts you tonight.”
I nodded, trying to steady my thoughts.
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The news anchor’s voice played in the background, but I didn’t pay attention at first. I was too busy imagining what Cade might be doing. Was he in trouble? Was he avoiding me on purpose? I doubted it. He wouldn’t look at me the way he did and just leave.
“Cade really loves you,” Tessa said quietly. “Anyone can see that. There must be something going on.”
I stared ahead blankly, my heart pulling tight.
That was when I noticed the screen.
Smoke.
Flames.
A facility burning.
I didn’t know why–but my body understood before my mind did.
I sat up slowly and stared harder.
That facility… it looked familiar.
Too familiar.
My heart dropped into my stomach.
I stood from the couch, hands shaking.
“Oh no,” I whispered.
Tessa turned to me. “What is it?”
I stepped forward, eyes wide.
“Honey,” I muttered, a sick chill running through me.
