Chapter 4 Chapter 4

Elari

My stomach was grumbling so loudly that it was embarrassing when I finally emerged from my dorm room the next morning. It wasn’t early but then again I didn’t need to be up for classes because today was a Saturday. Why my mother had brought me here and left me on a weekend I didn’t know, but I knew she would have a reason. Maybe she just wanted me to settle in before my classes began. Maybe she even hoped I would make friends.

Not that I seemed to do a good job of that last night. Serephina and her friends had seemed to hate me on sight and Kade? Well I refused to think about Kade.

I wouldn’t have left my dorm room at all, but I was starving. I didn’t expect the common room to be empty. 

“Hey you must be Elari.” A bright friendly voice called out. Shrieking I turned around, finding a girl curled up on the window seat with a book in her hand. A book she dropped to her lap with a bright smile. “I’m Isolde. Isolde Vale. But all my friends call me Issi.” Bounding upwards , the heavy leather bound book clattered to the floor.

I took her in. From the curly blonde hair, to the sparkling green eyes and the dusting of freckles across her nose.

“What should I call you?” I asked warily. She didn’t look like one of the bitch squad but you could never be too sure. 

She paused, giving me the up and down. “Well hopefully you will call me Issi as well.” She grinned finally. “If you want to be friends of course?”

Suddenly my tongue felt thick, tears rushed up into my eyes and fell down my cheeks. She paled, “I mean we don’t have to. There’s no need to cry about it.”

“I’d like to be friends. I -“ I sniffled, wiping my hand angrily under my eyes. “I’m sorry I’m just feeling a little overwhelmed and I’m hungry and what happened last night-“ i sucked in a breath. “And I’m babbling.”

Giggling Issi , hugged me. “Last night was cool. You’re going to have to explain to us how you did that. No first years have powers. Or our wolves.” She side eyed me. “Do you have yours?”

I shook my head. 

“Weird. Anyway you slept through breakfast but come on let’s go and find something to eat. The others are waiting?” She dragged my arm through the crook of hers.

“Others?” I managed to mutter as she pulled me out into the bitter morning air. Sending up a silent thanks that I had thrown on a Frostveil sweatshirt and my boots before leaving my room otherwise I would have frozen to death before I’d even spent a full day here. 

“My friends.” Issi said in her cheerful voice. “Your friends too, now. We all stick together , us.” Even as she spoke a familiar blonde head appeared on the other end of the bridge. Luckily not coming in this direction but down towards the arena. 

“Freaks?” I finished for her, maybe a little too loudly. Serephinas head snapped around and she glared at me.

Issi giggled , her curls falling over her face.

“Oh look.” Serephina called out. Her voice carried on the icy biting wind. “The freaks have found each other.”

I couldn’t help it i rolled my eyes. She sure was typical. Every school had girls like her. Mean girls. I didn’t know why I expected an elite magical school for werewolves to be any different. 

“Surprised you’re not fawning all over Kade like last night. It’s pathetic. He’s your brother.”

“Step brother.” I almost said , but snapped my lips shut. I could feel Issi side-eying me. 

“And why would he-“ a gust of wind cut off her words but it didn’t matter what she said. I already knew it would be something nasty. Laughing loudly, she and her group of mega she wolf bitches went on their way. Replaced almost instantly by three teenagers my own age. A girl and two boys. Who hurried towards us over the bridge.

“What was that about?” The girl asked. Pushing her bright pink glasses up her nose. 

“You know Serephina.” Issi laughed. “Alpha bitch extrodiare.” 

I couldn’t help but smile as the others nodded their agreement. Issi was right, these were the kind of people I could be friends with. We already had so much in common. Like our mutual hatred of Seraphina. 

“Anyway, mess hall is closed. But we brought supplies.” The taller of the boys grinned and held out his hands so I could see his bulging pockets. “But can we get inside because it feels like I’m freezing my right ball off?”

“Just your right one, Rivan?” Issi teased. “What happened to the left?”

He shrugged. “No idea, I can't feel anything below the waist .” Pointedly he looked at the dorm tower behind us, with longing. “Inside . Please.”

Still laughing Issi cuffed him on the elbow before turning to me. “Elari, these are my friends. Theo Ashbourne.” She pointed to a boy who was only a little taller than I was. “Rowan Darkmore.” 

I smiled at the girl with the bright rimmed glasses. Who lifted her hand in a small wave.

“And the one ball wonder that is Rivan Nightfall.”

“Hi.” I said shyly. My teeth chattering from the cold.

“I do not have one ball.” Rivan protested. “I mean it’s nice to meet you Eleri. But can we please go inside.”

The begging in his voice was comical and I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. He returned it. 

Cute. He’s really really cute. A blush heated my cheek.

“I didn’t think boys were allowed in the dorm?” 

“They aren’t after dark but that doesn’t stop anyone. There’s a girl in second year that has an upper class man coming in and out of her room at all hours.” Rowan rolled her eyes. “But that’s what happens when you find your mate early. Personally I never want it to happen. Especially not here. Can you imagine having to share a room with your mate all of fourth year?” She shuddered.

A prickle of unease tiptoed up my spine. Absently I rubbed my hand against the back of my neck and tried to rub it away. “What do you mean?”

“Oh it’s nothing, any of us have to worry about. I mean what’s the chances of us finding our mates in school?” Issi tugged me back towards the building we had just come from. “But if you do, you are allowed to live together in the fourth year. It’s all kind of gross if you ask me.”

“Yeah.” The feeling wouldn’t go away. Like I was being watched. Like-

I snapped my head around and flew out a breath. 

Kade. 

He was walking down the same stone path as Serephina. A heavy looking kit bag slung over his shoulder. His hair still looked wet from the shower. It made me wonder how he wasn’t freezing to death. Like I had called his name he paused and turned his eyes to me.

There was a whole ice covered stone bridge between us but I was sure his eyes flashed red when he licked his lips.

“Where is he going?” I whispered to everyone and no one in particular.

“Not you as well?” Rivan laughed and pulled me into his side. Kades eyes narrowed.

“What do you mean? He’s my step brother.”

“Oh. Sorry I didn’t know. It’s just all the girls chase after the god that is Kade Pyrrhos. He’s probably going down to train, or to fight. Or do the stuff the popular kids do.” He squeezed my shoulders. “Did you want to go down and watch like all the other girls?”

I elbowed him in the ribs. “I’d rather spend my time with you guys.” I said honestly but I couldn’t help but look back at Kade. Standing as still as a statue and just staring at me with that unreadable look on his face.