Now sitting in a chair near the front door of Pincus' office my shoulders slumped, my fingernails digging into my knees. "Easy there, Alex." Ric whispered, resting his hand on mine in an effort to stop my hands from trembling.
"Miss Wolff, whatever were you thinking? You know the wilderwolves are a serious threat." Pincus told me and I sighed, barely able to look her in the eyes as she sat across from us. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
"I'm sorry Principal Pincus. I was so worried about Ric that I didn't think about the alpha or what he'd do if he found me." I replied in a small voice, swallowing before I straightened. "Well...I already know what he'd do to me but…" I trailed off when Ric squeezed my hand, wincing when Pincus raised an eyebrow at him.
"Do you have something you would like to add, Mr. Rawls?" Pincus said and Ric swallowed, opening his mouth until I cleared mine and when they focused their attention on me I sighed again.
"This doesn't have anything to do with Ric. I chose to go wandering around Milford looking for him. Probably would have been wandering around all night but luckily Scarlet found me." I explained and when I noticed that their full attention was on me now, I rubbed at my eyes. "It was stupid and reckless going out alone to find Ric but I…" I froze when Pincus lifted up her hand and as I blinked, she actually smiled at me.
"So, you went out alone just to save a member of the pack? Even though it was very irresponsible of you to put yourself in danger I will admit that I am proud to have you as a member of Howlington." Pincus admitted and I blinked, glancing at Ric who shrugged. "However, you did break curfew so you must be punished. A week's detention with strict instructions not to leave school grounds for any reason."
"For once I don't mind being struck inside. Think I've had enough walking to last me a lifetime." I commented with a yawn and at my side Ric sniggered, instantly silenced when Pincus raised an eyebrow at him. "Can I at least rest in my room before class?" Getting a head shake and a slight smile I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose before I nodded at her.
A short time later I found myself in a classroom, my friends looking on as Ric grabbed a book resting on his desk. Settled at a desk close to the front of the classroom I rested my hands on my desk, listening as closely as I could. At least I thought I did until I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I blinked, raising my head to find Ric studying me with a tiny smile.
"You really find me that boring?" He asked, chuckling softly as I blinked at him. "You really weren't kidding when you said you were tired." He added, lightly patting my shoulder as I lowered my head.
"Relax, Alex. Let's get you back to bed." Ric suggested only to see my entire face changing into a bright red and when I coughed, he sniggered at me. "I meant to sleep. Unless there's something else you want to do?" He asked, giving me a cheeky grin with one raised eyebrow when I cleared my throat.
"Too tired for anything like that, Ric." I muttered, letting him help me from the chair and as he guided me toward the door I yawned again. "Can barely see straight right now." I added, shuffling my feet.
I made it as far as the doorway when I felt a hand grasp my shoulder, Ric's voice close to my ear before my head started to spin.
"Alex, just stay still." Ric told me, one armed draped around my shoulders when I leaned against his chest. "Thought you were going to faint on me." He explained, holding me close as I breathed out.
For once I didn't protest, letting Ric guide me into the hallway and to our shared bedroom. Even with Ric's help I barely made it to the bed, groaning as I settled onto the edge.
"Easy there, Alex. Don't want you getting hurt again." Ric told me, kneeling beside the bed before he rested his open palm on my forehead and when I slowly blinked at him his lips curled into a grin. "Just checking for a fever." After a few more seconds he lifted his hand. "You're clear but you better stay here for the rest of the day." He finished, tousling my hair before he straightened.
"But I'm supposed to be in class." I protested, pushing myself up and when I stumbled Ric gently placed both hands on my shoulders guiding me back to the bed. "What about Principal Pincus?"
"Let me deal with Pincus. Right now, you need to rest and get better." Ric soothed, kissing my forehead when I sighed. "Besides I'm the one who wore you out." He added, chuckling when my face started to turn bright pink.
"Not funny, Ric." I grumbled, curling up on the bed though when Ric covered me with a blanket I reached out and the former alpha blinked as I squeezed his hand. "Bring me back my homework, okay?" I added, closing my eyes though I didn't miss the moment he squeezed my hand back.
"I'll be back to check on you in a few hours. Just get some sleep." Ric whispered, smiling when he saw that Alex's eyes were closed her breathing light. Shaking his head he set her arm back on the bed and after tearing himself away from the bedroom he gently closed the door.
Preoccupied with thoughts about Alex, Ric smacked right into Freddy and Batty as the two rushed around the corner. The resulting crash send everyone to the floor and as Ric groaned, rubbing his now sore and most likely bruised backside he blinked as Freddy and Batty pushed themselves back to their feet.
"Sorry, Ric. We're late." Freddy apologised, rushing back down the hall and after Batty reached out a hand Ric took it. Now on his feet again he raised an eyebrow at Batty who snorted.
"We're late to class with Miss Afeaki." Batty explained before she quickly raced after Freddy leaving Ric slightly amused. Shaking his head he chuckled softly, resuming his walk back to his office. Entering the office, he found a pile of papers stacked neatly on his desk and he grimaced, closing the door after he headed for his desk silently wondering if he'd be able to keep his promise.
As the day wore on Ric leaned back in his chair, stretching his aching back before he finally finished signing the last paper. "Finally. Thought I'd never get these done." Ric sighed, pushing away from his desk before he stood. Glancing down at his wristwatch he groaned, noting just how long he'd been sitting there checking homework. "Alex's not going to be happy with me."
Moving to the door he grasped the doorknob, turning it and after poking his head into the hallway he breathed out. "Wonder if Alex's still asleep." He muttered, venturing into the hallway before he closed the door behind him. As he headed for the dorms first, he noticed how quiet the building was though as he reached the dorms, he found the door to his and Alex's room slightly ajar.
"Alex?" He called out, pushing the door fully open only to instantly freeze in place, his heart thudding in his chest as he saw the leader of the Wilderwolf pack standing over Alex's motionless body. A heartbeat later his ears picked up a slow dripping sound and as he stared at the wilderwolf it grinned at him, showing bloodstained canines. Stepping back slightly the Alpha revealed why Alex wasn't moving, her shirt torn and bloody. The second Ric saw the wound he swallowed back bile, finally seeing the bite that had torn her stomach open, her intestines exposed to the open air.
"Too late, Alpha. You should have heard her scream when I ripped her open, the way she begged and cried for you." It growled at him, watching on with two glowing crimson eyes as Ric's focus moved to the growing pool of blood under the bed. "You just weren't fast enough." It mocked as Ric stumbled back, his shoulder hitting the door frame and as he stared at Alex the Alpha leaped at him.
"Alex!" Ric screamed, eyes glowing red as his head jerked back. Breathing fast he pushed back from his desk, his eyes focusing on the door only to see someone staring at him from the open doorway. As his vision adjusted, he discovered me standing there, a blanket wrapped around my shoulders.
"Ric?" I whispered, coughing slightly as Ric stumbled past the desk before he stepped close enough for me to focus on his red eyes. "Hey what's wrong?" I asked, rubbing my own eyes with a yawn as he tiptoed closer and closer to me. The moment I saw his eyes were wide I cautiously reached out and he winced slightly as I gripped his right hand.
"Alex, you're, okay?" He growled and I yelped as his fingers tugged at the hem of my shirt. Unsure I watched on as he revealed the faint pink of my stomach and navel, blinking at it before he finally smoothed the shirt back down over me. "There's no wound." He mumbled, staring at the shirt until I tilted my head to one side lightly squeezing his hand.
"Ric, what's going on? You're really starting to worry me." I told him and he finally lifted his head, offering me a weak smile though when he suddenly dropped to his knees my eyes widened. "Ric, hey what's wrong?" Ric didn't respond until I knelt and when I rested a hand on his shoulder he lifted his arms. Being pulled into a tight hug I coughed, finding myself unable to breathe until Ric eased his grip.
Feeling him trembling I nudged his neck, coughing a little before I took several deep breaths. "Hey did something happen?" I asked him and Ric raised his head, his eyes a familiar brown before he opened his mouth.
"Wilderwolf...you were bleeding…. too late." Ric coughed, pushing his head under my chin and as I draped both arms around his back, I could feel his heart rapidly beating.
"Ric, I've been sleeping in the dorm. There's no wilderwolf anywhere in the academy." I explained calmly, watching on as Ric pushed away from me. Now sitting on the floor Ric wrapped his arms around himself, his shoulders trembling. "Hey you're scaring me." I whispered, shifting close enough to rest my forehead against his. "Take a deep breath okay?"
With some coaxing Ric started to breath in and out, copying me until his shoulders stopped trembling. "Now what happened to make you think I was hurt?" I asked, keeping my eyes on him as Ric swept a hand through his hair.
"I went looking for you, after I finished my paperwork. I found the door to our room ajar and when I went inside the Alpha was there. He was standing over you, mocking me at being too late. There was so much blood…" He trailed off, closing his eyes though before he started to shake, I wrapped both arms around his neck holding his tightly.
"Easy, Ric it was just an awful dream. I'm safe." I whispered, holding him close until he finally raised his head. When Ric hurriedly pulled his face away, I sighed, reaching up and as I gently wiped his eyes with my fingers he breathed out. "Nothing's going to get me."
"I thought you were dead. That I was too late to save you." Ric explained, sitting beside me in our shared bedroom once I managed to coax him back there. Even with my help he hesitated at the door, and I nodded, gently taking him by the hand before I slowly led himself inside the room.
"There's no blood." Ric muttered, smoothing down the bed-sheets and I nodded at him watching on as he carefully sat on the edge of the bed. "Alex, I really thought…." He trailed off when I sat beside him, resting a hand on his knee before I squeezed it.
"Nightmares can be very real, Ric but we're safe." I explained, smiling slightly when Ric rested his head against mine. "See? Nothing's going to happen to us."
"Right now, but what happens the next time the wilderwolf pack show up?" Ric told me, raising both eyebrows at me when I smiled at him. "I'm being serious, Alex."
"So am I, Ric. Didn't you promise to teach me self-defence?" I pointed out and that brought a tiny smile to Ric's face. "You didn't forget, did you?"
"O... of course I didn't forget, Alex." Ric protested and I snorted, resting my head under his chin. "But how about dinner first?"