Chosen By Ruin

People Die Here

I feel doomed and cornered.

“How are you feeling?” Luna Gwen asks.

How can I possibly explain what is happening inside me? The heat hadn’t vanished. I have only been suppressing it. Worrying about my fate has made it easier to not focus on the strange sensations my body still experiences.

“I’m…” I swallow, my fingers tightening against the sheets. “I’m still feeling… it. My body feels… strange.”

Her brows draw together. “Is this your first heat?”

For a split second, I consider lying. Saying no might make me seem experienced and less suspicious. But what if they expect knowledge I don’t have if I lie that it isn’t my first heat? What if I say the wrong thing?

“…Yes,” I finally answer.

Her expression changes to one of concern.

“That’s unusual,” she murmurs. My pulse spikes, but I force myself to stay still.

“I wasn’t told much,” I said carefully. It was partly honest.

She studies me for a long moment, as if weighing something in her mind. Then she exhales softly.

“I have pack matters to attend to,” she said, rising from the bed.

Panic surges through me before I can stop it.

My hand shoots forward, wrapping around her wrist.

She freezes.

Her gaze drops to where I hold her, questioning the action.

Realizing my impulsive audacity, I release her immediately.

“I’m sorry,” I say quickly. “I just… I wanted to ask for a favor.”

Her silence stretches, urging me to continue.

“Can you… not tell my mother yet?” My voice softens, almost pleading. “I want to get a handle on this first. I don’t want the first thing she hears about me to be… this. I want her to be proud.”

Luna Gwen’s eyes narrow at me. “You don’t want her to bring your mate?”

Shit. “I can handle it,” I say, forcing steadiness into my tone.

Her expression hardens.

“I’m sorry, Hannah, but if something happens to you here and you die, it becomes our responsibility. If your parents are informed of what you are undergoing, they’ll understand the risk and won’t blame us for keeping it to ourselves.”

A chill slid down my spine.

“People… die here?” I ask, unable to hide the edge in my voice.

Her gaze doesn’t soften as she provides answers.

“Yes. Many do. Especially during the third stage of training for first years.” Her voice remains calm as she says it. It doesn’t surprise her.

“Only the strongest survive Supraveil. And it’s the strongest we need. That’s why it’s the best academy to ever exist in our world.”

The words settle heavily between us.

Then she turns toward the door. “I’ll call Darian to attend…”

“No!” I object quickly before steadying myself. “Please… I just want to be alone for a while. I need to… self-pleasure myself to bring the heat down.” I lie, desperate for her to agree.

A small smile touches her lips. “I understand that. Find me when you’re stable. You’ll need to eat.”

And just like that, she’s gone.

The moment the door closes behind her, the breath I’d been holding escape in a rush.

I am running out of time.

If they contact Hannah’s parents, I am as good as dead. They will know Hannah is dead and I will be exposed.

I swing my legs off the bed, pacing the room as my thoughts spirale.

I can’t stay here.

Not with whatever is happening to my body. Not with Xaden’s presence affecting me in ways I don’t understand. Not with the entire academy now seeing me as a threat.

I have to leave.

~

Tonight is the welcoming party for first years.

I hadn’t gone to find food. Hadn’t left the room. I had only been anticipating this moment to come- When everyone else would be busy and distracted so I can run away without being noticed.

The heat had dulled, but it hadn’t disappeared. It lingers beneath, quieter now, but no less dangerous.

Ignoring the troubling sensation, I reach for the elegant long blue gown Alpha Soren had packed for me along with Hannah's other things.

I put it on.

If I blend into the party, I won’t be noticed.

My hair goes up into a neat bun. I come across Karen’s makeup in the drawer, and hesitate. But then, I have to really look like I want to party. I apply just enough to look the part. I had never made up my face before, so I only make it light to avoid spoiling the whole thing. I look good in the mirror.

Thankfully, the gown sleeves are long. My cuts aren’t showing.

For a moment, I pause and look around the room. They’ve not bothered to take her things out yet.

It seems like they don’t care about the dead here. The thought sends a cold shiver down my spine.

I grab a silver clutch and slip all the cash I have into it, along with the folded paper from flower boy that I had kept for thirteen years. It always has a way of grounding me when my mind is a mess.

It’s my only piece of something real.

Something mine.

Drawing in a steady breath, I step out. I haven’t heard Xaden footsteps all day, and I had left earlier in the morning for orientation.

I hope I don’t get to see him till I leave.

The sound of music greets me before I even reach the hall where the event is going on.

I hope I don’t come across Sloane also. It will hurt to accept I won’t see her face again when she has been nothing but nice to me. But then, Aunt Maerra was nice too. My chest aches at the memory.

The hall is filled with voices, body movements and laughter. I can smell wine and food from here.

The party is already in full swing.

When I step fully inside, the sheer number of people I see makes me tense. Students fill the massive hall- dancing, drinking, and touching.

Perfect. No one would notice me.

I move through the crowd, keeping my head low, my steps forward.

My gaze cuts to my left at the sound of a familiar voice. Darian.

He’s standing across the room, covered in a dark suit, his presence just as lethally commanding as ever. A blue-haired girl in a skimpy white gown leaned into him, and to my surprise- her tongue traces the edge of his ear seductively. Darian grins lazily. The grin…it’s charming.

Shit. It must be this heat thing messing with my mind.

He tilts her chin up and pour wine into her mouth- slowly, sensually. I can’t look away. My chest heaves. Is that Darian’s girlfriend?

A tall boy with braided hair joins them, and presses a kiss against the girl’s cheek. She leans backward into him. It’s a trio thing?

My nerves jump at the sight. I wish…I’m the girl. But the other guy would be Xaden. My mind travels back to when Xaden brought my body flush to his that morning. And just like that, the heat flares again, intensely.

No. What am I thinking? I should keep moving.

I suck in a breath but I still can’t look away. The girl now has her hand in Darian’s hair, pulling softly as she whispers into his ears.

Suddenly- a hand grabs my wrists and I gasp.

Before I can react, I am dragged swiftly into a shadowed corner.

My back hit the wall and a hand closes around my throat.

But not tight enough to hurt. It doesn’t make it less threatening though.

My eyes pop when I see who it is. Xaden.