The Last Moon Wolf

CHAPTER 5: THE MISSING STUDENT

The morning after the council meeting, Blackmoon felt different.

Students whispered in corners. Teachers watched me too long. Even the air felt heavier.

And Selene? She was gone.

I found out in the first period History of Werewolf Laws.

Instructor Mara walked in, closed the door, and said, “Selene Croft will not be attending classes for the foreseeable future.”

The room exploded.

“What?”

“Where did she go?”

“Did she get expelled?”

Mara raised her hand. Silence. “That is all I’m allowed to say. Back to your books.”

But nobody opened their books.

My stomach twisted. Gone? Just like that?

After what she did to me for ten years?

Kael leaned back in his chair behind me. “Interesting timing,” he murmured.

“What do you mean?” I whispered.

“I mean she disappeared 12 hours after the council tried to take you,” he said quietly. “Don’t you think that’s weird?”

Lucian, sitting on my other side, frowned. “Don’t start conspiracy theories in class.”

“It’s not a theory,” Kael said. “It’s a pattern.”

Rowan wasn’t in class. He hadn’t been since yesterday.

After class, I tried to find him. I checked the library. The training arena. The roof.

Nothing.

That’s when I saw the flyer on the bulletin board.

MISSING: ROWAN BLACK

Last seen: Yesterday 10PM near East Tower

If you have information, contact Alpha Council

My blood went cold.

Missing? Rowan?

He was one of the strongest students. He didn’t just go missing.

“Hey.”

I jumped. Lucian was behind me.

“You saw it too,” he said. It wasn’t a question.

“Where is he?” I asked.

Lucian looked around, then lowered his voice. “I don’t know. But Kael thinks it’s connected to you.”

“To me? Why?”

“Because first Selene disappears. Now Rowan. And yesterday the council tried to take you.” Lucian rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s too many coincidences.”

The bell rang for the next period.

“Come on,” Lucian said. “Kael is waiting. We need to talk.”

We met in the old library. The one students weren’t supposed to use. Dusty. Dark. Perfect for secrets.

Kael was already there, pacing. Maps and books spread across a table.

“You’re late,” he said.

“Sorry,” I said. “What’s all this?”

“Evidence,” Kael said. He pointed to a map of the academy. Red pins everywhere. “Three students have disappeared in the last month. All of them were in my year. All of them were strong.”

Lucian sat down. “And now Rowan.”

“And Selene,” I added.

Kael looked at me. “You’re number four.”

I sat down hard. “What?”

“The council tried to take you yesterday,” Kael said. “They failed. So what’s next? They make you disappear?”

“No,” Lucian said quickly. “The council wouldn’t”

“Wouldn’t what?” Kael snapped. “Kidnap students? Run illegal tests? You’ve been living here for 3 years, Lucian. Open your eyes.”

I looked at the map. One red pin was right under the East Tower. Where Rowan was last seen.

“What’s under the East Tower?” I asked.

Kael and Lucian exchanged a look.

“The archives,” Lucian said. “And... other things.”

“Other things?”

“The council labs,” Kael said flatly. “Where they experiment on wolves.”

The room went silent.

"Don’t go down there," Nyx whispered in my head. "It’s a trap."

Too late. I was already standing.

“We need to check it,” I said.

“Absolutely not,” Lucian said. “It’s guarded 24/7.”

“Then we go at night,” I said. “When Rowan disappeared.”

Kael smirked. “Now you’re talking.”

Lucian sighed. “I hate both of you.”

Midnight. East Tower.

The three of us stood in the shadows. The tower doors were locked. Two guards patrolled.

“Plan?” Kael whispered.

“I'm distracted,” Lucian said. “You two get in.”

“What? No” I started.

“Trust me,” Lucian said. He stepped out.

“Help!” he shouted. “Fire in the dorms!”

The guards ran.

Kael picked the lock in 3 seconds. “After you, Moon Wolf.”

We slipped inside.

The air was cold. It smelled like metal and old paper. The stairs went down. Far down.

At the bottom was a steel door. No handle. Just a scanner.

Kael pulled out a card. “Borrowed this from my brother.”

The door hissed open.

Inside: white rooms. Glass. Tables with restraints.

And cages.

Empty cages. Except one.

Rowan was inside. Unconscious. Bruises on his face. Silver cuffs on his wrists.

“Rowan!” I ran to the cage.

His eyes opened. Amber. Weak. “Aria... don’t...”

“It’s okay,” I said. “We’re getting you out.”

Kael was already working on the lock. “These cuffs suppress powers. That’s why he can’t shift.”

Footsteps.

“Someone’s coming,” Lucian hissed from the doorway.

The door at the end of the hall opened.

Headmaster Corvin. And the two council men from yesterday.

“Well,” Corvin said. “How disappointing. I expected better from you, Mr. Drake.”

Kael stood up slowly. “Let him go.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Corvin said. “Not until we figure out what Miss Vale is.”

All eyes turned to me.

"Run," Nyx said. "Now."

But I couldn’t. Not with Rowan here.

I stepped forward. “If you want me, take me. Leave him.”

Corvin smiled. “How noble.”

He raised his hand.

Silver light filled the room.