Fionna burst out of the classroom door, her sneakers squeaking on the linoleum floor as she sprinted down the empty hallway. Her mind was a mess,werewolves, past lives, kidnappers? It all blurred together in a panic-fueled haze.
She shoved open the school's side exit, scanning the parking lot wildly. Cynthia's beat-up blue sedan was still there, but no sign of her or her dad.
"Cyn? Cynthia!"
She called out, her voice echoing off the brick walls.
Footsteps pounded behind her. She whipped around to see David catching up, his face set in determination. He skidded to a stop beside her, grabbing her arm gently to steady her.
"Fionna, wait. We can't just charge out here blind."
She yanked away, her breath coming in short gasps.
"They're gone, David. She's gone. Oh God, what are they gonna do to her? Hurt her? Because of me?" Her voice trembled, cracking on the last word as tears stung her eyes. This was her fault,all that crazy talk about alphas and kingdoms, and now her best friend was paying for it.
David glanced around, his blue eyes sharp, like he was listening for something she couldn't hear.
"Listen to me. They're using her as bait to draw you out. But she's alive,they need her that way to get to you. We can't play their game right now. We head back inside, act normal until school's out. Then we go get her."
Fionna stared at him, wiping her sleeve across her face.
"Back to class? Are you serious? We just sit there while she's... while they're..."
She trailed off, the fear twisting her gut.
He nodded firmly, steering her toward the door with a hand on her back.
"Trust me. If we ditch now, the school calls parents, cops get involved and human cops who won't stand a chance against these guys. We wait, blend in. As soon as the bell rings, we're out. I've dealt with worse."
He turned and headed back down the hallway, his posture tense but controlled.
Fionna hesitated, then followed, her mind racing.
"Wait,how? How are we even gonna find them? They could be anywhere!"
David paused at the corner, glancing over his shoulder with a small, knowing smile.
"With our noses. Werewolf senses, remember? We track her scent like hounds on a trail."
He kept walking, leaving her standing there, her face a mix of curiosity and raw worry. Noses? Like dogs? But that push earlier, the voice in her head... maybe it wasn't all lies.
The next few minutes dragged like hours. They slipped back into class just as the teacher was taking roll again, mumbling excuses about bathroom breaks. Fionna sank into her seat, staring at the clock, her leg bouncing under the desk.
David sat across the room, but she felt his eyes on her, steadying her somehow. The lesson blurred into nonsense,math equations that might as well have been hieroglyphs.
Finally, the bell screamed through the speakers, signaling freedom. Kids poured out like a flood, chattering about weekend plans. Fionna grabbed her bag and met David at the door. They wove through the crowd, heading straight for the street. David flagged down a passing cab, an old yellow one with a dented fender.
"Get in."
He said, holding the door for her.
The driver grumbled about traffic as they sped off, the school shrinking in the rearview. A few miles out, past the suburbs where houses gave way to overgrown lots, David leaned forward.
"Pull over here, man. This is good."
He tossed some cash over the seat, and they hopped out, the cab rumbling away in a cloud of exhaust.
Fionna looked around,the area was sketchy, abandoned warehouses and chain-link fences tagged with graffiti.
"Now what? How are we supposed to find her out here?"
David scanned the horizon, then turned to her.
"You got something of hers? A book, a jacket,anything she touched recently?"
She rummaged in her bag, pulling out a dog-eared notebook Cynthia had lent her for notes.
"This. She gave it to me this morning."
He took it, holding it out to her.
"Sniff it. Get her scent."
Fionna blinked, staring at the book like it was a bomb.
"Sniff it? Like a dog? You're kidding."
"Just trust me."
He said, his voice calm but urgent.
"Close your eyes if it helps. Focus."
She hesitated, then brought the book to her nose, inhaling deeply. Paper, ink, a faint whiff of Cynthia's strawberry shampoo... but nothing special.
"I can't smell anything weird. Just normal stuff."
David stepped closer, his presence warm and steady.
"That's you trying. Let your wolf do it. Starlight she's the one with the instincts. Quiet your mind, like meditating. Picture her stirring inside you, that voice you hear. Let her take the wheel for a second. Breathe in slowly, and ask her to find Cynthia."
Fionna squeezed her eyes shut, feeling ridiculous. 'Starlight? If you're real, help me out here.'She inhaled again, deeper this time. A tingle started in her chest, spreading like warmth from a fire.
The scents sharpened,strawberries exploded into layers,Cynthia's laughter in class, her hug after the cafeteria mess. Then, a trail, like an invisible thread pulling her forward.
"Whoa... I got it. This way."
Her eyes snapped open, and she started walking, then jogging, David right behind her. The scent led them through back alleys, past rusted cars, until they reached an old, half-built mansion on the outskirts,crumbling walls, vines choking the windows, the kind of place kids dared each other to enter.
Voices drifted out, low and rough. David held up a hand, signaling quiet. Two burly guys stood guard at the front door, arms crossed, looking bored. In a blur, David moved,silent as a shadow. He grabbed the first by the neck, slamming him into the wall with a muffled thud. The second turned, but David was faster, a quick chop to the throat dropping him like a sack.
"Clear."
He whispered.
They slipped inside, crouching behind a stack of old crates. The voices came from the next room,three men, one pacing with a phone, the others lounging against the wall. Cynthia was tied to a chair in the center, her eyes wide and scared, a gag in her mouth.
"...if the girl shows, we rough this one up a bit."
The leader was saying, a stocky guy with a scar across his cheek.
"Nothing permanent at first,just enough to make the Alpha pup squeal. Break a finger, maybe slap her around. That'll draw her out quickly. Boss lady Elizabeth wants her alive, but scared shitless. Then we drag 'em both back to the kingdom, let Vlartues handle the rest. No loose ends,no witnesses."
One of the goons chuckled. "What if the beta's brat shows too? Heard he's sniffing around."
The leader smirked.
"We take him down hard. Silver bullets if we have to. Make an example."
Fionna's blood boiled, but David tensed beside her. Suddenly, the leader froze, sniffing the air.
"Wait... someone's here."
His men straightened, hands going to knives at their belts.
"Who? Cops?"
The leader's eyes narrowed, a wicked grin spreading.
"Nah. I know that scent. You're the son of the beta, ain't ya? Grotius Ironclaw, playing hero in the human world."
David sighed, standing up slowly from their hiding spot.
"Fionna, stay put. I've got this."
He stepped into the room, hands loose at his sides, facing the three. The leader laughed, cracking his knuckles.
"Look at this pup. I think he's tough. Your daddy sent you? Or are you just dumb enough to come alone?"
David didn't flinch.
"Let the girl go. Now. Or else."
"Or else what?"
The leader sneered, his buddies flanking him.
"You gonna cry to the Moon Goddess?"
David's eyes flashed gold for a split second.
"Or I'm about to beat the hell out of all of you."
The leader barked a laugh, nodding to his men.
"Get him."
They charged like bulls. The first swung a wild punch,David dodged with unnatural speed, his claws extending just enough to slash across the guy's arm, drawing blood. The thug howled, stumbling back.
The second came with a knife, thrusting low. David twisted, grabbing the wrist and snapping it with a crack, then headbutted him square in the nose. Blood sprayed as the man crumpled.
The leader hung back, watching with growing fury.
"You little shit,using your wolf tricks already?"
David panted lightly, circling.
"Call it off. Last chance."
While they fought, Fionna saw her opening. She crept around the crates, heart hammering, staying low. Cynthia's eyes widened as Fionna approached from behind, her fingers fumbling with the ropes.
"Shh, it's me."
Fionna whispered, pulling the gag down.
Cynthia gasped, twisting to see her.
"Fi? Oh my God, what the hell is going on? These psychos grabbed me outside school,said something about you being some alpha? I thought they were gonna kill me!"
"Later."
Fionna hissed, untying the last knot. "We gotta move."
They sneaked toward the door, but Cynthia froze, staring at the fight.
"Wait... isn't that David? Holy crap, how's he doing that?"
The leader spotted them mid-swing.
"Hey! Where do you two think you're going?"
David glanced over, smirking as he dropped the last goon with a knee to the gut.
"It's over, asshole. Your boys are down."
The leader's face twisted in rage. He whipped out a hidden gun from his jacket, the barrel glinting under the dim light.
"Not yet."
He aimed straight at Fionna and pulled the trigger.
Time slowed. The bang echoed like thunder. David moved in a blur,werewol
f speed kicking in,diving in front of her. The bullet slammed into his chest, blood blooming across his shirt. He staggered, turning to lock eyes with Fionna, pain etching his features.
"Run... Fi..."
Then he collapsed to the floor in a heap, blood pooling beneath him.
Fionna's scream ripped through the air.
"No!!"