Chapter 111
HANNAH
"Everyone knows! You know what that means."
Cade yelling made everyone in the room wince. It made my head throb a little more. The headache that had been slowly building up since we left the arena shifted to the right part of my skull and settled there.
"Cade!" Alpha Wallace's voice cut through the air like a whip. "For goodness sake, stop pacing! Being agitated will not solve anything. You're just making things worse."
Cade stopped pacing. But it was only for a moment. The next moment, he was walking up and down the room faster than ever, shoving aside everything in his way. His father let out a frustrated huff and leaned back in his chair. No one could stop Cade once he was in that mood.
"I can't be calm," Cade said in a strangled voice. "How the hell can I be calm when my mate's life is in danger? There may even be a bounty on her head now while we sit on our asses doing nothing."
"She's not just your mate," his father reminded him sternly. "He's Jace's and Chase's mate too. And yet you don't hear them shouting and bringing the house down!"
I looked around at the others. Jace and Chase were sitting like zombies, completely out of it and shaken up. I could read the fear and concern in their eyes. I wished I could do or say something to help, but I was seriously in need of comforting myself.
The door banged open. Everyone tensed up, but it was just my mother. She stood there, taking everyone in. Her eyes wet with tears zeroed in on me. I got out of my chair and ran towards her just as she did the same. We met halfway.
"Mum," I breathed.
She pulled me into her arms. I felt just a little of the tension bleed out of me. For a long time, we held on to each other.
"Hannah," she sighed, her voice thick with tears. "I heard what happened. I was so scared. I was rushing down to the arena, thinking I was already too late before I got the news that..." She paused to catch her breath. Her hands ran over me, checking for wounds and bruises that weren't there. "Oh baby, I'm just so relieved that you're fine."
Cade's snort cut her off. "Safe! She's not safe. Not anymore. Word is spreading even as we speak. The entire territory will soon know that Hannah is the white wolf. Tell me how that makes her safe when she will soon be the most hunted of our kind in the world."
My mother turned frightened eyes on Alpha Dawson, seeking reassurance or something very much like it.
But Alpha Dawson was glaring at his son. Jace didn't look too pleased with his brother either. Chase was still lost in thought.
"There's no need to blow the issue out of proportion," Alpha Wallace snapped. "Dawson's knowledge of Hannah's abilities is already enough danger for Hannah. No point in making up other phantom enemies that may or may not exist." The Alpha's voice rose slightly when Cade began muttering to himself. "So instead of pacing and getting everyone all worked up, why don't you think of ways of protecting her in school and everywhere else? Cade!"
"What?" he shouted back, whirling around. "I'm thinking, okay? Nothing is coming to me yet. My brain cells are fucking fried right now."
My mother's grip on my hand tightened painfully. I didn't complain; I didn't pull away. I know just how she felt and how much she needed that physical contact to continuously satisfy herself that I was fine.
If I hadn't taken the risk and shifted, I could have died in the arena today. I would never have gotten a chance to say goodbye to her.
"I have a suggestion," my mother said, facing the Alpha. "With all that has happened, I think my daughter should take a break from school."
"Mum-"
"At least that will give us one less place to worry about her getting attacked in," she went on, ignoring my protest. “If we keep her in this pack and provide everything she needs, there would be no one to attack her.”
"Mum," I said, louder this time, reluctantly drawing her and everyone else's attention back to me. "I can't stop going to school now."
"I don't see why the hell not," Cade grumbled. “Your mom is right. Going to school is a huge risk. You can be attacked by all sorts of people. You’re in your junior year, and we are seniors; how would we protect you during classes?”
I gave him a withering look and continued, "I have to take my final exams soon. I read for it, prepared for it. I have to go through with it now."
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