CHAPTER 194: CHAPTER 194: SHADOWS IN THE DARK

Lorraine’s POV

The night came much faster than expected. I easily sneaked out of the hospital to join the others in the Academy grounds.

The night air was heavy and cold, the kind that seeped into your skin and made every step sound louder than it should. My heart pounded so hard I was certain the guards would hear it before they spotted us.

We moved through the shadows like thieves, Varya in front, agile and sharp eyed, Alistair close behind her, Felix muttering under his breath about how utterly insane this was, and me clutching the fabric of my cloak tighter around my shoulders. Every muscle in my body screamed weakness, but my determination burned hotter than the pain.

The academy felt different at night. The stone walls seemed taller, and more watchful. Patrols stalked the grounds, Lycans, elites and noble soldiers alike, their boots crunching against gravel. Every time we pressed ourselves into the dark corners or ducked behind hedges, I swore I could feel Astrid’s gaze cutting through the night even if she wasn’t there.

"South gate is still crawling with guards," Alistair whispered back to us after scouting ahead. "We’ll cut across the training grounds instead. Less eyes there."

We followed, sticking low. My legs ached, but I didn’t slow down.

And then....

A patrol rounded the corner earlier than expected. Three Lycans in their red collared uniforms, heading straight toward us. There was no time to run, no time to double back.

"Inside!" Varya hissed, shoving us into the shadows of an archway, pressing us so close I could feel Felix’s breath on the back of my neck.

The Lycans walked past, boots echoing. My heart lifted, until another figure appeared on the far side of the grounds. The sharp sweep of silver hair, the rigid posture. Astrid Voss.

My blood froze.

She moved quickly, purposefully, scanning the grounds as if she already knew something was wrong. And worse, she was heading directly toward our hiding place.

Felix cursed under his breath. "We’re done. We’re done. She’s going to skin us alive...."

"Quiet!" Alistair snapped.

But Astrid’s pace never slowed. Her boots struck the stones like a clock counting down. Ten steps. Nine. Eight. My palms turned slick with sweat.

Then an unexpected salvation arrived.

"Ah, Astrid!" Cyrin’s voice rang out across the grounds, casual, almost lazy, but his timing was sharp as a blade. He strolled in from the opposite end, hands folded behind his back. "I was just about to look for you. Any news yet?"

Astrid’s steps faltered. She turned to face him, annoyance flickering in her eyes. "News?"

"Yes, about Kieran," Cyrin said, his face unreadable. "I’ve been hearing whispers. Did the scouts bring anything back yet? Tracks? Scent? Anything?"

Astrid’s jaw tightened. "Not yet. And I don’t have time for idle chatter, Cyrin."

"But it isn’t idle," he pressed, stepping just enough into her path that she had to stop. "If the Alpha King truly has gone missing, don’t you think every second we waste standing here is one second closer to disaster?"

Astrid’s nostrils flared. For a moment I thought she might shove him aside, but instead she turned with a sharp flick of her cloak. "We’ll talk later." And just like that, she veered off in another direction.

I let out a shaky breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My legs trembled beneath me. If Cyrin hadn’t shown up when he did, we would’ve been caught.

"Move," Varya whispered, tugging at my sleeve. "Before she comes back."

We slipped across the grounds, skirting the edge of the gardens, the training grounds, until finally we reached the northern wall. The wall had been damaged during the Lunar Crest battle, chunks of stone torn loose, leaving a jagged break in the once, impenetrable barrier. It wasn’t much, but it was enough.

"Climb fast," Alistair muttered, already hoisting himself onto the rubble. "We don’t have long before another patrol comes through here."

Varya went next, moving with the fluid strength of a warrior. Felix groaned about dirt and splinters as he followed, scrambling ungracefully but managing to pull himself up.

I was last. My hands shook as I reached for the rough stone, my arms screaming at the effort. Each pull of muscle felt like fire tearing through my veins. I gritted my teeth and pushed harder. I had to.

I was halfway over when a voice stopped us cold.

"Leaving so soon?"

We all froze.

I whipped my head toward the voice, my heart in my throat. Out of the shadows stepped Cyrin.

Not Astrid, Cyrin.

I heaved a sigh of relief

He wasn’t smiling though. His expression was heavy, solemn, like a man carrying too much weight on his shoulders.

"If you’re here to stop us father..." Varya started, but Cyrin held up a hand.

"I’m not." His eyes moved from her, to Alistair, to Felix, and finally rested on me. "I’m not here to stop you."

The silence stretched, broken only by the distant rustle of leaves.

Cyrin stepped closer, lowering his voice. "But if you’re going out there, then you listen to me and you listen well. You must make sure to bring Kieran back safely."

"There are still enemies scattered across the kingdom and it is not just the crimson hunt, there are packs who would love nothing more than to see the Valerius line snuffed out. If anything happens to Kieran now, the entire werewolf kingdom will fall into ruins and everyone will be thrown into an endless battle of power struggle and death" His gaze sharpened, cutting into mine. "Do you understand me, Lorraine?"

I swallowed hard, my throat tight. "I do."

Varya shifted uneasily. "Father..."

Cyrin reached into his pocket and pulled out a small silver key. He pressed it into Varya’s palm, curling her fingers around it. "Far outside the academy walls, past the river bend where we went to pick some herbs some two days ago, there’s a van I’ve kept hidden. Take it. It’ll get you all further and faster"

Varya blinked at him, then tightened her grip on the key. "Thank you."

Cyrin turned back to me, his face softening just slightly. "You’ve been through hell, Lorraine. And you’ll go through worse before this is over. But if you can do anything for me..... bring him back. Alive."

I nodded. "I swear it."

For the first time that night, Cyrin’s expression flickered with something like trust. He gave a small nod, then stepped back into the shadows, leaving us to our escape.

We climbed the rest of the wall in silence, slipping down the other side into the cool night air beyond.

We fought so hard to get the Academy back, and now we are leaving immediately after getting it back

The forest stretched before us, dark and endless. Somewhere out there, Kieran was alone. Somewhere out there, he was hurting. And I would find him.

No matter the cost.