Chapter 207
Clementine:
Silence hit us harder than anything before. Our team, in particular, was even quieter. I noticed Ian counting something on his fingers, but I couldn’t tell what until he lowered his hands and turned to look at all of us. He gave everyone a quick glance before his eyes landed on me, and I saw a very slight narrowing of one eye, like he was trying to figure me out.
“Are you guys seriously going to mourn over a moron who stayed behind and blamed someone else for his girlfriend’s breakdown?” Ian asked, and heads turned toward him.
“Ian’s right.” Troy snapped, shaking his head.
“Matthias had a fucking nerve, making Clementine look guilty. Forget about him. I hope something gets to him before he tries anything else.” Haiden added that Matthias had threatened me. As if dealing with the crazies wasn’t enough, now our own crusaders might punish us. It was so exhausting.
“She was kind enough to agree to take care of Jessie. Dude, you should’ve been there to see how she acted. I get that everyone grieves differently, but she was going to drag everyone down with her,” Yorick complained, fisting his palm.
I appreciated their support, but it didn’t change the fact that Matthias had stayed behind, and accused me.
“Anyway, why are we even talking about it? It’s not like he can do anything. Before he even tries something, I’ll get my hands on him. He’ll be caught and tortured in a million different ways before he lays a finger on Clementine,” Ian commented, clenching his jaw.
What Ian didn’t expect was that others were watching him too intently. I could tell questions were forming in their heads. Mine included. Because it was odd. When there was a chance for him to come forward and say he was my mate, he stayed silent.
He even told the others to sort it out, as if it didn’t matter whether I picked someone else. That hypocrisy hit me, since I was the one who told him I didn’t feel anything and didn’t want to pursue anything because of the past. I sighed and looked out the window.
The best excuse I could use was, I’m a girl, I’m emotional, like they always claim women are, until they mess up and suddenly want us to be strong. The silence after that felt heavy. I noticed movement in the front carriage with the white squad. Joshua was basically throwing a tantrum, probably finally shaking out of his frozen state.
There was something else we’d noticed. Initially the train ride had only been ten minutes, but now it stretched to twenty, and those twenty felt like ages. When we arrived and the train stopped, the doors opened and there was silence from every carrier.
No one jumped out excitedly to tell the ringleaders they’d finished the task, or to loudly describe what had happened there and how many monsters we’d slayed. The ringleaders were there with bouquets, looking thrilled to announce that we’d saved the mainland, but none of the students shared that feeling. We were all too quiet and too upset.
As others began to leave, my squad let me go out first. The first step I took onto the ground made me dizzy. I’d lost a lot of blood on the train, and I was bound to feel it the minute I moved.
Before I could understand what was happening, everything went black. I felt my body fall, but it didn’t meet the ground. Someone had helped me. Someone had carried me. I heard commotion around me, but I had no strength to open my eyes and see what it was about. It was about me, and more specifically from my squadmates.
I’d fallen into a deep sleep and woke up in the hospital two fucking days later. The nurse told me that when I arrived I’d been in a very bad state. I’d lost too much blood and my body had been weak.
I guessed it was from all the stress and hurt, and from finding out that I’d found two more mates. Everything hit me hard. We were just teenagers watching our friends die. It was honestly too much. Others would never understand that.
Nobody was allowed to see me while I stayed in the hospital and healed. The nurse asked if I wanted to transition and I said no. The only lie I could give them was that I was mourning the Crusaders and wanted to feel the pain. I felt bad using that excuse, but it was important to keep my wolf in hiding for now.
I would have happily gone into the woods to heal, but I could tell they were going to stay with me. The ringleaders and headquarters had strictly told the nurses that if I wanted to go out, I’d have to do it in front of them because they were afraid I might hurt myself or not reach the woods in time.
It was my last day in the hospital before they would finally let me go alone into the woods and transition, because I was well enough to stand, go into the woods, and transition by myself.
The minute I closed my eyes to spend the last two hours in peace and let them pass, I heard someone chuckle. I opened my eyes instantly and turned to see someone standing in the corner of the room.
“Wow. And I thought you’d come early to check on your squadmate,” I said, teasing him, even though it was odd he was there.
He stepped out from the shadows and tilted his face.
“They were keeping us under heavy suspicion,” Ian said.
“Then how did you sneak into the hospital?” I asked.
He came closer, hunched with one hand on the wall and the other on the side of my mattress. It looked almost cozy how he leaned over me.
“I don’t know. I just know I did, and I’d do it again and again.” With every ’again’ he drew closer until he lowered himself enough to crash his lips against mine. This time I didn’t stop him or push him away.