LEXIS

♚7. AFTERMATH

"Success and failure are not overnight experiences: It's all the small decisions along the way that cause people to fail or succeed." - Unknown

J o r d y n ✤ T a m e

MY HEART RACED as I replayed the events from yesterday in my head. Yuri and Isabella had informed me that Lexis was taken to the hospital. The news troubled me deeply, and the weight of guilt sat heavy on my chest because I knew, in part, it was my fault.

I was selfish. I wanted so badly to force something out of him—something I knew deep down he couldn't give me. Instead, I summoned something else. A beast. A beast I had seen with my own eyes kill.

I had gotten lucky, and I knew it. Things could have gone so much worse. What if Lexis hadn't warned me? What if I had stayed?

The questions haunted me so much I couldn't bring myself to attend the human educational facility today. For the first time in my life—the first time I had ever dared—I skipped school.

I sat curled up on my bed, hugging my knees, trying to piece myself together. My thoughts spiraled until a light knock on my door startled me, breaking my trance.

Unease flared in my chest. It was probably Mason, here to lecture me for not going to school.

"Go away," I hissed, my voice sharp.

I wasn't in the mood for confrontation. I just needed space—to think, to breathe.

"Well, hello to you too, Jordyn. I'm great. Thanks for asking," Brooke's sarcastic tone reached me, her voice just familiar enough to tug at the corners of my lips.

I slowly climbed out of bed, shuffled to the door, and unlocked it. When I opened it, there she was, her arms crossed and her brows furrowed.

"Where the hell were you today? We were supposed to revise," she said, her voice brimming with accusation.

I shrugged, avoiding her gaze. I knew there wasn't an excuse I could come up with that would satisfy her. Her frown deepened, and she let out a small huff before placing her hand on my shoulder. Her blue eyes locked onto mine, searching for answers I couldn't give her.

"Are you okay? What's wrong? What happened?" she asked, her voice softening with concern.

I shook my head, letting out a sigh. How could I even begin to explain what was going on? The last person I had trusted with everything in my head was Talia, and... well, that didn't end well.

Brooke sighed, dropping her hand from my shoulder. "Can I come in?" she asked, her tone less demanding now.

I hesitated but eventually nodded, stepping aside to let her in. She walked in, her gaze sweeping over the room with obvious curiosity.

"How'd you find my room?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at her.

"I'm an intern in the pack's infirmary. They give us the names and room numbers of every person who resides in the pack ," she said, shrugging like it was no big deal. Her focus shifted back to me, and her expression turned serious. "I heard," she muttered.