Page 16 of Missing

"Unfortunately, yes," Mr. Greyson replied solemnly. "The rejection of a mating bond can be quite traumatic for the one left behind, but it only affects the person who has been abandoned, not the one who leaves."

"Alright, so I'm stuck with these goddamn powers whether I like it or not," I said, barely keeping my anger in check. "But what's the point if I can't even use them? It's been two days since my twenty-first birthday and nothing's changed."

"Miss Hillstrom, the manifestation of powers varies from person to person," Mr. Greyson explained, folding his hands on the desk in front of him. "Some people experience a physical transformation, others notice changes in their mental abilities, and for some, the change is less noticeable until they learn how to harness their powers."

"Great, so I'm just fuckin' clueless then?" I snapped, feeling frustration bubble inside me.

"Attending classes here at Oakland Harbour will help you unlock your true potential," he assured me, his green eyes steady and serious. "You're not alone in this journey, Harper."

"Fan-fucking-tastic," I muttered sarcastically, rubbing my temples as if that would somehow alleviate the headache that was forming. This whole situation was a giant shitstorm, and I couldn't see any silver lining.

"Is there anything else I can help you with, Miss Hillstrom?" Mr Greyson asked, his voice softer now, as though he sensed my internal struggle.

"Guess not," I grumbled, shoving my chair back and standing up. The last thing I needed was more information to process. It was bad enough knowing my mother could've helped us if she hadn't drowned herself in booze. And now I had to deal with these fucking powers I never asked for in the first place.

"Very well," Mr. Greyson responded, observing me intently. "Just keep in mind, Harper, our goal here is to facilitate your growth and help you understand your abilities. In the coming week, we will have a new support teacher joining us. She will be our sole human liaison, tasked with aiding those who are transitioning back into the human world from the supernatural one. However, she can also assist individuals like yourself who were raised in the human world and are now adapting to the supernatural one. Would you like me to add you to her list once she arrives?"

"Thanks and yes please," I said flatly, still trying to process everything he'd told me. My powers were real, and I had classes to attend. Classes that would teach me how to use them.

"Let's go, Melody," Her empathetic eyes met mine, and she offered a comforting smile.

Harper and I exited the room together, her arm linked with mine. As we made our way out, I caught a glimpse of Orlando and Dante sitting in the plastic chairs of the admin office. Harper squeezed my hand, silently conveying a message to leave quickly. We hurried off to the lunch hall, leaving Orlando staring after us and Dante smiling contentedly behind.

Chapter 15

Dante Heed

Icouldn't help but roll my eyes as we left Hunter's office. That man could be such a dick, but damn if he wasn't right about Harper. She needed friends, and fast. Orlando was convinced she was hiding something and said he got a weird vibe from her. Personally, I got a different kind of vibe—one I definitely wanted to explore.

"Come on," I said, motioning to Orlando as we headed to lunch. "Let's see what the girls are up to."

As we entered the cafeteria, it didn't take long to spot Harper and Melody already seated at our usual table. Harper caught my eye immediately, her green eyes sparkling with some unreadable emotion. But there was something else that concerned me—she wasn't eating enough. Ice coffee and an apple for breakfast, now just a salad wrap and water for lunch? She was too skinny, and for some reason, my wolf side wanted to provide her food and make sure she was taken care of.

"Harper, seriously?" I said as we approached the table, trying to keep my tone light. "You need more than rabbit food to survive."

She narrowed her eyes at me, a hint of defiance in her gaze. "I can take care of myself, Dante. I don't need you or anyone else telling me how to eat."

"Whoa, relax," I responded, holding up my hands in surrender.

Orlando slid into his seat, clearly still irked by whatever vibe he'd picked up on earlier. He glanced at Harper and then quickly away as if he couldn't stand the sight of her for too long.

"Hey, Melody," I greeted, trying to diffuse the tension. "How's your day been?"

"Good, thanks," she replied with a smile, oblivious to the undercurrents rippling through the table. "Yours?"

"Could be worse," I admitted, my gaze flicking back to Harper. I couldn't help but wonder what was going on under that tough exterior of hers. What secrets was she hiding? And why did I feel so drawn to her?

The memory of my mum's insistence on feeding us day and night flashed through my mind as I watched Harper pick at her salad wrap. It was no surprise that seeing someone too skinny made me want to shove food down their throat, just like Mum would have done.

"Hey, Griffin," I said. "Have been here long?"

"Nope, just sat down," he replied, his blue eyes flicking over to Orlando. "How's your brother?"

"Still a dick," Orlando muttered, his gaze locked on Harper as if he was trying to unravel the mystery of her existence with just a look.

"Come on, man, don't let Hunter get to you," I told him softly, nudging his shoulder. I couldn't help but sneak glances at Harper, who was carefully picking at her salad wrap.

"Is the dean your brother?" she suddenly blurted out, her green eyes fixed on Orlando. The question caught him off guard, his eyes widening in surprise for a moment before he simply nodded in response.

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