Page 23 of Missing

"Griffin, I—" Jessica started, but I didn't want to hear any more of her excuses or manipulations. All I could think about was Harper and the burning sensation that still lingered in my fingertips.

"Save it," I snapped, cutting her off. "I've got enough on my mind without having to deal with your bullshit."

Just as Jessica's fingers reached out to me, desperate for a connection I was unwilling to provide, my attention snapped towards Harper and Melody. They were walking past us in the hallway, their laughter echoing through the air. It felt like a lifeline, something to ground me amid the storm of emotions threatening to consume me.

"Fuck off, Jessica," I growled, shoving her hand away from me. The anger simmering beneath the surface finally boiled over, fuelled by the way my body craved Harper's touch more than anything else.

Jessica's face twisted into an ugly sneer as she yelled, "Oh, that's it, is it? You want the new girl now with her fancy four powers, no need to use me anymore?"

I whipped around to face her, my jaw set and eyes blazing with fury. "What the fuck? I told you I'm not your boyfriend and never will be."

Without warning, Jessica's hand came up, striking me across the face with a force that left a stinging sensation in its wake. For a moment, shock registered in her eyes, and she immediately reached out towards me, saying, "I'm sorry, Griffin."

Her voice cracked with the weight of her tears, but any sympathy I might have had for her vanished as quickly as it appeared. With nothing but ice in my veins, I looked at her and said, "Go the fuck away and don't talk to me again."

I turned on my heels and stalked away, leaving Jessica standing there, sobbing hysterically. My heart pounded in my chest, and a mix of anger, frustration, and confusion swirling inside me. How the hell had this become my life?

As I retreated to my room, the image of Harper and Melody laughing together lingered in my mind. A strange warmth settled in my chest, contrasting sharply with the cold bitterness that filled me just moments before.

"Damn it, what's happening to me?" I muttered under my breath.

Chapter 21

Harper Hillstrom

The piercing shrill of my alarm clock jolted me awake, and I squinted at the numbers reading 5:00 AM. Fucking hell, who wakes up this early? Oh right, me. I groggily rolled out of bed and pulled on a pair of leggings and a tank top. Melody had given me a map that showed the best route for running around Oakland Harbour. Determined to clear my head, I grabbed it and laced up my running shoes.

"Alright, Harper," I muttered under my breath, "Let's do this shit."

My heart pounded as I started jogging, the cold air stinging my lungs. Running had always helped me escape the chaos in my life, but now I was struggling with a whole new kind of madness. My mother, the woman who'd been nothing but a drunken mess my entire life, was actually supernatural. And so was I?

As I picked up the pace, I couldn't help but feel out of place at Oakland Harbour. I grew up human, and now I was expected to fit into this supernatural world overnight. It was like being dropped into an ocean filled with sharks, and all I had was a shitty little raft.

"Get your shit together, Harper," I mumbled between panting breaths, pushing myself harder. The faster I ran, the more control I felt I had over my thoughts.

Though I've never been one to admit vulnerability, I couldn't hide from the fact that I felt lost in this new world. My feet pounded against the pavement, echoing the frustration I felt inside. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't seem to find my footing here.

"Fuck!" I cursed as I glanced down at the map, trying to make sense of the highlighted route. Did Melody expect me to be some sort of cartographer? But I continued on, each stride bringing me closer to some semblance of clarity.

My feet carried me off the pavement and into the forest that surrounded Oakland Harbour. The school's five Gothic-like stone buildings loomed high above, their weathered facades forming a sort of circle around the courtyard. This place was unlike anything I'd ever seen before, but for some reason, running through the trees felt comfortable – familiar, even.

"Maybe this supernatural shit isn't all bad," I mused as I wove through the towering pines, their needles crunching underneath my sneakers.

As I broke free from the dense woods, I found myself at the edge of the harbour. The sun cast a warm orange glow over the water as it began its ascent into the sky, giving the entire scene an ethereal quality. Exhausted, I collapsed onto the grass, letting out a contented sigh. For the first time since arriving here, I allowed myself to feel content, sinking back into the soft earth.

Just as I started to relax, a rustling in the bushes caught my attention. My heart leapt into my throat as I scrambled to sit up, staring wide-eyed at the source of the noise. Out of the foliage emerged a beautiful brown wolf, its eyes meeting mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

"Shit, shit, shit," I muttered, frozen in fear. But as the seconds ticked by and the wolf made no move to attack, my panic slowly began to subside. There was something in its gaze that made me feel...safe? As if it wouldn't harm me. It was a strange sensation, but one I couldn't ignore.

Okay, Harper. Just breathe, I thought, trying to reassure myself as I hesitantly reached a hand towards the wolf. To my surprise, it didn't shy away. Instead, it seemed to lean into my touch, as though we were connected in some way.

"Easy there," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady as I let the wolf sniff my hand. The warmth of its breath against my palm sent a shiver down my spine. Gradually, I moved my fingers through its fur, marvelling at the softness. It seemed to enjoy the contact, pushing its head into my touch as I scratched behind its ears.

Fuck, is this actually happening? My mind raced with thoughts and questions, but I tried to stay calm. Animals could sense fear, right?

"Who would've thought I'd be petting a damn wolf today," I muttered under my breath.

Suddenly, the wolf began to shift before my eyes. Its body contorted, fur receded, and in mere moments, it transformed into...Dante. Naked Dante. Like, completely naked, sporting a massive erection that left me speechless.

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