𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔 ☽ 𝙍𝙝𝙮𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙨 (𝘞𝘰𝘭𝘧𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥)

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚝𝚢-𝚂𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗: "𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕."

_______________________________

"I'll keep you safe,
try hard to concentrate.
Hold out your hand,
Can you feel the weight of it?"

I'll Keep You Safe - Sleeping At Last

_______________________________

XXXVII.
\\ TRAPPED //

Not surprisingly, after Maddy told Jana the truth about the videos and pictures she had of us turning, Jana stormed off angrily. And me, not wanting Jana to do anything stupid or reckless, I volunteered to go after her while Maddy and Rhydian headed to the auditorium where the class debates were supposed to begin soon.

With any luck, I could find Jana, and convince her to take it easy and just head on to the debates. However, I was not holding my hopes up on that.

I followed Jana's fresh scent through the hallways of the school, leading me towards the other side of the school. Eventually, I followed her scent to the copy room and I could hear shouting coming from inside, letting me know I was definitely in the right place.

"You only befriend Wolfbloods to spy on us!"

"No! That's not true!"

Sighing to myself, I walked up to the copy room door and opened it, finding Jana and Shannon inside. They only glanced over at me as I closed the door behind me before they started arguing again. I leaned against the table, just there so they could get it all out and make sure tempers don't get too high.

"Jana, I'd never do anything to hurt you!" Shannon exasperated.

But Jana growled back, "You're a liar and a traitor!"

Shannon looked over at me, looking for me to help her, "Aden..."

"You know where I stand on this, Shannon," I told her, "If you have this many people you care about upset with you about something you did, that should tell you something shouldn't it?"

Shannon said nothing, seeming to be reminded that none of us were on her side. This was an argument she would not win with us. How was it that she couldn't see that having those pictures and videos were dangerous? It didn't matter what her intentions were...the existence of that evidence could expose us all.

"Stay away from me," Jana warned Shannon, "I was stupid to ever trust you."

Shannon sighed, "Jana—"

"You're not a friend," Jana snapped, "You're a predator!"

Jana turned around angrily, and went to leave, as I sighed, knowing that this definitely was a mess. I was hoping that maybe they could work it out but it was probably best Jana left and calmed herself down. However, when she pulled on the door handle, the door wouldn't open. I frowned as I watched Jana frantically pull at the door, but it appeared to be locked.

Jana backed away from the door, breathing rapidly and her eyes flooding with fear, "I can't be locked in!"

Shannon looked at her in concern, "It's alright, Jana."

"Yeah, the lock just probably jammed." I tried to assure her.

Jana pulled at the door even harder, her breathing starting to pick up rapidly, "I need to get out!"

"Okay, just relax." Shannon said, "I'll call Maddy and Rhydian."

While Shannon reached into her pocket and grabbed her phone, I looked back over at Jana, who was still working on the door. I frowned as I watched her, wondering why she was freaking out about the door being locked.

"They're not answering." Shannon looked at me.

Maddy and Rhydian were both in the auditorium for the debates, and I knew more than likely they had their phones on silent or weren't able to pick up their phones in the middle of the debate.

Then I thought, "Let me try something."

I closed my eyes, letting out a slow breath as I focused on branching out aigne. I wasn't sure how effective it would be from the other side of the school, so I tried to focus hard.

Rhydian? Maddy? Can you hear me?

"What are you doing?" Shannon asked.

But I ignored her, keeping my eyes closed and trying to focus on keeping the connection as strong as I could.

And after a few moments of silence, just when I was going to try to call out again, I heard Rhydian's voice softly in my head.

Aden, I hear you. Where are you? The campaign debates have started.

Relief washed over me as I immediately sent back to him.

Jana, Shannon, and I are stuck in the office closet and Jana is freaking out! I need you to help us get out.

He responded urgently, I'm on my way!

"Let me out!"

My eyes snapped open to see Jana standing towards the front of the room, her eyes wide, sweat clinging to her forehead and looking pale. Her breathing was getting worse, and I was worried that she was on the brink of a panic attack.

"Jana, it's alright," I said calmly, "I used aigne and Rhydian is coming to get us out."

Shannon frowned, "What's aigne? Some Wolfblood telepathy thing?"

I groaned in frustration, "Not now, Shannon!"

Jana snapped, "Don't tell her any more of our secrets! She's a traitor!"

Shannon's face fell and I looked back at Jana, who seemed to be losing control with each passing moment.

"The walls are closing in!" Jana exasperated.

Slowly, I moved in front of Shannon, watching Jana carefully. If she didn't calm down, she could turn right here and attack the source of her fear and anger...which was Shannon.

"Aden!"

My head snapped up at hearing Rhydian's voice on the other side of the door.

"Rhydian, you need to get the door open!" I yelled back, "Jana's not doing too well."

"Hurry!" Shannon added, "She's wolfing out!"

The door rattled as Rhydian tugged on it from the outside, but it seemed like he couldn't get it open either.

"There's a lock on the outside!" Rhydian yelled, "I'm gonna get some help to get it off!"

I heard Rhydian run off from the other side of the door and I felt more urgency rushing through me when I saw how Jana was getting worse.

"This was your plan all along, wasn't it?" Jana looked at Shannon, "To see me turn!"

I looked down at Jana's hands, seeing her veins blacken, and her eyes started glowing only seconds after. She was right on the brink of turning, and I knew nothing was going to stop it now.

I swallowed, trying anyways, "Jana, you need to calm down..."

But a low growl escaped Jana's throat and she turned before our eyes. Immediately I stiffened, as her wolf glared straight past me and at Shannon standing behind me. Jana growled again, taking a step closer and lowering her head in an attack position.

"Shannon..." I said calmly, "Get back...hide behind something..."

Immediately, Shannon nodded, getting underneath one of the tables in the corner of the room. Slowly, I let out a breath and knelt down onto Jana's level, trying to keep my body loose and unthreatening.

"Jana..." I looked at her, "Hey..."

I could hear voices outside the door, and I knew that we were now facing another problem. Pretty soon that door was going to open, and if Jana didn't turn back now, people would see her as a wolf, and find out about us.

I kept looking at Jana calmly, trying not to make any sudden movements.

"I know you're angry, and you're scared..." I said softly, "But you need to find control. We're going to get out of here any minute, I promise you...and you can't be a wolf when that door opens."

Jana just growled, taking another step, and her eyes still locked on Shannon. My heart started racing in my chest. I didn't want to turn or to fight Jana, but I would if it stopped her from hurting Shannon.

"Jana?" Maddy's voice came from outside the door.

Jana's wolf stopped, hearing Maddy's voice as well, but she still kept growling. I stayed still, as Maddy kept speaking through the door.

"Please...don't hurt Shannon. She would never do anything to hurt you." Maddy begged, "And...she's my best friend."

Jana seemed to slowly untense, backing away from the urge to attack. She seemed more afraid than angry now...and I spoke to her again, assuringly.

"Shannon's part of our pack." I looked at Jana, "Just like you are, Jana. And as a pack, we stand together...we don't turn on each other."

As my words settled into her, Jana took a few steps back, her eyes softened. I felt relieved as she backed down, and watched as she sat down and let out a loud howl that echoed throughout the room.

Shit. I cursed to myself at how loud the howl was.

And then she slowly changed back, falling back into the corner of the room and hugging her knees into her chest. She was breathing heavily and shaking terrible, still gripped by her panic.

"Jana...hey..." I knelt down in front of her.

I took her hand in mine, her eyes flickered up to meet my own. Her hands were still shaking, but I held them tight, letting her know I was here.

"You're safe," I promised her, "You're okay."

In that moment, the door opened and I looked back to see Jefferies rushed in immediately, and when he saw Jana, he wasted no time in coming over to where we were.

"Jana," He got on the other side of her, "You're alright."

Both Jefferies and I helped Jana up onto her feet, and then he took Jana from there, leading her out of the room to go get checked out at the infirmary. Maddy ran into the room and rushed over to the other side of the room where Shannon was to check on her.

And then Rhydian walked in, coming over to me, a look of relief in his eyes. I smiled at him softly as he cupped his hand over the side of my face.

Rhydian brushed a strand of hair in my eyes, looking me over, "You alright?"

I nodded, "Yeah, I'm okay."

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into him as I let out a sigh of relief that not only were Shannon and Jana okay, but we had managed to avoid the whole school seeing Jana wolfed out. As close calls go...this was one of the closer ones.

I looked over seeing Maddy and Shannon hugging, and Shannon had tears in her eyes as she held onto Maddy. I leaned my head onto Rhydian's shoulder, closed my eyes, and let out a slow breath, happy that everything turned out okay.

☽     ☽     ☽

After Jana got check out in the infirmary, Rhydian and I brought Jana outside to the courtyard so she could take a breather after everything that had just happened. The three of us sat at one of the tables, with Rhydian and I sitting next to each other on the table top and Jana sitting on the seat, seeming to be doing a lot better. Maddy was still with Shannon, probably talking to her about everything.

Rhydian also told us that apparently Jimi had locked us in the copy room, as some sort of revenge for Jana and Shannon getting him disqualified from the election. If it wasn't for the fact that we all managed to get out okay, I probably would have tracked Jimi down and punched him or at least gave him a piece of my mind.

But we did make it out okay, and at the end of the day, going off on Jimi wouldn't do anything helpful (except besides making me feel better).

"How are you feeling?" I asked Jana.

She smiled a little, "Better."

Rhydian nodded, "Good."

"Thanks for bringing me back, Aden," Jana said gratefully to me, "For reminding me who I am...and where I belong."

"We all need that reminder sometimes." I said knowingly, "And I meant it...you're part of our pack, we're always gonna be here for you."

Rhydian nodded in agreement, "She's right."

I smiled, and Rhydian playfully nudged me. Jana chuckled at us, and then she looked up at me with a look in her eyes that I couldn't quite place...and what she said next, left me just as lost.

"You know, Aden...you may not have been raised to be the alpha of your pack out in the wild," Jana said, "But you lead this one very well."

My lips parted a little, the idea of me leading anything being a ridiculous thought. I even laughed it off as I replied to Jana.

"Thank you for saying that, Jana, but I'm not the leader of this pack," I told her, "Maddy is."

Jana just shrugged, "Who says the pack can't have two?"

I opened my mouth to protest but that was when we caught sight of Maddy and Shannon making their way over to us. And when Jana saw them, she stood up and walked over to Shan.

"I'm sorry I freaked out," Jana told her, "When the wolf starts in your veins...nothing controls it."

Shannon nodded, seeming to understand that. Jana was trapped and angry...that was enough to send any Wolfblood into a spiral.

"I'm really sorry." Jana told her.

Shannon smiled, "Well, no harm done, I suppose."

And just like that, we were all good again. It again spoke to the strength of our pack...no matter how bad things got, at the end of the day, we'd always be there for each other.

☽     ☽     ☽

After free period, we all headed to class with Jefferies, and before class started, both Jana and Maddy went up to his desk and talked to him while Rhydian and I took our seats next to each other. After their talk with Jefferies, Jana sat down next to Shan and Maddy took a seat beside Tom just as the bell rang.

"Alright," Jefferies started, "It's a good job you lot aren't running the country."

I tried to hide a smile, the whole situation was a bit amusing. Jefferies was definitely annoyed about the way this student election went.

"Jana asked me to withdraw her candidacy, and so did Maddy." Jefferies informed the class, "And with Jimi's early fall from grace, that leaves on candidate standing...Kara."

Kara squealed in excitement and stood up from her seat as Kay and Katrina clapped and cheered for her as she walked up to the front of the room.

She stopped beside Jefferies, front and center of the room, "I'd like to thank Katrina and Kay and everyone who—"

"No, no..." Jefferies cut her off, "No speeches Kara. You haven't won an Oscar."

Kara's face fell, fully expecting a full on celebration. But Jefferies just opened the desk drawer, ruffling through it.

He went on to say, "I only asked you up her so I could give you this School Council pack."

Jefferies held up a huge packet of papers that were confined into a folder and the size of it immediately made Kara's face fall.

"Pack?" Kara looked at it in disgust.

Jefferies nodded, "Yeah, it lists all the responsibilities as the Year Group Student Representative."

The whole class then burst out into laughter, including Rhydian and I, seeing the look on Kara's face was probably the best part of this whole day.

☽     ☽     ☽

After class, Maddy, Rhydian, Jana and I headed down the hall towards our next lessons. After the day we had, I was ready to get through our last couple classes and go home.

As we walked, Jana looked over at Maddy, "Thanks for helping me regain control in the copy room, Maddy."

"Of course." She replied with a smile.

Jana then said, "Maybe I'm not meant to lead our class, but as long as I'm in this pack, what more do I need?"

"Wow..." Maddy responded, clearly taken back with Jana's words.

I smiled, happy that Jana knew that she had all of us and that she would always have us there for her. She was finding her place in the human world, and she was finding her place within our pack.

"But, Maddy, as pack leader..." Jana said, drifting off.

This caused us to stop as we all looked at her, wondering what it was she was going to sag.

Jana then asked Maddy, "What are you going to do about Shannon's laptop?"

Maddy frowned in response, like the answer was obvious, "Nothing."

"Nothing?" Jana repeated in disbelief.

"Shannon is part of our pack too, Jana..." Maddy reminded her, "I was wrong not to trust her the last time. I'll not be making the same mistake twice."

Maddy then walked off, and Jana looked at Rhydian and I with a look telling us that she didn't agree either before walking off as well. Sighing, I just grabbed Rhydian's hand and we both followed after them.

I still had a bad feeling in my gut about letting Shannon have these videos. I didn't think it was a good idea...but then again, maybe I needed to trust Maddy's instincts...maybe I needed to trust Shannon.

But trust...shouldn't feel this scary...should it?

_________________________________

"Don't be, don't be afraid,
our mistakes, they were bound to be made,
but I promise you I'll keep you safe."