The Rules of Blackthorn

Rei spent the entire night staring at the ceiling.

Her mother's final words kept repeating in her head.

Do not trust anyone at that school.

She had heard fear in her mother's voice before. She knew the difference between ordinary worry and genuine terror, and what she'd heard over the phone had been the latter. Her mother had sounded like someone running from something that had finally caught up with her.

Rei rolled onto her side and checked her phone again.

No missed calls.

No messages.

She had called her mother eleven times.

Nothing.

Her thumb hovered over the call button one more time before she finally locked the screen.

"She's fine," Rei whispered.

She didn't believe it.

She pushed herself out of bed and walked to the window. Dawn had barely begun to break over Blackthorn Academy. The towers stood against a pale gray sky, their pointed roofs disappearing into the morning mist. From this height, the campus looked peaceful.

Beautiful, even.

That was the problem.

Danger rarely announced itself.

Sometimes it looked like a school.

Sometimes it looked like a family.

Sometimes it looked like someone standing in a doorway smiling while telling you everything was going to be fine.

Rei had learned not to trust appearances.

She dressed quickly and pulled her hair into a loose ponytail. Her hands were steady now. That was another thing she had learned over the years. Panic could have its moment, but eventually she had to make decisions.

She opened her backpack and checked her suppressant bottle.

There were only a few doses remaining.

She frowned.

She should have had more.

She knew exactly how many she'd brought.

Twenty.

She had counted them before leaving home.

Now there were twelve.

Rei stared at the bottle.

She hadn't taken that many.

A cold sensation moved through her.

She immediately locked the bottle inside the small compartment of her backpack.

Someone had access to her things.

That meant the problem wasn't only outside her room.

It could be much closer.

She grabbed her jacket and left.

---

Blackthorn was already awake.

Students filled the corridors, their voices bouncing off the stone walls. Rei moved through the crowd with her head held high, refusing to acknowledge the looks she received.

There were more of them this morning.

She could feel it.

People knew something.

The registry had spread.

She reached her first classroom and chose a seat against the wall.

It wasn't a conscious decision.

She simply preferred seeing the door.

Always.

A student dropped into the seat beside her.

Mia.

"You're here early."

"So are you."

Mia smiled. "I have a question."

"That sounds dangerous."

"Are you dating Dominic?"

Rei nearly choked.

"What?"

Mia laughed.

"That's a no, then."

"Obviously it's a no."

"Good."

"Why is that good?"

"Because Selena is furious."

Rei sighed.

"I don't care about Selena."

"You should."

"I don't."

Mia leaned closer.

"She has been telling everyone that you deliberately targeted Dominic."

Rei stared at her.

"Targeted him?"

"Apparently you came here specifically because he's the captain."

Rei actually laughed.

"That might be the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"I know."

"I didn't even know who he was."

"I know."

"I don't care about him."

Mia's smile widened.

"That sounded convincing."

Rei opened her textbook.

"Don't."

"I'm just saying."

"Mia."

"Fine."

Mia held up her hands.

Then she glanced toward the classroom door.

Her smile disappeared.

Rei followed her gaze.

Selena stood there.

Three girls surrounded her.

She looked directly at Rei.

Then slowly smiled.

Rei's stomach tightened.

Selena walked toward them.

"Rei."

Rei didn't answer.

Selena stopped beside her desk.

"I wanted to introduce myself properly."

"We already met."

"I don't think you understand how things work here."

Rei looked up.

"You're right."

Selena smiled.

"Blackthorn has rules."

"So?"

"You should learn them."

Rei closed her book.

"Tell me."

Selena leaned closer.

"Don't embarrass Alphas."

Rei stared at her.

"Excuse me?"

"Don't challenge them. Don't provoke them. Don't pretend you're equal to them."

Rei felt something old and angry rise inside her.

She had heard versions of those words her entire life.

Know your place.

Be careful.

Don't make him angry.

Don't cause problems.

Don't embarrass anyone.

She looked Selena directly in the eye.

"I'm not pretending anything."

Selena's smile faded.

"I don't think you understand."

"No," Rei said quietly. "I understand perfectly."

The classroom became silent.

Rei stood.

"I'm just not interested in following your rules."

Selena's eyes narrowed.

"You're going to regret that."

"Maybe."

Rei picked up her bag.

"But at least I'll regret something I chose."

She walked past her.

The teacher entered moments later.

But Selena didn't sit down.

She watched Rei leave.

Her expression had changed.

The game had officially begun.

---

Dominic found Rei during lunch.

He had been looking for her since morning.

He found her sitting beneath an old oak tree behind the library, reading.

He stopped several feet away.

"You're avoiding me."

Rei didn't look up.

"No."

"You didn't answer my messages."

"You sent me messages?"

"Three."

She finally looked at him.

"I didn't get them."

Dominic pulled out his phone.

He showed her.

The messages were there.

Where are you?

We need to talk.

Call me.

Rei frowned.

"I never received those."

Dominic's expression hardened.

"Someone may have access to your phone."

"Don't start."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

She closed her book.

"Everyone keeps telling me I'm in danger. Nobody actually tells me why."

Dominic sat on the opposite end of the bench.

"My father knows about you."

Rei stared at him.

"Your mother knows about me."

She froze.

"How did you know?"

"You said her name when you were asleep."

Rei's cheeks flushed.

"I don't talk in my sleep."

"You do."

"You're lying."

"I'm not."

She looked away.

"What did you hear?"

"Nothing important."

"Dominic."

He sighed.

"You said her name."

Rei's shoulders relaxed slightly.

"That's all?"

"That's all."

She looked toward the trees.

"My mother told me to stay away from you."

Dominic went still.

"Why?"

"She wouldn't say."

He stared at her.

"My father told me not to let you leave campus."

Rei turned sharply.

"What?"

"He sent me a message."

"Why would he say that?"

"I don't know."

"Dominic."

"I don't know."

She studied him.

For once, he looked genuinely frustrated.

Not angry.

Not arrogant.

Confused.

Rei believed him.

That frightened her.

Because trusting him was becoming easier.

And she couldn't afford that.

"What happens if I leave?"

Dominic looked at her.

"I don't know."

"Then I should leave."

"No."

The word came too quickly.

Rei's eyes narrowed.

"You don't get to decide that."

"I know."

"Then don't."

Dominic inhaled slowly.

"You should stay until we understand what's happening."

"Why?"

"Because something is happening."

"That's not an answer."

He leaned forward.

"Someone stole your suppressants. Someone followed you. Someone put your name on a restricted registry. Your mother knows something about my family. My father knows something about you. And now we're finding the same symbol everywhere."

Rei stared at him.

"You forgot one thing."

"What?"

She leaned closer.

"I don't trust you."

His expression changed.

"I know."

"Do you?"

"Yes."

"Then stop acting like you own me."

Dominic's eyes darkened.

"I don't own you."

"Good."

"I don't want to."

Rei blinked.

That wasn't what she expected.

Dominic looked down.

"What I want is to understand why every instinct I have tells me something is wrong whenever you're in danger."

Her heart skipped.

She hated that.

She hated the warmth spreading through her chest.

She hated the way his words affected her.

Most of all, she hated that a part of her wanted to believe him.

"You shouldn't listen to instincts," she whispered.

Dominic looked back at her.

"Usually, I don't."

"And now?"

"Now they're louder than I've ever heard them."

Silence settled between them.

Rei looked away.

She couldn't answer that.

Not yet.

---

That evening, the hockey team had a closed practice.

Rei was organizing equipment when she heard voices outside the room.

"You're making a mistake."

She recognized Dominic.

Another male voice answered.

"You're getting distracted."

Rei stopped moving.

She knew the second voice.

Adrian.

Dominic's younger brother.

"I know what I'm doing," Dominic said.

"No, you don't."

"You don't know anything about her."

"I know enough."

Rei remained still.

"She's an Omega," Adrian continued. "And you're already acting like she's your mate."

Dominic's voice became low.

"Watch yourself."

"Why? Because I'm saying what everyone else sees?"

"Because you don't understand."

"Then explain it."

Silence.

Rei held her breath.

Finally Dominic spoke.

"My wolf recognized her."

Adrian didn't answer.

Neither did Rei.

Her heart was pounding.

Mate.

The word she'd spent years refusing to think about suddenly seemed to fill the entire room.

Adrian finally spoke.

"Does she know?"

"No."

"You have to tell her."

"I will."

"When?"

"When I know what she is."

Rei's hand tightened around the jersey she was holding.

What she is.

Not who.

What.

Something inside her cracked.

She stepped away from the door.

She didn't want to hear anymore.

She didn't want to know.

But then Dominic spoke again.

"I don't care what she is."

Rei stopped.

His voice was quieter now.

"I care about her."

Her eyes burned.

She closed them.

Nobody had ever said those words about her without wanting something in return.

She walked away before they could discover she'd been listening.

---

Later that night, Rei returned to her room.

The door was unlocked.

She froze.

She knew she'd locked it.

She had checked it before leaving.

Her hand slowly moved toward the handle.

She pushed the door open.

Everything appeared normal.

Her bed.

Her desk.

Her books.

Her backpack.

She stepped inside.

Then she noticed the drawer.

It was open.

Rei's heart pounded.

She walked toward it.

Her personal belongings had been disturbed.

Clothes moved.

Papers scattered.

Her old photographs were gone.

All of them.

Except one.

A photograph of her mother.

Rei picked it up.

Something had been written across the back.

Your mother couldn't protect you.

Her hands began shaking.

Another line appeared beneath it.

Neither can he.

Rei dropped the photograph.

A sound came from the hallway.

Footsteps.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Someone stopped outside her door.

Rei didn't breathe.

The handle moved.

Once.

Twice.

Then stopped.

Rei backed away.

She reached for her phone.

No signal.

Of course.

The handle moved again.

Suddenly the door burst open.

Rei screamed.

A hand reached toward her—

And a powerful growl exploded through the hallway.

Dominic.

He appeared behind the intruder like a shadow.

The stranger turned.

Dominic grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall.

"Who sent you?"

The intruder laughed.

"You have no idea what you've brought into this academy."

Dominic's eyes flashed silver.

"Who sent you?"

The stranger smiled.

Then whispered four words.

"The Omega is awake."

Dominic's grip tightened.

Rei stood frozen.

Because the stranger wasn't looking at Dominic.

He was looking at her.

And there was recognition in his eyes.

Not surprise.

Not curiosity.

Recognition.

As if he'd been waiting years to see her.

Then he smiled.

"Your grandmother was just as stubborn."

Rei's blood turned to ice.

She knew that name.

She knew what he was implying.

Her grandmother.

Elara.

The missing Omega.

The woman Blackthorn had erased from history.

The stranger laughed softly.

"Now the bloodline has returned."

And before Dominic could demand another answer, the stranger twisted free, shifted into his wolf form, and disappeared into the darkness beyond the open window.

Dominic stood motionless.

Rei stared at the empty window.

Neither spoke.

Finally Dominic turned toward her.

"Rei."

She shook her head.

"Don't."

He stopped.

Her eyes filled with tears.

Not because she was weak.

Because everything she'd spent years running from had finally caught up with her.

She looked at him.

"I want to go home."

Dominic's expression softened.

"I know."

"No."

Her voice broke.

"I really want to go home."

Dominic took one step toward her.

Then stopped.

He remembered.

She hated being cornered.

So he stayed where he was.

"You don't have to face this alone."

Rei laughed through her tears.

"That's the problem."

"What?"

She looked at him.

"I've spent my whole life alone."

Her voice trembled.

"And now everyone keeps telling me I don't have to be."

Dominic didn't answer.

Because he finally understood.

Rei wasn't afraid of being alone.

She was afraid of what happened when she trusted someone enough to stop being alone.

And Dominic knew, with absolute certainty, that he was going to have to earn that trust.

Not demand it.

Not force it.

Earn it.

Because if he wanted any chance of keeping Rei safe, he first had to prove that being close to him didn't mean losing herself.

Outside the window, somewhere deep within the forest, a howl echoed across Blackthorn.

Then another answered.

Then another.

Rei looked toward the darkness.

Dominic moved instinctively between her and the window.

This time, she didn't tell him to move.

Because deep down, she was beginning to realize something terrifying.

The danger wasn't coming for her anymore.

It had already found her.

And whatever had happened to her grandmother fifty years ago was beginning again.