The Alpha Weredragon's Favorite
CHAPTER 40 - The Message

Lyra

I forced myself up on shaky legs. Every step back to the dorms felt like a mile.

Through the fog in my brain, all I could think was: Who had done this? And why did hatred follow me everywhere I went?

I stumbled through the woods, barely aware of my surroundings. All I wanted was to collapse into my bed and forget this nightmare.

I nearly wept when I saw my dorm room, pushing myself to complete the final distance.

The moment I flicked on the light, my heart sank. My side of the room was a disaster zone. Books lay scattered across the floor, their pages torn and crumpled. Clothes were strewn everywhere, some shredded beyond repair. My mattress had been flipped off the bed frame, and the sheets were tangled in a heap on the floor.

I stepped forward, glass crunching under my shoes. Picture frames lay shattered, the smiling faces within now distorted by cracks. I knelt down, picking up a photo another student took of me and Sally at the entrance to Harbringer. A jagged line ran through the center, splitting us apart.

Tears stung my eyes as I surveyed the destruction. This was no random act of vandalism. Someone had deliberately targeted me, violated my space, and destroyed my belongings. And I had a sinking feeling I knew exactly who was behind it. Brittany's face flashed through my mind, her cold eyes and cruel smirk taunting me. She'd made no secret of her disdain for me from the moment I caught her attention. Always watching, always whispering, always ready with a cutting remark or a vicious rumor.

I clenched my fists, anger burning in my chest. She'd gone too far this time. It wasn't enough for her to torment me at every turn, to make me feel like an outsider in my new pack. No, she had to invade my personal space, to shatter the one place where I felt safe.

I looked around the room again, taking in the full extent of the damage. My textbooks were ripped apart, their pages scattered like confetti. The dress I'd worn to the welcome ceremony lay in shreds on the floor. Even my pillow and the comforter had been ripped to shreds, stuffing hanging out from holes made with sharp teeth. A stuffed animal Sally had given me had been torn limb from limb, its soft fur matted with dirt.

I stared at the wreckage of my room, my heart heavy with despair. How could someone do this to me? What had I done to deserve such cruelty?

The door creaked open behind me, and I spun around, my body tensing. But it was only Sally, her eyes wide as she took in the scene before her.

"Lyra, what happened?" she gasped, rushing to my side.

I shook my head, tears streaming down my cheeks. "I don't know. I came back and found it like this."

Sally wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. "Who would do something like this?"

I shrugged helplessly, my mind racing with possibilities. "I have no idea."

Sally hesitated for a moment, biting her lip. "Do you think... could it have been Whitney?"

I pulled away from her, my eyes narrowing. "What? No way. Whitney's been nothing but kind to me since I got here." "But she's the only other person who has been in our room. She could've picked up the key... had a copy made..."

I shook my head vehemently. "It wasn't her. It couldn't have been."

"Then who else could it be?" Sally asked, her voice rising slightly.

I threw my hands up in frustration. "I don't know, okay? But I refuse to believe that either of my friends would do this to me." Sally sighed, twisting her slender fingers. "I'm just trying to help, Lyra. I want to figure out who did this as much as you do." "Well, accusing Whitney isn't helping," I snapped, immediately regretting my harsh tone.

Sally flinched, her eyes filling with hurt. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to calm myself. "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. I'm just... I'm so confused and scared right now." Sally nodded, her expression softening. "I know. We'll figure this out together, okay?"

I managed a weak smile, grateful for her support. "Okay. Thank you, Sally."

But even as we began to clean up the mess, the tension between us remained. Someone close to me was responsible for this attack, and the thought made my stomach churn with dread.

I left Sally in our vandalized room, needing space to clear my head. The library seemed like the perfect escape, and I had a paper due on the White Wolves anyway. Two birds, one stone.

The musty scent of old books enveloped me as I entered the library. I made my way to the section on mythical creatures, running my fingers along the spines of the ancient tomes. Pulling out a particularly weathered volume, I settled into a secluded corner and began flipping through the pages.

That's when I noticed the small piece of paper on top of my book bag. I lifted it up with trembling fingers and turned it over. My heart pounded as I read the cryptic message scrawled across it. "You are one of us."

I stared at the note, my mind racing. Was this meant for me? It looked new, torn from a page of a modern day spiral. Someone had been watching me, but who? And what did they want? I glanced around the library, suddenly feeling exposed. Were they here now, observing my every move?

I tucked the note into my pocket and tried to focus on my research, but the words blurred before my eyes. I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was playing a game with me, toying with my emotions.

First, the attack in the woods, then the destruction of my room, and now this mysterious message. It all had to be connected, but how? And why me?

I slammed the book shut, frustration bubbling up inside me. I needed answers, but where could I find them? Who could I trust?