Saffron

After Logan leaves, I sit on my bed and idly play with the corner of my blanket. I still can't believe that I can link and that maybe, just maybe, Father was wrong about my wolf. I'm keeping a close eye on her, just in case, but I haven't had to lock the door to the cage she's in. She hasn't ordered me to mate with anyone or hurt any innocent bystanders. Yeah, I could feel her getting excited while Logan and I were making out, but she never once pushed me to go further than I was comfortable with.

I fall back on the bed with a smile and raise my hands to my cheeks. They feel warm to the touch, and the memory of those kisses makes me blush further. Being with Logan was just... I let out a dreamy sigh. I never thought anything could feel that good, and I don't just mean the physical stuff, either. I love hanging out with him: when we went for pizza, when he made me lunch, and the way he called his dad Pissed Off Wolf... he's just so fun to be around, and I miss him already.

I know he said he'd be back, but how long is the conversation with POW going to take? Minutes? Hours? Then there's that announcement coming up—the one Logan kept talking about—but for all I know it's happening now and POW just didn't want me there.

I glance around the room, trying to find some other way to pass the time, and my gaze lands on Luna's book. Nope. No way am I ever reading that, no matter how curious I am. It can't hurt to just take a little peek though, right? Or maybe I shouldn't. I should just go sign Joshie's cast and ignore the book that suddenly seems to be glaring at me from the nightstand.

I climb off the bed and rush toward the open door. Logan didn't bother closing it after he left, and I quickly peek out into the hallway to see if anyone's around. No way am I getting caught reading that novel. What if Luna comes back for it? Or someone else sees me and thinks it's mine? I quickly pull the door closed and my heart racing a mile a minute as I head toward the nightstand. I hesitate at first, then reach for the book. When my fingers graze the cover, I quickly snatch it up and glance at the page Luna left it open to. Then, I pick a random paragraph and start to read.

I finish the page and feel my own pulse racing right along with Isie's. I know I should probably put the book down, but I flip the page and keep going.

With a gasp, I slam the book shut and drop it back on the nightstand as if it were on fire. My heart races as fast as Isadora's, and for a few seconds I just stare at the offending cover as I try to catch my breath. Then I quickly flip the book over so it's hidden from view, and turn my back on it so I can pretend it's not there.

This is what Luna was reading while I was asleep? And in my room, of all places? How was she not embarrassed? I mean, who reads this sort of stuff in public? If it were me, I'd read it under my blanket with a flashlight and hide it under my bed... or something. I sneak a peek at the book. Do Lord Drakon and Lady Isadora actually do it, right there on the pages? Maybe I should read ahead, just to make sure? What if I got the wrong impression about Luna and her book? I start to reach for it, and quickly pull my hand back. No, nope, definitely not. I need to get out of here!

I race for the closet in search of shoes. I wish I still had the flats Zara gave me—well, technically Jess, since they were actually her's—but those are still in the forest. I pause. There's this nagging thought at the back of my mind, something about Jess, but no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to access it. In the end, I just give up. I slip on the pair of white sneakers and head for the door.

I should probably sign Joshie's cast first, so that doctor can finally take it off, and then I can go find Zara. It would be awesome to see her, and tell her about everything that's happened. If she and Jasper are done exercising, that is.

I'm not actually sure where Joshie's room is, but I remember that most of the boys have rooms on the third floor. It makes sense to start there, so I head toward the stairs. The hall is silent and empty, but when I'm halfway there, I pass an open door. The bedroom room looks identical to mine, and Zara is lying on her back under a blanket. Jasper's on top of that same blanket, next to her—fully clothed, thankfully—and he's running his fingers lovingly through her hair. For a second, I think they might be about to make out or something, but then I realize that Zara's fast asleep.

"Do you want me to close the door?" I whisper. I know they're not really doing anything, but it's still kind of weird to have the door open, especially with people walking by.

"No, thanks." Jasper shakes his head. His voice is loud enough to wake Zara, and I grimace. Jasper doesn't seem to notice, and keeps talking, "I'm glad you're up, Saffron. How you feeling?"

"Shhh," I whisper. Ignoring his question, I send a pointed look at Zara. "You'll wake her."

"If that could wake her," Jasper raises his voice further, until he's yelling, "I'd shout at the top of my lungs... but I've tried that already, and it didn't work."

"What do you mean?" I frown, hurrying inside the room. As I get closer to Zara's side, I notice that her face is pale and completely expressionless in sleep. She's also just lying there, still as a board, instead of curled up on her side, how she liked to sleep when we briefly shared a room.

"Oh, Saffron," Jasper's voice breaks, "She's in a coma. Didn't anyone tell you?"

"What?" I grab Zara's hand, which hangs lifelessly in mine. "How? Luna said she was up!" Or did she? She said 'resting', but isn't that the same thing?

"She did?" Jasper asks in surprise. "Maybe she just didn't want to worry you?"

"Is Zare going to be..." my eyes fill with tears and my voice wobbles as I ask, "will she be okay?"

"Yes. Definitely."

"You're sure?" I smile through the tears.

"Doctor Dev did a bunch of tests. She's sure Zara will wake up today... or tomorrow. Except..." Jasper hesitates, "she's been saying the same thing every day since the attack."

"She has?" I stare down at Zara and take a seat next to her. "Jasper, what happened to her? I keep trying to remember, but everything is such a blur."

"Blur?" He frowns. "You mean the Rogue attack?"

"Yeah." I nod and Jasper frowns.

"That doesn't make any sense."

"I know... Logan thinks I'm repressing it, like that guy... Gray?"

"Oh, yeah," Jasper nods, "but you don't think so?"

"No." I shake my head, surprised at how perceptive he is. "I... I've never forgotten fights before, and I've been through worse."

Jasper regards me serious for a few seconds, but doesn't say anything. I can't think of a thing to say either, so I watch Zara for a while, hoping she'll wake up. Then Jasper suddenly asks, "Do you think they did something to you?"

"Who?"

"The Rogues." Jasper hesitates. "I've had a lot of time to think, Saffron, and something doesn't feel right."

"What do you mean?"

"They knew where to find you, Zara should have woken up by now, they had no reason to take Jess, and now you can't remember—"

"Wait, back up. What happened to Jess?"

"The Rogues took her." Jasper shakes his head. "Alpha's been gone for a few days, looking for her, but it's like she just vanished... and Zara's in a coma and now your memories are gone? It doesn't add up."

"I don't know. I just hope Jess is okay."

"Me too." Jasper nods. "A part of me is glad Zara's not awake yet. When she finds out..."

"I know," I whisper as Jasper pulls Zara close and snuggles up to her. I suddenly feel like I'm invading their privacy, so I stand to go. "You should get some rest. I promised Luna I'd sign Joshie's cast, and then I'll come back to sit with Zara?"

"She'd like that," Jasper says, even though Zara is still unconscious. "I looked it up, and it says talking to her can help. Maybe you could read her something?"

"Sure," I squeak, as the first thought that pops into my mind is Luna's book. I am definitely not reading that to Zara. My cheeks flood with color, and I quickly add, "I'll go find something in the library."

"Thanks, Saffron." Jasper smiles.

"Do you know where I can find Joshie?"

"Actually, the library." Jasper chuckles. "You should have seen Nicki. She was so mad when she was telling Zara she had study Wolf History today, even though school's canceled. She's so cute when she's mad—reminds me of her older sister."

"Thanks, Jasper." I feel a pang at the sad, hopefully look he shoots Zara as he plays with a lock of her hair. "I'll see you in a bit?"

Jasper nods and I step out into the hall and head toward the library. As I raise my hand to knock—not wanting to interrupt the class—an unfamiliar, melodic voice drifts faintly through the door. The words are too faint to make out, and a second later, I hear shouting coming from POW's office. I'm not really surprised that the Pissed Off Wolf is—well, pissed off—but I hope Logan isn't on the receiving end.

Before I can think better of it, I take a step toward POW's office, then another, and another, until my ear is pressed up against the wood.

"Saffron's not up to anything." Logan shouts, and I freeze. Are they arguing about me? And what could POW possibly think I'd be up to?

"Think about it, Logan." POW shouts back. "Her Father just happens to gamble on my land? Then he acts like a deadbeat drunk so I'd take his daughter, and then disappears. The house is wiped clean. Then her friends feed me some story and then vanish without a trace?"

POW growls, and I barely hold back a gasp. What's he saying about Dad and the house? And is he talking about Anna and Jen? What does he mean, vanish? Did something happen to them? Are they hurt? Did the Rogues take them, like they took Jess?

I start to reach for the door handle, intent on confronting POW, when his next words stop me cold.

1. Rate this chapter on a scale from ♥ (1) to ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ (10)

2. So, Luna's romance novel... Should Saf keep reading? Or stay far, far away? (oh, and if this whole werewolf thing does work out, think I should try writing historicals?)

3. And is Jasper onto something, or is he being hell of a paranoid? 

4. Can you guess what'll happen next? (If you follow me on insta, I've left a few clues!)

5. Let's Play a Wolf Pack game: If tomorrow you woke up as Saffron, what's the first thing you would do?