CHAPTER SEVENTY ONE
SANDRO DAVALO
What we should have done!
My wolf was restless as I sat in class. The usual focus I had on Physics, a subject I once relished, was gone. My mind was elsewhere, caught in a web of anxiety that wrapped around my chest like a vice.
I knew immediately that Nadia was in trouble. Our connection was strong, the kind that made me hyper-aware of her feelings even when I was miles away. Quickly, I scanned the room, searching for any sign of Lara, Bethany, and their new boyfriends, Tony and Fletcher. I hoped maybe they would be in class, joking around, because that would mean Nadia was safe. But they weren’t. And with each passing moment, the dread only amplified my conviction that something was very wrong.
I clenched my fists under the desk, grinding my teeth in frustration. The lecturer droned on, oblivious to my turmoil, but I couldn’t take it anymore. The restless energy within me surged like a storm, urging me to take action.
Without hesitation, I jumped to my feet, ignoring the teacher’s question about my sudden movement. I bolted out of the classroom, my legs carrying me as fast as they could towards Nadia’s class.
“Nadia!” I called out as I raced down the hall, my mind racing even faster. The worried thoughts spiraled. What could have happened? Was she hurt? My wolf growled inside, gnawing at my insides with a feral urgency I couldn’t shake.
When I arrived at her classroom, the door stood slightly ajar, but when I stepped inside, I quickly realized it was empty. Panic flared in my chest. “Where is Nadia!?” I demanded from one of the students passing by.
“I don’t know,” he replied, looking as bewildered as I felt.
I turned to another student, desperation creeping into my voice. “Do you know where Nadia is?”
“No idea, man,” he shrugged, and I felt my frustration boil over.
“Thanks a lot!” I snapped, storming out of the classroom. There was an almost unbearable tension buzzing through me. My wolf was pacing, restless and agitated, and it felt like I might burst into a run at any moment.
I searched the hallways and classrooms, calling out her name fervently. But it felt like no one had seen her, and the emptiness echoed back, amplifying my fears.
As I dashed outside, I could feel my wolf’s instincts kicking in more powerfully than before. The mate bond was urging me forward, pulling me toward the bushes behind the school. I didn’t even question it; my feet moved on their own accord, edging closer to the trees as I ran.
“Nadia!” I shouted louder now, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The woods were thick and shadowy, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere that made my skin crawl. “Nadia!” I yelled again but I was met with silence.
It was then that I noticed a flash of color just ahead. My curiosity piqued, and I approached it cautiously. I came upon a school bag lying on the ground. The sight sent a jolt of ice through my veins. I bent down to pick it up, my heart racing as I rummaged through the contents. A familiar textbook was inside one with Nadia’s name on it.
At that moment, dread pooled in my stomach like lead. “No, no, no,” I chanted silently, the realization hitting me like a freight train. Something had happened to her. Determination surged through me, propelling me deeper into the woods.
I pushed aside branches and foliage, my senses heightened. Suddenly, I glimpsed a piece of fabric on the ground. Crouching down, I recognized the torn remnants of Nadia’s school uniform, as if someone had violently ripped it from her. I felt my heart drop into the pit of my stomach.
“Please, let her be okay,” I whispered under my breath, using all my mental strength to keep calm as I moved closer to a clearing. That was when I finally saw her.
My breath caught in my throat as I stumbled upon the ghastly scene. There she was, bound to a tree, her mouth gagged and hands tied. She was barely clothed. Fear slashed through me, but rage ignited even more fiercely. “Nadia!” I exclaimed, rushing toward her.
She looked terrified, and the sight of her struggling against the ropes sent a wave of fury crashing over me. I quickly knelt beside her, carefully tearing away the bindings. “I’ve got you; I’m here,” I murmured, my hands trembling slightly as I worked to free her.
Once her hands were free, I reached for the gag, pulling it down gently from her mouth. “Sandro!” she gasped, letting out a shaky breath. Relief washed over me at the sound of her voice, but it was quickly replaced by an ember of rage when I saw the distress etched in her features.
“They did this to me,” she whispered, her voice wobbly. “Lara, Bethany… and their boyfriends. They attacked me.”
I seethed, the very mention of their names igniting a flame of fury within me. “Those bitches!” I growled under my breath. “I’m going to make them pay for this.”
I finished untying her ankles and pulled her against me, desperate to protect her from whatever had just happened. I felt her warm body against mine, and even in that moment of horror, my wolf settled slightly, sensing that she was safe.
“No, Sandro, you don’t understand,” she pleaded, her eyes wide with worry. “You can’t confront them. They’ve got Tony and Fletcher with them. They’ll…”
“Let them come,” I interrupted, pushing myself to stand and towering over her, my protective instincts surging to the forefront. “They won’t touch you again, I promise.”
I helped her to her feet, keeping a firm grip around her waist to steady her. “Let’s get out of here.”
“I can’t leave like this,” she voiced out. “I’m barely clothed.”.
“Wait here for me. I’ll be right back,” I said and dashed off immediately. Luckily, I had a spare shirt in my car. I ran back at once and gave it to her.
As we emerged from the bush, I could already see the group gathered in the courtyard: Lara, Bethany, Tony, and Fletcher, all laughing as if nothing had happened. The sight of their carefree attitudes ignited a fire of anger within me, fueling my resolve to confront them.
“Hey!” I called out, my voice booming across the yard. My heart thumped with adrenaline as I drew nearer, Nadia by my side.
All heads turned in our direction, and their smiles faded as they processed the sight of us approaching. “What’s the matter, Sandro? Didn’t you get the memo?” Lara snickered, but the mockery in her tone fell flat, obviously failing to faze me.
“Why did you do it?” I demanded, indicating Nadia with a sharp glare.
“What are you talking about?” Bethany said, feigning innocence, but I wasn’t about to be fooled.
“Don’t act dumb with me,” I replied tightly. “I know what you did to her!”
“You’re overreacting,” Tony chuckled, trying to brush off the confrontation. But the tension in the air thickened like gasoline-a spark away from igniting.
Nadia stepped slightly in front of me, her expression torn between fear and anger, but I wouldn’t let her take the fall this time.
“Overreacting? Do you think tying someone up and attacking them qualifies as a little fun?” I roared, stepping forward and feeling the wolf inside me pushing for control.
Fletcher smirked, exchanging a glance with his friends. “She deserved it. You’re just too blinded by your little crush to see it.”
The implication of that careless statement was like a knife cutting through my resolve. My wolf surged, and I felt the urge to lash out physically rising. But with a steely hold on my temper, I stepped even closer, fists clenched.
“If you think I’m going to let you walk away from this, you’re sadly mistaken,” I spat, my voice low and dangerous.
Lara exchanged a look with Tony, then stepped toward me with an exaggerated pout. “Oh, is little Sandro going to save the day? How cute. You think you can scare us?”
“Yes. I do,” I sneered, refusing to back down.
Then, before I could think twice, I lunged forward. I didn’t think about the consequences, about how this would affect me or Nadia. All I could focus on was using my strength to defend her.
I tackled Tony first, sending him crashing into the ground. The impact echoed across the yard, and for a fleeting moment, I felt satisfaction. But it quickly shattered when Fletcher rushed toward us, swinging a fist that narrowly missed my face.
“Get off him!” he shouted as I grappled with Tony.
I punched Tony hard in the jaw, eliciting a grunt of pain from him. I had no idea how loud the altercation had gotten, but it was like time froze. Students began to gather around us, their gasps and murmurs blending into a chaotic backdrop.
“No!” Nadia cried out, but her voice barely registered over the roar of adrenaline that filled my ears. I couldn’t stop now; my instincts were in overdrive, and I was committed to making them understand that this was unacceptable.
While I was still engaged with Tony, I felt a hand grab my shoulder from behind. It was Lara, attempting to pull me away. “You’re going to regret this, Sandro!” she hissed.
I twisted, shaking her off violently, and pushed her aside. “Get the hell away from me!”
In the turmoil that followed, more students filtered into the courtyard, capturing every moment on their phones, some shouting encouragement for me, others expressing shock or horror.
I could hear whispers in the crowd. “Isn’t that Sandro? What’s happening?”
Nadia’s voice broke through the chaos. “Sandro, stop! Please!” Panic flooded her tone, and it cut through my rage just enough for me to hesitate. I glanced back at her, and for a fleeting second, every defeat and isolation I had ever felt fell away.
I wasn’t just defending her; I was fighting for a moment where she could feel safe again, for all the moments I had let my fears deter me from standing by her.
But before I could register it, a swift kick caught me in the side. Fletcher had gotten back into the fray, and just like that, my focus shattered further. I stumbled but quickly regained composure, turning my attention back to Tony, who was scrambling to get back on his feet.
“I’m done playing with you!” I yelled, adrenaline surging as I prepared for another strike. The ground beneath my feet felt firm as the escalation morphed into a full-blown brawl.
At that moment, I knew I had to end this confrontation quickly; I had to protect Nadia and prove that they couldn’t just walk all over her.
When Fletcher swung again, I dodged to the side, and with one swift motion, I tackled him, sending us both sprawling to the grass. I pinned him down as the crowd gasped collectively, and I could hear my wolf roaring in triumph within me.
“You think you can treat her like that and get away with it?” I growled, my breathing heavy with exertion.
“Get off me, you freak!” he spat, struggling beneath me.
My grip tightened as I shouted back, “I’m not going to let anyone hurt her again!”
That moment felt like it stretched on indefinitely. The students around us looked shocked, some were clearly on my side, while others were whispering in disbelief. Eventually, someone who looked like a teacher broke through the onlookers, raising their hands.
“Alright, stop this right now!” the teacher boomed.
The pressure and adrenaline slowly began to fade, and I released my hold on Fletcher, panting heavily. The gravity of what had happened started settling in, and I could feel the frustration ebb away, replaced by the reality of the situation.
Nadia stepped forward and gently touched my arm, her expression thick with concern. “Sandro, it’s okay. I’m here.”
Looking around, I could see Lara and Bethany exchanging sour glances, their egos bruised by the swift turn of events. “You should have known this would blow up in your face,” Lara spat, but her bravado had lost its edge.
I stood tall beside Nadia, reclaiming my space. “You will never touch her again,” I declared. “And if I ever catch you bullying her or anyone again, I won’t hesitate to defend what’s mine.”
As murmurs rippled through the crowd, I felt a surge of support wash over me. I had faced them down, and though my body ached from the altercation, my spirit soared.
For the moment, I had stood up for Nadia, and as I looked into her eyes, I felt a glimmer of relief.
With adrenaline finally fading, I carefully caressed her cheek, providing comfort amidst the chaotic aftermath. “Are you okay?” I asked, my heart aching for her.
She nodded, though the worry seemed to linger in her gaze. “I will be now, thanks to you.”
Her words soothed the frayed edges of my worry, and the realization washed over me-I had fought not only for her safety but also for the bond we shared.
As the crowd began to disperse, Alex came running towards us. “Sandro, what happened?” he asked.
“I did what we should have done a long time ago,” I said to him.