Page 94 of Dark Bonds

“Effective immediately, all students will be required to join pack houses. If you haven’t chosen a pack, you have twenty-four hours to do so and move in. This is nonnegotiable.”

A ripple of shock runs through the crowd. Suddenly, it’s like I can’t breathe right. The whole room feels stuffy. Pack houses? I’ve heard of them, but they were usually voluntary. My mind races, thinking of the implications. The shadow beast shifts restlessly at my feet, its movements synchronized with the ebb and flow of my anxiety.

The dean continues, her voice cutting through the murmurs. “Furthermore, any juniors and seniors interested in becoming guardians should meet back here tomorrow morning. All classes are canceled for the week to facilitate these changes.”

As she goes on to explain more details, I turn to my friends, my head spinning. “Pack houses? Is she serious?”

Dorian nods grimly, his voice low and tense. “It’s an old tradition, born from times of great danger,” he explains. “Pack houses are more than just dorms. They are like... fortresses. They rise from the shadow realm and will appear across the island. Magical barriers, shared power, heightened senses—everything’s amplified when you’re with your pack. It’s meant to be the ultimate protection against threats.”

I frown, trying to wrap my head around it. “So we’re basically creating our own little shadow shifter armies?”

“More like families,” Dorian corrects, his expression softening slightly. “But yeah, with teeth. The fact that they are implementing it now... I think they are hiding something big.”

“Honestly, I don’t care what they are hiding—pack houses?”

His gaze softens as he looks at me, a hint of his usual charisma breaking through. “Look, pack life’s no walk in the park, but it has perks. Mainly safety in numbers.”

It doesn’t matter who is protecting whom, Valerie taught me that. You can have the greatest protector in the world, and they can fall in a split second.

“Tori,” I say, grabbing her hand. Her skin feels cool and clammy against mine. “You’ll join our pack, right? We need to stick together.”

Tori bites her lip, looking torn. Her voice is firm despite the pain in her eyes as she responds. “Frankie, I... I can’t. My family needs me right now. With everything that’s happening, I need to be there for them.”

I feel like someone just sucker punched me. Tori’s not coming with us? This can’t be happening. The thought of facing this new reality without her by my side is almost unbearable. “But... we need you. I need you.”

She doesn’t reply right away as the assembly ends and students begin to file out. We linger behind, trying to process everything. The auditorium empties around us, the sudden silence oppressive after the buzz of the crowd.

“I’m sorry, Frankie,” Tori says softly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “My mom and aunt… The bar. I can’t leave them alone right now, but I’ll still be here, I promise, even if we’re not in the same pack house.”

I nod, trying not to cry like a baby. I get why she’s doing it, but damn, it still sucks. The shadow beast whines softly, sensing my distress. Its smoky form seems to stretch toward Tori, as if trying to bridge the gap between us.

Leo puts an arm around my shoulders, his touch warm and comforting. “Looks like you’re stuck with us then,” he says, flashing a weak smile. “At least life won’t be boring, right? And hey, at least you’ll have the best-looking pack on campus. Silver linings and all that jazz.”

I manage a small smile at Leo’s attempt to lighten the mood, but my heart feels heavy. The reality of our new situation issinking in, and it feels like the ground is shifting beneath my feet. “I guess so, but where are we going to live?”

“We should start looking for a suitable pack house,” Matteo says, ever practical. His eyes are already darting around, as if mentally cataloging potential locations. “The sooner we secure a place, the better our chances of getting something decent.”

Dorian nods in agreement. “I know a few places that might work. We’ll need somewhere with enough space for all of us, plus room for training.”

As they discuss potential locations, I feel a sudden wave of exhaustion wash over me. The events of the day—the shadow beast attack, Leo’s struggle, and now this bombshell about pack houses—have left me drained. The shadow beast, sensing my fatigue, presses closer to my leg, its cool presence oddly comforting.

“Guys,” I interrupt, my voice sounding tired even to my own ears, “can we deal with this tomorrow? I think I need to process all this.”

They turn to look at me, concern evident in their eyes. Tori reaches out and squeezes my hand gently. “Of course, Frankie. It’s been a hell of a day.”

“We all need to crash,” Dorian says, sounding weirdly nice for once. “Let’s deal with this pack house crap in the morning.”

As we make our way out of the auditorium, the reality of our situation starts to sink in. The campus is like a ghost town. There are a few groups of students scurrying around, looking equal parts psyched and freaked out. The shadow beast trots obediently at my heels, drawing curious and fearful glances.

“Alright, Umbraxis.” I scratch his head, his name feeling right. “Let’s go rest.”

He—and I’m sure it is a he—weaves between my legs before taking off toward the tower dorms.

How did he know?

Chapter 30

Frankie