Page 10 of Impossible

“Do you know who she is?” I nod at her.

She has her arms wrapped around herself and she’s shivering. I shrug out of my jacket and lay it over her shoulders, then turn back to Wilder.

He is looking between us, his mouth open but no words coming out. She tugs the jacket tight around her, dipping her nose and breathing in deeply when she thinks I’m not looking. I want to wrap my fucking arms around her instead of some useless coat, but that’s going to have to wait.

“Wilder!” I bark. She jumps, and I mentally curse myself.

I’m all out of sorts, all my instincts off, warped by her intoxicating scent. If she keeps smelling this strongly, she can’t be more than a day or so out from her heat. I try not to think that, try not to feel the sensations it brings up in my body.

“She was up at Adams.” I grit my teeth when it becomes clear he isn’t following me. “On the hillside, overlooking the field. The breeze caught her scent and my class went into a frenzy. I barely got to her first. That’s thirty rutting baby alphas, in case you’re not grasping the seriousness of what I’m saying here. What thefuckis an omega doing up at Adams? With no supervision?”

“Oh, like every single other unawakened omega up there you mean?” Wilder’s voice is caustic. He’s recovering quickly from his shock. I wonder what surprised him so much—my sudden appearance, her sudden appearance, the looks passing between us, her scent, or the fact that it appeared like a stiff breeze might blow her over and keep her down. She is seriously emaciated.

A protective instinct in me wants to find food for her, guard her while she eats it, but I shake it off.Focus, Leon.

“She’s clearly not unawakened anymore.” I turn to her, taking in the sharp angle of her shoulders and cheeks. “How old are you, little bird?” I use the nickname before thinking and watch Wilder’s brow shoot up when I do.

She turns to me, eyes wide. “Nineteen.”

Now that we’re not mid-crisis, I have time to appreciate her voice. Young, but deep. Complicated, like her scent.

“Well, there’s your answer.” Wilder sits back down. I hadn’t realized he had flown to his feet when I barged in. “Docs probably thought she was a beta. You have your period, girl?”

“Excuse me?” Anger flashes in her eyes and I can’t help a swell of pride in my chest. She might be small, but she is mighty.

“What’s your name?” I ask, forcing my voice to be gentle even as I glare daggers at Wilder. Her eyes linger on him a little longer before turning to me.

“Indie. Indigo.”

“Indigo,” I breathe. A beautiful name for a beautiful girl. And she is beautiful, in a tragic, starved way. I want to feed her, watch her fill out and glow. I can tell she will, with a little love. She’s already sparking as it is, something vibrant and bright within her.Focus, Leon.

“I’m sorry for my colleague’sveryrude question, Indigo,“ I continue. “This is a very… unusual circumstance.”

The phone on Wilder’s desk rings, making Indigo jump. Again. She’s a flighty one.A little blue jay, I half-smile to myself.My little blue bird.

Wilder glares at both of us, holding up a finger telling us to wait as he picks up the receiver.

“Headmaster Wilder, is this an emergency?” He cocks his head, raising a brow and looking straight at Indigo as he listens. “Mmhm, yes, I believe we’re one step ahead of you. She’s standing in my office right now, actually. Oh? That sounds like something you can handle,” his voice drips condescension. “Yes, ok. Ok. Yes. We’ll send someone to collect her things. Obviously. Of course. Goodbye.”

He hangs the phone up, then looks at me, ignoring Indigo completely. “That was Diana Mason, telling me one of her anorexic betas just blew her hormone panel off the charts. Indigo Wolfe. A middle school recruit who tested likely but never manifested. Graduated last summer but stuck around for her gap year. Good thing too, I suppose. Probably starved off her own puberty.” He turns and assesses Indigo, looking down his nose at her.

I want to clock him for speaking so cruelly. So sheissick. Very sick, if her shivering, bony frame is any indication. And he has no right to be so crass when discussing her condition.

Anorexia.

“What were you saying about my things?” Indigo asks, ignoring the comment about her weight and puberty entirely. I’m impressed. And concerned.

“We’ll send somebody to collect them for you. Leon here can show you to your dorm.”

“I live in East House, up on main campus.”

“Not anymore.”

Indigo swallows. “I didn’t agree to move.”

“Your consent isn’t necessary.”

“Ok, enough.” I raise a hand, stopping Wilder from spewing any more bullshit. “Indigo, I’m so sorry. This must be overwhelming. Would you mind taking a seat outside and allowing me to chat with Headmaster Wilder here for just a moment? I’ll be right out to explain everything. I’m sure you have a lot of questions. The lady at the desk is called Bertha; she can get you a bottle of water or some tea.”

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