<h4>Chapter 457: 457-Tied By Hearts</h4>


    <strong>Ian:</strong>


    "Why did you not tell us this before? Why hide it for so long?" Troy demanded.


    It was as if they did not understand a single thing. They kept asking me the same questions over and over again.


    "Because I did not want you two to be upset," I snapped at them.


    The two began to frown as if that was the most ridiculous thing they had ever heard.


    "As if we would ever put our happiness over finding Clementine," Haiden snapped at me, watching me with anger in his eyes.


    "That is not... listen, I did not know how you two would react, okay? I was just scared," I tried to exin, but they lookedpletely done with me, and it scared me.


    I wanted Clementine found by any means. Their attention, however, was still on a bunch of things that could have been avoided.


    "Are we looking for her or not?" I asked him.


    The two looked at each other, then back at me.


    "We will look for her ourselves. You go ahead and look for her on your own."


    Just as expected of them. Even when they imed they would not let this information get in the way, they once again proved that I had been right. They started to walk away.


    The problem was that I did not want to be cocky, like my usual self, and think I could do it alone, that I did not need anyone’s help. I needed help to find Clementine.


    I needed all hands on deck. My ego did not matter. I would bow before anyone if it meant finding her. She was my priority.


    But they had already walked away.


    There was only one person left in my mind whom I could ask. Maybe, just maybe, he would understand my pain and look for her with me.


    "What are you going to do?" my wolf questioned me.


    "I am going to call Yorick," I replied, nodding to myself.


    There was a part of me that had to do a lot of work, speak to my father about the academy, and exin why there was still a debate about whether the academy would continue.


    The other part of me wanted to call Yorick, because if another Alpha started helping me spread the news, it would be very helpful.


    I reached my academy, stopping at the phone booth, the same one Clementine had once unlocked for me.


    It brought a small smile to my lips. I did not know what was going on, but ever since I lost her, I had felt even more connected to her, as if another bond had formed between us.


    Maybe I was just missing her desperately.


    "Hello?" someone answered from the other side of the call. It was a woman, so I could tell it was probably Yorick’s mother.


    "Lady Rimi? Hi, how are you? It’s Ian, Alpha Ian from the academy. I have been a crusader with your son," I introduced myself awkwardly.


    I was never good at speaking with older people, especially parents.


    I did not really have friends growing up, but whenever I went to school and parents dropped off their children, they would point at me and tell their kids to stay away from me.


    I was not very nice to parents either. I liked to cuss at them and annoy them. I was not proud of it, but that was how I grew up.


    "Oh, I know you. My son has spoken about you," she replied.


    The moment she said that, I was about to force myself to say something nice, but she added, "You’re the one who has spoken against the academy, right?"


    The moment she said that, I took a deep breath.


    "Um, can I please speak with Yorick, if it is possible?" I requested, fidgeting with the fingers of one hand.


    "No, you may not," she replied quickly.


    The way she responded made me freeze in my spot. I did not move a muscle.


    "Excuse you?" I asked, trying to understand if I had heard her right.


    "My son has left the academy, and after how everyone believed the usations against him, I do not want him speaking with anyone," she replied sharply.


    I took a deep breath to calm myself, because it was true. He had been traumatized at the academy by the usations.


    "Can you please tell him it is about Clementine? I am sure he would want to hear it," I said, trying to stay polite with a stranger for once.


    "Oh, why would he care about her?" she scoffed. "My son is a free man now, and no, he does not care about Clementine or whatever that woman is. Please do not call here again."


    She snapped the call shut.


    Something did not feel right. Or maybe she had always been like this.


    As I stepped out of the phone booth, defeated, I turned my head to the side and watched Troy and Haiden return. With them were the lurkers. It seemed that once again, we had been summoned, and I hoped it was not news that the academy was still going to run.


    I briskly walked beside them, but I did not speak. I thought they needed time to adjust.


    Once we were in the hall, I watched my father arrive in a hurry. He took the stand and looked at all of us, his eyes lingering on me for a moment.


    "Pack your bags. You are all being sent home for a while, until further notice," he announced.


    I felt a small sense of relief when I realized they were not dragging us back. Instead, everyone was allowed to go home for now.


    The way everyone cheered made it seem like they already believed this was a victory. Little did they know that if things did not go well and they had to return, it would be theirst time in the North.


    But that was not all. I was still deeply worried about Clementine, and there did not seem to be any leads.


    "Please send them off to their homes," my father finished.


    As he walked away, he gave me one look before passing by.


    "We are sorry for earlier. Let’s go look for Clementine," Troy whispered from behind me.


    Just when I thought all doors had been shut in my face, his words gave me another push to keep searching.