Bellatrix’s POV

The music thumped through the gym, vibrations buzzing in my chest as I leaned against the snack table, glaring at the scene before me. Zombies and wolves, swaying awkwardly together, pretending like we hadn’t all been at each other’s throats just days ago. It was almost cute—if you liked cringe-worthy fairy tales.

“Why did I agree to this again?” I muttered, popping a shrimp puff into my mouth.

“Because Willa said we had to,” Wyatt answered, sidling up next to me. His complexion still looked pale, and a faint green glow flickered behind his eyes. “And because deep down, you love this stuff.”

I snorted. “Please. I’m only here to make sure you don’t keel over mid-cha-cha.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I’m fine, Bella.”

“You look like you just crawled out of a grave.”

“Maybe I did,” he shot back with a grin.

“Cute,” I deadpanned, but my lips twitched despite myself.

The DJ switched to a slower song, the kind that made people pair up and pretend they weren’t nervous wrecks. I glanced around, spotting Luna laughing softly with Wynter near the edge of the crowd. Good for her, I guessed. Someone deserved a happy ending.

Wyatt nudged me with his elbow. “Dance with me?”

I blinked. “What?”

“Dance with me,” he repeated, his voice light but his eyes holding a challenge.

“You’re barely standing, and you want to waltz?”

“Exactly. If I’m going down, I might as well take you with me.”

I rolled my eyes but took his hand anyway. “Fine. But if you puke on my shoes, you’re buying me new ones.”

“Deal.”

We shuffled onto the dance floor, earning a few surprised glances from both zombies and wolves. I ignored them, placing a hand on Wyatt’s shoulder as he awkwardly rested his on my waist.

“Try not to step on me,” I warned.

“Try not to trip me,” he countered.

We moved in a semi-coordinated sway, Wyatt’s steps faltering slightly but steady enough. I had to admit, it wasn’t the worst dance I’d ever had.

“See? Told you I’d survive,” he said, a smug smile creeping onto his face.

“For now,” I muttered. “You’re still a walking liability.”

“Does that mean you care?”

“Don’t push your luck.”

As the song ended, a familiar blonde stepped into my line of sight, her sparkly dress catching the light like some kind of cosmic insult. Addison. Of course.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite punching bag,” I said, my voice dripping with fake sweetness.

She crossed her arms, her blue eyes narrowing. “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing up here, Bellatrix.”

“And you’ve got a lot of glitter. Is it contagious, or are you just naturally obnoxious?”

“Guys,” Wyatt started, but I held up a hand.

“Don’t worry, Wyatt. This won’t take long.”

Addison took a step closer, her fists clenched. “You think you’re so tough, don’t you?”

“Only compared to you, princess,” I shot back, stepping forward to meet her.

“Ladies, maybe cool it?” Zed’s voice chimed in, but I ignored him.

Just as I was about to land a solid punch on Addison’s perfectly annoying face, the ground beneath us trembled.

“What the—” I stumbled, grabbing Wyatt’s arm to steady myself.

The gym shook violently, sending partygoers scrambling for balance. A loud crack echoed through the air, and a jagged line split across the floor, stretching from the gym to the hallway.

“Is this part of the party?” I asked dryly, my sarcasm barely masking the unease curling in my stomach.

“Definitely not,” Wyatt said, his voice tight.

The crack widened, revealing a faint, eerie glow emanating from below. My blood ran cold.

“The Moonstone,” Willa breathed, her voice sharp as she pushed through the crowd to join us.

“I thought it was destroyed,” Luna said, her tone a mix of disbelief and anger.

“Apparently not,” I muttered, my eyes fixed on the glowing fissure.

Addison, for once, looked just as rattled as the rest of us. “What does this mean?”

“It means,” Willa said, her jaw clenched, “we’re in trouble.”

A sudden burst of energy surged from the crack, sending a wave of force through the room. People screamed as the lights flickered, and the music cut out.

“Everyone out!” Willa shouted, her voice commanding.

The crowd didn’t need to be told twice, zombies and wolves alike scrambling for the exits. I grabbed Wyatt’s arm, dragging him toward the door, but he hesitated, his eyes fixed on the fissure.

“Wyatt, move!” I snapped.

“There’s something down there,” he said, his voice low and tense.

“No kidding! Now let’s go before it eats us!”

Before I could pull him any farther, the ground gave another violent shake, and the glow intensified. A shadowy figure began to rise from the crack, its form indistinct but menacing.

“What the hell is that?” Luna asked, her voice uncharacteristically shaky.

“Something we don’t want to meet,” I said, shoving Wyatt toward the exit.

The shadow let out a low, guttural growl, the sound reverberating through the gym like a death knell.

“Willa, we need to do something!” Addison yelled, her earlier bravado gone.

Willa’s eyes glowed with determination. “We need to get the Moonstone. It’s the only way to stop this.”

“Great plan,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Except for the part where it’s guarded by the shadow of doom.”

“Got any better ideas?” she shot back.

I clenched my jaw. “Not yet.”

The shadow lunged toward us, its form stretching unnaturally as it closed the distance. Willa grabbed Addison, shoving her out of the way, while Luna and Wynter dove in the opposite direction.

“Bellatrix, move!” Wyatt yelled, pulling me toward the door.

For once, I didn’t argue, sprinting alongside him as the gym continued to collapse around us.

As we burst into the cool night air, I turned to Willa, my chest heaving. “You’re sure the Moonstone’s down there?”

She nodded grimly. “I can feel it. It’s calling to us.”

“Fantastic,” I muttered. “Because this night wasn’t already a disaster.”

The shadow loomed in the doorway behind us, its glowing eyes locking onto our group.

“Run,” Willa commanded, her voice leaving no room for argument.

And so we did, the Prawn forgotten as we raced toward the unknown, the glow of the Moonstone lighting our path and the shadow hot on our heels.

But we didn't know was the shadow wasn't from the moonstone or protecting it from us. It was a scout.