Chapter 68: #SIXTY-EIGHT

ELIJAH’S POV

I couldn’t concentrate.

I’d spent the entire lecture staring at the same page of my notebook without writing anything useful.

The professor had been explaining something at the front of the room, but I couldn’t tell anyone afterward what the topic had been because my mind kept going back to Nicholas and the medication he’d shown me earlier.

He had looked suspicious when he’d asked whether I’d left it for him, and even after I’d told him I hadn’t, the thought refused to leave my mind. Someone had given Nicholas medication without revealing themselves, and considering everything that had happened to him over the past few months, there was no way I could convince myself that it was harmless.

I checked my phone beneath the desk.

There was still nothing.

I waited another few minutes — Still nothing.

The professor continued speaking, but I finally pushed my chair back and stood.

Several students turned toward me.

"Mr. Blackthorne," the professor called sharply, "where are you going?"

I didn’t stop.

"Elijah." The professor snapped, but I kept walking. "Elijah, I’m speaking to you."

I reached the door before he raised his voice enough to make the entire class turn toward me. "If you walk out of this classroom while I’m teaching, you will be explaining your behavior to the department."

I glanced back at him. "I’m sorry."

The man didn’t back down. "You don’t look sorry."

"I have something important to deal with."

"And whatever it is, you can deal with it after class. Walking out while I’m teaching is unprofessional and disrespectful." The professor hissed, clearly not on board with what I was about to do.

I simply nodded. "I understand."

"Then sit down."

I shook my head. "I can’t."

He stared at me in disbelief as I left.

I knew I was going to get into trouble for it, but I didn’t care. Something about the package had been bothering me since Nicholas showed it to me, and after our conversation, I had become increasingly convinced that it was connected to the stalker. I needed to find Nicholas and make sure he hadn’t done anything stupid with it.

I headed toward the classroom where I knew he was supposed to be.

When I arrived, I opened the door without knocking.

The lecturer stopped speaking and every student turned toward me.

I ignored all of them and scanned the room.

Nicholas wasn’t there.

I looked across the rows again, making sure I hadn’t missed him. Nothing.

The lecturer stood beside his desk, clearly unsure whether he was supposed to challenge me or simply wait until I finished whatever I was doing. "Can I help you?"

Slowly, I turned to him. "I’m looking for Nicholas."

"He’s not here."

I looked around once more. "When did he leave?"

The lecturer shrugged. "I haven’t seen him this morning."

I thanked him and walked back into the hallway.

Something was wrong.

Nicholas wouldn’t simply disappear from class without telling anyone, especially after what we’d discussed.

I started walking toward the other side of the building when I heard voices coming from around the corner.

I slowed down and saw that a group of students were standing together, speaking quietly. "...they took him to the clinic."

"Who?"

"Nicholas."

My attention immediately sharpened and I stepped closer.

Another student lowered his voice. "I heard the principal was there too."

"Why?"

"I don’t know. Someone said he collapsed."

I stopped.

Collapsed? I moved toward them. "What did you just say?" I asked.

The group turned and they immediately became quiet. One of them looked nervous. "Nothing."

I stepped closer. "I heard you talking about Nicholas."

Nobody answered. I grabbed the nearest student’s shirt and pushed him against the wall, my hand tightening around his throat. "Tell me what happened."

His face went pale. "I—I don’t know everything."

"Then tell me what you know." I hissed.

"He collapsed in the hallway." The boy trembled.

That made me pause. "When?"

The boy shook his head. "Not long ago."

"Where is he?"

"The clinic." He stuttered, his voice trembling.

"Why is he there? Do you know that?" I didn’t let go.

The student swallowed nervously. "People are saying something happened with some medication he took."

Oh shit. "What medication?"

"I don’t know."

I tightened my grip slightly. "Don’t waste my time."

The boy looked like he was about to cry. "He was given something. I heard it was poisoned."

For a moment, I couldn’t process the words. "What?"

He immediately shook his head. "I don’t know if it’s true. That’s just what people are saying."

I released him abruptly. "What else?"

The students exchanged nervous looks. "I heard he left the clinic. But no one has seen him since then."

Oh shit. He was in trouble. I needed to find him immediately.

I stepped toward them again. "Listen carefully. You didn’t hear anything from me, and you didn’t tell anyone what you just told me. If I hear that you’ve been spreading this around, I’ll find out who started it."

The student nodded quickly and I looked at all of them. "He’s a Blackthorne. If you value your place here, keep his name out of your mouths."

Nobody argued as I turned and headed toward the clinic.

My thoughts were moving too fast.

If the principal found out Nicholas was an Omega, then there was a chance she had already contacted someone. They had to have found out. If the authorities became involved, they wouldn’t stop at asking why Nicholas had been taking medication. They would start asking questions about his identity, his family and why he’d concealed what he was.

And then Father would find out.

I reached the clinic and pushed through the door. The principal was standing near the nurse’s desk, phone pressed to her ear. "Yes, officer, I’m telling you that he concealed his identity and—"

I crossed the room and took the phone from her hand.

She barely had time to react before I ended the call.

The room went silent as the principal stared at me. "Did you just hang up my phone?"

I placed it on the desk. "Yes."

Her face turned red. "Who do you think you are?"

"I’m Elijah Blackthorne." My voice didn’t waver.

"I know exactly who you are, and that doesn’t give you the right to interfere with an investigation." She hissed.

"What investigation?"

She pointed toward the door. "Your brother has been poisoned, he’s been hiding his identity from this university, and now he’s disappeared from the clinic. I was speaking to the authorities because this situation is beyond what the school can handle."

A frown pulled down at my lips. "You aren’t calling anyone."

She stared at me. "You don’t give me orders."

My expression twisted into irritation. "I do when you’re about to make a mistake that could destroy my brother."

"Your brother lied to this institution."

I shrugged. "He didn’t hurt anyone."

She let out a mirthless laugh. "He concealed the fact that he is an Omega." She shook her head. "He cannot remain enrolled here. You know that."

My expression didn’t change. "I don’t care about his enrollment right now. I care about finding him."

Her expression hardened. "And after that?"

I stepped closer. "After that, you will keep your mouth shut."

She gave a short, disbelieving laugh. "You think you can walk into my clinic, take my phone and threaten me into silence?"

"I don’t think. I’m telling you." Confidence dripped in every word I said.

The look on her face was nothing short of disbelief. "You are in no position to threaten me."

"Are you sure?"

She stopped and I watched her expression carefully.

She knew something. Or perhaps she was simply trying to bluff. Either way, I wasn’t going to back down.

"You won’t call the police," I said. "You won’t call my father. You won’t tell anyone what you learned about Nicholas."

"And what exactly makes you think I’ll listen?"

I stared at her. "Because I know about Professor Daniel."

Her expression changed immediately and I continued before she could interrupt. "I know about the meetings after school hours. I know about the messages you guys sneak around to each other. I know you weren’t meeting him to discuss university business, and I know you weren’t alone with him because you needed help preparing lectures. I know you’ve been sleeping with him."

Her face had gone completely still. "You don’t know what you’re talking about."

I smirked. "I saw you and I have proof."

She swallowed and I continued. "I saw you with him. I didn’t say anything because it wasn’t my business. Whatever relationship you have with him is your problem, but if you decide to make Nicholas’s situation public, I’ll make sure the board learns about it."

Her brows furrowed. "You wouldn’t."

"I would."

She stared at me for a long moment but I didn’t move. Eventually, her shoulders dropped. "You have no idea what you’re asking me to do."

I leaned back upright. "I know exactly what I’m asking."

She looked away. "I won’t call them."

"Good."

She looked back at me. "But I can’t erase what the nurse discovered."

"I didn’t ask you to." I muttered under my breath.

"Then what do you want?"

"I want you to tell anyone who asks that Nicholas left the clinic before you could speak to him. I want you to keep his medical information confidential, and I want you to stay away from my father." I told her plainly.

She hesitated. "Mr. Blackthorne needs to know eventually."

Nodding, I sighed. "Eventually isn’t today."

She looked at me again. "Where is Nicholas? Do you know that?"

I didn’t answer. "I don’t know. Apparently you don’t either."

"Well, maybe before you go berserk on us all, find the boy. Maybe you’d do a better job since you don’t want to involve the police." She hissed.

I ignored the remark and turned toward the door. As I stepped into the hallway, one thought kept repeating in my head.

Nicholas had collapsed after taking medication someone had left for him.

He was an Omega.

And now he was missing.

Oh shit, I needed to find him as soon as possible.