Chapter 4.

Camryn.

As I got dressed for school, my eyes caught the faint red scar on my stomach in the mirror. I stepped closer and ran my fingers over it. I still had no memory of getting it. I stared at it for a moment longer, I tried pushing away the thoughts.

It's just a scar, I told myself. I didn't want to pay much attention to it.

I pulled on my uniform, smoothed my skirt and let my brown hair fall freely over my shoulders.

Another day at wolf school. Great.

It was Friday and thankfully, even at a school full of werewolves, Fridays were still lighter than the rest of the week. Just a few classes.

Once the final bell rang, I grabbed my bag and made my way toward the library.

The library was tucked away at the back of the school. The tall wooden doors creaked as I pushed them open. Inside, the place smelled like dust, old leather and something earthy. The shelves stretched to the ceiling, filled with books that looked like they hadn't been touched in years.

I walked slowly between the rows, running my fingers along the shelves until I found the section on werewolf history. I grabbed a few thick books that looked promising and carried them to a quiet corner table near the window.

The light was soft there, golden and peaceful. I let out a breath and opened the first book, skimming through chapters on bloodlines, first shifts, pack traditions... stuff I probably should have known already.

I'd only read a few pages when someone pulled out the chair across from me.

I looked up and there he was.

Aiden.

Tousled dark hair, cocky smirk and that hint of mischief in his eyes. l

"Fancy seeing you here, little wolf," he said, his voice low and teasing.

"Hey, Aiden," I said, glancing up from my book.

"Hey" He said as he plopped down in the seat opposite me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He leaned back in the chair and stretched. "This is a library, isn't it?"

I gave him a look. "That's not what I meant."

He placed a hand dramatically over his chest. "Ouch. You really shouldn't judge a book by its cover. It hurts, you know."

I laughed a little. "Sorry. I didn't mean it like that."

"Relax," he said, chuckling. "I'm just messing with you, Camryn."

I rolled my eyes. Of course he was.

"Besides, you're not wrong," he added. "I didn't exactly come here to read."

I narrowed my eyes. "So why did you come?"

He smirked, leaning forward slightly. "I was... busy. Then I saw you."

"Busy with what?"

He bit his lip, and my eyes were drawn to his silver lip ring as he toyed with it. "Something."

Then it clicked. My eyes widened. Oh. That kind of "busy."

"You're disgusting," I said, shaking my head.

"I know." He grinned, completely unbothered.

He kept biting his lip and I realized I was still looking. Staring, actually. I blinked and forced myself to look back down at my book. When I glanced up again, he winked.

I coughed, trying to act casual.

Aiden leaned in again, his eyes scanning the stack of books in front of me. "Werewolf history, huh? You going all in?"

"There's a lot I don't know," I admitted. "Figured it was time to understand what I've become."

He paused for a second, then his voice softened. "You haven't become anything, Camryn. You've always been a wolf. Now you're just... waking up to it."

That line sank deep. I didn't know why it hit so hard but it did.

Before I could respond, a girl walked up and whispered something in his ear. He gave me a lazy smile and stood up.

"Well, duty calls," he said, already turning to leave. "See you around, little wolf."

That nickname.

I smirked. "You're disgusting," I mouthed.

"Thank you," he mouthed back, flashing that cocky grin.

I laughed under my breath and shook my head.

Then I returned to my reading. I don't know how long I had been there but I eventually got up and headed back to my dorm room.

----

I had barely dropped my bag on the bed when a knock came at the door.

Heather opened it and rolled her eyes. "For you," she said, not hiding her annoyance.

A younger staff member stood outside. "Camryn Hart? The principal would like to see you."

My stomach dropped. Why would the principal want to see me?

I followed him down the hallway, trying not to imagine worst-case scenarios. What could it possibly be about, I hadn't broken any rules yet.

He stopped at the principal's office. "Go on in. She'll be right with you," he said before walking off.

I stepped in quietly. The office looked the same as the day I first arrived, neat, calm and polished. I sat in the waiting chair just outside her inner office, tapping my foot nervously.

Then I heard it, voices. It was coming from inside the office.

"...I'm telling you, Elaine, you shouldn't have accepted her coming here," a man's voice said. One I didn't recognize.

"I didn't have a choice, she's still one of us." Principal Parker replied.

"Does she even know what she is?" the man asked.

There was a pause.

"No. And she can't. Not yet," the principal said firmly. "The less she knows, the safer she is for now."

I held my breath.

What were they talking about?

Safe from what?

I leaned in a little but the floor creaked under my foot. I froze.

The voices stopped.

The door opened slowly. Principal Parker looked at me, her expression calm but her eyes sharp, like she knew I'd been listening.

"Camryn," she said, stepping fully into the outer office. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

I stood up quickly, pretending like nothing happened. "No problem..."

She gave me a brief smile. "I just wanted to check in on how you're settling. Any concerns?"

"No," I said quickly. "Everything's... fine."

She nodded. "Good. Keep focusing on your training. And remember, this academy is a safe place."

Safe.

Right.

I left the office with more questions than answers.

Chapter 5.

Camryn.

It was dark. The trees were tall and thick around me. My feet pounded against the forest floor as I ran, breathless. I didn't know where I was going. I didn't even know why I was running, only that something was behind me.

Something fast.

Something dangerous.

Branches scratched at my arms and face but I didn't stop. My heart was racing, chest burning. The sound of footsteps or paws, crunched loudly behind me.

Then I tripped.

I hit the ground hard, rolling onto my side. I scrambled to get up but before I could...

I woke up.

Gasping, I sat straight up in bed. My sheets were soaked with sweat and my hair clung to my forehead. My hands trembled as I looked around the dark room.

Just a nightmare.

Just a dream.

Heather groaned from the other side of the room. "Seriously? I'm trying to sleep."

"Sorry," I whispered, my voice still shaky.

She rolled over and didn't say anything else. I didn't blame her, I wouldn't want to be woken up either. But I couldn't shake the feeling from the dream. It had felt so real, like I'd actually been there. Like something had really been chasing me.

I wiped my face with the blanket and lay back down, staring at the ceiling.

Sleep didn't come again.

I stayed like that until morning while my thoughts kept spinning.

When the sun finally came up, I was relieved. It was Saturday. No classes, no training, no fake smiles. I wouldn't have to go to class looking like a zombie.

I dragged myself out of bed and into the bathroom, glancing at my reflection.

I looked like I hadn't slept all week.

And maybe, in a way, I hadn't.

Everything here was strange. The school, The people. There's a lot that doesn't make sense since I got here.

And that dream... it didn't feel like the last one I'd have.

----

Later that day, I decided to go for a run. My thoughts were spinning and I needed to clear my head.

I changed into a white cropped hoodie and black leggings, tied my hair into a loose ponytail and stepped outside. It was quiet-peaceful.

I took off down the path behind the school leading to the forest. The wind brushed against my skin as I jogged. For a moment, it felt like I could breathe again.

Then I noticed someone sitting alone beneath one of the tall trees ahead. From a distance, I couldn't see clearly, but as I jogged closer, the figure became familiar.

Kian.

He sat with his back against the trunk, long legs stretched out in front of him. A book rested in his hands and strands of his dark hair fell across his face. He didn't even look up.

"I can see you watching me," he said quietly, eyes still on the page.

"Oh... sorry," I said, caught off guard. "Hi."

He finally glanced up, his face unreadable as always.

"What are you doing out here?" I asked.

"I could ask you the same thing," he replied without emotion.

I gave a small shrug. "I needed air. This place gets suffocating sometimes."

"This is my quiet spot," he said, tone calm but clear. "And right now, it's not very quiet."

I nodded slowly. "Well... I didn't know. I'll leave you to it."

He nodded slightly, then looked back at his book, clearly not in the mood for small talk.

I turned to go but hadn't taken more than two steps when I heard him again.

"Wait."

I stopped and looked over my shoulder.

He was standing now, staring at me with sharp eyes. He stepped forward, slowly and before I could say anything, he reached for the hem of my hoodie and lifted it slightly.

"Don't touch me," I snapped, slapping his hand away.

"I'm not trying to touch you," he said, voice calm but serious. "I saw something."

I looked down and froze.

The edge of my scar, the small red X on my stomach, had peeked out from under my hoodie.

My heart skipped.

"Oh," I whispered, quickly pulling my hoodie down.

"How did you get that?" Kian asked, eyes now locked on mine.

"I... I don't know," I said quickly.

"You're lying."

"What?" I blinked at him.

"That mark, it's not just a scar. Was it from an attack? Does it burn? Tingle? Do you feel it at night?"

His questions came fast and firm, like he wasn't just guessing. Like he knew something.

I thought about that night in the woods, the shift, the chase, the blood. The memory made my stomach turn. But I couldn't tell him about that.

"No," I said, trying to sound casual. "It's nothing."

Kian didn't believe me. I could see it in his eyes.

"You need to be careful," he said quietly. "If it's what I think it is, they're already watching you. And they'll come."

I took a step back. "What are you talking about? Who's 'they'?"

He didn't answer. Just stood there, staring at me like I was a puzzle he couldn't figure out.

I turned away and started walking. His words followed me.

"They'll find you, Camryn."

I didn't stop.

I didn't look back.

But I couldn't stop the chill that ran down my spine.

What did he mean?

Who was coming?

And what was this scar really?