Chapter 8 : The Wolf Among Us

Elena’s Point of View

A week had passed, but Elena still couldn’t shake the thought of Ren. His presence lingered in her mind like a melody she couldn’t forget, replaying in the quiet moments when she let her guard down.

She had tried everything to distract herself - grading papers, catching up on her own research, even spending an evening binge-watching her favorite series with Sara. But no matter what she did, her thoughts kept circling back to him.

The way he had looked at her with those intense amber eyes, the way his voice had wrapped around her like a velvet ribbon, the way he had seemed to fill the entire lecture hall with his presence. She barely knew him, yet he had unsettled her in a way she couldn’t explain.

Will I ever see him again?

The thought sent a jolt of anticipation and uncertainty through her. Part of her hoped he’d appear again, while another part feared what that might mean. He was a mystery - a handsome, enigmatic stranger who had somehow become the center of her restless curiosity.

“Focus, Elena,” she muttered to herself as she gathered her notes for the seminar. Today’s topic was one she was particularly excited about: shifters in comparative mythology. The stories of beings who could transform - wolves, bears, birds, even seals - had fascinated her for years, and she’d spent countless hours poring over ancient texts and folklore to understand their significance.

She smoothed her blouse, checked her satchel one last time, and headed to the seminar room. The university had provided a larger space for today’s session, anticipating a good turnout for the niche but intriguing topic. As she stepped into the room, she felt the familiar buzz of pre-lecture excitement, the hum of students chatting as they settled into their seats.

Elena placed her materials on the desk, arranging her notes and cue cards with care. She glanced at the clock - ten minutes until they began. The room was almost full, and a few stragglers were still filing in.

Then she saw him.

Her breath caught as Ren stepped through the door, his tall frame immediately drawing her attention. He was dressed casually, in dark jeans and a fitted shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders, but there was nothing casual about the way he carried himself. His gaze swept the room before landing on her, and for a moment, time seemed to stop.

He’s here.

Her pulse quickened as he moved toward the back of the room, taking a seat near the edge. He didn’t acknowledge her directly, but the slight quirk of his lips - a subtle, knowing smile - sent a wave of heat rushing to her cheeks.

Elena turned quickly back to her notes, willing herself to focus. She couldn’t afford to stumble now, not in front of her students or him.

The seminar began smoothly enough. Elena introduced the topic with confidence, her voice steady as she explained the common themes in shifter mythology across different cultures.

“In Norse mythology,” she said, gesturing to an image on the screen behind her, “we see the concept of the berserker - warriors who would take on the spirit of the wolf or bear, channeling their ferocity in battle. The term itself comes from Old Norse, meaning ‘bear-shirt,’ referring to their animalistic transformation.”

She moved through her slides, discussing Native American legends of skinwalkers, Celtic tales of selkies, and the enduring symbolism of wolves in folklore. The students were engaged, asking thoughtful questions and jotting down notes.

But every time she glanced toward the back of the room, her focus wavered. Ren’s presence was impossible to ignore. He sat quietly, his amber eyes fixed on her, his expression unreadable. He wasn’t taking notes, nor did he appear to be here out of casual interest. He was watching her - intently, unrelentingly.

It unnerved her. And yet, it thrilled her.

She pressed on, her voice faltering only once when their eyes met for a brief, electrifying moment. She recovered quickly, though her heart continued to race for the rest of the lecture.

As the seminar ended, the students filed out in groups, their conversations buzzing with excitement. Elena answered a few lingering questions, her mind half-focused on the students in front of her and half on the man still seated in the back row.

When the last student left, Ren stood, his movements slow and deliberate. He approached her desk, his presence commanding as ever, and stopped just a few feet away.

“Professor Thompson,” he said, his voice warm and smooth. “That was fascinating. Your passion for the subject is… impressive.”

Elena swallowed, her pulse quickening. “Thank you,” she said, her voice steadier than she expected. “I didn’t think this topic would appeal to many people outside the field.”

“It does when you present it,” he replied, his lips curving into a faint smile.

Her cheeks flushed, and she busied herself with gathering her notes. “What brings you here?” she asked, trying to keep her tone casual.

“I’m interested in mythology,” he said simply, though there was a hint of something deeper in his tone. “Particularly in the way it reflects the human experience.”

Elena tilted her head, intrigued despite herself. “That’s an unusual perspective. Most people focus on the fantastical elements.”

Ren’s smile widened slightly. “The fantastical is often rooted in truth, don’t you think?”

Her breath caught at the weight of his words, the way his gaze seemed to pierce through her. For a moment, she felt as though he was speaking about something far more personal, far more profound, than the seminar topic.

“I suppose it is,” she said softly, her mind racing.

There was a brief, charged silence before he spoke again. “Thank you for the lecture, Elena,” he said, his voice low. “It was… enlightening.”

He turned to leave, but she found herself speaking before she could stop herself. “Will you come again?”

He paused, glancing back at her with a small, knowing smile. “Perhaps.”

And then he was gone, leaving her standing alone in the empty room, her heart pounding and her mind spinning with questions.

Who are you, Ren?