CHAPTER ONE

Daciana's P.O.V

I stepped out of the car and onto the school grounds, ready to begin my new life at Colben high school. My heart was pounding in my chest, and my hands were trembling with nervousness. This was my chance to get close to the Donovan family, and I couldn't afford to mess it up.

As I walked towards the school building, I noticed a group of students standing near the entrance. They were laughing and chatting, their voices echoing across the empty campus. I took a deep breath and approached them, trying to blend in with the crowd.

The first person I met was Dany Donovan, a lanky, bespectacled teenager with an awkward gait. He was fumbling with his books, his face buried in his backpack, when I accidentally bumped into him. "Sorry," I muttered, trying to sound friendly.

Dany looked up at me, his eyes widening in surprise. "Oh, hi," he stammered. "You're new here, right?"

I nodded, my heart racing. "Yeah, I just transferred from another school."

Dany smiled, his face lighting up with excitement. "That's so cool! I'm Dany, by the way. Dany Donovan."

I introduced myself, trying to sound confident. "I'm Daciana. Nice to meet you."

We chatted for a few minutes, and I learned that Dany was a bit of a geek, obsessed with video games and comic books. He seemed harmless enough, but I couldn't trust him completely. After all, he was a Donovan, and they were the ones I was here to spy on.

As I was about to leave, I heard a loud cheer from across the courtyard. I turned my head and saw a group of cheerleaders waving pom-poms and shouting at the top of their lungs. They were led by a stunning girl with long, curly hair and sparkling blue eyes.

Sana Donovan.

I recognized her instantly, having done my homework on the Donovan family before enrolling at the school. Sana was the most popular girl in Colben high, adored by everyone for her beauty and charm. But I'm certain behind that façade lay a deadly secret, one that could lead me to the truth about my parents' killers.

I watched as Sana and her friends walked past me, their giggles and whispers filling my ears. I tried to ignore them, but Sana caught my eye and smiled. "Hey, new girl," she said, her voice laced with sweetness. "Welcome to our school. Hope you have a good time here."

I nodded, feeling a sense of unease. Sana's smile was too perfect, too rehearsed. She was hiding something, something that could destroy me if I wasn't careful.

As I walked towards my first class, I saw him.

Elan Donovan.

He was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, his dark eyes fixed on me. He was the bad boy of Colben high, the one everyone warned me to stay away from. But I couldn't help feeling drawn to him, his raw magnetism and dangerous aura calling out to me.

I walked past him, trying not to stare. But as I did, I felt his hand brush against mine, his fingers trailing down my skin. I gasped, my heart racing. Elan smiled, a wicked grin on his lips. "See you around, new girl," he said, before turning and walking away.

I stood there, my mind whirling with thoughts. Elan Donovan had just touched me, and I had felt a surge of electricity coursing through my veins. What did it mean? Was he trying to seduce me, or was it a warning to stay away from him? I couldn't be sure, I had to find out more about him if I wanted to get to the truth about my parents' killers.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I attended classes, met new people, and tried to blend in with the crowd. But my mind was always on the Donovan family, on the werewolves, and the black hounds. I had to be careful, to tread lightly around them, or else my cover would be blown.

As the final bell rang, I gathered my things and headed towards the exit. But before I could leave, I heard a voice behind me.

"Hey, new girl," Elan said, stepping in front of me. "What's your hurry? We haven't even had a chance to talk yet."

I swallowed hard, feeling a mix of fear and excitement. Elan was standing so close to me that I could feel his breath on my skin. His eyes were dark and intense, his body radiating power and danger.

"I'm...I'm just heading home," I stammered, trying to sound casual.

Elan smirked, his lips curling into a sneer. "Home, huh? Where's that? Some secret hideaway where you keep your weapons?"

I froze, my heart racing. How did he know?

Elan laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Relax, new girl. I'm just messing with you. But I can tell that you're not like the other students here. You've got something...special about you."

I raised an eyebrow, feeling a surge of suspicion. "What do you mean?"

Elan leaned in, his voice low and seductive. "I mean, you're not just here for school. You've got another agenda, something bigger than just getting good grades. And I think I know what it is."

I felt a chill run down my spine. Elan was onto me, and I had to think fast. "I don't know what you're talking about," I said, trying to sound convincing.

Elan chuckled, his hand reaching out to touch my cheek. I flinched, but he didn't stop. "Don't worry, new girl. Your secret's safe with me...for now."

He leaned in for a kiss, and I backed away, my mind racing. I had to get out of there, to escape before it was too late.

But as I turned to leave, I felt a sudden jolt of pain, like something sharp had pierced my skin. I looked down and saw a dart sticking out of my arm, a faint green liquid oozing from the tip.

Elan grinned, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Gotcha," he said, before I collapsed to the ground, my world going dark.

I woke up in a dark room, my head pounding with pain. I tried to move, but my arms and legs were bound, my body strapped to a cold metal table. I looked around, trying to make sense of where I was.

And then I saw the werewolves. Led by the Donovan siblings.

They were watching me, their faces cold and impassive. Sana, Dany, Elan...they were all there, their eyes fixed on me with a mix of curiosity and malice.

"What do you want from me?" I managed to say, my voice barely a whisper.

Elan stepped forward, his eyes glinting with amusement.

 "We want to know why you're here, new girl. Why have you been snooping around, asking questions about the werewolves?

 We want to know who sent you, and what your real agenda is."

I swallowed hard, feeling a surge of fear. I had to come up with a convincing story, or else I would be dead.

"I...I don't know what you're talking about," I said, trying to sound innocent. "I'm just a new student, trying to make friends. I don't have any hidden agenda."

Elan laughed, his eyes flickering with amusement. " We're not stupid. You are a werewolf. What I want to know is what you are doing outside your pack. Who sent you here?"

I closed my eyes, feeling a surge of despair. I was trapped, and there was no way out of this.

"No one sent me. I've never belonged to any pack. I swear, I'm not spying on you. I'm just trying to find out about my kind." 

Elan's P.O.V

I watched as Daciana's face contorted with fear and suspicion. She was a tough one, that much was clear. But I could see the fear in her eyes, the uncertainty that was eating away at her.

"You know nothing about me," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

I smirked, taking a step closer to her. "Oh, but I do. I know that you're not just here to study. You're here for a reason, and that reason has something to do with the Donovan family."

I signaled to the rest of the pack to leave. I was the stand in alpha for my father, so my word is as powerful as my dad's.

Daciana tensed up, her hands clenched into fists. "I don't know what you're talking about," she spat.

I chuckled, enjoying the game we were playing. "Don't worry, new girl. I won't blow your cover...yet. But I want something in return."

Daciana raised an eyebrow, her face a mask of suspicion. "What do you want?"

I leaned in, my lips brushing against her ear. "I want to know your secret. I want to know why you're really here."

Daciana's eyes flashed with anger. "I don't have to tell you anything."

I grinned, feeling a thrill of excitement. Daciana was a fighter, and I liked that about her. But I also knew that she was hiding something, something that could put the Donovan family in danger.

"Suit yourself," I said, taking a step back. "But you should know that the Donovans have a way of finding out things. And if they do, I can't guarantee your safety."

Daciana stiffened, her eyes widening in fear. "What do you mean?"

I shrugged, playing it cool. "Just a friendly warning. You might want to be careful who you trust around here."

With that, I untied her from the chair, turned and walked away, leaving Daciana standing alone in the empty room. 

As I walked down the hallway, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching me from behind. I turned around to face the noise, but before I could react, a sharp blow to the back of my head sent me crashing to the ground. 

As I struggled to get up, I saw Daciana standing over me with a wicked smile on her face. "You should have taken your own advice," she hissed, before everything went dark.