Ronan POVLaughter rippled through the cafeteria, sharp and cruel.I barely heard it.I was watching her.Raine stood there, tray clenched so tightly in her hands that her knuckles turned white. But it wasnโt fear. Not this time.No, something shifted in her.I saw it in the way her shoulders squared, in the fire burning in her eyes, in the way she was looking at meโnot with the usual resentment or exhaustion, but with something dangerous.Something that made my wolf stir.A deep growl curled through my mind, a sound of interest, of approval.โSheโs done running,โ my wolf rumbled, ears perked forward, watching her as if she were prey that had finally decided to fight back.I forced my smirk to stay in place, feigning boredom. โWhat is?โI expected her to waver. To hesitate.She didnโt.โYou,โ she said, letting the word slice through the air like a blade.Something inside me twitched.My wolf growled, but not at her. At me.โYou pushed her too far.โShut up, I snapped at him, locking m
Raine POVThe moment I stepped out of the cafeteria, my lungs expanded like I had been suffocating inside. The weight of all those stares, all those whispersโit was still there, but at least I wasnโt in the middle of it anymore.Lena walked beside me, her grip tight on my wrist before she finally let go. โHoly shit, Raine.โ Her voice was breathless, half in awe, half in disbelief. โWhere the hell did that come from?โI swallowed, still feeling the pulse of adrenaline in my veins. โI donโt know.โโAre you kidding?โ She gave me a little shove. โThat was the most satisfying thing Iโve ever seen in my life. You made Ava shut up. You made Ronan shut up.โI wasnโt sure if that was a good thing. Ronan was unpredictable. He didnโt like losing, and thatโwhatever just happened in thereโwas a loss.The hallway wasnโt as crowded as usual, but I could still feel eyes on me. Some students were murmuring, casting side glances like I had just grown fangs and claws right in front of them.I should hav
The night was restless.Bloodmoon was always eerily quiet after dark, but tonight, the silence felt wrong. Thick, suffocating. Even the wind held its breath.I didn't sleep. I couldn't.Maybe it was the lingering rage from earlier, the way Mr. Calloway had dismissed me like I was nothing. Maybe it was Ronan's smug smirk, the knowledge that no matter what he did, no one would hold him accountable.Or maybe it was the way the air felt.Like something was waiting.Lena had tried to make me laugh before we parted ways after school, but even she seemed unsettled. Her usual fire had dimmed, her shoulders tense as she muttered, "Something's off."She was right.I just didn't know how right she was-yet.I was just starting to drift off when it happened.The first scream.It cut through the night like a blade, high-pitched and raw.My body went rigid, adrenaline slamming through my veins as I shot upright in bed.Then another. And another.My heart pounded. What the hell?I threw off my blanke
Ronan povThe scent of blood clung to the air.No matter how many warriors scrubbed the earth or how many torches burned, it lingeredโthick, metallic, and wrong.Even after the bodies were taken away, after the flames turned flesh to ash, the pack still felt tainted.I stood near the center of the war room, my arms crossed, my body rigid with tension. My wolf paced inside me, growling low and deep. He was angry.Noโhe was terrified.I clenched my fists. I hadnโt felt fear in yearsโnot like this. I had trained for battle since I was a kid, sparred with warriors twice my size, faced down rogues without blinking. But tonightโฆThat thing.It wasnโt a wolf.Not entirely.And it had been watching her.I exhaled sharply, shoving the thought away just as the heavy doors to the war room swung open.Alpha Killian entered first, his face stone-cold, his usual calm sharpened to something lethal. His presence dominated the room, every movement precise, controlled. But his eyesโthey burned with the
Ronan pov The night air was crisp, the scent of damp earth thick after the eveningโs storm. I moved silently through the shadows, my paws pressing into the soft dirt as I padded through the dense forest that bordered Raineโs house.My wolf had been restless all night. The meeting had ended hours ago, but no matter how much I tried to ignore it, the instinct still burned deep in my bonesโI had to see her.I had to make sure she was safe.I had to breathe in her scent, see her chest rise and fall with sleep, confirm that nothing had taken her away from me while my guard was down.Pathetic.I clenched my jaw, shaking the thought away as I emerged from the trees, stopping just within the shadows at the edge of her home.The house was dark except for the faint glow of a lamp from her bedroom window. I lowered myself to the ground, ears twitching, watching.Just one look. That was all. Then Iโd leave.Except my wolf wasnโt satisfied with just watching.I didnโt realize I had moved closer u
Raine's POV I slammed my window shut with more force than necessary, the glass rattling in its frame. My breath came in sharp, uneven gasps, my hands trembling at my sides. I hated him. God, I hated him. It should've been impossible for a person to feel this much rage without bursting apart. My chest burned, my skin was hot, and my mind spun with too many emotions to contain. Why? Why was he like this? Ronan had stood beneath my window like a ghost haunting the night, his dark fur blending with the shadows. For a second-just a second-my heart had stilled at the sight of him. He hadn't moved, hadn't made a sound, just watched me with those piercing golden eyes, the same eyes that had always been filled with malice. And then, like the absolute bastard he was, he had shifted-just to mock me, to tear me apart all over again. "Do you think I care enough to check up on you?" His voice had been so cold, so sharp it could've sliced through steel. "You're being delusional." I clench
Raine povSleep had been a lost cause. Every time I drifted off, flashes of last night came backโshadows stretching between the trees, the low growl that curled around my spine.I woke up tangled in my sheets, the early light creeping through my window. My limbs were stiff, heavy with exhaustion, but I forced myself up. Staying in bed meant risking my mother barging in, and after last nightโs argument, I wasnโt in the mood for another round of her bickering.Moving quietly, I slipped out of my room, careful to avoid the floorboards that creaked. The house was silent, my mother and sister still asleep. By the time I stepped outside, the cold morning air helped shake off the last remnants of my restless night. But something else clung to meโa strange, lingering awareness I couldnโt shake.Halfway to school, I felt itA Presence That Should Terrify MeโBut Doesn't.A prickle at the back of my neck. The heavy weight of a stare pressing between my shoulder blades.I didnโt turn around.My
Ronanโs POVSleep didnโt come easily last night.Not when my wolf was restless, pacing inside me, growling in frustration. He wanted to be near her. He wanted to protect her. And no matter how much I tried to shove him down, to fight the pull, I found myself outside before the sun had even fully risen.Watching.Waiting.Her house stood quiet, the sky still dusted with the last traces of night. A single light flickered on from inside, and a moment later, I caught the faint sound of movement.She was awake.My wolf let out a satisfied rumble, but I ignored him, staying in the shadows as I waited. The front door finally opened, and Raine stepped out, shoulders tense, moving cautiously. She kept her head down, her eyes scanning the street as if she expected something to jump out at her.She should be afraid.Something had been out there last night. And if I hadnโt been soโstupid, I couldโveโI clenched my fists, pushing the thought away.Instead, I stayed out of sight, my steps silent as
Raineโs POVโThat prick,โ I muttered under my breath, kicking a loose rock as Lena and I made our way back to town. "I swear, I like him better in his wolf form."Lena snorted, giving me a knowing look. โYou know, you might be the only person who thinks that.โI rolled my eyes. โThatโs because youโre all blind. Heโs just a big, arrogant mutt.โโMm-hmm.โ She hummed, smirking. โA mutt that seems to be softening toward you.โโIn your dreams.โโHis wolf definitely adores you.โโShut up.โWe continued walking, but I could feel itโRonanโs presence behind us. He wasnโt even trying to hide the fact that he was following. His footsteps were too measured, too calculated. I refused to turn around, but the weight of his gaze pressed against my back like a tangible force.What the hell was his problem? One minute, he was my tormentor, the next, my shadow.When we reached the outskirts of the forest, my stomach dropped. Bad luck must have been written all over me tonight because standing there, lea
Ronanโs POVSomething is wrong.My wolf is restless, pacing in my mind like a caged beast. My heartbeat pounds like war drums, fast and erratic, as if Iโve just run for miles. A sick, sinking feeling settles in my stomach."Raine is in danger," my wolf growls, the words laced with fury and desperation.I try to fight him, to keep control, but I know itโs pointless. My wolf is stronger when it comes to her. He wonโt stop. He wonโt let me ignore this.The shift takes over before I can stop it, my bones breaking, rearranging, my senses sharpening like a blade. The moment my paws hit the earth, I bolt, running toward the forest with one thought pounding in my head.Find her. Protect her.The scent hits me before I even reach the treesโhers. But itโs laced with something that makes my vision blur with rage.Fear.Itโs thick, suffocating.And sheโs not alone.Lena Monroe is with her. But thereโs something else. Something dark. Something is wrong."The creatures," my wolf snarls.Those creat
Raine povThe forest felt alive in the worst way.A slow, crawling sensation prickled along my skin as I locked eyes with the glowing red orbs in the darkness. A deep, guttural sound rumbled from the shadowsโnot quite a growl, not quite a snarl.It was something else.Something unnatural.My pulse hammered against my ribs, my breath shallow as my fingers twitched at my sides. Every instinct screamed at me to run.But I couldnโt.Lena was frozen beside me, her breathing sharp, barely audible. I knew she felt it tooโthe wrongness.The thing in the shadows took a step forward, and the weight in the air doubled. My muscles tensed, like something unseen was pressing down on me, pinning me in place.โWhat the hell is that?โ Lena whispered, her voice tight.I didnโt answer.I couldnโt.Because , I felt like prey. And that thing is my predator.The creatureโwhatever it wasโdidnโt fully emerge. It lingered in the darkness, just out of reach of the moonlight filtering through the trees. But I c
Raine POVThe night air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine as Lena and I slipped through the trees, our footsteps barely making a sound against the forest floor.It had been a battle just to get out of the house unnoticed. Brielle had been lurking in every damn corner, watching me like a hawk, waiting for me to slip up. But I hadnโt. I knew how to move quietly. How to disappear when I needed to.And now, here we wereโback in the woods where the attack had happened.Where I had been the night before.A shiver crawled down my spine.Lena moved beside me, her sharp gaze scanning the darkness. โAlright,โ she whispered. โWe find clues, figure out what the hell happened, and then get the hell out of here before anyone realizes weโre gone.โI nodded, but my stomach churned uneasily. This wasnโt just about figuring out what attacked the town.This was about what had happened to me.The strange pull. The way my body had felt... different.But I wasnโt ready to say that out loud. N
Raine povThe walk home with Lena was quieter than usual. The weight of the morningโs events still pressed heavily on my chestโthe announcement of the attack, the unease that had settled over the town, and the way Ronan had watched me like โฆ.I didnโt want to think about him, though. I didnโt want to think about how his presence haunted my every step or how his heated gaze left something unfamiliar curling inside me.Instead, I focused on something else. Something darker.The thing that had attacked the town. And the fact that I had been right there when it happened."Okay," Lena finally said, breaking the silence. "We need a plan."I glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "A plan?""Yes," she said firmly, tucking a loose strand of dark hair behind her ear. "Something attacked the town last night. We both know it wasnโt a rogue. And youโ" she turned, jabbing a finger at me, "โwere in those woods when it happened. If we donโt figure this out now, weโll be stuck waiting for something wors
Ronanโs POVSleep didnโt come easily last night.Not when my wolf was restless, pacing inside me, growling in frustration. He wanted to be near her. He wanted to protect her. And no matter how much I tried to shove him down, to fight the pull, I found myself outside before the sun had even fully risen.Watching.Waiting.Her house stood quiet, the sky still dusted with the last traces of night. A single light flickered on from inside, and a moment later, I caught the faint sound of movement.She was awake.My wolf let out a satisfied rumble, but I ignored him, staying in the shadows as I waited. The front door finally opened, and Raine stepped out, shoulders tense, moving cautiously. She kept her head down, her eyes scanning the street as if she expected something to jump out at her.She should be afraid.Something had been out there last night. And if I hadnโt been soโstupid, I couldโveโI clenched my fists, pushing the thought away.Instead, I stayed out of sight, my steps silent as
Raine povSleep had been a lost cause. Every time I drifted off, flashes of last night came backโshadows stretching between the trees, the low growl that curled around my spine.I woke up tangled in my sheets, the early light creeping through my window. My limbs were stiff, heavy with exhaustion, but I forced myself up. Staying in bed meant risking my mother barging in, and after last nightโs argument, I wasnโt in the mood for another round of her bickering.Moving quietly, I slipped out of my room, careful to avoid the floorboards that creaked. The house was silent, my mother and sister still asleep. By the time I stepped outside, the cold morning air helped shake off the last remnants of my restless night. But something else clung to meโa strange, lingering awareness I couldnโt shake.Halfway to school, I felt itA Presence That Should Terrify MeโBut Doesn't.A prickle at the back of my neck. The heavy weight of a stare pressing between my shoulder blades.I didnโt turn around.My
Raine's POV I slammed my window shut with more force than necessary, the glass rattling in its frame. My breath came in sharp, uneven gasps, my hands trembling at my sides. I hated him. God, I hated him. It should've been impossible for a person to feel this much rage without bursting apart. My chest burned, my skin was hot, and my mind spun with too many emotions to contain. Why? Why was he like this? Ronan had stood beneath my window like a ghost haunting the night, his dark fur blending with the shadows. For a second-just a second-my heart had stilled at the sight of him. He hadn't moved, hadn't made a sound, just watched me with those piercing golden eyes, the same eyes that had always been filled with malice. And then, like the absolute bastard he was, he had shifted-just to mock me, to tear me apart all over again. "Do you think I care enough to check up on you?" His voice had been so cold, so sharp it could've sliced through steel. "You're being delusional." I clench
Ronan pov The night air was crisp, the scent of damp earth thick after the eveningโs storm. I moved silently through the shadows, my paws pressing into the soft dirt as I padded through the dense forest that bordered Raineโs house.My wolf had been restless all night. The meeting had ended hours ago, but no matter how much I tried to ignore it, the instinct still burned deep in my bonesโI had to see her.I had to make sure she was safe.I had to breathe in her scent, see her chest rise and fall with sleep, confirm that nothing had taken her away from me while my guard was down.Pathetic.I clenched my jaw, shaking the thought away as I emerged from the trees, stopping just within the shadows at the edge of her home.The house was dark except for the faint glow of a lamp from her bedroom window. I lowered myself to the ground, ears twitching, watching.Just one look. That was all. Then Iโd leave.Except my wolf wasnโt satisfied with just watching.I didnโt realize I had moved closer u