Aria stared at the forest.
The trees beyond the school field swayed gently in the wind, their dark green branches whispering against each other. From a distance, everything looked normal.
Too normal.
Yet the uneasy feeling crawling under her skin refused to go away.
She squinted slightly, trying to see deeper between the tall trunks.
"Aria?"
Maya's voice snapped her attention back.
"You coming?" Maya asked, already halfway toward the building.
Aria hesitated a moment longer before turning away from the forest.
"Yeah," she said quickly, jogging to catch up.
But even as she followed Maya back inside the school, her instincts kept whispering that something wasn't right.
Someone had been watching her.
She was sure of it.
—
The rest of the morning passed in a blur.
Math class.
History.
Biology.
Aria barely absorbed anything the teachers said. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the strange voice in her head and the unsettling feeling she had when looking at the forest.
And Kael.
She hated how often her mind returned to him.
The way his golden eyes had locked onto hers.
The strange heat that spread through her chest every time he got close.
And the way he had told her to leave town.
"You need to leave Blackridge."
Why?
What did he know that she didn't?
By lunchtime, Aria felt mentally exhausted.
She sat across from Maya at one of the cafeteria tables, pushing her food around with a fork.
"You're really quiet today," Maya said.
"Just tired."
"First day nerves?"
"Something like that."
Maya leaned back in her chair and glanced around the cafeteria.
The room was loud and crowded, filled with conversations and laughter.
But something interesting happened as soon as Kael walked in.
The noise dropped slightly.
Not completely silent—but quieter.
Like people instinctively lowered their voices when he was nearby.
Aria noticed it immediately.
Kael entered with Rowan and Marcus behind him.
Students subtly moved aside as the three of them walked through the cafeteria.
Aria frowned.
"They act like he's royalty or something."
Maya followed her gaze.
"Well… his family is kind of a big deal here."
"You said that earlier, but what does that actually mean?"
Maya shrugged.
"They've been in Blackridge for generations. People trust them."
"That still doesn't explain why everyone looks terrified of him."
Maya didn't answer right away.
Her expression shifted slightly, like she was debating whether to say something.
But before she could respond—
Aria felt it again.
That strange burning warmth in her chest.
Her heart skipped.
Across the cafeteria, Kael had stopped walking.
He was looking directly at her.
Aria quickly looked down at her tray.
"Great," she muttered.
Maya raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"He's staring again."
Maya turned her head slightly.
"Oh."
"Oh?"
"Oh."
"That's your explanation?"
Maya leaned closer.
"You might want to get used to it."
"Why?"
"Because Kael Draven has never looked at anyone like that before."
Aria groaned quietly.
"That's not comforting."
Maya laughed.
"Relax. He probably just thinks you're interesting."
Aria wasn't sure if that made her feel better or worse.
Because every time Kael looked at her, something inside her chest reacted.
Something alive.
Something that felt… connected to him.
And that terrified her.
—
Across the cafeteria, Kael stood still.
His wolf was restless again.
Mate.
The word pulsed through his mind like a drumbeat.
But something was wrong.
Her scent was stronger today.
More powerful.
Like whatever had been sleeping inside her was slowly waking up.
Rowan leaned slightly toward him.
"You're staring again."
Kael ignored the comment.
"She feels it too."
Marcus folded his arms.
"You mean the bond?"
"Yes."
Rowan exhaled slowly.
"That's not good."
Kael's jaw tightened.
"No. It's not."
Because if Aria truly was his mate—and her wolf had been sealed somehow—then the awakening process could be unpredictable.
Dangerous.
And if the rogues he had scented earlier were really hunting her…
Time was running out.
—
The final school bell rang in the afternoon.
Students poured out of the building, filling the sidewalks and streets with noise.
Aria walked with Maya toward the front gate.
"You'll survive your first day," Maya said.
"Barely."
"Tomorrow will be easier."
Aria hoped she was right.
They stopped near the sidewalk where their paths split.
"My house is that way," Maya said, pointing toward the town square.
Aria nodded toward Pine Street.
"Mine's over there."
"See you tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
Maya smiled and headed down the road.
Aria began walking alone.
The town felt different in the late afternoon. The sun hung low behind the mountains, casting long shadows across the streets.
The forest surrounding Blackridge looked darker now.
Thicker.
More mysterious.
Aria shoved her hands into her jacket pockets as she walked.
That strange feeling returned again.
The same one she felt earlier.
Like eyes were watching her.
She slowed slightly.
Her ears picked up something unusual.
Footsteps.
Soft.
Careful.
Behind her.
Aria's heart began to beat faster.
She glanced over her shoulder.
No one.
But the sound had been real.
She was sure of it.
Her instincts screamed louder now.
Run.
The wolf's voice whispered urgently in her mind.
Don't stop.
Aria quickened her pace.
The footsteps behind her quickened too.
Her stomach dropped.
"Okay… that's not good."
She turned onto Pine Street.
Her house was only a few blocks away.
Just a little farther.
The footsteps were definitely closer now.
Too close.
Aria spun around.
"Who's there?"
Silence.
Then—
A figure stepped out from behind a parked car.
A man.
But something about him was… wrong.
His posture was slightly hunched.
His eyes glowed faintly yellow.
And when he smiled—
His teeth looked too sharp.
"Well," the man said slowly, his voice rough.
"Looks like we found her."
Aria's stomach dropped.
"Found who?"
The man inhaled deeply.
His smile widened.
"You."
Suddenly two more figures stepped out from the shadows behind him.
All three of them stared at her like predators circling prey.
The wolf inside Aria growled loudly in her mind.
Rogues.
Aria's pulse pounded.
"What does that mean?" she whispered.
The first man cracked his neck.
"It means," he said calmly, "you're coming with us."
Aria took a step back.
"No."
The man laughed.
"You don't really have a choice."
But the moment he stepped toward her—
A powerful growl echoed down the street.
Every rogue froze.
A blur of dark movement appeared between Aria and the men.
And when the figure straightened—
Kael stood there.
His golden eyes burned with pure fury.
And his voice dropped into a deadly warning.
"Touch her," he said quietly.
"And you die."