Chapter Three: The line wolf

Ryan had already prepared himself for rejection, but knowing it was coming didn’t make hearing the words any easier. He sat alone on the wooden bench outside Silvercrest High, his elbows resting against his knees as he stared at the empty courtyard. Most of the students had already gone home, leaving behind scattered leaves and the distant sound of traffic beyond the school gates. The golden rays of the setting sun stretched across the pavement, casting long shadows beneath the towering trees, while a cool evening breeze brushed against his face. Every few seconds, Ryan’s eyes drifted toward the entrance, silently hoping Betty would appear with a smile and tell him everything had worked out. Deep down, however, he already knew that wouldn’t happen. Jackson had looked at him with distrust from the moment they met, and Ryan couldn’t understand why today would be any different.

His fingers tightened around the edge of the bench when hurried footsteps suddenly echoed across the courtyard. Ryan lifted his head, and for one brief second, hope flashed through his gray eyes. But the moment Betty came into view, that hope began to fade. Her shoulders were slumped, her breathing was uneven, and guilt filled her brown eyes. She didn’t need to explain anything. Ryan could read the answer on her face before she even reached him. He lowered his gaze and released a quiet breath, refusing to make her say what he already knew. He refused, didn’t he? Ryan asked quietly, his voice calm despite the disappointment tightening around his chest. Betty stopped a few feet away, her lips parting as she struggled to respond. After a moment, she clasped her hands together and nodded slowly. I’m sorry, Ryan. I tried. I really did. Her voice trembled as she stepped closer. I begged him to at least give you a chance, but he wouldn’t listen.

Ryan’s jaw tightened, but he quickly forced the tension from his face. He looked toward the setting sun and gave a small shrug, pretending the answer didn’t hurt. It’s okay, he replied, his voice remaining calm although the slight crack beneath his words betrayed him. I wasn’t expecting a different answer. Betty’s eyebrows pulled together as she shook her head. No, it isn’t okay. She dropped onto the bench beside him, turning toward him with frustration burning in her eyes. Jackson made up his mind before I even finished explaining. He kept calling you dangerous, saying bringing a rogue into the pack would put everyone at risk. He wouldn’t even listen to your side.

Ryan rubbed his palms together, his thumbs moving restlessly across his skin as he stared at the ground. A dry laugh escaped him before he shook his head. He’s not the first Alpha to think that, he admitted quietly. Most Alphas see a rogue and assume the worst. They don’t care who you are. They only care that you don’t belong. His words were quiet, but they carried years of pain, and Betty could hear it clearly. She studied him closely, noticing the things other people always overlooked—the way his shoulders dropped whenever he was disappointed, the faint smile he used whenever he wanted someone to believe he was fine, and the sadness that appeared in his gray eyes whenever he thought no one was watching. You deserve better than this, she whispered, her voice softening as she reached toward him.

Ryan turned toward her, and a fragile smile touched his lips. Maybe, he murmured, looking away again. But life doesn’t always give people what they deserve. Betty’s chest tightened at his response, and for several moments, neither of them spoke. The evening breeze swept through the courtyard, sending dry leaves skittering across the pavement. Ryan leaned back against the bench and looked toward the darkening sky. Somewhere deep inside him, an old longing stirred—the desire he had buried years ago. He had always dreamed of belonging to a pack, not because he needed protection, but because he wanted somewhere he could finally call home. He wanted wolves who would stand beside him, people who would know his name without fearing what he was, and a place where he didn’t have to spend every day pretending to be ordinary. For years, he had convinced himself that the dream was childish, yet sitting there beside Betty, he realized a small part of him still believed it could come true.

I’ll find another pack someday, he finally murmured, his voice steady despite the sadness beneath it. Betty immediately turned toward him, her eyes searching his face. If Jackson doesn’t want me, maybe another Alpha will, Ryan continued, forcing a faint smile. Betty’s expression softened as she looked at him. Whoever gives you that chance will be lucky to have you, she replied without hesitation. Ryan chuckled softly and shook his head. I think you’re the only person who believes that. Then everyone else is blind, Betty answered, her voice firm enough to leave no room for argument.

Her answer caught him completely off guard. Ryan stared at her for several seconds before a genuine smile finally appeared. This time, there was no sadness hiding behind it. The smile reached his eyes, making him look younger and almost carefree. Betty smiled in return, relieved to see even a small piece of happiness return to his face. Without thinking, she reached for his hand and gently slipped her fingers between his. Ryan immediately stiffened, his eyes dropping to their intertwined hands. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had held his hand without fear or hesitation. The simple warmth of Betty’s touch spread through him, easing something inside his chest that he hadn’t realized was hurting.

You don’t have to face everything alone anymore, Betty whispered, her thumb gently brushing across his knuckles. Whether you have a pack or not, you’ll always have me. Ryan slowly lifted his gaze to hers, his throat tightening as emotion gathered behind his eyes. For once, he couldn’t find the right words. He wanted to make a joke, brush off the emotion, or pretend her words didn’t affect him, but his voice refused to cooperate. Instead, he gently squeezed her hand. Thank you, Betty, he finally managed. She smiled softly. For what? Ryan swallowed before answering. For believing in me when nobody else does. Betty’s smile softened even further. I don’t just believe in you, Ryan. I know there’s something good in you.

Ryan’s expression suddenly changed. Something inside his chest stirred, and his wolf, which had been unusually quiet since the day he arrived at Silvercrest High, slowly lifted its head. Ryan. The voice was faint, almost like a whisper carried by the wind. Ryan froze, his fingers loosening around Betty’s hand. He pulled away and looked toward the forest beyond the school grounds. What’s wrong? Betty asked, her eyebrows drawing together. Ryan didn’t answer. His breathing had slowed, every instinct inside him sharpening at once. Someone was watching him.

Betty followed his gaze, her posture becoming tense. What are you looking at? she asked, lowering her voice. Ryan slowly stood, his eyes scanning the trees. I don’t know. A cold shiver traveled down his spine as the evening wind carried something toward him. A scent. It was faint, almost impossible to detect, but there was something disturbingly familiar about it. His wolf suddenly growled inside his mind, not in anger but in recognition. Ryan’s face went pale. Betty immediately stood beside him, her concern growing. Ryan, what’s happening? He stared toward the forest, his heart beginning to pound. I think someone is here.

Betty activated her werewolf senses and scanned the trees, but nothing moved. The forest appeared completely empty, yet the feeling of being watched only grew stronger. Then Ryan saw it. A shadow stood between the trees, perfectly still, watching them. His heartbeat slammed against his ribs as the figure slowly stepped forward, allowing a faint ray of moonlight to reveal part of its face. Ryan stopped breathing. He knew those eyes. He had seen them before, not recently and not at school, but years ago on the night his entire life had been destroyed.

Before he could see anything more, the figure vanished into the darkness. Ryan remained frozen, his chest rising and falling rapidly as his wolf erupted with a furious growl inside his mind. Run. Ryan’s blood turned cold. His wolf had never told him to run before. He took one slow step backward, his eyes still fixed on the place where the stranger had disappeared, while Betty watched him with growing confusion. Whatever had been hiding in that forest was not there by accident. It had come looking for him, and somehow, it had awakened a memory Ryan had spent six years trying desperately to forget.