7. The Problem With Silence (And Wolves Who Won’t Shut Up)

Mira POV

The walk back to my dorm felt longer than usual—not because it was far, but because I could still feel invisible eyes on me. The campus was quiet, washed in soft gold light, pretending nothing dramatic had happened. I kept my head down and hugged my bag to my chest.

Chloe had floated off to her date glowing like royalty. Tina had marched to the library armed for academic warfare.

And me?

I ran.

By the time I reached my room, I shut the door, locked it, and leaned against it with a long breath.

“Finally,” I muttered.

“You miss him.”

I closed my eyes. “No, I don’t.”

Sky gasped inside my head. “Denial already? We just got home.”

“I do not miss him.”

“You’re thinking about his mouth.”

Heat rushed to my face. “I am not.”

“You reread the text three times.”

“That was analysis.”

“That was you imagining kissing him.”

“I was not!”

Sky sighed dreamily. “His lips did look soft.”

“Stop.”

“I bet he tilts his head when he kisses.”

“Sky.”

“I can’t wait to taste him.”

“You are insane.”

“I’ve waited my whole life for a mate worth licking.”

“I am not licking anyone!”

“You will. You melted when he stood close.”

“I did not melt.”

“You stared at his mouth.”

I grabbed my pillow and pressed it to my face. “I hate you.”

“You love me. And you love him.”

“I do not love him!”

“You want to kiss him.”

“I want to throw him into traffic.”

“That’s foreplay.”

I threw the pillow across the room.

I started pacing. “Tina is right. I need to be careful. Klaus is dangerous.”

“Dangerous is hot.”

“He’s trouble.”

“Trouble is fun.”

“He’s a devil.”

“Devils kiss best.”

My cheeks burned. “You don’t even know that.”

“I can sense it. Confidence like his comes with skill.”

“Stop talking.”

“No.”

I flopped onto my bed and glared at the ceiling. Just thinking his name made something flutter in my stomach.

“He’s a player,” I told myself.

“A very pretty one,” Sky added.

“He flirts with everyone.”

“But he chose you.”

I grabbed my phone before I realized I’d reached for it.

“Ooooh,” Sky sang. “Opening the message again?”

“Just rereading.”

“For the fourth time.”

“It’s the third.”

I opened it.

Get ready. We’re giving them a show tomorrow. I hope you’re a good kisser. Save my number.

My stomach flipped.

“He’s such a player,” I whispered.

“Our player.”

“He is not ours.”

“He wants to kiss us.”

“That’s for the act.”

“Sure.”

I inhaled. Exhaled. “Fine. I’ll call him. Set rules.”

Sky perked up. “Rules?”

“No physical contact.”

She shrieked. “Cruel monster!”

“No kissing.”

“This is oppression.”

I ignored her and hit call.

My phone rang.

I screamed and threw it onto the bed.

It kept ringing.

Sky whispered gleefully, “He called first.”

I stared at the screen. Klaus.

“Pick it up,” Sky chanted. “That is our man.”

“He is not our man.”

The ringing continued.

“Fine!” I snatched it up. “Hello?”

His voice slid through the speaker, smooth and amused. “Why do you sound like you committed a crime?”

“I don’t.”

“You do. Where are you?”

“In my dorm.”

“Come outside.”

My brain stalled. “What?”

“We need to discuss tomorrow’s performance. Strategy meeting.”

“You couldn’t text that?”

“No. Strategy requires presence. Also, I’m bored.”

My heart skipped. “You’re outside?”

“Yes.”

Sky lost her mind. “He came to see us!”

“He did not come to see us,” I hissed.

“Five seconds,” Klaus added lazily. “Or I climb your window like a tragic lover.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“One.”

“You’re insane.”

“Two.”

“I’m coming!”

I hung up and froze.

“You’re fixing your hair,” Sky said smugly.

I dropped my hands.

“Shut up.”

Then I grabbed my hoodie and marched out.

The night air was cool, brushed with gold from the campus lights. The trees rustled like they were gossiping.

And there he was.

Leaning against a black motorcycle as if the scene had been arranged for him. Leather jacket. Messy hair. Hands in his pockets. Completely at ease.

My traitorous stomach flipped.

Sky whispered, awed, “Oh wow. We are in trouble.”

Klaus lifted his head and caught my stare. Then he smiled—slow, deliberate, dangerous.

He pushed off the bike. “There you are, Mimilicious.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“You came when I called. It fits.”

“I came because you threatened to climb my window like a creep.”

“That was romantic,” he corrected.

“That was illegal.”

He shrugged. “Details.”

He stepped closer.

I forgot how breathing worked.

Sky whispered, “He smells good. Why does he smell good. This is unfair.”

I folded my arms. “You said strategy. Talk.”

His eyes dropped to my crossed arms.

His smirk deepened.

“Defensive posture,” he said. “Cute.”

“I’m not cute.”

“You are when you pretend you’re not.”

I glared.

He leaned slightly closer.

“Did anyone bother you today?” he asked suddenly.

The question caught me off guard. “What?”

“After I left. Anyone touch you? Talk trash?”

“…People stared.”

His jaw tightened. “Anyone cross a line?”

“No.”

The tension in his shoulders eased, but not completely. Warmth spread through my chest before I could stop it.

“I can handle myself,” I said.

“I know you can.” His tone was calm, certain.

“You have a temper,” he said. “I saw it.”

I looked away. “That doesn’t mean I need help.”

“I didn’t say you did.” He tilted his head. “But I still like knowing who thinks they can mess with what’s mine.”

My heart skipped.

Sky squealed. “WHAT’S MINE. HE SAID WHAT’S MINE. I’M WRITING OUR WEDDING VOWS.”

“I am NOT yours,” I snapped.

His grin widened. “Not yet.”

Heat rushed to my face. “There is no yet!”

“We’ll see.”

“We will NOT see.”

He chuckled softly.

He pushed off the bike fully and gestured behind him.

“Come on.”

“Where?”

“Strategy location.”

“That is not a real thing.”

“It is now.”

I sighed. “Fine.”

Five minutes later I understood why he chose this spot.

Behind the sports building to a small hill overlooking the lit ice rink. Pale blue light spilled through the glass, turning the night almost magical.

“You practice here?” I asked.

“Every day,” he said.

He sat on the low stone wall.

Close to me.

Too close.

My shoulder almost brushed his.

I shifted slightly away.

Nervous?” he asked.

“No.”

“You moved.”

“I was adjusting.”

“To escape me?”

“To breathe.”

He laughed softly.

I hated how proud he looked.

“So,” he said, stretching his legs out, “tomorrow.”

“Yes,” I said quickly. “Tomorrow. Strategy. That’s why we’re here.”

“Correct.”

He turned his head slowly and looked at me.

My pulse stuttered.

Sky whispered, dazed, “Why does he look at us like he wants to eat us.”

I swallowed.

Klaus spoke quietly.

“We need to make it believable.”

“It is believable.”

“No,” he said. “It’s entertaining. Not believable.”

I frowned. “What’s the difference?”

“Believable means they think you like me.”

I scoffed. “That’s easy. I just won’t look at you.”

He leaned closer.

“Look at me now.”

I refused.

“Mira.”

I looked.

Big mistake.

His face was close.

Very close.

Close enough that I could see the tiny gold flecks in his eyes.

Close enough that I could feel his breath.

My heart slammed.

“There,” he said softly. “That look.”

“What look?”

“That one.”

“What one?”

“The one where you forget what you were saying.”

“I do not forget what I’m saying!”

“You just did.”

I opened my mouth.

Closed it.

Sky howled laughing.

I turned red. “You’re annoying.”

“And you’re staring.”

“I am not.”

He leaned even closer.

Now if I moved forward even a little—

I leaned back fast.

His grin turned wicked.

“See?” he murmured. “Believable.”

My voice came out thin. “You’re doing that on purpose.”

“Yes.”

“At least you admit it.”

“I always admit my crimes.”

I glared. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet,” he said softly, “you came outside when I called.”

My stomach flipped again.

I hated that he was right.

“So,” I said quickly, “tomorrow. Rules.”

He raised a brow. “Rules?”

“Yes. Ground rules.”

“For?”

“This fake dating thing.”

He leaned back on his hands.

“Go on,” he said, amused. “I love rules. I break them often.”

I ignored that.

“No touching,” I said firmly.

He blinked once.

Then again.

Then he laughed.

“You’re serious?”

“Yes.”

“No touching at all?”

“Yes.”

“Not even a hand hold?”

“No.”

“A hug?”

“No.”

“A tiny dramatic dip for effect?”

“No.”

“A heroic rescue grab if you trip?”

“No.”

His grin sharpened. “What if you grab me?”

“I won’t.”

“What if you panic?”

“I won’t panic.”

“What if you faint from my beauty?”

“I would rather faint from food poisoning.”

He burst out laughing.

I tried not to smile.

Failed.

His eyes caught it instantly.

“There,” he said softly. “That. Do that tomorrow.”

My smile vanished. “Do what?”

“That smile.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because it just happened.”

“Make it happen again.”

“I’m not a vending machine.”

“You could be. I’d press your buttons.”

My brain short-circuited.

Sky screamed, “PRESS OUR BUTTONS???!”

I stood up fast. “Okay. Conversation over.”

He grabbed my wrist.

Not tight.

Not rough.

Just enough to stop me.

My whole body froze.

His fingers were warm.

My pulse went wild.

His voice dropped softer.

“Relax,” he said. “I’m not biting.”

I looked down at his hand.

Then up at his eyes.

Slowly.

“You’re touching me,” I said.

“You’re noticing,” he replied.

My throat went dry.

Sky whispered, weak, “We are losing.”

I pulled my hand back.

Firm.

He let me.

But his eyes stayed on me.

Like I was a puzzle.

“You really don’t like me?” he asked.

“I don’t,” I said.

He studied my face.

“Not even a little?”

“No.”

“Not even secretly?”

“No.

He smiled slowly.

“Liar.”

My jaw dropped. “I am NOT lying!”

“Mira,” he said gently, “every girl likes me.”

I stared at him.

“…You did not just say that.”

“I did.”

“That is the most arrogant thing I’ve ever heard.”

“It’s not arrogance if it’s true.”

I gaped.

Sky clapped. “Confidence king. I support this delusion.”

I pointed at him. “You are unbelievable.”

“And you came outside to see me.”

“That was strategy!”

“Sure.”

I sputtered.

He looked very pleased with himself.

I hated him.

He stood up slowly, stepping closer again.

Not touching.

Just close.

Close enough that the air changed.

“Don’t worry,” he said softly. “I’ll make you like me.”

My heart skipped.

“You won’t.”

“I will.”

Then he leaned down slightly, voice low near my ear—

“Tomorrow,” he murmured, “try not to stare at my mouth when I talk.”

My brain exploded.

“I DON’T STARE AT YOUR MOUTH!”

“You are right now.”

I slapped a hand over my eyes.

Sky collapsed laughing inside my head.

He stepped back, satisfied.

“Goodnight, Mimilicious.”

I lowered my hand slowly.

He was already walking to his bike.

Like nothing happened.

Like he hadn’t just set my nerves on fire and walked away smiling.

He swung onto the seat, looked back once—

And winked.

My stomach flipped so hard I almost sat down on the pavement.

Sky whispered reverently,

“We are doomed.”

I swallowed.

Because for the first time…

I wasn’t sure she was wrong.