Chapter Three

Cassie's POV

My chest is still rising and falling, my wrist still tingling from where Knox touched me. I tell myself it's just adrenaline, just embarrassment running through my veins. But deep down, I know it's more than that.

Something about him, about that moment on the ice wasn't normal.

I push the door to my tiny apartment open, the hinges creaking as the light in my room flickers on. I've been able to escape Lizzy's trouble tonight, but I know her too well. She will keep stirring trouble for me, twisting what happened tonight until I become the villain for saving her boyfriend or ex boyfriend.

Rumors say Knox dumped her, but she says she dumped him.

It's not my business anyways, but she looks like an obsessed ex-girlfriend who's not willing to move on from Knox.

She'd asked me to stay away from him. It isn't like I planned on staying close to him after tonight's humiliation.

Maybe this is my chance to get over whatever admiration I've always had for him.

I sink into the mattress of my small bed, my eyes darting around the room as the way Knox's eyes had flashed silver replays in my head. The way his growl had cut through me, it's ridiculous.

And no matter how much I try to shake it off, the memory lingers in my mind— his touch, his eyes and that one word that makes no sense. Mate.

A cold shudder runs through me as the word echoes in my head.

Suddenly, the sharp ringing of my phone cuts through the silence in my room.

My fingers slip into my oversized hoodie pocket and pull out my phone. Maya's name flashes on the screen and guilt gnaws at my heart.

I'd left her at the arena without saying goodbye and she must have been worried about me.

My fingers tremble as I bring the phone to my ear.

“Maya,” I say into the phone, my lips caught in between my teeth.

“Where the hell are you, Cassie?” She groans, her tone dripping with concern.

I swallow hard, pushing the guilt down as I steady my voice. “I'm home and safe. I'm sorry, I didn't look for you, Maya.”

She lets out a soft sigh, the sound faint through the phone. “I'm glad you are safe. I heard you were almost bullied by Lizzy. I'm sorry, I had to go search for my brother—”

“It's all right, Maya. I'm fine and I'm glad you are too,” I interrupted her quickly, not wanting her to go into details about Knox. “I will see you in school tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay, girl. See you tomorrow.”

The line goes dead and silence fills my room again. A long sigh escapes my lips and I drop my phone beside me on the bed.

My eyelids grow heavy, dragging me down even as I fight it.

Sleep takes me fast and hard.

****

The wind claws at my face as I sprint down the empty street, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps.

I don't know where I'm running towards in the dark, but something is chasing me.

Shadows move in the corners of my vision. But I can't make sense of what they are, except that they are not human shadows.

My sneakers pound heavily on the damp floor as the cold air stings my lungs. A low, guttural growl rumbles through the air, deep enough to vibrate in my bones.

“Cassie,” someone whispers my name in a voice I do not recognize.

I stop running, my heart slamming against my ribs. The path ahead me is consumed by darkness. I look behind me and a glowing red eyes blink into existence.

My breath catches in my throat. My heart pounds so hard it feels like it will fall out of my chest.

Then I see something. A wolf, too massive to be real.

I freeze in place, my eyes widening in shock and horror as it steps forward. Its fur is as black as midnight, steam curls from its mouth in the cold.

My feet refuse to move. My brain screams at me to run, but my body is rooted to the spot.

Every bone in my body trembles as it lunges at me.

I gasp, then jerk awake, my heart still pounding heavily.

My room swims into focus, my phone’s alarm rings beside me. I bolt upright, my eyes move to the phone’s screen— 5:30 am.

My skin is drenched with sweat, my hands are shaking violently. What the hell is that?

A dream? Why does it feel so real and scary?

Air rushes in and out of my lungs and it looks like I might choke on it.

I jump out of bed to the bathroom and splash water on my face, hoping it will help me feel better. But it does not. The image of the large wolf flashes in my head every second.

“Why does this feel so real?” I whisper to myself as I take my bath.

I dress up and get ready for school even though my first class starts by 9 am and it's just 7 am. I can't help but think of how I could dream of a wolf of all the things in the world.

The moment I step into the college, whispers float around me.

“Have you heard?” A girl says to her friends. “A wolf was caught last night.”

My heart skips a beat and my stomach shivers with fear.

A wolf was caught?

Are there werewolves around us?

Before I know it, I'm already walking towards the girls. They stare at me with wide eyes, as if they've just seen a ghost.

I've gotten used to stares like that. The kind of stares that say I do not belong to this school without saying it. And maybe that's true.

“What does the wolf look like?” I ask and they exchange glances, before giving me a suspicious look.

I swallow hard. Wrong question.

“Uhm,” I scratch the back of my neck, fumbling for words. “I heard you say a wolf was caught. I've been researching wolves recently, so I just want to hear what they look like.”

Okay, that makes sense. I am a girl who loves research after all. The girls roll their eyes.

Then the one who has shared the news looks towards me. “Someone said it was black and massive with red eyes.”

My blood runs cold. Black and massive? The wolf I saw in my dream is real.