Chapter 2

LIAM

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The dormitory building barely stayed still around me. Not when I was flying up the stairs, two steps at a time. 

‘We’re cooked.’

Ben’s words had chased me out of Fredrinn’s apartment before anyone had woken up. Throughout the ride, my mind spiraled.

Cooked. How?

Bursting through the door, my eyes landed on Ben.

Completely uncooked, Ben was slouched in his gaming chair, one hand gripping a controller, the other shoving chips into his mouth.

My face scrunched into a deep frown, my chest heaving. “I thought you said we were cooked?”

With a click, he paused his game. “I mean…yeah.” He set the controller aside and spun the chair to face me. “There’s going to be a hostel inspection the day after tomorrow.”

Lightening fast, a brow flew up. “What do you mean an inspection?”

“Turns out the guy that sold the room to us didn’t mention anything like inspections,” Ben said. “And the room is registered under his name.”

Silence stretched between us, then I snapped it.

“They’re going to kick us out?”

My eyes snagged to the band poster above my bed, its corners already peeling away from the wall. I’d spent almost an hour on move-in day knocking on strangers' doors searching for glue. I’d told myself I’d buy a proper adhesive by the weekend.

Ben leaned back into his chair. “I spoke to my cousin; he said he might be able to change the name.”

“And if he can’t?”

Ben’s shoulders slouched. “I mean, you have a brother here?” 

Fredrinn crashed into my mind. The car ride. The thin walls that allowed me to hear every moan that slipped out of Jane’s throat, while I lay awake staring at the ceiling with a thick heaviness pressing down on my chest.

Violently, I shook my head. “No.”

I didn’t dream of spending my freshman year with Fredrinn, or in any place that I couldn’t call mine.

“Don’t worry, my cousin will handle it.”

Ben went back to his game as though nothing happened, while I lay back on my bed, my eyes finding the poster.

Just a week ago, I’d watched students argue over which side was theirs, watch them arrange their things. Watch it all with a stupid grin on my face, thinking this was what college was like.

My fingers curled against the mattress.

Everyone was settling in, and somehow I was already thinking of moving out.

By afternoon, the threat of losing the apartment had drifted to the back of my mind. My attention was now fixed on the dating app preface filling my phone screen. 

I hadn’t opened one since meeting Ryan on it. Convinced I would never need it again, I had deleted it a week ago.

Creating my profile wasn’t hard…it wasn’t complicated until I reached sexual preference.

My thumb hovered, gaze lingering until my screen dimmed.

Male. Female.  

With a deep breath, I pressed Male. The silence lasted longer than I expected—no snide remark from Nyratha—not even a smug scoff.

But then I wondered if I should write about Nyratha on my profile.

But I already knew what would happen. How many people wanted to match with a freak? Instant swipe away or Blocking.

So I left it and began fishing through the sea of profiles, faces blurring as I flicked left.

Then another profile appeared. Roger, that was his name. Blue eyes that almost looked grey. His lips looked like they were capable of murmuring soft nicknames.

Little stor—

I shook my head, shaking off the nickname curled in Fredrinn’s voice.

Swiping, another picture—one that held my attention. He was shirtless, exposing his defined abs, his hard chest, the trail of muscles that disappeared beneath the waistband of his beach shorts.

Before I knew it, the corner of my lips made a sharp curve.

‘Right,’ Nyratha drawled. ‘I’m the one enjoying the view of the shirtless man.’

‘You’ve been quiet all day.’ I snorted. ‘Go back to doing that.’

After sliding into his DM, Roger and I had spent all day talking. Somewhere between exchanging stupid jokes and complaining about dorm noises, I began imagining grabbing lunch between lectures, wandering around campus with hands locked just like Fredrinn and Jane. The sort of ordinary things everyone said college was made for.

By 9 pm,  I found myself strolling down the path that led to the meeting point.

Streetlights flickered several meters apart, letting darkness swallow the space between them.

Reaching the spot, it was dead quiet. Not a single soul in sight. Just trees, benches, and tall buildings.

‘I don’t like this place,’ Nyratha mumbled.

Deeper into my pocket, I buried my fingers, trying to ignore the cold licking down my spine.

I looked around.

Hadn’t Fredrinn told me to avoid this part of campus? Then again, every building here looked the same.

Out of the dark, a silhouette strolled out, his footsteps heavy, crunching the gravel beneath.

For a heartbeat, I thought he was walking past. The figure looked notably shorter than Roger.

But when he stopped before me…when his lips curved as he called out “Liam.” My spine locked, the cold sinking deeper into my bones.

“Who are you?” My voice dropped.

“It’s me.” He spread his hand out. “Roger.”

No. It couldn’t be him. The face didn't match. 

“You’re not.” 

His smile didn’t falter. “The pictures are kind of old.”

Old? That wasn’t old. That was someone else.

I took a step back. “I’m sorry.” My voice was polite. “I think there’s a misunderstanding.”

I turned to leave when his thick, fleshy hand clamped around my fist.

An itch crawled up my arm.

“What do you mean by ‘a misunderstanding’?” 

His grip tightened.

“I came out because of you.”  His voice sank. “My hostel isn’t that far. We can go there. Have a good time.”

Goosebumps broke across my skin.

As I tried to pull away, the smile slipped from his face.

“Is that it?” The saccharine friendliness vanished. “You think you’re too good for me?”

Nyratha stirred in my chest, her irritation prickling through me.

He paused. “Your wolf smells so nice,” he murmured, his nose twitching. “Wait…”

He inhaled again.

“…your wolf is female?”

My spine locked.

Every emotion I’d ever seen after other wolves discovered I had a female wolf flashed through my mind.

Disgust. Pity. Mockery. Rarely, curiosity.

But this…I had never seen this.

His smile slowly spread, his gaze burning with hunger.

Nyratha went completely still. ‘Liam.’

My name and nothing more.

With a terrifying force, Roger yanked me, my shoulder lurching forward.

My heart jumped into my throat. No matter how much I twisted, he wouldn’t bulge.

“Let go,” I hissed through my gritted teeth. “I said I’m not fucking interested.”

An ordinary date. That was all I’d wanted. But even that was too much to ask for.

His grip only tightened.

Nyratha, a little help here.

‘I’m trying,’ she muttered.

I could feel her pushing against him through me.

‘His wolf is stronger.’

Of course. Almost every wolf was stronger than Nyratha.

More hungrily, Roger grabbed me, hand sliding to my side as though searching for a better grip.

My knees shot up, connecting with his groin area.

The moment the pressure on my wrist loosened, I ripped myself free, leaving my watch behind.

And it was a gift from grandpa. Of course I had to leave it behind.

Using every ounce of strength in me, I broke into a sprint.

I didn’t look back. Didn’t care if he was following.

The only thing pounding louder than my footsteps was my heartbeat.

Delete the app. Forget dating. Stop expecting things to work out.

I should’ve known better by now.

My lungs burned with every breath as I blurred past an unfamiliar path.

‘Liam,’ Nyratha called out.

I didn’t answer. Not when my wrist still burned where he held me.  

‘Liam,’ Her voice was firmer now.

What?

‘…we’re not alone.’

My feet almost stumbled, but I forced myself to keep moving.

How many? 

Nyratha stayed silent for a while. ‘Two.’

My stomach dropped. Roger wasn’t alone.

‘No,’ Nyratha said, ‘Different wolves.’

Fredrinn’s warning slammed into me, and my heart lurched. I walked faster, barely noticing where my feet carried me.

Out of the left corner, two figures pulled out. A black cloak swallowed everything except their boots.

I slowed to a stop, and so did they.

One lifted his hand. “Did you happen to see a female wolf around here?”

Hide me, Nyratha whispered.

As best as I could, I pushed every trace of her presence as deep inside myself.

“No.” My throat went dry.

After glancing around, they began to leave. But one of them stopped. His head tilting, he drew in a breath, then another.

He turned back to me. “Are you the one carrying this scent?”

My hands went cold.

Though I couldn’t see their gaze, I felt their weight all the same—as though they were standing before some they’ve only heard of.

Neither of them spoke, yet they nodded. It was as though they had already decided my fate through their mind link.

“Interesting,” The taller one said.

One step, then another, he stepped towards me until he was just an arm's length away.

“Do you know what happens when you kill a host?” His voice was calm, almost conversational.

Host?

My throat worked around a hard swallow.

“Didn’t think so. 

He drew it out with his claws, his fangs lengthening as he stalked even closer.

 “You’ll learn.”