Chapter 24- The Unexpected Guest

The closer we got to Beacon Hills High, the heavier the traffic became. Police cars surrounded the front entrance. Yellow tape blocked off part of the parking lot. Several reporters stood outside the gates, speaking into cameras while officers moved in and out of the damaged building.

Mike slowed the Jeep. “They weren’t kidding.”

I stared through the windshield. The front entrance was still covered in shattered glass. A section of the hallway had been sealed off, and workers were already replacing broken windows. Students gathered in small groups, whispering among themselves.

“I heard it was an explosion.”

“No, someone said it was an earthquake.”

“My brother thinks a gas pipe burst.”

Rumors were spreading faster than the truth ever could. Mike parked the Jeep. “I guess Ryan was right.”

I looked at him. “About what?”

“People really will believe anything, they can't just picture it as a supernatural occurrence.”

I couldn’t help smiling. “Looks like it.”

We got out and walked toward the school entrance. An officer stopped us. “Students?”

“Yes, sir,” Mike answered.

The officer looked at our school IDs before stepping aside. “Stay away from the blocked areas.”

“We will.”

As we entered the building, the familiar hallway looked completely different. Part of the ceiling had been repaired overnight, but the damaged classrooms were still sealed with tape. Teachers directed students toward the rooms that were still safe to use.

Somehow… school was continuing as if nothing had happened.

“This place is unbelievable,” I muttered.

Mike nodded. “I was thinking the same thing.”

Before we could walk any farther, someone called my name. “Jax!”

I turned around. “Lila.”

She ran straight toward me. Before I could say anything, she threw her arms around me. For a moment, neither of us spoke. She pulled back and looked me up and down, making sure I was really standing there.

“You’re alive…”

“I am sis.”

“I thought…” Her voice caught in her throat. “I thought Deucalion…”

“He almost did, it wasn't an easy fight."

She stared at me. “Then how are you still here?”

I smiled faintly and pointed toward Mike. “Him. And Ryan. They found me before it was too late.”

Mike raised a hand with an awkward smile. “Hi.”

Lila smiled back and nodded gratefully. “Thank you.”

Mike rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t really do much.”

“You did enough.”

Lila looked back at me. A quiet breath escaped her lips. Relief filled her face. She hadn’t realized how tense she’d been until now. The fear she’d carried since leaving the forest slowly disappeared. At least she hadn’t made a choice she would regret for the rest of her life.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” she said quietly.

“So am I.”

The first warning bell echoed through the hallway. Students immediately began moving toward their classrooms.

Mike looked at us. “I guess that’s our cue.”

Lila nodded. “Come on.”

The three of us walked down the hallway together and entered the classroom just before the second bell rang. Almost everyone was already seated. The room buzzed with quiet conversations. No one was paying attention to the lesson that hadn’t even started. Every discussion was about the same thing.

“The police are still outside.”

“I heard someone died.”

“No, nobody died.”

“My dad said the whole hallway collapsed.”

“I heard it was a gas explosion.”

I exchanged a glance with Mike. Lila took the seat beside me while Mike sat directly behind us. She leaned closer. “Are you really okay?”

“I’m still trying to figure out how I woke up in the middle of the woods.” I whispered.

Her eyebrows pulled together. “The woods?”

I nodded. “I went to sleep in my room. And woke up there.”

She blinked. “How is that even possible?”

Mike answered before I could. “Apparently it’s a symptom.”

Lila turned around. “A symptom?”

“That’s what I found during my research.”

She looked at him with surprise. “You’ve been researching werewolves?”

Mike gave a small shrug. “I couldn’t exactly sleep after seeing one throw a car.”

Lila couldn’t argue with that.

Before anyone could say another word, the classroom door opened. The room immediately became quiet. Our teacher walked in carrying a stack of books. Behind him… someone else entered.

The teacher smiled. “Why don’t you introduce yourself?”

The new guy nodded once before looking across the room. “My name is…” He paused. “…Eli.”

The moment I heard that name, I turned around and everything inside me froze. My heartbeat slammed to a stop. Eli. The same Eli Lila had tried to kill last night. The same Eli I was fated to.

Then the vision from the artifact crashed back into me, the battlefield, the blood, us fighting side by side. My eyes widened. It was him.

A cold chill ran down my spine. I gripped the edge of my desk until my knuckles turned white. My breathing turned ragged.

Eli slowly turned his head. Our eyes met.

For a brief second… he smirked, like he recognized me too.

My mouth went dry. I couldn’t look away.

“What is he planning again this time?”

I had no idea Lila was already losing it behind me and she's about to jump from her seat.