Chapter Nine: STAY AWAY FROM KAEL, SERAPHINE WARNS

Elara’s POV

“Who the fuck does she think she is?” I hissed, stomping back toward the building with Kael’s book pressed to my chest. The hold that Seraphine placed on me left my wrist burning and with every step I took my anger worsened.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw Professor Thorne exit the classroom with his leather satchel over his shoulder as I rounded the corner towards the lecture hall.

“Wait… what?” I blinked.

The hall echoed with quiet whispers and the noise of feet moving. The view from the doorway showed students picking up their textbooks and moving chairs as they conversed among themselves.

“What the fuck is going on?” I frowned, turning to no one in particular.

The girl that walked past me glanced at me, shrugged. “Class was over. Thorne dismissed early.”

I groaned. “Ahhh, seriously?”

The final students exited as I entered while I made my way to my familiar spot which was located in the second row from the front near the window. I returned to my bench seat to open my locker and rest while holding Kael’s book next to me.

“Great. This day is just getting better and better.” I rubbed my temples.

A chilly breeze flowed through the room which gave me the impression someone had entered although all the windows remained shut. As I shivered I surveyed the room finding it empty apart from my presence.

I ran my thumb over the cover of Kael’s book and took a deep breath.

Why did he even give this to me? Why does he even speak to me like that?

I got lost in my own thoughts until a voice spoke at the door.

“Elara?”

I jerked around.

It was Kael.

“Elara?” Kael’s voice was low and unsure.

I tensed before standing up gradually while carrying both my bag and Kael’s book in my arms. I did not turn to face him.

He stepped forward. “I’ve been looking for you all day—”

“Stop.” I hissed, whirling around so that my eyes met his. Seraphine's strong grip on my wrist and her venomous gaze reminded me why I needed to walk faster, increasing my speed.

"I don't want us to have a discussion ," I said emphatically while grasping the strap of my bag.

Kael blinked and his expression softened. “Did something happen?”

“You know damn well what’s happening, Kael.” I hissed. “Stop fucking playing dumb with me.”

He frowned. “Seraphine—”

“Exactly.” I threw his book onto the closest desk. “Whatever it is you two are doing, you leave me out of it. I didn’t ask for your attention and I most certainly don’t need your bullshit.”

“Elara, wait—”

“No,” I said as I walked around him. “I am not going to be your distraction while you sort out your Luna bond.”

He grabbed at my arm gently but I yanked away.

“Don’t follow me,” I said, voice icier than before. “Just… don’t.”

I walked out of the classroom while my boots made a loud noise against the floor. Each step made my chest feel tighter but I continued walking.

I didn’t turn around.

When I reached my dorm room my hands were shaking.

I didn’t ask for this… but maybe I need to stop running.

I pushed the dorm door open then went inside and placed my bag on the chair beside my desk. The room was silent… too silent. I looked towards Lila’s bed and stopped.

She was still asleep.

I frowned. That was weird. Lila was never the last to wake up… usually she had her dumb playlist blasting by the crack of dawn.

“What the fuck is wrong with her?” I murmured, walking over.

I bent down and placed a hand on her neck. She was cool to the touch but not cold. “She’s not feverish,” I said, rubbing my thumb in small circles on her neck. “Hmm… I wonder if she just overslept.”

After releasing a long breath I stood up and walked toward the bathroom. The shower released hot water that relaxed my shoulders yet Seraphine’s words lingered above me like steam on a window.

I wrapped my towel around myself after stepping out from the shower but paused when I heard a quiet yawn coming from the other side of the room while reaching for my drawer.

“Lila?” I said, turning. “Are you awake now?”

She slowly rose from her bed with her hair in disarray while blinking as though she had just awakened from a coma.

“Lila, what’s wrong?” I asked, kneeling down. “You’ve been asleep all morning.”

Lila rubbed her eyes and looked at me, scowling. “Elara… You’re the one who made me sleep in.”

I blinked. “Me? How did I do that?”

“You were having a nightmare—or something like that. I could hear you talking in your sleep, Elara. No, shouting. Begging someone to hear you.”

I stared at her, the air rushing out of my lungs a little. “I did?”

She nodded, her voice getting small now. “And then… after that, I heard it.”

“What?” I asked, though part of me already knew.

“The howl,” she replied. “Wolves. Not just one.”

I froze.

“Lila…” I tried to crack a joke. “That can’t be right. You heard it too? You dreamt about it too.”

“I didn’t,” she said quickly, shaking her head. “For that bit? I was awake. I swear to god, Elara. I heard them outside the window.”

I let out a shaky laugh, but there was something in her face… the way her eyes darted around the room, the fear in them… something that twisted my stomach.

“You sure?” I asked quietly.

She nodded again. “Whatever it was… it wasn’t normal.”

Lila stood, running a hand through her tangled hair. She looked pale, unsettled.

“Elara,” she whispered, voice quiet. “This isn’t the first time. You’ve been jerking around in your sleep for days now. Talking. Twitching. Gasping for breath like you’re being chased.”

I swallowed. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

“I thought it was stress…” she said, shrugging. “Exams and pressure and shit. But last night? Elara, you were growling.”

My eyes widened. “Growling?”

She nodded, slowly. “Like… not human sounds.”

I walked away from her after she shared something that struck too deep.

“I think something is wrong,” I whispered while sitting on the edge of my bed.

She cocked her head to the side. “You've been feeling…funny lately? You know. Strange? Different?”

I didn’t respond right away. I just stared at my hands.

I thought to myself that things weren't okay because the words felt true.

I cleared my throat before speaking with barely audible words.  “Actually… yeah. I have.”

Lila moved so she was sitting beside me, her expression softening. “What sort of changes?”

I looked down at my hands. “I hear things… before they happen. My senses are more keen. Sometimes I smell things no one else can smell. And the strength in my arms—yesterday I was holding on to someone and they said it hurt. I barely squeezed.”

Lila stared at me, unbelieving. “Elara… it’s not stress.”

I looked up at her, my heart racing. “Then what is it?”

She paused, then said something that made my blood run ice cold. “Maybe… it’s already begun.”

I blinked. “What’s begun?”