FOREST ENCOUNTER

Amanda hadn’t slept since the dream of Skylar’s bite. Every time she touched the faint bruise at her neck, her skin prickled, as if it remembered the weight of his teeth. She needed answers, and she wasn’t going to find them trapped inside the Blackthorne estate. So when Stacie suggested sneaking into the forest at night, Amanda eagerly agreed.

"If the scratches came from sleepwalking, maybe you’re drawn there", Stacie whispered as they crept past the garden gates, the moon a pale sliver above them.

"Maybe it’ll happen again", she said.

Amanda tightened her jacket, the night air cooled against her skin.

"Or maybe we’ll just prove I’m going insane", she said sarcastically.

Stacie bumped her shoulder lightly.

"Insane people don’t worry about being insane. You’re fine, probably", she joked.

Amanda huffed a laugh despite her nerves. The crunch of leaves underfoot grew louder as they moved deeper into the woods. The trees loomed like sentinels, branches creaking with the weight of shadows. Her arms tingled as if expecting fresh scratches to bloom. But before she could voice her fear, a low growl rolled through the darkness. Amanda froze. Dozens of glowing eyes appeared between the trees, circling them. The hairs on the back of her neck rose, wolves but she could feel these were different. She could tell they weren't friendly ones. Stacie clutched Amanda’s arm.

"Please tell me those are deer", she whispered urgently.

But before Amanda could reply, the growls deepened, closer now and her breath hitched. She backed up slowly, pulling Stacie with her, then a snarl split the night. A figure crashed through the underbrush, golden eyes blazing, body half shifted, claws extended, teeth bared, muscles rippling with barely restrained fury, it was Skylar.

"Get back!", his voice was a guttural growl, half-human, half-beast.

The wolves faltered, whining, before scattering into the trees at the sight of him. Within seconds, the forest was empty again, silence settling heavy in their wake. Amanda’s legs trembled. She clutched Stacie’s arm tighter, her chest heaving. Skylar turned on her, his eyes blazing hotter than the wolves.

"Are you out of your mind?", he snarled, stalking closer to her.

"Do you have a death wish?", he asked.

Amanda flinched at the raw rage in his voice. "I—I just-", she tried to explain.

"You just what?", his claws retracted slowly as his body shifted back, though his anger stayed sharp.

"You thought it’d be fun to wander into the forest at night? With no protection? Do you have any idea what could’ve happened to you?", he asked, his voice still a pitch higher, he was mad.

"I was trying to figure out what’s happening to me!", Amanda snapped, her voice breaking.

"You think I want this? Whatever is even happening to me? I get weird dreams, I wake up with scratches, I think I'm hearing whispers, no one wants any of this. And I just wanted some answers", she continued to snap and then she calmed down. "For a change", she added softly.

Skylar’s chest heaved. For a moment, the fury in his eyes cracked, exposing something else beneath; fear. His voice dropped, rougher.

"If anything happened to you-", he cut himself off, his jaw tight.

Amanda stared at him, her heart thudding unevenly. That flash of fear, raw and unguarded, unsettled her more than his rage, and they stood in that silently charged atmosphere until Stacie shifted awkwardly. "We should, uh… probably head back before one of us gets eaten", she said softly.

"Yeah", Amanda said and blinked. Her eyes shifted, and she avoided Skylar's gaze. Instead, she grabbed Stacie's hand.

"Yeah, let's go", she said and pulled Stacie along with her.

"I'm sorry about that", Amanda apologized when they got back inside.

"It's fine", Stacie waved a hand dismissively.

"It's not. You almost died, you would have died if those things had attacked and it would have been my fault. I keep putting you in danger", Amanda said, feeling very apologetic, but Stacie took her hand in hers and smiled softly at her.

"Really, it's fine, Amanda", she said softly.

"You are not putting me in danger. I chose to be there with you because that's what friends are for, ok?", she assured her.

"Ok", Amanda nodded and smiled half-heartedly.

"Thank you", she added.

"No problem, I'll see you in school tomorrow?", Stacie said as she prepared to leave.

"Yeah, sure, see you in school", Amanda agreed.

---

The next morning, Amanda shuffled toward the driveway, still slightly shaken from the encounter of the previous day. She froze when she spotted a sleek black car parked out front, Cassian leaning casually against it.

"Well, good morning, Moonridge’s most mysterious girl", he greeted with a grin.

"Need a ride?", he asked smoothly.

Amanda blinked at him confused.

"You’re… going to school?", she asked.

Cassian shrugged, opening the passenger door with a flourish.

"Yup", he answered enthusiastically.

"It was part of the deal of my father allowing me to come here early, I have to go to school. My father’s golden rule is no missing classes, even during pack business. Apparently, education builds character", he rolled his eyes dramatically at that.

"So, congratulations, you’re stuck with me as your chauffeur", he added, and despite herself, Amanda laughed. His ridiculous bow as he gestured to the car didn’t help.

She hesitated, glancing back toward the house just in time to see Skylar step out onto the porch. His eyes narrowed instantly at the sight of Cassian and the open car door. Cassian noticed too, his grin widened. "Come on, Amanda. What’s life without a little fun?", he asked, raising his brows suggestively.

Amanda swallowed, considered it, then slid into the passenger seat. The engine roared to life, and Cassian shot off down the driveway, leaving Skylar standing there, fists clenched at his sides, jealousy burning in his golden eyes.

---

At Moonridge High, the whispers hadn’t stopped. If anything, Amanda’s stumble at the rune stone had given her classmates endless fuel. Tessa, of course, led the charge. Amanda had just made it to the crowded hallway when Tessa stuck out her foot. Amanda pitched forward, her books scattering across the floor as laughter erupted around her.

"Careful", Tessa said sweetly, her voice carrying down the hallway. "Wouldn’t want the witch to trip over her own spells", she added, and laughter rang through the halls. Heat crawled up Amanda’s neck, she scrambled to gather her books, the laughter echoing in her ears, then another voice cut through it.

"Wow", Cassian bent down beside her, plucking a book off the floor. He flashed her a grin before glancing up at Tessa.

"Really, that’s the best you’ve got? Tripping people? What is this, kindergarten?", he taunted.

A ripple of laughter broke out, but this time at Tessa’s expense, her smirk faltered. Cassian handed Amanda her book with a wink and threw a hand over her shoulder.

"Don’t worry my fair maiden, I’ll protect you from the scary hallway", he said with an amused tone but a reassuring smile on his face.

Amanda’s face burned, but gratitude flickered in her chest. Someone had stood up for her publicly. The crowd thinned, and Amanda walked with Cassian toward class, their shoulders brushing. But from across the hall, she felt the weight of someone's stare burn into her back. When she turned she saw Skylar staring at her. His eyes burned like fire, his jaw tight with silent fury.

---

Later that day, Tessa found Skylar leaning against the lockers, his mood darker than usual.

"You’re slipping", she said smoothly, folding her arms.

Skylar’s gaze snapped to her.

"Excuse me?", he asked roughly.

"You think no one notices? The way you look at her. The way you jump whenever she’s in danger", Tessa’s eyes glittered, sharp as knives.

Skylar looked away. "You don't know what you're talking about", he said forcefully.

"Fine then, maybe it's some overwhelming sense of brother love, but Skylar she's not even your real sister. Amanda is a weakness, a liability", she said.

Skylar’s body went rigid. He didn’t respond, but the flicker of doubt in his eyes was enough for Tessa to smirk.

"You’ll have to choose what matters more, your pack, or her", she whispered as she passed him.

Her words lingered long after she was gone, cutting deeper than he wanted to admit.

---

Amanda sat in her room that night, staring at her reflection in the mirror. The bruise on her neck was fading, but the weight of it hadn’t. Between the wolves in the forest, Skylar’s furious protectiveness, Cassian’s disarming warmth, and Tessa’s relentless cruelty, her world was spinning out of control. And deep down, she feared it was only the beginning.