CHAPTER 6 ~ FINN'S POV

The library provided the only genuinely relaxing environment on campus, whereas the dorms, the dining hall, and the lecture theaters demanded exhausting effort. Constant social interaction forced me to dodge eye contact and pretend to enjoy myself while I counted down the minutes until my solitude returned.

The library offered a quiet refuge, specifically in the far corner of the third floor located past the Reference section and behind the dusty shelves of European History. Students rarely visited this area because the Wi-Fi signal was spotty and the air conditioning vent rattled with a low hum that masked outside noises.

Sitting on the floor with my back pressed against the metal shelving unit allowed me to stretch my legs out in front of me. An Advanced Pathophysiology textbook sat open on my lap strictly as a distraction rather than actual study material.

My phone rested on top of the diagram of a diseased liver and leaned against a highlighter so I could read a w******l.

The story featured a cliché plot about a possessive werewolf alpha who growled things like “You are mine” every three chapters, yet the terrible writing still held my full attention.

Taking a sip of my lukewarm coffee made me wince at the bitter taste. The time was 9:30 PM on a Sunday, meaning the campus social scene was highly active with mixers and parties.

Instead of socializing, my focus remained on fictional shifters while trying to ignore the inevitable lower back ache from sitting on the industrial carpet.

Scrolling to the next chapter revealed the Alpha preparing to confront the rival pack, so I adjusted my glasses to continue reading.

A sudden squeak echoed through the aisle and caused me to freeze with my thumb hovering over the screen before the noise continued with a series of thuds and more squeaks.

Heavy and confident footsteps approached my location, sounding entirely different from the soft shuffling of a librarian or a tired student. The noise of rubber on tile soon transitioned to the muffled crunch of shoes on the carpet as the person drew closer.

Holding my breath, I silently hoped the individual was simply looking for the bathroom or turning left.

The rhythmic and purposeful footsteps did not turn away and instead continued straight toward my hiding spot.

Quickly minimizing the w******l app allowed me to flip a page of my textbook and feign deep interest in liver enzymes. Looking busy usually prompted intruders to apologize and back away according to standard library etiquette.

The footsteps finally stopped right at the end of my aisle. Silence stretched for three seconds while a looming presence stood nearby.

Looking up slowly and reluctantly revealed a sight that required a moment to fully process due to its sheer improbability.

Kyle Bennett stood at the end of the aisle wearing expensive collegiate clothing, and this was the famous Kyle Bennett everyone knew.

He wore a pristine white t-shirt with dark jeans while gripping his phone tightly in his hand. His frantic expression made him appear completely out of place among the old paper and dust.

We stared at each other in complete silence.

"You," he said.

He delivered the word less as a greeting and more as a sudden realization.

Blinking in surprise, my mouth went dry as I replied, "Me?"

Stepping into the aisle highlighted his impressive height, especially from my vantage point on the floor. Kyle Bennett was known for being tall, and his healthy complexion remained noticeable even under the harsh fluorescent lighting.

"You're Finn," he said. It wasn't a question. "Finn... Parker?"

Scrambling to close my textbook made me feel suddenly exposed because Kyle Bennett rarely interacted with people in my social circle.

"Yeah," I croaked, clearing my throat to speak more clearly. "Yeah. Finn. Can I... help you?"

Kyle remained silent for a moment while checking the main walkway over his shoulder before looking back at me with incredibly intense blue eyes.

"Is anyone sitting here?" he asked, pointing to the empty floor space next to me.

Glancing from the floor to the empty study tables visible through the shelf gaps, my gaze eventually returned to him.

"Uh... no? But there are tables over there," I pointed out.

"I know," he said. "Too open."

Before his words fully registered, the Student Body President and fraternity leader dropped down onto the carpet right next to me.

Instead of sitting gracefully, he collapsed against the metal shelf opposite mine and let out a long, heavy exhale that ruffled his bangs.

Sitting paralyzed just three feet away from him let me detect his expensive, woodsy, citrusy cologne mixed with the faint scent of stale beer.

"Okay," I said slowly, clutching my textbook to my chest. "This is happening."

Turning his head to look at me revealed his slightly bloodshot eyes and a tense jaw, indicating he was genuinely distressed.

"You come here a lot?" he asked.

"Yes," I said, eyeing him warily. "Because it's quiet. Usually."

He let out a short, dry laugh. "Right. Subtle. I get it."

Pulling his knees up and resting his arms on them, he stared at his shoes. "I need to hide for like, twenty minutes. Is that okay? Can I hide here?"

Staring at him in disbelief, I replied, "Hide? From who? The paparazzi?"

Although the snarky joke slipped out unintentionally, Kyle simply grimaced instead of laughing.

"Basically," he muttered. "My ex. And her new... accessory."

"Oh."

Everyone on campus knew about the breakup between Vanessa and Kyle since they were highly popular, yet his presence in the history section proved the separation still deeply affected him.

"Sorry," I said automatically.

"Don't be. She's the worst," he said while rubbing his face with his hands. "I just told her I was meeting someone. A date. And then I walked out."

"Okay," I said, shifting slightly because my leg was falling asleep. "And now you're... here."

"Now I'm here," he repeated.

Dropping his hands to look at me again caused his gaze to sweep over my oversized hoodie, my glasses, and the textbook on my lap, making me feel incredibly self-conscious.

"You're in Nursing, right?" he asked.

Nodding in confirmation, I asked, "Yeah. How do you know that?"

"I pay attention," he said, though his tone suggested he made it his business to know everyone for networking purposes. "And you're always alone."

Feeling irritated, I quickly defended myself. "I'm not always alone. I have friends."

"I know. Sarah and David. Loud girl, tired guy," he replied.

"They have names," I snapped, surprising myself with my own defensive tone.

Kyle blinked in surprise before a slow and genuine smile spread across his face, looking entirely different from his usual public expressions.

"Right. Sorry," he apologized as he leaned his head back against the shelf and closed his eyes. "I just need a minute where I don't have to be... me."

Watching him have a breakdown in the Biography section felt entirely bizarre, leaving me tempted to tell him to find another aisle so I could finish my book.

However, noticing the visible tension in his shoulders made the nursing student and compassionate human being in me reconsider.

"If you're going to hide here," I said quietly while opening my book again, "you have to be quiet. This is a silent zone."

Opening one eye, Kyle asked, "Are you scolding me, Parker?"

"I'm informing you of the rules," I said, looking down at the page to avoid his gaze. "If the librarian catches you making noise, she'll kick us both out. And I have a liver to study."

Kyle stared at me for another long moment, creating a tense atmosphere filled with mutual annoyance and curiosity.

"A liver," he repeated softly.

Instead of leaving or checking his phone, he remained seated in the quiet and dusty aisle right next to me.

For the first time in my life, focusing on the words on the page became completely impossible.