Chapter 6

Jerry’s POV

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“Hey, you’re new, right?” Sasha said, tilting her head, her eyes sizing me up like I was a puzzle. She sat at her desk, pen tapping her notebook.

I chuckled, rubbing my neck, my cheeks warm. “Yeah, new. Not sneaking or anything, just… lost.”

She smirked, her voice light. “Lost in an empty classroom? Sure.”

“I saw you, okay? Gotta ask someone to find my way,” I said, grinning.

“Unless you ask the wrong person,” she shot back, sarcasm dripping. We both laughed, the sound bouncing off the walls.

“Right,” we said together, and she giggled. The air went quiet, but not weird—calm, like we clicked. Her voice was different, soothing, not like the usual noise that made my head scream. Normally, new people were too much—too loud, too bright. But Sasha was chill, like a cool breeze on a hot day. My wolf settled, and I thought maybe Crescent High wouldn’t be so bad.

“What grade you in?” I asked, leaning against a desk.

“Second year,” she said, tapping her pen. “You?”

“Starting soon, I guess. My parents are still picking a school,” I said, my stomach twisting at the thought of Mom and Dad arguing again.

“Good luck. Crescent’s not perfect, but it’s solid,” she said, her smile small but mysterious.

“Why’s that?” I asked, curious.

“You’ll see,” she said, her eyes glinting like she knew something I didn’t.

Before I could push, the principal’s voice boomed down the hall, calling my name. “Gotta go,” I muttered, my heart sinking.

“Don’t get lost again,” Sasha teased, her grin making my chest feel light.

I hurried back to the office. Dad was grilling the principal like a cop, his voice sharp. “How do you handle fights? What’s your discipline policy? Physical training?”

The principal cleared his throat, nervous. “We keep order, Mr. Levin. Crescent’s strict but fair.”

Mom’s smile was tight, her eyes flicking to Dad with a look that said, not again. “Levin, it’s just a school,” she whispered, her voice tired.

Dad’s jaw clenched. “It’s not just a school. The right place matters.” His eyes hit me, heavy, like he saw something in me I couldn’t.

The principal’s grin bugged me—too fake, too eager, like he needed us here. We walked the halls, kids staring, whispering. My wolf stirred as we passed the library, a weird burn in my chest, like something was pulling me. I shook it off, but it lingered.

“You spacing out again?” Mom said, squeezing my shoulder, her touch warm but shaky.

“I’m fine,” I lied, my voice low. My head was still spinning from earlier—those red eyes in the mirror, that name, Vasilias Lykaon, echoing like a warning.

I caught Sasha’s wave from across the hall, her eyes sparkling. For a second, I felt normal, just a kid at a school. “Who’s that?” Mom asked, curious.

“Just someone I met,” I said quick, my cheeks hot.

Dad’s stare was sharp, but he stayed quiet. The principal jumped in, making it weird. “It’s great you’re making friends. Crescent thrives on student bonds.”

I forced a smile, but Sasha was stuck in my head—her laugh, her calm vibe. The tour dragged on, boring, the stares from kids making my skin crawl.

“Finally,” I sighed, sliding into the car. Mom and Dad said bye to the principal and got in.

“Who’s up for pizza?” Dad asked, pulling near Domino’s.

“Me! I’m starving,” Mom said, her voice lighter.

“Yum,” I mumbled, biting into the cheesy slice, my stomach happy.

“Slow down, kid, don’t choke,” Mom teased, but her eyes had a hint of jealousy. We didn’t get pizza much back home.

At dinner, Dad’s voice cut through the clink of spoons. “So, Jerry, which school you picking for tomorrow?”

“Crescent High,” I said fast, no hesitation.

“Why Crescent?” Mom asked, her brow raised.

I froze, my slice halfway to my mouth. Dad poured his drink, not looking up. “Wow, I see,” he said, then laughed loud.

“What’s funny?” Mom asked, confused.

“It’s that girl,” Dad said, still chuckling. “Obvious.”

Mom laughed too, a real smile breaking through, but it faded quick. We all went quiet, not wanting to ruin the night. Our problems could wait.

I hugged Mom and headed to my room. “Goodnight, Dad,” I called.

When I closed my eyes, I was in a forest, red moonlight glowing bright. The wolf was back—bigger, fur longer, crimson eyes blazing. It spoke, its voice shaking my bones: “Vasilias.”

My chest burned, my vision sharp—I could see everything, leaves’ veins, bugs in the dirt, shadows moving behind trees. The wolf growled, deep and loud.

I jolted awake, heart racing, staring at the window like it held answers. “Not again,” I whispered, sadness hitting hard. I barely slept anymore, my room dark but clear as day to my eyes. It was weird, but part of me liked it, this new sharpness.

Then I heard it—a whisper, in that strange language from the dream. My wolf understood: “They’re watching.”

Chills ran through me, my head spinning, legs stiff. But something pushed me forward. I got up, opened the window, and stepped onto the balcony. My eyes scanned the forest, slow, piercing the night.

There they were—two figures, hidden in the shadows, watching me. A growl ripped from my throat. I leapt from the balcony, landing on all fours, my body moving before my brain caught up.

I closed the gap in seconds, my claws slamming the first one into a tree with a sickening crack. The second didn’t have time to scream. My hands gripped him, tearing with a strength I didn’t know I had.

Then, silence.

My heart pounded, my hands shaking as I stood over them. The forest was still, the red moonlight fading. My wolf was quiet, but I wasn’t. What was I becoming? That name—Vasilias—kept echoing, tying me to something bigger, something scary. I thought of Mom, her tired smile, her fear. Dad’s stare, like he knew something I didn’t. Even Sasha’s calm voice couldn’t drown it out. Crescent High was supposed to be a fresh start, but it felt like a trap, like those shadows in the woods, waiting for me.