Claws And Cartels Chapter 6

Title: The Aura of Silence

Jerry’s POV

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Sasha tilted her head, studying me like I was some kind of puzzle.

“You’re new here, right? You don’t look like the type to sneak into classrooms.”

I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck. “Yeah, I’m new. And I’m not sneaking. Just… lost.”

She smirked. “Sure. Lost in an empty classroom.”

“I’m here because I saw you. He who asks questions never gets lost.”

“Unless he’s asking the wrong person.” She said it with sarcasm, and we both burst into laughter.

“Right,” we chorused. She giggled, then the place fell silent. Not awkward—comfortable. Like two souls bonding through a conversation.

Something about her voice calmed me. Normally, new people set off alarms in my head—too loud, too bright, too much. But Sasha wasn’t like that. The air around her was quiet. Chill. We’d definitely get along. I was already starting to like this school.

“What grade are you in?” I asked.

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

“Starting soon, I guess. My parents are still deciding.”

“Well, good luck. Crescent isn’t exactly paradise, but it’s a good school.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Why’s that?”

“You’ll see.” Her smile was faint, mysterious.

Before I could ask more, the principal’s voice echoed down the hall, calling my name.

“Guess I better go,” I muttered.

“Try not to get lost again,” Sasha teased.

I rushed back to the office. Dad was leaning forward, grilling the principal like a detective.

“How do you handle fights on campus? What’s your policy on discipline? What about physical training?”

The principal cleared his throat. “We value order, Mr. Levin. Crescent is strict but fair.”

I caught Mom’s expression—she wasn’t convinced. Her smile was strained, her eyes darting to Dad with that not again look.

“Levin, it’s just a school,” she whispered.

Dad’s jaw tightened. “Not just a school. The right environment matters.” His eyes flicked to me, heavy with meaning I didn’t understand.

Something about the principal’s grin unsettled me. Too polite. Too rehearsed. Like he wanted us here by all means.

We walked through the hallways. Students stared, whispering, but I ignored them. My wolf stirred as we passed the library, like something inside was calling me. My chest burned faintly.

“Hey, you’re spacing out again,” Mom said, squeezing my shoulder.

“I’m fine,” I lied.

I spotted Sasha again. She gave me a small wave, her eyes sparkling with amusement. For a moment, it felt like I was just a normal kid touring a normal school.

“Who’s that?” Mom asked.

“Just… someone I met,” I said quickly.

Dad noticed too. His stare was sharp, but he didn’t say anything.

The principal jumped in, making things more awkward. “It’s a good thing you’ve made friends already. Crescent High thrives on healthy relationships between students.”

I forced a smile, but my mind was still stuck on Sasha.

The school tour dragged on forever. Boring. The stares from left, right, and center made it worse.

“Finally,” I sighed, sliding into the back seat. My parents said goodbye to the principal and joined me.

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

“Definitely. I’m starving,” Mom said.

“Wow… ummm… yummy. I love it,” I mumbled between bites.

“See how he’s struggling to talk? You better not choke on it.” Mom teased, though I caught a little jealousy in her voice. We usually couldn’t afford this.

Over dinner, Dad’s voice cut through the clutter of spoons. “So Jerry, which of the four schools will you be joining tomorrow?”

“Crescent High,” I said almost instantly.

“Why Crescent?” Mom asked.

That caught me off guard.

Dad was pouring himself a drink. He didn’t look up. “Wow. I see,” he said, then burst into laughter.

“What’s funny?” Mom asked.

“You haven’t figured it out? It’s obviously because of that girl.” Dad laughed again.

For a moment, Mom actually smiled. She coughed out a laugh, then snapped back into her serious face.

Nobody wanted to ruin such a beautiful night, so we kept our skeletons in the cupboard until it was time to say goodnight.

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

The moment I closed my eyes, I was in a forest. The moonlight was red and bright. The wolf appeared again. Bigger this time. Its aura stronger, its fur longer, its crimson eyes blazing.

This time it spoke.

A single word rumbled through the air, shaking my bones: “Vasilias.”

The sound echoed in my skull. My knees buckled, my chest burned, and my vision flared. I could see everything—the veins on leaves, insects crawling in the soil, even shadows shifting behind trees.

The wolf growled, low and thunderous.

My body jolted awake. I sat up, staring at the window like someone possessed. “Not again…” I whispered as sadness washed through me.

My heart was racing. I’d been sleeping less lately. The room was dark, yet I could see everything clear as day. Strange… but part of me liked this new vision.

Then I heard it. Like a whisper.

The words were in the same strange language from my dream. I didn’t understand, but my wolf did.

“They’re watching.”

Chills shot through me. My head spun. My legs stiffened, but something inside urged me forward.

I rose, opened the window, and stepped onto the balcony. My eyes scanned the forest—slow, searching, miles deep into the night.

Then I saw them. Two humans, hidden in the shadows. Watching me.

A growl tore from my throat. I leapt from the balcony, landing on all fours.

I launched forward at full speed. Within seconds, I closed the gap. My claws slammed the first one into a tree with a sickening crack.

The second didn’t even have time to scream. My hands gripped him, tearing with raw, furious strength.

And then there was silence.