CHAPTER 3

Nate was finally sleeping—really sleeping—when the banging started.

His eyes cracked open, squinting against the harsh light streaming in through the blinds. At least he felt a little better. The headache that had nearly split his skull was dull now, a faint pressure instead of a sledgehammer. He could still hear things he shouldn’t but somehow, his brain had adjusted to it.

He trudged toward the door, dragging his feet as the pounding grew louder. Whoever it was clearly had no concept of mercy.

When he pulled the door open, his best friend was waiting.

Liam stood there holding a pizza box stacked on top of a box of donuts, with two bottles of soda tucked under his arm. His dark ponytail was damp with sweat, his tank top sticking to his chest.

“Hello?” Liam said, raising a brow. “Don’t just stand there. Let me in it’s freaking hot out here.”

Nate stepped aside, too tired to argue, as Liam brushed past him and dumped everything onto the nightstand like he was moving in.

“What the hell, man?” Liam said around a mouthful of pizza, settling onto Nate’s desk. “I leave you alone for one day and suddenly everyone’s talking about how you bumped into Kieran freaking Drew and mouthed off to Felix. Do you have a death wish?”

The smell of melted cheese hit Nate, reminding him just how hungry he was. He grabbed a slice, muttering, “The universe has to be against me, I swear.” One bite in and he nearly moaned.

“Rumor has it he dragged you into an empty classroom and you guys fucked.”

Nate choked so violently he nearly dropped his pizza. “Wait—what? No! I did not sleep with Kieran fucking Drew. I don’t even know him. And even if I did I’m straight.”

He could feel sweat prickling his palms. The memory of Kieran pressing him against the door flickered in his head his nose brushing Nate’s neck, the growl low in his throat. Nate’s chest tightened, and he turned away quickly, flopping onto the bed.

No. Absolutely not. Kieran was hot—insanely hot—even Nate could admit that. But Nate loved boobs. Always had. Always would.

“That’s too bad,” Liam said with a dreamy little sigh. “Because if what people on campus say is true, then Kieran’s apparently an amazing fuck.”

“You’re just a sexaholic,” Nate muttered, tossing a pillow at his face.

Liam caught it and grinned. He was proudly bi, confident in ways Nate secretly envied.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing. Personally? I bet I could top Kieran.” Liam leaned back with a wicked smirk. “Although, let’s be real, I wouldn’t mind spreading for him either. I’m not picky.”

Nate groaned, shoving another slice of pizza into his mouth. But despite himself, a laugh slipped out along with an image he did not need in his head: Kieran Drew on the receiving end of anything.

“Speaking of rumors—” Liam licked pizza sauce off his thumb, tone suddenly serious, “they said a kid was found dead in the woods this morning.”

Nate sat up straighter, his appetite vanishing.

“Apparently, he died the night of that party we went to, your birthday. Reports say it was a wild animal attack. Crazy, right?”

Nate felt his blood run cold.

His mind snapped back to golden eyes gleaming in the dark, to the hot pain searing through his shoulder, teeth sinking deep. His stomach lurched. No… not crazy. Real. That night, something happened. And it didn’t just mess with that kid. It messed with me.

“Nate?” Liam’s voice cut through his spiraling thoughts. He was watching him, brows pulled together in concern. “What are you thinking about?”

Nate forced his face blank. “Nothing. Just… feeling bad for the kid, I guess. I’m gonna get some water.”

He pushed off the bed too fast, stumbling into the kitchen corner. His hands trembled as he filled a glass, the memory of that night clinging to him. He was shaking so badly the glass slipped from his grip and hit the tile with a sharp crash, exploding into glittering shards.

“Shit.”

He crouched, grabbing a broom from the corner and sweeping fast, but his nerves made him clumsy. A jagged shard caught under his heel. He hissed as it sliced into his foot.

Nate winced, raising his leg as warm blood seeped from the wound 

His heart stopped.

Right in front of him, the wound began to close skin tugging together, knitting slowly stitching it shut. He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t even blink.

Nate stared, frozen, as the last sliver of raw flesh sealed over, smooth and flawless. Within seconds, it was gone. No pain. No scar.

The only evidence the cut had ever existed was the smear of blood still glistening on his skin.

His stomach lurched.

The shard of glass slipped from his fingers, clinking against the rest on the floor.

From the other room, Liam called out, “You good, man?”

Nate swallowed hard, staring at his uninjured foot, his pulse thundering in his ears.

No. He wasn’t good. Not even close.

“Yeah, I’m good just broke a glass cup,” Nate called back. He swept up the rest of the shards quickly and dumped them in the trash, then wiped the streak of blood off the floor.

Before heading back to the room, he looked down at his leg one more time. Perfect skin. No mark. No scar. It was like nothing had ever happened except he knew it had.

*

*

Strange things kept happening to Nate, each one proving something was terribly wrong with him. He was stronger than before. Faster. He wouldn’t have thought much of it if not for the time he nearly ripped his own dorm door off its hinges just trying to open it. 

So he’d made up his mind: tonight, he’d go back to the woods. The same woods where it had started. Maybe he’d find a clue anything to explain what was happening to him.

For now, though, he was stuck in the cafeteria with his friends. Liam sat beside him, while Harley and Ben were across the table, the three of them deep in a discussion about an assignment due next week.

Nate’s mind wasn’t in it.

“Nate,” Harley said, snapping her fingers to get his attention. “I asked if you’re fine with meeting at Ben’s place tomorrow at six?”

“Yeah. Sure. No problem.” Nate forced a smile, though he hadn’t heard a word of the plan.

That was when he felt it like someone trying to burn a hole straight through the back of his neck. His skin prickled, every hair standing on end. He shifted in his chair, uneasy, and turned.

Kieran Drew.

He was across the hall, lounging with his crew, but his gaze was locked solely on Nate. Cold. Sharp. Intense.

He didn’t even look away when Nate caught him. He just kept staring. And then slowly Kieran smiled.

The kind of smile that wasn’t friendly at all.

A shiver rolled down Nate’s spine.

What the hell did he want from me?

“I’ve got to go, Liam. Just remembered I’ve got… something. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

Before Liam could respond, Nate was already out of the cafeteria, moving fast.

His chest was tight. Why had Kieran been looking at him like that? Unhinged. Predatory. And why the hell had he and his pack even been in the cafeteria they never ate there before.

Nate cut through the hall toward the library, trying to shake it off. That was when a hand shot out, yanking him sideways. He stumbled, dragged into another empty classroom.

His back hit the wall hard.

Deja vu.

“Are you running from me, little lamb?”

Of course. Kieran.

He stepped closer, pressing into Nate until his front was pinned firmly against the wall. The weight of him too much.

“Running from a predator,” Kieran murmured, his breath brushing Nate’s ear, “only makes you look like prey.” His hips shifted, locking Nate in place with terrifying ease.

Rage surged through Nate’s veins. “What do you want from me?” he seethed. He was done. Done with the headaches, the stares, the way Kieran was turning his life inside out. He thrashed against the hold, fury breaking loose.

But Kieran didn’t budge.

“Calm yourself, little wolf.” His voice was smooth, dark, certain. “You don’t want to cause a scene… do you?”

Nate froze.

He could feel something huge pressing against his back, choking on a sharp breath when Kieran ground against him. Heat shot through his body in a way he didn’t want to name. Kieran’s nose brushed the column of his throat, inhaling deeply before a low, satisfied moan escaped him.

“You smell so good,” Kieran murmured. “So different.”

Nate’s stomach twisted. Horrified. What the hell was he even talking about?

“Let go of me, you crazy fuck!” Nate shouted, thrashing wildly against his grip.

For a moment, Kieran didn’t budge. Then he pulled back, slow and deliberate, like he was releasing prey he fully intended to catch again. His smile was sharp, unsettling.

“Oh, little wolf,” he said softly, “you won’t be able to run from me forever.”

And with that, he turned and walked out of the classroom as if nothing had happened, leaving Nate pressed against the wall, breathless and shaking.

Nate’s chest heaved. His skin burned where Kieran had touched him, his mind reeling with the echo of those words. Little wolf.

Something was wrong with him seriously wrong. And if Kieran knew what it was, Nate was going to find out.

No more running. No more pretending.

Tonight, he’d go back to the woods. And he wouldn’t leave without answers.