LOGINThe common room was bustling at this hour as students rushed around, getting ready for classes. I made my way to the kitchen and threw a bagel in the toaster, leaning against the counter as I waited.“Callum?”Bianca stepped into view, appearing out of seemingly nowhere. My jaw tightened, wolf insti
Callum’s POVI woke to the feeling of something warm in my chest.For a moment, I almost could have sworn that I had something small and delicate gathered up in my arms. A gentle heart beating against my own. A lock of soft hair fluttering against my cheek.Liora.A smile touched my lips. I tightene
It might have been laughable, had circumstances not been so… sad.“So your parents took it badly, I imagine,” I pointed out.Callum huffed and looked into his bottle. “My dad beat the shit out of me.”I pulled my head back. “He what?”Wordlessly, Callum turned, pulling his shirt up to reveal his bac
Liora’s POVI just barely made it into the parking space before the car let out one final groan, then sputtered to a stop, rocking back and forth on the wheels.“Sorry about that, girl,” I said, patting the steering wheel. “That was a lot more driving in one day than I anticipated.”Shirley almost s
“Twenty lashes,” he said. “We’ll see if you change your mind then.”I grit my teeth. “I don’t have to put up with this anymore.”“Would you rather take it, or would you prefer if that little wolfless whore of yours took it instead?”The moment he said those words, I felt all the blood drain from my
Callum’s POVMy father’s shadow darkened the room.There was a time in my life when my father’s presence seemed enormous and all-consuming, like a black hole filling any space he entered. When I was a child, I remembered thinking that he was big enough to reach the moon, or to blot out the sun.I’d
Callum didn’t respond. Just pressed his lips together like he was holding in something that tasted bitter.I leaned back, eyes drifting to the mirror across from us.My hair curled perfectly today, soft waves pinned with gold clips like little crowns running down my part. My outfit hugged every curv
“Callum!” Bianca’s voice sliced through the air, rising above the music and soft conversation below. “Where did you go?!”And just like that, the spell broke.The tension in my shoulders returned. The weight. The roles.Who was I kidding?Liora was done with me. Done with the silence, the empty glan
Zane Well. Today’s the big day.Homecoming: the first official dance of the school season. A celebration of school spirit, hormonal chaos, and spending an entire week pretending you don’t care about any of it.Except, of course, you do. Everyone does.Even me. Which is unfortunate, really.Because
I nearly smirked.“So,” Mia stepped forward, scanning the vending machine. “I was wondering, Liora, and I know there’s been a lot going on, but could we practice some dancing tonight? For homecoming? I feel like I still don’t know what I’m doing.”I nodded as her coconut water clunked free. “Sure. N







