Chapter 6: The Morning After (Emma's POV)

I woke up before my alarm and for a second, I just stared at the ceiling. Then it all came rushing back. The forest, the full moon, Lucas and his wolf.

My hand twitched against the blanket. The same hand that had touched his fur.

I lifted it in front of my face and flexed my fingers. Everything looked normal. Five fingers, same skin and same hand.

But it didn't feel the same. It still felt warm, like the spark from last night was trapped under my skin.

The alarm suddenly blared beside me. I jumped and slapped it off.

"Right," I muttered. "School. Because apparently werewolves don't cancel school."

Thankfully I had taken a bath earlier and worn my clothes. So, I dragged myself out of bed. The dishes in the sink were still there and needed my attention.

The cracked paint on my bedroom wall was still there, just like the eviction notice downstairs was probably still there too.

Last night had been impossible.

This morning was painfully normal.

I hated it.

A few minutes later, I walked into the kitchen. Dad had already left, Mom was already washing dishes. Marcus sat at the table drinking coffee.

I froze, bracing myself for the fight that was coming. Normally he'd have some insult ready, some complaint, or some reason why I was ruining his life.

Today he just looked up.

"You look like you didn't sleep."

I blinked. That wasn't what I expected.

"I didn't."

He nodded once.

"Yeah."

That was it. No fight. No yelling. No insults.

Mom glanced between us like she was waiting for an explosion. It never came.

I grabbed a piece of toast and Marcus took another sip of coffee.

For the first time in weeks, being in the same room with him didn't feel like standing in front of a firing squad.

It felt strange.

Almost worse.

"You sick or something?" I asked.

His eyebrow lifted.

"What?"

"You're being nice."

"I'm not being nice."

"You haven't insulted me once."

"Morning's still young."

I almost smiled.

Almost. Then my phone buzzed with a school reminder. Reality crashed back down.

Lucas.

The wolf.

The bond.

I quickly grabbed my bag.

"I'm leaving."

Mom looked up. "Have a good day."

Marcus stared into his coffee.

"Try not to get detention."

I frowned.

"That's your advice?"

"Take it or leave it."

I walked out before he could ruin the moment.

School was worse, way worse. I could barely focus. Mrs. Holloway was explaining something in history class.

I heard every word. I also heard two girls whispering three rows behind me. I heard someone tapping a pencil near the window.

I heard a bird outside. My head snapped toward the window. The sound disappeared.

I swallowed hard. When the bell rang, I practically ran into the hallway. The crowd flooded around me, then another problem hit.

Smells.

Everything smelled stronger.

Perfume, soap, coffee, and food. It was like someone had turned every sense up to maximum.

"What is wrong with me?" I muttered.

"Talking to yourself now?"

Rachel suddenly appeared beside me.

I nearly jumped out of my skin.

She laughed.

"Wow. You look awful."

"Thanks."

"You know what I mean."

I adjusted my backpack.

"I'm tired."

"You look like you got abducted by aliens."

Close enough. Rachel narrowed her eyes.

"Is this about Lucas?"

My heart immediately sped up. Rachel noticed.

"Oh my God."

"No."

"Emma."

"No."

"Emma."

I groaned.

"Drop it."

Her grin widened.

"It is Lucas."

I pointed at her.

"You're annoying."

"You're hiding something."

Before I could answer, the warning bell rang.

Rachel sighed dramatically.

"This conversation isn't over."

"Please let it be over."

"No chance."

She hurried toward class.

I leaned against a locker.

The metal felt cool against my palm.

Then I froze.

I could hear a heartbeat. Steady, and strong.

Close.

My eyes widened. The sound was coming from the other side of the locker.

A student walked past a second later. The heartbeat moved with him. I immediately pulled my hand away.

"What the hell..."

The bell rang again.

I forced myself to breathe.

In.

Out.

Act normal.

Even if nothing felt normal anymore.

Lunch couldn't come fast enough. I sat across from Rachel while she talked about a teacher she hated. I nodded at random intervals.

I hadn't heard a word she'd said. My eyes kept drifting around the cafeteria, looking for him.

I hated that. Rachel finally noticed.

"Okay. You're definitely looking for someone."

"I'm not."

"You literally just checked the room again."

I opened my mouth. A folded piece of paper suddenly landed on my tray.

I looked down.

Rachel frowned.

"What's that?"

"You didn't put this here?"

"No."

My stomach tightened.

Slowly, I unfolded it.

One sentence.

That's all it had.

Don't tell anyone what you saw. For your own safety.

- L

The world seemed to stop.

My grip tightened around the note.

L.

Lucas.

I looked up immediately, across the cafeteria near the windows. There he was.

Sitting alone, eating lunch. Looking completely relaxed, like he hadn't turned into a giant wolf last night.

Like he hadn't shattered my entire understanding of reality. Like he hadn't just sent me a warning.

Rachel leaned forward.

"What does it say?"

I folded the paper instantly.

"Nothing."

"Emma."

"It's nothing."

"You are a terrible liar."

I shoved the note into my pocket and stood up.

Rachel's eyes widened.

"Where are you going?"

I didn't answer.

My legs were already moving.

Students glanced at me as I crossed the cafeteria.

Lucas kept eating, didn't look up and didn't react.

And he didn't acknowledge me at all. The closer I got, the angrier I became. Finally, I reached his table. He still didn't look up.

So I sat down directly across from him. The chair scraped loudly against the floor, then I pulled the note from my pocket.

Dropped it between us.

Only then did Lucas slowly lift his eyes.

Gray met hazel. The same eyes.The same ones I stared into on the wolf.

My pulse kicked hard against my ribs.

His expression didn't change, and neither did mine.

I pointed at the note.

"We need to talk.”