CHAPTER 4

**Chapter 4**

**Shadows**

I left the dorm later than I should have.

The meeting with Lorenzo the night before still sat under my skin, his hand on my jaw. The way my wolf had leaned into his dominance instead of fighting it. The heat that had nothing to do with fear I told myself it was just the power, just the shock of everything breaking open, I almost believed it.

Almost.

The path behind the library was quieter after dark. I took it because the main walkway still felt too exposed with too many eyes, too many whispers. My wolf had been restless all day, reacting to every sudden sound, every lingering stare, I needed the dark, I needed to breathe.

I didn’t get the chance.

A hand closed around my wrist and pulled me sideways into the narrow gap between the library wall and the old storage building, my back hit cold stone, a body followed, solid and close, pinning me there before I could even think about fighting.

CASSIAN DEVEREUX.

I knew it was him before I saw his face. The way he moved, Silent, Majestic like the shadows themselves had decided to take shape.

His dark brown hair fell slightly into his icy blue eyes, tan glowing skin with Lean frame that somehow still felt bigger than me in the tight space. He didn’t speak at first, just leaned in and inhaled deeply at the side of my throat.

My wolf surged so hard I had to clench my teeth.

“Interesting,” he said quietly. His voice was low, almost soft. It still carried a hit of nonchalance in it. “Lorenzo was right, you do smell different when you’re trying to hide.”

I pushed against his chest. He didn’t move.

“Let me go.”

“Not yet.” One of his hands braced against the wall beside my head. The other settled lightly at my waist, fingers spreading just enough to hold me still. He wasn’t hurting me, he didn’t need to. The way he crowded me was enough “You’ve been walking around all day like nothing happened, impressive, most people would still be shaking.”

“I said let me go.”

Cassian’s eyes flicked down to my mouth, then back up “Your wolf doesn’t want me to. She’s pushing toward me right now and I can feel it.”

Heat flooded my face and lower. I tried to shove it down traitorous and fast my wolf refused. She was wide awake, curious, restless under the weight of another Apex’s attention.

He noticed.

A low, satisfied sound left him almost a hum. He pressed a fraction closer, until the heat of his body soaked through my uniform.

“There it is,” he murmured “That little spike, You’re fighting it hard. I like that.”

“Get off me.”

“In a minute.” His thumb moved against my waist, slow, testing. “Lorenzo thinks he has you handled, he doesn’t, not completely. Your secret is already spreading further than he wants and I’ve been watching you longer than he has. The way you hold yourself in class,the way your power leaks when you’re angry and the way your wolf flinches every time someone gets too close.”

My pulse hammered. I hated that he could smell every reaction. I hated that part of me wasn’t entirely disgusted by how close he was.

“What do you want?” I asked.

“To understand what you are.” His head tilted slightly. The icy blue of his eyes looked almost silver in the dark. “Your energy doesn’t feel like a normal wolf not even a strong one, there’s something underneath it, something you’ve been burying for months.”

“You don’t know anything about me.”

“I know enough.” He leaned in again, nose almost brushing the skin under my ear with another slow inhale. This time my wolf made a soft, involuntary sound inside my head that was far too close to want. Cassian went still for half a second, then that quiet, pleased sound came again.

“You’re getting wet,” he said, voice almost conversational. “Just from this, from me standing here and not even kissing you. That’s going to be a problem for you, Elara.”

Shame and heat crashed together so hard I felt dizzy. “Shut up.”

“Make me.”

I shoved harder. This time he allowed a little space, but not enough to escape, his hand at my waist tightened just enough to remind me who was in control of the moment.

“Lorenzo isn’t the only one who knows now,” he said “And he won’t be the only one interested. Valentino has already started asking questions. The instructors are watching your sister is watching, someone left that note in your locker for a reason, you’re not safe not even a little.”

“Then why corner me like this?”

“Because I wanted to see if the stories were true.” His thumb traced a slow line along the edge of my jaw, the same place Lorenzo had touched the night before. The comparison sent another unwanted rush of heat through me “They are. Your body gives you away every time. Next time we’re alone, you won’t be able to hide how much you want this, any of it.”

He held my eyes for another long second. Then he stepped back into the deeper shadows between the buildings.

One moment he was there.

The next he was gone.

I stayed against the wall, breathing hard, thighs pressed together, furious at my own body and the two Apex Alphas who seemed determined to ruin every wall I had left.

My wolf was still pacing still hungry.

And somewhere in the dark, I could still feel eyes on me.