Chapter 4 – The Arrogant Stranger

The first week at Wolf Academy taught me something unexpected. People didn't ignore everyone. Only me. Just me. I was beginning to recognize faces around campus. Students greeted one another in the corridors, laughed together between lectures, and argued over assignments as if they had known each other for years. Then I walked by. Conversations didn't stop. They simply... shifted. Enough for me to notice. Not enough for anyone to admit it. By lunchtime, I had almost convinced myself I no longer cared. Almost. I balanced my lunch tray with one hand while searching for another empty table. There were plenty. Just not beside anyone else. I sighed.

"At least I'm consistent."

A laugh reached my ears. Low. Amused.

"Talking to yourself already?"

I turned. A blond man leaned casually against one of the stone columns, a coffee cup resting in his hand. He looked about my age, maybe a little older. Unlike Rafael's quiet confidence, this stranger carried himself like the entire courtyard belonged to him. Black eyes studied me with open curiosity. Not politely. Confidently. As though looking away had never occurred to him.

"You've been watching me," I said.

"I have."

No denial. No embarrassment. Just honesty.

"That's a little creepy."

"So I've been told."

He pushed himself away from the column and walked toward me. Students noticed. Several stepped aside before he reached them. Interesting. Another important student.

"I don't remember inviting you," I said.

"You didn't."

"Then why are you here?"

He smiled.

"I was curious."

"About?"

"The human."

There it was again. The human. Not Violet. Not the new student. Just... the human.

"For your information my name is Violet."

"I know."

"Then use it."

"I'll think about it."

I narrowed my eyes.

"I don't like arrogant people."

His smile widened.

"Good."

That wasn't the reaction I expected.

"Why?"

"They're usually the only ones honest enough to admit what they want."

I folded my arms.

"And what exactly do you want?"

"You."

The answer came so quickly that I almost dropped my tray. He watched my expression with obvious satisfaction. Then he laughed. A genuine laugh.

"You should have seen your face."

I rolled my eyes.

"You're impossible."

"I've heard that too."

"I suppose you collect complaints."

"I collect interesting people."

"And apparently humans."

"Especially humans."

I shook my head.

"I have class."

"So do I."

"Then why aren't you there?"

"Because I'm talking to you."

"That's your choice."

"It is."

I stepped around him. He moved with me. Not blocking my path. Simply matching my pace.

"So," he said, "have you figured out why you're here?"

"No."

"Neither has anyone else."

"That doesn't make me feel better."

"It wasn't supposed to."

I looked sideways at him. For someone who smiled so easily, his eyes were strangely unreadable.

"What are you studying?" he asked.

"Architecture."

"Really?"

"What?"

"I expected something boring."

I stopped walking.

"There she is."

"What?"

"The fire."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You've been polite since we met."

He tilted his head.

"I wanted to see if you had a temper."

"You deliberately annoyed me?"

"It worked."

I stared at him. Then, despite myself... I laughed. Just once. His smile disappeared. Not because he was upset. Because he looked surprised.

"You have a nice laugh," he said quietly.

The compliment caught me off guard.

"So you're capable of saying something normal."

"I never claimed otherwise."

I shook my head again.

"You still haven't told me your name."

He held my gaze for a moment.

"Matteo."

Somehow... It suited him.

"I'm Violet."

"I know."

"Right."

A bell echoed across the campus. Students immediately began moving toward the lecture halls.

"I really do have class now," I said.

"So do I."

"Then stop following me."

"I wasn't following you."

"No?"

"I was walking in the same direction."

"Convenient."

"I thought so."

I couldn't help smiling.

Barely. But enough for him to notice.

"There it is again," he said.

"What?"

"That smile."

I immediately looked away.

"I don't smile that much."

"You just did."

"I won't make that mistake again."

"You will."

His confidence was almost irritating. Almost. I reached the steps leading toward the academic building.

Before climbing them, I turned back.

"Goodbye, Matteo."

"It won't be."

"What?"

"The last time we meet."

He said it with complete certainty. Not hope. Not arrogance. Certainty. I gave him one final look before disappearing inside. Just before the doors closed behind me, I glanced back. Matteo was still standing exactly where I'd left him. He wasn't smiling anymore. He wasn't talking. He was simply... watching me. Then, for the briefest moment, something changed. His jaw tightened. His shoulders became rigid. He lifted a hand and pressed it against his chest, as if something beneath his ribs had caught him off guard. It almost looked as though he were listening to someone I couldn't hear. Then he blinked. The smile returned. I frowned. Maybe this academy was even stranger than I thought.