جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 70

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the school grounds, painting the playground and empty sports fields in warm, golden hues. I found myself wandering toward the old running trail behind the football field, the soft crunch of gravel under my sneakers grounding me after a chaotic day of whispers, shoves, and overheard rumors. The tension from Savannah’s latest schemes was still buzzing under my skin, but I was determined to clear my mind before heading home.I rounded a bend in the trail, inhaling deeply. The air smelled faintly of pine and freshly cut grass, a rare respite from the cafeteria drama and family strife. Even Ethan’s constant need for attention felt a little farther away out here. I let my shoulders drop, allowing myself a moment to just… breathe.And then I felt it: a presence. Not like anyone else in the world, but something familiar, deliberate. My pulse quickened, and my instincts prickled, warning me that I wasn’t alone.“Fancy seeing you here,” a deep voic

The night air was thick, humid, and heavy with the scent of the forest. My sneakers crunched against the soft dirt trail as Lucas led the way, his figure barely visible in the dim light of the setting sun. I had no idea why he insisted on taking me along tonight, claiming it was "part of my training," but instinct told me this was something far beyond ordinary schoolwork.“Are you sure you want to do this?” Lucas asked, glancing back at me over his shoulder. His voice was calm and measured, but I caught the slightest edge of concern.I nodded, though my stomach flipped. “Yeah. I want to be ready… for whatever comes.”He gave me a small smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Alright. But stick close to me, okay? Don’t wander off. And Avery…” He hesitated, then added softly, “Be careful.”I nodded again, gripping my backpack straps tighter, trying to steady my nerves.We moved silently, the only sounds our footsteps and the occasional rustle of leaves. The forest felt alive, almos

I should have known better than to think school could be a safe place these days. Savannah was like a storm I could see forming on the horizon but never fully prepare for, and somehow, no matter what I did, she always found a way to strike. But today, it wasn’t Savannah directly that got my attention—it was what I started noticing about Jaxon and the way he moved through his world. The pieces were subtle, almost imperceptible if you weren’t paying close attention. But I couldn’t unsee them once I started noticing.It started at lunch. The cafeteria buzzed with chatter, trays scraping against tables, and the familiar tension in the air made my stomach knot. Savannah was nowhere near me at the moment, which was almost unsettling. I’d gotten used to seeing her green eyes flicker in my direction every few seconds like she was calculating how to ruin my life next. But today, my attention was drawn to Jaxon across the room, leaning casually against the counter, speaking quietly with one of h

The first thing I noticed was the shift in the hallway’s energy. It wasn’t just the usual buzz of students rushing to class or the chatter of gossip; it was something sharper, something predatory beneath the surface. My chest tightened as a faint, almost imperceptible hum ran through me. My instincts—a wordless, primal awareness I was still learning to trust—warned me that something was off.I paused mid-step, my backpack heavy against my shoulders, and scanned the corridor. The lights above flickered briefly, and a cold draft slithered along the tiles. It wasn’t uncommon for old school buildings to have drafts, but I knew better now. My senses didn’t lie.Then I heard it—a faint shift, a step too quiet for the number of people moving in the hallway. Someone was following me, or rather, someone was moving with purpose, deliberate enough that it set off every instinct in my body. My heart hammered, but I forced myself to remain calm. Panic would only make me reckless.I turned a corner,

It was one of those days where the hallways felt smaller than usual, and the noise of lockers slamming and students shuffling amplified like it had a purpose. I moved through the crowds with my backpack slung carelessly over one shoulder, trying to keep my head down. But every instinct in me told me that today, hiding wasn’t going to work.I caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of my eye—a flash of black hair, impossibly blue eyes—and I froze mid-step.Jaxon.He was leaning against a locker a few feet away, arms crossed, that calm, unreadable expression on his face that somehow made my heart thump audibly in my chest. I wanted to look away, to pretend I hadn’t noticed him, but my feet refused to obey.I found myself walking toward him, my senses heightened without even thinking about it. Every step was deliberate, my eyes scanning him, noticing the subtle curve of his jaw, the way his black hair fell just slightly over his forehead, and the glint of mischief—or was it warning