BEYOND THE CAMPUS WALLS

Chapter 9: Chasing Shadows

LOGAN’S POV

Micheal and I walked side by side as we made our way to class, the midday sun shining in its bright rays, a stark contrast to the darkness I felt inside of me. Ariana was still in danger by that damn boogeyman and if I don’t find the boogeyman and destroy it, it will surely come back to get her.

Michael’s boots crunched behind me, his shadow falling across the tracks. “Why do I think the boogeyman is after Ariana because she’s your mate?” he said, his voice low, his hazel eyes scanning the trees.

I shook my head, my fists balling. “I don’t think so. It wouldn’t waste its time on a human with no special powers.” My voice was rough, Talon’s growl bleeding through. “If it chased her because of me, then it would have attacked me too when I showed up but it kept going after her like she had something he needed.”

Micheal sighed softly. “It keeps getting complicated, Logan. The Alpha Council is running out of patience on this case—”

A shout cut him off, distant but sharp, from the quad beyond the trees. My head snapped up, my senses sharpening—heartbeats, laughter, the tang of sweat and coffee. Then whispers, low and urgent, carried on the wind. “Did you hear? Something attacked a girl in the dorms…” My blood ran cold, Jax surging, claws itching beneath my skin.

Micheal’s eyes met mine, his expression grim. “The Boogeyman,” he muttered, already moving toward the quad.

I didn’t wait. My boots pounded the earth as I broke into a run, Micheal at my side, the buildings blurring past. The whispers grew louder as we hit the quad, students clustering in knots, their voices buzzing like flies. “Heard it was the new cheer captain,” a guy said, leaning against a bench, his phone glowing. “Ariana Grandiose, right? Something went after her in the hallway.”

My heart stopped, Jax roaring mate as rage and fear slammed into me. Ariana. Attacked again. I didn’t think, didn’t stop to ask for details. My legs moved, carrying me across the quad, my senses locking onto her scent—it was faint but alive. She was heading to class, somewhere near the lecture halls. I ran faster, my pulse thundering, Michael’s footsteps fading behind me. I didn’t care.

The campus blurred—students parting, their eyes wide as I barreled through. Her scent grew stronger, pulling me toward the arts building, its brick walls looming in the fog. Talon’s instincts screamed, urging me to shift, to tear through anything in my way, but I held it back, my human side clinging to control. I rounded a corner, and there she was—walking alone, her red hair tucked under a hoodie, her shoulders hunched. She glanced back, her green eyes wide with fear, darting to the shadows as if expecting claws to lunge. My chest ached, Talon whining at her terror.

“Ariana!” I called, my voice rough, and she flinched, spinning toward me.

Her face paled, her hands clutching her backpack straps, and I closed the distance, my boots skidding on the pavement. Without thinking, I grabbed her wrist, yanking her off the walkway into a narrow alley between buildings, the shadows shielding us from prying eyes.

She gasped, her body tensing, and I clamped a hand over her mouth before she could scream. “Hey, it’s me,” I whispered, my voice low, urgent. “It’s Logan.”

Her eyes locked on mine, wide and frantic, her breath hot against my palm. I released her, stepping back, my hands shaking as I fought Talon’s urge to pull her close.

She stumbled back, her chest heaving, her freckles stark against her flushed skin. “What the hell, Logan?” Her voice was sharp, but it trembled, fear and anger warring in her gaze.

I gripped her shoulders, turning her gently, my eyes scanning for injuries. Her ankle was still bandaged, her jeans scuffed, but no blood, no claw marks. Relief hit me like a wave, but it didn’t last.

“Are you hurt?” I demanded, my voice rougher than I meant. “I heard what happened. Why didn’t you call me?”

She stared at me, her lips parted, but no words came. Her eyes were glassy, dazed, like she was still trapped in whatever nightmare she’d faced. Talon whined, desperate to protect her, and before I could stop myself, I pulled her into my arms, hugging her tight. Her scent flooded me, grounding me, and I buried my face in her hair, my heart pounding. She was alive. She was here.

Her body stiffened, her hands hanging limp at her sides, and then she shoved me back, her palms slamming into my chest. “What are you doing?” she snapped, her voice cracking, her eyes flashing with confusion. “Let go of me!”

I stepped back, my hands raised, guilt twisting my gut. Why had I hugged her? Why was Talon clawing at me, terrified she’d slip away again? “I’m sorry,” I said, my voice low, raw. “I was just worried.”

Her lips trembled, her arms crossing tight over her chest. “I’m fine,” she muttered, but her voice shook, her eyes darting to the alley’s mouth like she expected the boogeyman to lunge. “You don’t need to… to do this.”

“Do what?” I snapped, frustration bleeding through. “Make sure you’re safe? Ariana, that thing went after you again. I’m not leaving your side.” Talon growled, its instincts screaming to stay close, to protect my mate, no matter what she thought of me.

She shook her head, her red hair spilling free from her hoodie. “I don’t need you to,” she said, her voice steadier now, but her eyes betrayed her fear. “It’s gone, Logan. It won’t come back for a while.”

I frowned, Talon’s senses sharpening. “What do you mean? What happened?” My voice was sharp, my hands itching to reach for her again, to anchor her to me.

She swallowed, her gaze dropping to the pavement, her fingers twisting her sleeve. “It chased me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “In the hallway. I thought I was done for, cornered, no way out. Then this girl… she came out of nowhere. She had a book—a spellbook. She started chanting, and light came from her hands, like magic. It hurt the thing, bad. It screamed and vanished.”

My blood ran cold, Talon stilling. A spellbook. Chanting. A witch. I hadn’t seen one in Ravenswood, not in five years. The boogeyman was a corrupted wolf spirit, immune to most human weapons, but magic? That could wound it. My mind raced, piecing it together. Who was this girl? Where had she come from? And why was she here, now, when the boogeyman was targeting my mate?

“Who was she?” I asked, my voice low, my eyes searching hers.

“Beatrice,” Ariana said, her brow furrowing. “She said I was special, that seeing it meant I was… marked. Then she left.” Her voice shook, and she hugged herself tighter, her fear palpable.

I stepped closer, Talon urging me to comfort her, but I held back, my fists clenching. “You’re not doing this alone,” I said, my tone firm. “I’m walking you to class. No arguments.”

Her eyes flashed, anger cutting through her fear. “No, Logan.” Her voice was sharp, her chin lifting. “You don’t get to decide that. People are already talking—about us, about the car. You following me will make it worse.” Her cheeks flushed, shame flickering in her gaze, and my heart twisted. The rumors. She thought I’d spread them, thought I’d used her.

“Ariana, I didn’t—” I started, but she cut me off, her voice rising.

“I said no!” She stepped back, her hands shaking. “I can handle this. I don’t need you playing my hero, making everyone think…” She trailed off, her eyes glistening, and turned, starting to walk away.

“Ariana, wait,” I called, my voice desperate, Talon howling to follow. “What if it comes back? I’m not letting you face it alone.”

She spun, her eyes blazing. “I told you, it’s gone. I’m not your responsibility, Logan. Just… leave me alone.” Her voice cracked, and she turned again.

Why was she so stubborn? Moon Goddess—why tie me to someone more stubborn than me?