KILL ME AGAIN!

Chapter 5

The next morning, I woke up with one very clear thought.

I was done investigating.

No more old books.

No more mysterious symbols.

No more chasing strangers across university grounds.

And absolutely no more replying to unknown numbers.

I had spent the better part of the night staring at the ceiling and trying to convince myself that I wasn't slowly losing my mind.

It wasn't working.

I got dressed, tied my hair back, and deliberately left the old book on my desk.

I wasn't touching it.

I wasn't opening it.

I wasn't even thinking about it.

That was the plan.

It lasted until I walked downstairs.

My mother was standing at the kitchen counter, staring at something in her hands.

She looked up when she heard me.

For a second, her expression changed.

Not much.

Just enough for me to notice.

“Morning.”

“Good morning.”

She quickly folded whatever she was holding and slipped it into the pocket of her robe.

I frowned.

“What was that?”

“What?”

“The thing you were holding.”

“Nothing.”

I stared at her.

She stared back.

Something about the moment felt strangely familiar.

Then she smiled.

“Eat your breakfast.”

I didn't move.

“Mum.”

“Arielle.”

“You're being weird.”

“So are you.”

I narrowed my eyes.

She laughed softly.

“Sit down.”

I did.

But I couldn't stop thinking about what I'd seen.

It was probably nothing.

Probably.

I ate in silence.

My mother kept glancing at me.

Finally, she spoke.

“You've been asking strange questions lately.”

My fork stopped halfway to my mouth.

“What questions?”

“About old stories.”

I lowered the fork.

“How do you know that?”

She hesitated.

“I heard you talking about them.”

“When?”

“Yesterday.”

I didn't remember talking about old stories with her.

Not once.

“What did I say?”

She looked away.

“Nothing important.”

That answer bothered me more than it should have.

“Did I mention the First Moon?”

Her hand tightened around the cup she was holding.

Only for a second.

But I saw it.

“Yes.”

My stomach twisted.

“Why?”

“I don't know.”

“You're lying.”

She sighed.

“Arielle, some things are better left alone.”

The words made my skin prickle.

I stared at her.

“Why does everyone keep saying things like that?”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing.”

I pushed my plate away.

She watched me carefully.

“Be careful.”

I looked up.

“Of what?”

She didn't answer.

Instead, she turned toward the sink.

I sat there for several seconds.

Then I stood.

“I'll be late.”

She nodded.

I grabbed my bag and left.

The moment I stepped outside, I felt lighter.

Not because I felt safe.

Because I finally had space to breathe.

I walked to university slowly.

The morning air was cool, and the streets were quieter than usual.

For once, I didn't check my phone.

I didn't want to.

I didn't want another message.

I didn't want another clue.

I wanted one ordinary day.

Just one.

When I reached campus, Selene was waiting near the library.

She waved when she saw me.

“You're late.”

“Everyone keeps saying that.”

“Because you're always late.”

“I have a complicated relationship with time.”

“You have a complicated relationship with responsibility.”

I laughed.

She looked at me for a moment.

“You okay?”

I nodded.

“Yeah.”

“Actually?”

“Actually.”

She seemed satisfied.

We walked toward our lecture hall together.

I didn't tell her about my conversation with my mother.

I didn't tell her about the old book.

And I definitely didn't tell her that I was starting to suspect my family knew more than they were saying.

For now, I kept it to myself.

The lecture passed quickly.

Then another.

By lunchtime, I was almost beginning to relax.

Maybe I could do this.

Maybe I could stop looking for answers.

Maybe the strange things would stop if I stopped chasing them.

Then I saw him.

The older man.

Lucius.

I didn't know his name yet.

He stood at the far end of the courtyard, speaking to someone.

I recognized him immediately.

The same dark clothes.

The same unreadable expression.

The same eyes that seemed to notice everything.

My steps slowed.

Selene noticed.

“What?”

“That man.”

She followed my gaze.

“Which one?”

“The older man.”

She squinted.

“He's not a student.”

“I know.”

“Do you know him?”

“No.”

“Then why are you staring at him?”

I didn't answer.

Because he was looking directly at me.

The conversation beside him had stopped.

The other man walked away.

Lucius remained where he was.

Watching.

Then he began walking toward us.

My heart started beating faster.

Selene shifted closer to me.

“Do you want to leave?”

Before I could answer, Lucius stopped several feet away.

“Arielle Vey?”

My stomach dropped.

I hadn't told him my name.

“Yes?”

His eyes moved over my face.

For the briefest second, something almost like recognition crossed his expression.

Then it disappeared.

“I apologize for approaching you.”

His voice was calm.

Controlled.

“Do I know you?”

“No.”

The answer came too quickly.

I frowned.

“Then how do you know my name?”

He paused.

“Your family is known to the council.”

The council.

I had heard of them.

Every werewolf had.

The Royal Council was responsible for maintaining order between the major packs and advising the Alpha King.

But there was something about the way he said it that made me uneasy.

“What does the council want with my family?”

“Nothing.”

He looked at me.

“Not yet.”

I stared at him.

Selene stepped forward.

“Who are you?”

His gaze shifted to her.

“Lucius.”

He said it as though the name should have meant something.

Maybe it did.

I had heard it before.

Somewhere.

I just couldn't remember where.

“Lucius what?”

He smiled faintly.

“Just Lucius.”

That was strange.

Very strange.

He looked back at me.

“I only came to offer you some advice.”

“What kind?”

“Stay away from things you don't understand.”

My chest tightened.

The old book.

The messages.

The symbol.

Was he talking about them?

I forced myself to remain calm.

“What things?”

His expression didn't change.

“You'll know.”

Then he turned and walked away.

I watched him disappear into the crowd.

Selene stared after him.

“What the hell was that?”

“I don't know.”

“You definitely know more than you're telling me.”

“I don't.”

She looked at me.

I looked back.

Neither of us spoke.

Then my phone vibrated.

My stomach dropped.

I pulled it from my pocket.

Unknown number.

One message.

He's watching you.

I looked toward the direction Lucius had disappeared.

Another message arrived.

But he's not the one you should fear.

I stared at the screen.

My fingers went cold.

A third message appeared.

Not yet.

I swallowed.

“Who is it?”

I locked the phone.

“Nothing.”

Selene sighed.

“You're terrible at lying.”

“I know.”

We started walking again.

Neither of us spoke for several minutes.

Then something strange happened.

A breeze moved through the courtyard.

It wasn't particularly strong.

But for one brief second, I caught a scent.

Something unfamiliar.

Cold.

Clean.

Almost like rain falling over stone.

I stopped.

My heart gave a strange little beat.

I didn't know why.

I didn't know what it meant.

And my wolf remained completely silent.

As always.

I looked around.

Nothing.

Just students.

Buildings.

Trees.

The ordinary world continuing around me.

I shook my head and kept walking.

I didn't know what I had forgotten.

I didn't know why everyone seemed to know more about my life than I did.

But I was beginning to understand one thing.

Someone didn't want me to remember something.