Chapter 4
955 Words
I didn’t sleep.
My body ached, my mind spun, and no matter how much I tried to calm down, I couldn’t forget what happened last night.
I had changed….transformed.
The memory of claws ripping through my skin, the sharpness of my senses, and the rush of power still burned inside me. But the part that haunted me the most was Aiden. He had attacked me. And if Eli hadn’t shown up, I would’ve died.
I touched my neck where Aiden’s claws had nearly pierced through. It felt like a bad dream, except it was real.
Eli had saved me. And in the moonlight, blood dripping down his face, he told me the truth.
He was a werewolf. An alpha.
His pack had been overpowered by a stronger, darker werewolf, one with magic. And Aiden? He had once been Eli’s beta, but things changed. Aiden had feelings for him, feelings Eli couldn’t return.
Now, Aiden wasn’t just a threat to Eli,he was a threat to me.
I squeezed my eyes shut. None of it made sense. Why was I a werewolf? Why now? And what did Aiden want from me?
A knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. It was soft but sharp.
I dragged myself out of bed and opened it.
Ms. Porter stood there, looking as strict as ever. Her eyes swept over the room, searching. “Where’s Ava?”
I froze. She hadn’t come back last night—at least, I didn’t think so.
“I….”
“I’m here,” Ava’s voice rang out from the bathroom. The door swung open, and she stepped out, her hair wrapped in a towel. She shot me a quick smile before turning to Ms. Porter. “What’s up?”
Ms. Porter narrowed her eyes but didn’t say anything about Ava’s sudden appearance. Instead, she clasped her hands behind her back. “Aiden is missing.”
My heart skipped a beat.
Ava tilted her head. “And?”
“He hasn’t been seen since last night,” Ms. Porter said, her voice cold. “He doesn’t have any family listed. No one to contact. We’re questioning everyone who’s had recent contact with him.”
I swallowed hard.
“You’ll both be called in,” she added, turning toward the door. “I expect your cooperation.”
The door clicked shut behind her, leaving the room heavy with silence.
Ava flopped onto her bed and sighed. “Well, that’s weird. You think he’s actually missing, or just skipping?”
I sat on my bed, my thoughts racing. “I don’t think he’s skipping.”
Ava raised a brow. “What do you mean?”
I hesitated, the words burning on my tongue. But after everything I’d seen, I couldn’t keep quiet anymore. “I think… Aiden’s a werewolf.”
For a moment, Ava just stared at me. Then, she laughed. “Okay, sure. And I’m a vampire.”
“I’m serious,” I said, my voice firmer than I expected. “I’ve seen things, Ava. He’s too strong. Too fast. And his eyes—they change.”
Her laughter faded. “You’re not joking, are you?”
“No,” I whispered. “I’m not.”
Ava shifted, her face suddenly unreadable. “Why would you even think that?”
I hesitated. I couldn’t tell her everything….not about Eli, not about my own transformation. But she needed to know enough. “There’s something different about him. I know you’ve noticed it too.”
Ava let out a breath, her fingers twitching in her lap. “And if he is a werewolf… what then?”
I bit my lip. “I don’t know.”
She leaned forward, her expression serious now. “Listen, if what you’re saying is true, you need to be careful. Werewolves aren’t just some fantasy. They’re real.”
I blinked in surprise. “How do you know?”
Ava hesitated, then sighed. “Because my family hunts them.”
My heart slammed in my chest. “What?”
She leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. “My parents are part of a secret group. They track and kill werewolves. I grew up surrounded by their rules, their training.” Her voice softened. “It’s why I came here. To get away from all of it.”
I tried to process what she was saying. Ava, a werewolf hunter?
“And if they find out about Aiden?” I asked quietly.
“They’ll kill him,” she said, no emotion in her voice. “No questions asked.”
I felt a chill run through me. “Would you tell them?”
Ava looked me in the eye. “No. I don’t care about their war. I just want to live my life.”
A tense silence stretched between us before she spoke again. “But you’re acting weird, Nadia. You know more than you’re saying.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but stopped. I couldn’t tell her. Not yet.
“I just… I’m worried,” I said instead.
Ava sighed, brushing a strand of wet hair from her face. “You should be. If Aiden’s a werewolf, things could get messy.” She hesitated. “And for the record, I hope you’re wrong.”
So did I.
The day dragged on, and by the time I was called to Ms. Porter’s office, my nerves were on edge.
The hallway was quiet as I approached her door. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.
I had too many secrets to keep.
And if they found out the truth about me, about Eli, everything would fall apart.
I placed my hand on the doorknob, took another breath, and stepped inside.
- Writer
