Chapter seven
1987 Words
By the third day, Layla stopped telling herself it was her imagination.
Something was wrong.
It started small—so small she almost laughed it off. A shadow that lingered too long behind her as she walked across campus.
At first, she blamed the night at the club.
The music. The darkness. The way everything had felt… off.
And him.
Layla shoved that thought away as she hurried across the university courtyard,
You’re overthinking, she told herself.
But her body didn’t agree.
Her shoulders were tense. Her senses felt… sharpened,
There it was again.
That feeling.
Someone was watching her.
Slowly, Layla turned.
Nothing.
Just students. A couple arguing over notes. A guy on his phone. A group taking selfies.
“Okay,” she whispered under her breath, forcing a shaky breath. “Get it together.”
She pushed open the library doors and stepped inside.
The moment she crossed the threshold, the feeling faded.
She moved deeper into the library, weaving between shelves until she reached her usual corner.
She sat down, pulling out her laptop, but her attention refused to settle. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as her mind replayed everything.
The club.
The glowing eyes.
Him.
The way he had looked at her.
Not like a stranger.
Not even like prey.
Something else.
Something that made her chest tighten in a way she didn’t understand.
“Stop,” she muttered, pressing her fingers to her temples. “Just stop.”
She needed normal.
She needed facts.
She needed—
Her gaze dropped to her wrist.
The mark.
It had changed.
Layla froze.
It wasn’t faint anymore.
What had once looked like a barely-there bruise had deepened into something darker—more defined. The lines curved and twisted in an intricate pattern, almost like a symbol.
No.
Not almost.
It was a symbol.
She stared at it, her stomach tightening.
“I didn’t draw this,” she whispered.
And it didn’t look like a rash.
Or a bruise.
Or anything normal.
It looked intentional.
Ancient.
Alive.
A sudden chill crawled up her spine.
Layla quickly tugged her sleeve down, covering it as if hiding it would make it less real.
It didn’t.
The rest of the day passed in a blur.
She left campus earlier than usual, The walk to her apartment wasn’t long, but today it felt different.
Too quiet.
Too still.
Even the usual street noise seemed muted, like something had pressed a hand over the world and told it to hush.
Layla quickened her pace.
Her heartbeat thudded in her ears.
Don’t panic.
You’re fine.
You’re—
A footstep echoed behind her.
Clear.
Close.
Layla stopped.
Silence.
Slowly, she turned.
Empty street.
Her breath came out uneven.
“This is ridiculous,” she said, louder this time, as if convincing herself.
She turned back around—
And started walking again.
Faster.
The streetlights flickered above her.
One by one.
A soft buzz.
Then another.
Layla’s chest tightened.
Something was wrong.
Really wrong.
Her instincts screamed now.
Run.
She didn’t question it.
Layla broke into a sprint.
A growl cut through the air.
Low.
Inhuman.
Her blood turned to ice.
Layla stumbled to a stop.
“No…” she whispered.
Another sound.
Closer.
A shape moved in the darkness ahead.
Too big.
Too fast.
Her pulse spiked.
“What—what is that?” she breathed.
The creature stepped into the dim glow of a streetlight.
And Layla’s world shattered.
It wasn’t human.
It looked like a wolf—but larger. Its body was massive, muscles rippling beneath dark fur, its eyes glowing with a feral, unnatural light.
Its lips curled back, revealing sharp, gleaming teeth.
A snarl ripped from its throat.
Layla couldn’t move.
Her mind refused to process what she was seeing.
This isn’t real.
This isn’t—
The creature lunged.
Layla screamed.
She turned and ran, adrenaline flooding her system as pure terror took over. Her legs burned, her breath tore from her lungs, but she didn’t stop.
Behind her—
The sound of claws hitting pavement.
Fast.
Too fast.
It was gaining on her.
“No, no, no—”
Her foot caught on something.
Layla fell hard, pain exploding through her palms as she hit the ground.
She scrambled backward, her vision blurring with panic.
The creature stalked toward her now, slower, deliberate.
Her chest heaved.
“Please…” she whispered, her voice shaking. “Please don’t—”
The wolf lunged.
A blur of motion slammed into it mid-air.
A second body.
A crash of force.
The two creatures hit the ground in a violent tangle of claws and teeth.
Layla stared, frozen.
Another wolf.
No—
Not just another.
Bigger.
Stronger.
Faster.
The new one moved with terrifying precision, intercepting every attack, countering with brutal efficiency. A snarl ripped from its throat—deeper, more powerful.
Dominant.
The first wolf faltered.
Just for a second.
It was enough.
The larger wolf struck.
A decisive, crushing blow that sent the other skidding across the pavement.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Tense.
The defeated wolf staggered to its feet, letting out a low, warning growl—before turning and disappearing into the shadows.
Gone.
Just like that.
Layla’s breathing was ragged.
Her hands trembled.
Slowly—so slowly—the remaining wolf turned toward her.
Her heart stopped.
Those eyes.
She knew those eyes.
Even now.
Even like this.
Recognition hit her like a wave.
“No…” she whispered.
The wolf stepped closer.
Layla flinched, pressing herself back against the cold ground.
“Stay back,” she said, her voice barely holding together. “Don’t come any closer.”
It didn’t listen.
Of course it didn’t.
It kept moving toward her, steady and controlled, its gaze locked on hers.
Not wild.
Not mindless.
Focused.
Intent.
Her pulse pounded.
“You’re going to kill me,” she breathed.
The wolf stopped.
Just a few feet away.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then—
Something shifted.
The air changed.
The wolf’s body tensed—
And began to… change.
Layla’s eyes widened in horror.
Bones moved.
Reshaped.
Fur receded.
The massive form twisted, compressing, reforming—
Until a man stood where the wolf had been.
Her breath caught.
Him.
Kane.
He was bare-chested, his body marked with faint scratches and shadows of battle, his chest rising and falling steadily as if what had just happened meant nothing.
Like it was normal.
Layla’s mind reeled.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “No, that’s not possible.”
Kane didn’t answer.
He just looked at her.
That same intense, unreadable gaze.
“You—” Her voice broke. “You’re… that thing.”
His expression darkened slightly.
“That ‘thing’,” he said, his voice low and controlled, “just saved your life.”
Layla flinched.
“I didn’t ask you to!”
“You didn’t need to.”
Something in his tone made her chest tighten.
Anger.
Possession.
Certainty.
Layla pushed herself up, her legs unsteady as she backed away from him.
“Stay away from me,” she said. “Whatever you are—whatever this is—I want nothing to do with it.”
A lie.
She felt it the moment she said it.
Because even now—
Even after everything—
Something inside her pulled toward him.
Kane took a step forward.
Layla’s breath hitched.
“I told you to stay back.”
“You’re not safe,” he said.
“I was fine before you showed up!”
“No,” he said, sharper now. “You weren’t.”
The word cut through her.
Because deep down—
She knew he was right.
Layla swallowed hard.
“What was that thing?” she asked.
Kane didn’t hesitate.
“Rogue.”
The word meant nothing to her.
“It tried to kill me!”
“Yes.”
“And you’re just—what—okay with that?!”
His jaw tightened.
“This is not your world.”
Layla let out a disbelieving laugh.
“Yeah, I figured that out when a giant wolf tried to rip my throat out!”
Silence stretched between them.
Heavy.
Charged.
Kane’s gaze flicked briefly to her wrist.
Layla instinctively covered it.
Too late.
His expression shifted.
Darkened.
“What is that?” she demanded.
He didn’t answer.
“Kane.”
The way she said his name—
It did something to him.
She saw it.
A flicker.
Gone just as quickly.
“You need to come with me,” he said.
“No.”
It came out instantly.
Firm.
Final.
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“That wasn’t a request.”
Layla’s fear flared into anger.
“Then it’s a good thing I’m not asking for your permission.”
For a moment, they just stared at each other.
A silent clash.
Then—
Kane exhaled slowly.
Like he was forcing himself to hold back.
“More will come,” he said. “You won’t survive it alone.”
Layla hesitated.
Just for a second.
Because she believed him.
She hated that she believed him.
“I don’t trust you,” she said quietly.
“Good,” he replied. “You shouldn’t.”
That wasn’t the answer she expected.
It threw her off balance.
“But you’re coming with me anyway.”
Layla shook her head.
“No.”
Kane stepped closer.
This time—
She didn’t move back.
Her heart raced.
Her instincts screamed.
But her feet stayed rooted to the ground.
“You don’t understand what you are,” he said.
“Then explain it!”
“I can’t.”
“Or you won’t?”
His silence was answer enough.
Layla clenched her fists.
“I’m not going anywhere until you start talking.”
Kane studied her for a long moment.
Then—
“You’re marked,” he said.
Her stomach dropped.
“I noticed.”
“It shouldn’t be possible.”
“Great. That makes me feel so much better.”
His gaze hardened.
“That mark is the reason they’re coming for you.”
Layla’s breath caught.
“They?”
“Rogues. Others.” A pause. “Worse things.”
A chill slid down her spine.
“And you?” she asked. “What are you?”
Kane held her gaze.
Then, quietly—
“Your only chance of staying alive.”
Layla stared at him.
Her mind screamed to run.
To get as far away from him as possible.
But her body—
Her instincts—
They whispered something else.
Stay.
Her fingers tightened at her sides.
“This is insane,” she murmured.
“Yes.”
“None of this makes sense.”
“No.”
“And you expect me to just… go with you?”
Kane didn’t look away.
“Yes.”
Silence.
Long.
Heavy.
Layla closed her eyes for a brief moment.
Then opened them.
“…Fine.”
The word surprised even her.
Kane’s expression didn’t change—but something in his posture shifted. Subtle.
Relief.
Victory.
She couldn’t tell.
“But if you’re lying to me—”
“I’m not.”
“If you hurt me—”
“I won’t.”
Layla held his gaze.
“Then start explaining.”
Kane glanced toward the shadows where the rogue had disappeared.
His expression darkened.
“Not here.”
Layla followed his gaze.
The fear returned.
Sharp.
Immediate.
“…Okay,” she said quietly.
Kane looked back at her.
For a moment—
Just a moment—
Something softer flickered in his eyes.
Then it was gone.
“Stay close,” he said.
Layla hesitated.
Then stepped toward him.
And the moment she did—
The mark on her wrist burned.
She gasped, grabbing it.
Kane’s eyes snapped to it.
The air shifted.
Something unseen—
Something dangerous—
was coming.
And this time—
It felt worse.
Much worse.
- Writer
