Chapter 17 An Unexpected Encounter
1472 Words
Stephanie froze in place.
Her heart pounded violently as she stared ahead.
“Ian…”
His name slipped from her lips in a whisper, but it was enough.
Ian slowly lifted his head.
His eyes widened as he looked at her, as if he were seeing a ghost.
He didn’t move for a few seconds…
As if his mind refused to believe what his eyes were seeing.
“Stephanie…?”
He said it quietly, uncertainly, as if the word itself felt heavy on his tongue.
He took a step forward.
Then another.
His eyes never left her face.
“Is… is this real?”
Stephanie stood there, unsure what to do.
Part of her wanted to run to him.
Another part remembered Arlen’s threats.
And before she could speak—
Arlen moved.
One step was enough for him to stand directly in front of her.
His broad body blocked Ian’s view of her.
He looked at him with deadly coldness.
“Step away.”
The words were short…
But heavy.
Ian froze.
Then finally looked at him.
He was slightly taller… broader in the shoulders… and his sharp features carried something unsettling.
But the anger inside Ian was stronger.
“Who are you?” he demanded sharply.
Arlen didn’t answer.
He simply looked at him with a cold gaze… as if his existence wasn’t even worth acknowledging.
Ian quickly turned back to Stephanie.
“Stephanie… what’s going on? Where have you been?! I’ve been looking for you everywhere!”
Her heart tightened.
She wanted to answer.
But she felt Arlen’s hand tighten around her wrist.
A silent warning.
His words echoed in her mind.
“Anyone you talk to… dies.”
She swallowed her words.
“I… I’m fine.”
She said it quickly.
But Ian didn’t believe her.
He stepped closer.
“Fine? You disappeared for an entire month! And now you suddenly show up with—”
He stopped.
Then looked sharply at Arlen.
“With this guy?”
Arlen slowly raised an eyebrow.
“Watch your words,” he said coldly.
Ian let out a sarcastic laugh.
“Or what?”
Silence fell between them.
But the air suddenly felt heavy.
Dangerously heavy.
Stephanie felt like something was about to happen.
Something bad.
She quickly raised her hand.
“Ian… please.”
He immediately looked at her.
Her eyes were silently begging him to stop.
He didn’t understand why…
But something in her expression made him hesitate.
Arlen used that moment.
He stepped closer to Ian.
Very close.
Then said in a low voice only he could hear:
“Stay away from her… if you want to stay alive.”
Ian froze.
A strange chill ran down his spine.
He didn’t understand why…
But this man was different.
Terrifying… in a way that felt unnatural.
He stepped back half a step.
But his eyes remained fixed on Stephanie.
“We’ll finish this conversation later.”
He said it slowly.
Then added while looking at her:
“I won’t lose you again.”
Stephanie’s heart trembled.
But before she could reply—
Arlen grabbed her hand and pulled her away.
“We’re late,” he said coldly.
She walked beside him in silence.
But she couldn’t stop herself from turning back.
Ian was still standing there.
Watching her.
His eyes filled with questions.
With doubt.
With worry.
Arlen felt his gaze.
His jaw tightened.
“That human… knows you well,” he murmured.
She didn’t answer.
She simply said calmly:
“He’s my friend.”
Arlen’s steps suddenly stopped.
Slowly.
He turned to look at her.
His eyes had grown darker.
Colder.
More dangerous.
“I told you…”
His voice dropped lower.
“No men come near you.”
She shivered.
But she lifted her chin stubbornly.
“I said friend.”
He stared at her for a long moment…
Then said slowly, in a frightening tone:
“We’ll see… how long your friend stays alive.”
They entered the large lecture hall of the Faculty of Science.
Stephanie walked in with hesitant steps.
The seats were almost full, and the room buzzed with whispers and laughter from the students.
But to her…
Everything felt strange after being away from this world for an entire month.
She sat in one of the middle seats.
Arlen sat beside her.
His large frame made the chair look almost too small.
Just as they settled—
The professor entered.
Silence fell over the hall.
He began explaining in a monotonous voice.
“As you know, today we will review the basics before starting the new chapter…”
Most students opened their notebooks.
But Arlen…
Did nothing.
He leaned his head back slightly…
Then closed one eye.
The other remained half open.
His breathing slowed.
Calm.
Steady.
Sleeping.
But not completely.
Stephanie blinked several times as she stared at him.
She whispered to herself in disbelief:
“Is… he sleeping?”
She leaned closer to check.
And yes…
He was.
But only with one eye closed.
The other remained half open.
Watching.
She studied his face for a moment.
Then leaned back slightly and muttered:
“Even the way he sleeps is creepy.”
But after a moment…
A small smile appeared on her face.
Perfect.
Finally, I can have a little peace.
She glanced at the professor.
Still explaining.
The students were busy writing.
Then she looked at the door.
Slowly…
She picked up her bag.
Then stood quietly.
One step.
Then another down the aisle.
Her heart was racing.
I’ll just step out for a minute… he won’t notice.
But—
Before she reached the end of the row…
A strong hand suddenly closed around her wrist.
She froze.
Slowly turning back.
Arlen.
Still sitting in his seat.
But his open eye was staring straight at her.
Calm.
Terrifyingly calm.
“Where are you going?”
She stammered.
“I… just…”
He pulled her slightly back toward the seat.
“The lecture isn’t over.”
She glared at him and whispered:
“But you’re sleeping!”
He slowly raised an eyebrow.
“I’m listening.”
She pointed at his closed eye.
“With one eye?”
He leaned closer and whispered:
“Another advantage… of being a werewolf.”
A shiver ran down her spine.
“That’s cheating,” she muttered.
A rare smile appeared on his lips.
“Precaution.”
Then he leaned back again.
“Sit.”
She hesitated…
But eventually sat down.
Muttering under her breath:
“Even your sleep is terrifying.”
Arlen finally closed his other eye.
But a faint smile remained on his lips.
As if he had enjoyed ruining her little escape plan.
Outside…
Right in front of the lecture hall door.
A student stopped, slightly out of breath.
He had been late.
Just one minute.
He reached for the door.
But before he could open it—
The door opened slightly and the professor appeared.
He looked at him coldly.
“Professor, I’m sorry. I’m only one minute late.”
But the professor’s expression didn’t change.
“The lecture has started.”
“But—”
“The rules are clear.”
And he shut the door in his face.
The student stood there for a moment.
His hand clenched tightly.
One minute…
Just one minute.
He took a slow breath, trying to calm himself.
But anger was already rising inside him.
He leaned against the wall opposite the hall.
His eyes drifting toward the door.
Behind that door…
Stephanie was sitting.
Her name alone was enough to ignite something dark inside him.
Throughout high school…
She had always been first.
First place.
And he…
Had always been second.
In grades.
In competitions.
In teachers’ attention.
Even among the students…
Everyone loved her.
Praised her.
The perfect student.
Smart.
Hardworking.
And he…
Was nothing but her shadow.
A good student…
But never the best.
He had tried for years to convince himself it didn’t matter.
Tried to ignore the feeling gnawing at his chest every time he heard her name announced.
“Top student: Stephanie…”
“Congratulations to Stephanie…”
“Once again, first place goes to Stephanie…”
He would smile.
But inside…
He burned.
For years he tried to deny that reality.
But now…
He denied nothing.
He looked at the closed door coldly.
“As long as you exist…”
He whispered.
Then a cold smile formed on his lips.
A smile without warmth.
“I will always remain second.”
He lifted his head slightly.
His eyes darkened.
“And that…”
“…will not happen anymore.”
He pushed himself away from the wall.
Cast one last look at the lecture hall door.
Then slowly walked away.
But only one thought echoed in his mind.
If Stephanie didn’t disappear from the path…
Nothing would ever change.
- Writer
