The sun was barely peeking over the horizon as Alaric made his way to school. The crisp morning air carried with it a sense of normalcy that he had long grown suspicious of. His thoughts were occupied with the events of the previous night—the message from his grandfather, the tension between vampires and werewolves, and the unease that had crept into Evelyn's demeanor recently. Yet, as he entered the school grounds, he reminded himself that, for now, he needed to play his role as just another student.
The usual morning chatter of students filled the air as Alaric approached his group of friends. They greeted him with easy smiles, clearly looking forward to another day of lighthearted banter. It was a welcome break from the darker thoughts that constantly loomed in the back of his mind.
"Hey, Alaric!" Darion called out, waving him over. "You look like you could use a coffee or three. Late night?"
