The day dragged on like a nightmare for Evelyn. Every class felt like an eternity as her mind replayed the terrifying encounter from that morning. Alaric's cold, menacing gaze and the overwhelming power he had unleashed were etched into her thoughts. She could barely focus on anything else—every glance from her classmates seemed distant, every word spoken by the teachers fell on deaf ears. All she could think about was the creature that lurked beneath Alaric's calm demeanor.
He's not the same, Evelyn thought over and over again. Something changed in him, and it's terrifying.
Her heart raced every time Alaric entered her line of sight. He seemed completely unfazed, casually conversing with his friends, as if nothing had happened. But Evelyn knew better—she had seen the darkness behind his eyes, the raw, untamed power that he barely kept in check. It was something far more dangerous than she had ever encountered.
