The sun dipped low beneath the sprawling trees surrounding Lunar Heights Academy, casting long shadows across the courtyard. Ava kept her head down as she walked briskly toward the dining hall, her heart pounding against the weight of the day's events. The tension among the packs seemed to pulse in the air, a silent but oppressive current that no one could ignore.
"Hey, you!" a voice snapped behind her. Ava halted, feeling her pulse quicken as she turned. Selene Hawthorne stood a few feet away, her eyes narrowing in a way that made Ava's skin prickle. "What are you doing here all by yourself?" Selene's tone was laced with a mockery that Ava had grown used to but still dreaded.
Ava straightened her shoulders, trying to keep her composure. "I'm just going to dinner," she said, her voice steady despite the knot of fear in her stomach. She had expected this kind of encounter; it was only a matter of time before Selene's suspicion found her again.
"Dinner?" Selene stepped closer, looking Ava up and down. "You think you can walk around here unnoticed? Do you really think you belong here with the rest of us?"
Ava swallowed, feeling the sharp edge of fear cutting through her resolve. She hated the feeling of having to defend herself constantly, but she couldn't afford to back down now. Not in front of everyone. "I don't see why I shouldn't be here," she said, her voice firm. "I'm just a student like everyone else."
Selene's lips curled into a sneer. "Just a student?" She stepped even closer, her scent laced with the hint of malice. "You think you can just walk around pretending you don't know what you are?"
Ava blinked, confusion mixing with the fear that still held her captive. She wasn't sure what Selene was getting at, but the look in Selene's eyes held a challenge, something more than just simple disdain. And there was an edge of truth that seemed to linger, like a hidden message that hovered just beyond her grasp.
Before Ava could react, someone stepped between them. Damon Ashford's tall figure appeared out of nowhere, his presence almost a physical barrier. He glared at Selene, his fists clenched at his sides. "Enough, Selene," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "This isn't doing anyone any good."
Selene hesitated, a hint of frustration flashing across her face before she turned sharply on her heel and walked away without another word. Ava released a breath she didn't know she'd been holding, watching as Damon's intense gaze met hers.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly, almost as if he were afraid to be heard. "I didn't mean for her to—"
"I'm fine," Ava said, trying to keep her tone steady. "Thanks for stepping in."
Damon didn't respond immediately. Instead, he took a deep breath, his gaze softening as he stared down at her. There was a quiet strength in his eyes, a silent promise that seemed to linger. "I don't like the way she treats you," he said finally, as though it were something that had been gnawing at him for a while.
Ava nodded, feeling a strange warmth spread inside her. There was something about Damon's protectiveness that was different from what she had expected. It was not just about defending her; it was more about understanding. She could sense a deeper connection forming between them, one that she didn't quite understand herself yet.
Before she could think more, a loud whistle echoed across the courtyard. Students began to move quickly, the air buzzing with urgency. Ava and Damon turned toward the noise, just in time to see a group of guards sprinting toward the entrance of the main building. Orion Blackwood appeared moments later, his face taut with worry.
"What's happening?" Damon whispered under his breath.
Ava could see the alarm in Orion's expression, the concern that flashed in his sharp blue eyes. She wanted to ask what was wrong, but something told her it wasn't the time. Instead, she watched as Orion barked orders, his tone crisp and commanding, and then his gaze shifted back to Ava, an intensity in his stare that sent a shiver down her spine.
Suddenly, her thoughts drifted to the secrets Orion was keeping, to the way he seemed to know so much about her and yet remained guarded. Ava felt a pang of uncertainty, but it was quickly buried as Damon reached out to touch her arm gently.
"We'll find out what's going on," he murmured. "I promise."
The sudden calm in his voice was reassuring, but Ava could feel the tension tightening around her. Something was wrong, and she could feel it deep in her gut, just beneath the surface. And whatever it was, it felt tied to the hidden parts of her past that were waiting to be uncovered.
As the guards led the way and students moved quickly, Ava felt a strange mix of excitement and dread. She was being pulled into the center of a storm she couldn't yet understand, and deep down, she knew there was more to her than she had ever thought. The truth was closing in, and she was finally ready to face it, whatever the cost.