Ava clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as the whispers followed her down the corridor. She ignored the sneers, the sly glances from Selene's circle, and the mockery that seemed to thrive wherever she went. But today, it wasn't Selene's cruelty that weighed on her—it was the words Damon had left her with.
"You're not as invisible as you think, Ava."
The memory of his voice, low and sharp like a blade, refused to leave her mind. She shook her head, focusing instead on reaching the library before the first class. Books were safe, quiet, and free of the judgment that seemed to permeate the rest of Lunar Heights Academy.
But when she turned the corner, her path was blocked.
"Morning, Ava," Lucas drawled, leaning casually against the doorway with an easy smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Her stomach twisted. She wasn't ready for another of his games. "Move," she said evenly, keeping her voice steady.
Lucas didn't budge. "What's the rush? Running from something—or someone?"
Her silence seemed to amuse him. He pushed off the doorframe, his hands tucked into his pockets as he stepped closer. "You know," he said softly, "you're quite the mystery. A babysitter's daughter, yet somehow in the Alpha's favor. What are you hiding, Ava?"
She flinched. Lucas was too perceptive for her liking. "Nothing," she said, her voice firmer now. "Now, if you'll excuse me—"
His hand shot out, blocking her path. "You might fool everyone else, but not me. People don't just... end up here by accident. Especially not people like you."
Her pulse quickened, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. "Let go," she said coldly, her voice unwavering despite the storm brewing inside her.
Before Lucas could reply, a low growl echoed from behind. The hairs on Ava's neck stood on end.
"Is there a problem here?" Damon's voice was calm, but the tension in his tone was unmistakable.
Lucas's smirk widened as he turned to face him. "No problem at all. Just having a chat with our new friend here."
Damon stepped forward, his presence commanding the space. "I don't think she's interested in your kind of chat."
Ava's heart raced as she looked between the two of them. The air crackled with an intensity she couldn't place—animosity, history, something deeper.
Lucas chuckled, backing away with his hands raised in mock surrender. "Relax, Ashford. No harm done." He glanced at Ava, his smirk softening into something unreadable. "For now."
He walked away, leaving the tension thick in his wake.
Ava turned to Damon, her voice sharp. "I didn't need your help."
He arched a brow. "Didn't look that way."
"I had it under control," she insisted, though she wasn't sure if she believed it herself.
Damon studied her for a moment, his gaze intense but unreadable. "You should be more careful. People like Lucas aren't playing games."
"And what about you?" she shot back, unable to keep the edge out of her voice. "What are you playing at?"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stepped closer, his voice low. "I don't play games, Ava. Remember that."
Before she could respond, he was gone, leaving her standing in the hallway, her thoughts a tangled mess.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Ava avoided Selene's icy glares and Lucas's probing questions, keeping her head down and her focus on her classes. But when the final bell rang, her relief was short-lived.
"Meet me after class," Lila whispered as they left the lecture hall. Her friend's usual cheerfulness was gone, replaced by a seriousness that made Ava uneasy.
"What's wrong?" Ava asked.
"Not here," Lila said, glancing around nervously. "Just... meet me in the courtyard."
Ava nodded, her unease growing as she watched Lila hurry off. She waited until the hallways cleared before making her way to the courtyard, the shadows of the evening stretching long across the stone paths.
When she arrived, Lila was pacing, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She looked up as Ava approached, her expression grim.
"You need to be careful," Lila said without preamble.
Ava frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Damon. Lucas. Even Selene. They're all watching you."
Ava's stomach twisted. "What do you mean?"
Lila hesitated, glancing over her shoulder as if expecting someone to appear. "People are talking, Ava. About you. About why you're here."
"I've done nothing wrong," Ava said, her voice firm.
"I know that," Lila said quickly. "But it doesn't matter. Rumors don't need to be true to cause trouble. And with the way things are... you're a target."
Ava opened her mouth to respond, but a sudden movement in the shadows caught her attention.
"Who's there?" she called, her voice steady despite the fear creeping up her spine.
Silence.
Lila stepped closer, her eyes wide. "We should go."
But before they could move, a figure stepped out of the shadows.
"Leaving so soon?"
The voice was smooth, familiar. Lucas.
Ava's chest tightened. "What do you want?"
Lucas smiled, though there was no warmth in it. "To talk. Away from prying eyes."
"She's not going anywhere with you," Lila said, stepping in front of Ava.
Lucas's smile faltered, his gaze hardening. "This doesn't concern you."
"Everything that concerns her concerns me," Lila shot back, her voice trembling but determined.
The tension thickened, the air heavy with unspoken threats. Ava grabbed Lila's arm, pulling her back.
"It's fine," she said softly. "I'll handle this."
Lila hesitated but eventually nodded, her eyes filled with worry as she stepped back.
Lucas gestured for Ava to follow, leading her deeper into the shadows.
When they were alone, he turned to her, his expression unreadable. "You're not who you say you are, Ava. And it's only a matter of time before everyone knows it."
Her heart pounded, but she forced herself to stay calm. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Lucas leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Yes, you do. And so does Damon. The question is... how long do you think you can keep it a secret?"
Before she could respond, a deafening howl echoed through the night, sending chills down her spine.
"Looks like your time's up," Luc
as said, his smirk returning.
Ava turned toward the sound, her blood running cold. Something—or someone—was coming.