Lena Grant navigated the crowded hallways of Ravenwood High, her eyes scanning the sea of familiar faces. Her long, curly brown hair often hid her face, which was scarred from a childhood accident. A faint, jagged line ran from the corner of her left eyebrow to the edge of her lip, giving her a perpetually quirky look.
As a junior, she'd grown accustomed to the whispers and snickers that followed her everywhere.
"You're such a loser, Lena," Tiffany, the head cheerleader, sneered, flanked by her loyal entourage. "I mean, seriously, you're still a virgin? What's wrong with you?"
Lena's cheeks flushed, but she refused to give them the satisfaction of a reaction. She'd learned to tune out the bullying, to focus on her studies and her own interests.
But the sting of their words lingered, echoing the doubts she'd harbored for months. Why was she still single? Why hadn't she found someone special?
As she walked, lost in thought, Lena collided with a tall, athletic figure. Apologetic, she looked up to meet piercing blue eyes and chiseled features.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," she stuttered, her heart racing.
The stranger smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "No worries, I'm fine."
Lena's gaze lingered on him, taking in the expensive watch on his wrist and the confident air that surrounded him like an aura. Unbeknownst to her, this stranger was Kaelin Darkshadow, a powerful hybrid vampire with a mysterious past.
Kaelin's eyes narrowed, his thoughts consumed by the enigmatic girl. There was something about her that drew him in, something he couldn't quite explain. Little did he know, Lena possessed an unseen power inside her, a power that had yet to be activated.
As Lena disappeared into the crowd, Kaelin's gaze followed her, his curiosity piqued. Across the hallway, Asher Blackwood watched the exchange with interest. His eyes, a deep, piercing brown, seemed to bore into Lena's very soul.
Asher's thoughts were a jumble of curiosity and wariness. Who was this girl, and why did she seem to be drawing Kaelin in? He'd have to keep a close eye on her, for his own sake, and for the sake of those around him.
Unbeknownst to Lena, Asher was a powerful werewolf, one with a troubled past and a hidden connection to Kaelin. They were brothers, separated by a centuries-old deception that had erased their memories of each other.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Lena gathered her belongings, unaware of the two pairs of eyes watching her. She walked out of the school building, into the crisp afternoon air, feeling an eerie sense of being followed.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the parking lot, sending leaves swirling around her. Lena spun around, but there was no one there. The wind died down, leaving an unsettling silence in its wake.
And then, a low, raspy voice whispered her name:
"Lena..."
Lena's heart skipped a beat. She spun around, but there was no one in sight. The voice seemed to come from all around her, echoing off the trees.
"Who's there?" she called out, trying to keep her voice steady.
But there was only silence.
Lena's eyes scanned the parking lot, her senses on high alert. She knew she wasn't alone. Something was watching her, waiting for her.
And then, everything went black.