[Zeph's POV]

The dull ache in my side was a constant, thrumming reminder of my reckless escape. My body protested every step, a symphony of bruises and strained muscles from the hurried fall I’d taken to avoid the beast. The fall was bad, but not as bad as the bruising on my shoulders and arms, which I'd gotten from fighting with my own Alpha.

As I made my way through the deserted halls of Emberwood High School, the quiet was jarring after the night's chaos. I kept to the shadows, my ...