My pulse thundered in my ears as I stared out the library’s glass wall, Lucius’s silhouette burned into my vision like a brand. His mocking wave lingered, a taunt that said he wasn’t just hunting me—he knew something about Aiden. Dragon. The word from his text clawed at me, sharp as the silver dagger in my pocket. How could he know? I hadn’t even confirmed what Aiden was, only felt that smoky, primal scent that made my wolf snarl and yearn in ways I couldn’t explain. I shoved my phone into my bag, my hands shaking, and forced myself to turn away from the window. Lucius was gone, melted into the night, but his threat hung heavy, a noose tightening around my neck.

Aiden was already at the library door, his broad shoulders filling the frame as he glanced back at me. “You coming, Voss? Or you planning to live here?” His tone was casual, but his green eyes narrowed, like he’d caught the edge of my panic.

“Yeah, just… packing up,” I mumbled, shoving my mythology notes into my backpack. My fingers brushed the dagger’s hilt, its cold metal grounding me. I couldn’t let Aiden see me unraveling. Not when Lucius was circling, not when my wolf was stirring, threatening to break free in a way it never had before. I slung my bag over my shoulder and hurried after him, my sneakers squeaking on the polished floor.

The full moon was now obscured by clouds, and the campus quad was a tangle of shadows outside. The slight hum of city life—car horns, faraway laughter, the throb of Eldridge City's nightlife—and the autumnal chill permeated the air. With a smooth stride and a light swing of his gym bag, Aiden strode forward. I kept my distance, my eyes darting to every corner, expecting Lucius’s amber gaze to flare from the darkness. My wolf senses, usually dull, were razor-sharp tonight, picking up every rustle of leaves, every flicker of movement. And that scent—Aiden’s scent—fire and ancient power, wrapped around me like a spell, pulling at something deep and dangerous inside.

“You’re quiet,” Aiden said suddenly, slowing to let me catch up. His voice was low, almost curious, and it jolted me out of my spiraling thoughts. “What’s got you so jumpy, nerd?”

I bristled at the nickname, my crush on him warring with irritation. “Maybe I’m just tired of babysitting a jock who can’t read a syllabus,” I snapped, sharper than I meant. My nerves were frayed, Lucius’s text looping in my mind: You and the dragon. Aiden didn’t know I’d sensed something off about him, but I couldn’t shake the feeling he was hiding more than bad grades.

He laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that sent a shiver through me. “Touchy. Guess I deserve that.”

He stopped under a streetlamp, the light catching the faint scar above his eyebrow, making his face look sharper, more dangerous. “But seriously, you look like you’re about to bolt. Something up?”

His concern, however slight, threw me. Aiden Blackwood didn’t care about anyone, not the girls throwing themselves at him, not his teammates, and definitely not me. But his eyes held mine, steady and searching, and for a stupid, reckless moment, I wanted to tell him everything—Lucius, the pack, my unshifted curse. Instead, I clutched my bag tighter, the dagger’s weight a reminder of my reality.

“Just… long day,” I said, forcing a shrug. “Let’s get to the next session tomorrow. Don’t be late.”

He smirked, but before he could reply, a shout cut through the quad. “Yo, Blackwood!” A skinny freshman, all gangly limbs and nervous energy, sprinted toward us, his backpack bouncing. I recognized him—Tim or Tom, some kid who hung around the basketball team, always trying too hard. His face was pale, eyes wide with fear. “You gotta come quick, man. Some dude’s messing with your brother by the gym!”

Aiden’s demeanor shifted, his smirk vanishing, replaced by something cold and lethal. “Who?” he demanded, his voice a growl that sent a prickle down my spine. My wolf stirred again, reacting to the sudden intensity radiating from him.

“Dunno, some big guy with scars,” the kid stammered. “He’s got Thorne pinned, talking about… about dragons or some shit.”

My blood froze. Lucius. It had to be. But how did he know about Thorne, Aiden’s brother? My mind raced, connecting dots I wasn’t ready to face. Aiden didn’t wait for more details. He took off toward the gym, his speed unnatural, almost inhuman. I hesitated, then followed, my wolf instincts overriding my fear. If Lucius was targeting Aiden’s brother, this wasn’t just about me anymore.

The gym loomed ahead, its floodlights casting long shadows across the parking lot. I could hear the scuffle before I saw it—grunts, the scrape of boots, a low, menacing laugh I knew too well. Aiden reached the scene first, and I skidded to a stop behind him, my breath catching. Thorne, taller and broader than Aiden, with dark hair and a leather jacket, was backed against a wall, his arms raised defensively. Lucius stood before him, his silver hair glinting, his enforcers—Cassian and another wolf I didn’t recognize—flanking him. Lucius’s scarred face twisted into a smile as he saw Aiden.

“Well, well,” Lucius purred, his amber eyes flicking to me. “The omega and the dragon prince, together at last.”

Aiden stiffened, his fists clenching, and that smoky scent flared, sharp and burning.

“Back off,” he snarled, stepping forward, his voice carrying a weight that made the air crackle. Thorne shot him a warning look, but Aiden ignored it, his focus locked on Lucius.

My heart pounded, my nails digging into my palms as I fought the urge to shift—or whatever my broken wolf could manage. Lucius knew too much, and the way he said dragon prince sent a chill through me. He wasn’t just after me—he was hunting Aiden, maybe Thorne too. But why? And how?

“You don’t scare me, Blackwood,” Lucius said, his smile widening. “Your kind’s been hiding too long. And her?” He jerked his chin at me, his gaze like a blade. “She’s the key, and you’re too blind to see it.”

Before Aiden could respond, Lucius lunged, faster than human, his claws flashing. Aiden moved just as fast, dodging with a grace that wasn’t natural, his hand sparking with a faint, fiery glow. My breath hitched—confirmation of what I’d suspected, but seeing it was something else. Lucius laughed, retreating as his enforcers closed in, and I realized this wasn’t a fight—it was a test.

“Elara, run!” Thorne shouted, his voice rough as he shoved past Cassian. But I couldn’t move, rooted by fear and a reckless need to stay. My wolf howled inside, and my vision blurred, my eyes burning with a glow I couldn’t control. Lucius’s smile faltered, his gaze locking on me as if he’d seen a ghost.

“Interesting,” he murmured, just as a siren wailed in the distance, cutting through the tension. Campus security. Lucius backed off, his enforcers following, but his parting words were for me alone: “Next time, omega, you’re mine.”

As they vanished into the shadows, Aiden turned to me, his eyes blazing with questions I wasn’t ready to answer. My wolf clawed at my chest, and I knew—whatever was happening, it was only the beginning.