The usual campus rush was in full swing as students hurried toward their classes, the chatter around us blending into a buzz that felt oddly distant. My focus, however, was trained on Diarmid, walking beside me with a sense of ease and strength that made the world feel a little more anchored. His hand brushed against mine occasionally, reassuring me that we were in this together.

  Behind us, Brigit, Finn, Roisin, and Rhyian kept their usual positions, though today, their presence felt a little more watchful. Everyone knew the importance of maintaining normalcy, but there was an underlying tension—an awareness that things were anything but normal.

  As we walked across the courtyard, my eyes flicked toward the figure standing off to the side. Jaimes. He stood there, quietly watching us, his expression unreadable. The moment I noticed him, something in my chest tightened, a mix of emotions I couldn't quite define. There he was, standing at the edge of the flow of students, not making any move toward us, but simply observing.

  I couldn’t explain it, but it felt like he was studying us—specifically me and Diarmid. Not engaging, just watching.

  But we kept walking, Diarmid’s presence beside me grounding me, offering silent support. I glanced over at him. He didn’t seem outwardly affected, but I could sense the tension simmering just beneath the surface. He wasn’t exactly worried, but there was something in the way his eyes narrowed when he glanced briefly at Jaimes.

  The others were aware of the situation too. Roisin gave a subtle, cautious glance in Jaimes’ direction, but she said nothing. Finn followed suit, his demeanor still and unreadable, though his posture was slightly more defensive than usual.

  We kept walking toward the building, the sense of being watched still hanging in the air. As we entered the classroom, I saw Josh and Leroy already seated. Josh, ever the observant one, looked up with a grin as we entered. He was always a little too quick to notice when things were different.

  "Good morning, you two," he said, a playful glint in his eye. "Still sticking together, I see." His smile widened just a bit, but there was something knowing in his expression, as if he could tell there was more going on than we were letting on.

  "Morning," I said, trying to sound as casual as possible, though my thoughts were far from it.

  Diarmid was quiet, giving Josh a brief nod of acknowledgment, his face neutral but still tense.

  As we sat down, Josh leaned in slightly, his voice dropping low enough for only the immediate group to hear. “I did some digging,” he said, looking around quickly. “Jaimes re-enrolled in the university. He might be in some of the same classes as you two.” He glanced over at me and Diarmid. “I don’t know why he’s back, but it’s definitely something to keep an eye on.”

  I blinked, the news sinking in. Jaimes, re-enrolled? What was he planning now?

  Before I could respond, I felt Diarmid shift slightly in his seat. His jaw tightened imperceptibly, but I could see he was trying to keep his emotions in check. I knew that look—he was processing, calculating.

  I reached for his hand, offering a small, reassuring squeeze. "It’s okay. We’ll deal with it."

  His gaze softened for a moment, but the tension remained. "Yeah," he muttered under his breath. "We’ll see what he’s really after."

  But I could tell that, despite his words, Diarmid wasn’t entirely happy about Jaimes being around again, especially given everything that had happened. The unease between us was subtle, but it was there.

  As the class began, I tried to push the thoughts of Jaimes aside, focusing on the lecture. But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bigger was at play. Why was Jaimes back, and what did it mean for me—and for Diarmid?

  The bell signaling the end of class was a welcome relief. It had been one of those days where the lecture felt like it stretched on forever. Today, I had Psychology of Trauma, a subject I had chosen as part of my major, but only available for Psychology students. As a Nephilim with a deep understanding of grief, trauma, and emotional healing, it seemed like the perfect fit for me.

  Diarmid wasn’t in this class with me. He had taken it before, so he was busy with other things. We’d planned to meet up with Josh and Leroy afterward to grab dinner at the same place we’d been to before. It felt nice to have some semblance of normalcy amidst all the chaos in my life.

  As I glanced at the clock, I noticed there was still a few minutes before the next class began. I pulled out my phone, checking for any messages. No new updates from Michael. I still felt the weight of Nick’s disappearance hanging over me, but I tried to push it aside for now.

  That’s when the door to the classroom opened, and in walked Jaimes.

  My breath hitched slightly, my stomach tightening as I looked up. He glanced around the room, his eyes briefly meeting mine before he quickly averted them, walking toward an empty desk in the back. The room felt quieter as his presence seemed to draw an invisible line between the ordinary students and myself.

  He didn’t approach me. He didn’t engage. But his mere presence sent a ripple of unease through me. Was he going to act like everything was normal? Was he going to pretend that nothing had happened between us? That he hadn’t been the reason I had lost so much?

  I glanced down at my hands, trying to steady my breath, focusing on the notes I had taken during class. But I could still feel his eyes on me, even though he wasn’t looking directly at me.

  I quickly forced my attention back to the front of the room as the professor entered. My mind was racing. I couldn’t shake the thought of what Jaimes might be trying to do by returning to school.

  I felt his eyes on me. The weight of his gaze pressed into my back, lingering, even though he wasn't speaking to me. I wanted to ask him so many questions—about his return, about what happened, about the truth of everything we never got to finish. But I quickly stopped myself. Isn’t it too late for that?

  His mother—she lied to me as well. The betrayal of it stung, but it also felt like something that belonged to the past now. A part of me ached to know everything, to get the answers that had haunted me since that night. But then, there was the other part—the one that wanted to shut it all out. To forget the lies, the heartbreak, the chaos that had been left by him.

  I knew what I had to do. It would be best to just move on.

  With everything going on in my life, with the ever-growing tension amongs Nephilim and Lycans, with the unexplainable connections I was still trying to piece together, I couldn’t afford to keep holding onto the past. There were too many unknowns now. Too many pieces of my life had been flipped upside down.

  And to be honest... I am happy with Diarmid.

  He wasn’t in this class with me today, having taken it before, but I could feel his presence, like a steady force in the back of my mind. The way he stood by me, his unwavering support, his confidence in us—it gave me a sense of peace, even when everything around me was chaotic.

  I didn’t need the pain Jaimes represented, not anymore. And maybe that was what stung the most—how I had moved on. How little I felt like I needed answers from the past when I had everything I needed in the present.

  The class was almost over, and my mind had been wandering ever since Jaimes had entered. I glanced at the clock on the wall, relieved that it was almost time to leave. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I smiled softly as I saw Diarmid’s name light up the screen. Already outside. The others are in the parking lot.

  That was all I needed to know. I grabbed my things, gathering the scattered notes and papers from the desk. The professor’s voice droned on in the background, but I was already mentally checking out, eager to leave and join Diarmid and the others.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Just as I was about to stand up, a hand shot out and grabbed my arm.

  “Arwen.”

  The voice was familiar, and my stomach twisted at the sound of it. I turned, finding Jaimes standing far too close, his hand gripping my arm, his expression guarded but searching. A wave of conflicting emotions hit me all at once — anger, sadness, confusion.

  I wanted to pull away, but something kept me rooted to the spot. It was as if the past had a grip on me that I couldn’t shake, even if I wanted to.

  “Jaimes...” I said quietly, trying to keep my composure. "What do you want?"

  He didn’t let go of my arm, though the pressure wasn’t aggressive. His gaze softened slightly, and for a moment, there was a flicker of the person I had once known.

  “I know this is... a lot, Arwen. But can you at least hear me out? There’s so much I need to explain. I—I never wanted to hurt you.”

  I shook my head, my heart heavy. No, not again.

  “I don’t think there’s anything to explain, Jaimes.” I tried to pull my arm away, but he didn’t budge. "You made your choice. You disappeared. I moved on. And that's how it needs to stay."

  His grip tightened for a second before he sighed, looking as if the weight of everything had finally hit him.

  “Arwen, please. I didn’t mean for it to happen like this. Can we—can we at least talk about it? I just... I need to explain everything.”

  I stared at him, the words almost making me feel sorry for him, but deep down, I knew it was too late. There was no going back. Not now.

  “No, Jaimes,” I said firmly, my voice steady. “There’s no need for that. What happened... it’s over. You don’t get to come back into my life and ask for explanations after everything that’s happened. I’m happy with where I am now.”

  The weight in my chest seemed to lift slightly as I said the words. It felt right.

  He stood there for a moment, the silence between us stretching, but I wasn’t going to change my mind.

  Finally, he let go of my arm, and with a heavy sigh, he nodded, as if accepting that this was where we stood now.

  “Fine,” Jaimes muttered under his breath, backing away slowly. “But just know, I never wanted to hurt you.”

  And with that, he turned and walked away, disappearing out of the room.

  I exhaled, the tension finally leaving my body. I quickly glanced at my phone again — Diarmid was waiting for me, and so were the others. I wasn’t going to let the past pull me back. Not anymore.

  I gathered my things and walked out of the classroom, already sending a quick message to Diarmid. As I stepped into the hallway, I felt a sense of relief wash over me.

  I am ready to move on. I am ready for my future with Diarmid.

  The past few days have felt almost...normal. A sense of calm, like the storm that had been brewing around me had finally passed. The hooded figure hadn’t been seen since the last encounter, and I hadn’t had any strange dreams or unsettling signs. Michael assured me that there hadn’t been any incidents to raise any alarms, even on the Lycan and werewolf fronts. It all seemed too quiet, and a small part of me wondered if we were just in the eye of the storm, waiting for whatever was coming next.

  I was sitting in the living room with Brigit and Rhyian, just having some casual girl talk. The atmosphere was light, and for once, I felt like I could relax. I hadn’t realized how much I needed this—just a moment of normalcy, away from everything supernatural and complicated.

  As we chatted, Brigit’s phone buzzed on the coffee table. She glanced at it quickly, her expression shifting for a brief moment before she hid it behind a forced smile. I didn’t press her; Brigit was always the strong, composed one. But then, out of nowhere, she sighed deeply, letting her guard down for a second.

  “You know, Finn and I…” She trailed off, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup absentmindedly. “We’re not... okay, I guess.”

  The words hung in the air, and I glanced at Rhyian, who was sitting across from us. Rhyian's brow furrowed, clearly picking up on the heaviness in Brigit’s tone.

  “What's going on?” Rhyian asked, her voice gentle, but the concern was evident in her eyes.

  Brigit gave a half-shrug, looking down at her drink, her shoulders tense as if the weight of the world rested on her. “It’s nothing... really,” she muttered, but there was an edge to her voice that said otherwise.

  I watched Brigit carefully, wondering what could be going on. As much as I wanted to keep the mood light, the tension in the air was hard to ignore. It felt like there was something more beneath the surface, something that Brigit wasn’t ready to share.

  Rhyian exchanged a glance with me before returning her attention to Brigit. “If you ever want to talk about it…” Rhyian began, her voice soft, reassuring, “you know we’re here for you.”

  Brigit nodded, but the guarded look on her face didn’t fade. She wasn’t ready to talk, and I wasn’t going to push her. Instead, I leaned back into the couch, trying to distract myself for a moment by remembering the quiet moments I’d had with Diarmid lately. The calm that had settled between us felt like a small victory, something I wanted to hold on to. But, of course, Brigit's admission reminded me that not everything in our world was as calm as it appeared.

  "Just remember, Brigit," I said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood, "you're not alone in this."

  She gave me a small, grateful smile, but her eyes betrayed a hidden sorrow. I could tell that whatever was happening between her and Finn was more complicated than she was letting on.

  We all sat in silence for a while, the weight of unspoken words lingering between us. Despite the calm outside, I couldn't help but wonder how much longer it would last before everything—Brigit, Finn, or even something much bigger—would unravel.

  I sat on the edge of the mattress, my thoughts tangled. I was waiting for Diarmid to finish his video conference, something that had become a routine lately. He said it was for the pack, but it always seemed to take a toll on him. I glanced at the door, wondering how much longer I could hold back the words I’d been meaning to say. I wanted to talk to him about going back to Josh’s place for a while—just to have some space to breathe.

  The soft sound of footsteps made me turn, and there he was—Diarmid. His tall frame filled the doorway, but there was a weariness in his eyes that made my chest tighten. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days. His usual calm composure was absent, replaced by a quiet exhaustion.

  I hesitated for a moment, wanting to reach out to him, but I couldn’t ignore the growing tension in the pit of my stomach. He noticed my gaze, his brow furrowing as he walked in.

  “Are you alright?” His voice was gentle, the concern in his tone unmistakable. He approached me slowly, like he could sense I had something on my mind. I almost wanted to tell him everything, but the words felt heavy, too heavy for the moment.

  “I’m fine,” I replied, offering a small smile, but it didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Just… thinking.”

  He sat down beside me, his eyes studying me with an intensity that made me feel like he could see right through me.

  “You’ve been doing a lot of that lately. You know you don’t have to keep everything to yourself, right?”

  I bit my lip, the weight of my thoughts pressing on my chest.

  “It’s just… with everything happening, with the hooded figure and Nick, I’m trying to figure out what to do next. I feel like everything’s been quiet, but I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.”

  Diarmid reached out, gently placing a hand on my shoulder. His touch was warm, comforting, but there was an edge to his voice when he spoke again.

  “Whatever happens, we’ll face it together, Arwen. But I need to know what’s going on in that head of yours. I need you to talk to me.”

  I looked down, then met his gaze, the words finally slipping out.

  “I was thinking about going back to Josh’s place for a while. Just to… have some space. It’s been a lot, and I think I need time to process everything.”

  His eyes softened for a moment, but the tension was still there, lingering beneath the surface.

  “I understand, but I hope you understand me too-.”

  I nodded, but before I could say anything more, the door burst open, and Finn and Roisin rushed in, their faces etched with urgency.

  “There’s been an attack,” Roisin said, his voice tight with worry. “And it’s bad.”

  I stood up instinctively, the sudden shift in the atmosphere making my heart race. Diarmid’s protective nature immediately took over as he turned to face Finn and Roisin.

  “What happened?” His voice was low, every inch the leader.

  Finn stepped forward, his expression grim.

  “There’s been an attack on a nearby pack of werewolves. All the men were killed, and the women and female children were taken.”

  My breath hitched in my throat as Roisin added,

  “And in our town… there were killings tonight. At a local club in the city. We think it’s all connected.”

  Diarmid’s jaw tightened, and I could see the leader in him taking control. He turned to face Finn and Roisin fully, his gaze unwavering.

  “Anything else?” he asked, his voice harder now.

  Finn nodded, his voice lowering. “The bodies… were drained of all their blood. Dried up. It’s not like anything we’ve ever seen before.”

  A cold shiver ran down my spine. The implications of that were horrifying.

  “This isn’t just a coincidence,” Diarmid said, his tone cold and steely. “We need to gather everyone. Now.”

  I stayed frozen for a second, the gravity of what was unfolding sinking in. The sight of the bodies, drained and lifeless, flashed in my mind. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was somehow connected to the hooded figure.

  Diarmid’s gaze flicked to me briefly, his eyes softening for a fraction of a second before he refocused. He could see I was shaken, but there was no time for hesitation now.

  “Let’s get moving,” he said, his voice low and commanding.

  I nodded, the urgency in the air pushing me into action. Whatever was happening, we were about to face it together.