AFTER 1 MONTH
NO ONE POV
"Robert... I won't let your sacrifice go to waste."
The whisper barely disturbed the still air as the man withdrew his hand from Robert's cold forehead.
The room was silent.
Oppressively silent.
Like death itself was standing in the corners, listening.
A single lamp flickered above, casting long shadows across the floor. The scent of blood and cigarette smoke lingered in the air.
A man dressed in a black coat sat calmly in a chair nearby, a cigarette glowing between his fingers.
His face remained hidden beneath the darkness.
"Did you find anything in his room?" he asked.
His voice was low.
Dangerously calm.
"No, sir. We searched everything. There was nothing."
The man took a slow drag from his cigarette.
Smoke escaped from his lips like a living creature.
"And Adrian?" he asked.
"Did anyone hear anything about my old friend?"
The subordinate swallowed nervously.
"No, sir. The entire Blake family vanished without a trace. No witnesses. No clues. It's as if they never existed."
Silence.
A heavy silence that made the air feel colder.
The cigarette burned to its end.
Then—
Crunch.
The man's hand closed around it, crushing the burning filter effortlessly.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Not a smile of amusement.
A smile of a predator.
Slowly, he stood.
The room seemed smaller the moment he did.
The men around him instinctively lowered their eyes.
Fear.
Pure, instinctive fear.
Golden light flashed briefly in the darkness.
Eyes.
Not human eyes.
Predator's eyes.
Ancient.
Hungry.
Deadly.
"And unlike the weak creatures that hide beneath the moon..."
A low growl vibrated from his chest.
The windows trembled.
The shadows twisted around him.
"I am a werewolf born from the Bloodfang Alpha line."
His claws slowly emerged from his fingertips.
Silver eyes gleamed like blades in the darkness.
"I don't hunt because I'm hungry."
His gaze turned toward Robert's lifeless body.
"I hunt because I enjoy watching my enemies realize they've already lost."
The room fell deathly still.
No one dared breathe.
No one dared move.
Damien stepped toward the door.
His coat billowed behind him like the wings of death itself.
"Find Adrian."
His voice was now a command.
A promise.
A threat.
"And if anyone stands between me and the truth..."
The hallway lights shattered one by one as an invisible pressure burst from his body.
Darkness swallowed the corridor.
"...pray they die quickly."
"I guess it's time for me to find everything myself."
He rose from his chair.
The smoke followed him like a shadow.
EIRA'S POV
"I'm telling you, if that annoying Robert scolds me again because of you, I will kill you!"
Tessy practically dragged me through the college gates.
"Tessy, what can I do?" I groaned. "Why do they even open college this early in the morning?"
The moment we stepped into the classroom and saw no teacher present, I nearly cried from relief.
We rushed toward our seats.
But before either of us could sit down, the door opened.
The principal entered.
Every teacher followed behind him.
Their expressions were grim.
Worried.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
"Class, good morning."
Nobody answered.
The atmosphere was already too heavy.
The principal cleared his throat.
"We would like to inform you that our teacher, Mr. Robert, is no longer with us."
The classroom exploded into whispers.
Gasps.
Shock.
My stomach dropped.
Mr. Robert?
Dead?
How?
"He died during an animal attack."
A chill swept through the room.
"Because of this, no student is allowed to remain on campus after five p.m. All college trips have been cancelled until further notice."
Then he left.
The teachers followed.
Leaving behind a room full of stunned students.
For several seconds nobody spoke.
Then—
"Can we go to the canteen now? I'm hungry."
I stared at Tessy.
"Our teacher just died."
"Eira."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Do you want me to starve to death for him?"
I sighed.
There was absolutely no winning against her.
"Let's go."
Before we could leave, Peon Uncle approached me.
"Eira, a parcel has arrived for you. Please collect it from the guard room."
Before I could respond—
"I'm sorry, but food comes first!"
Tessy shouted while sprinting away.
I watched her disappear.
Traitor.
Muttering to myself, I headed toward the guard room.
Five minutes later, I regretted every life choice that had brought me there.
"Oh God..."
The box was enormous.
"What did Mom even send?"
I staggered forward carrying it.
My entire view blocked.
My arms felt like they were about to fall off.
Finally, I dropped the parcel onto a bench.
"I can't do this anymore."
I turned.
And froze.
A car was speeding through the campus road.
Far too fast.
Dangerously fast.
My eyes widened.
Someone stood directly in its path.
A man.
Completely unaware.
Talking on his phone.
"Move!"
I shouted.
Nothing.
He didn't hear me.
The car was seconds away.
Without thinking—
I ran.
My heart pounded.
The world blurred.
Then I slammed into him.
Pushing him aside.
The car roared past.
Barely missing us.
The impact threw me hard onto the ground.
Pain shot through my palm as it scraped against rough concrete.
For a moment everything spun.
JAKE POV
"I don't care how."
His voice was cold.
Sharp.
Then suddenly—
A force slammed into him.
The phone flew from his hand.
He hit the ground.
The speeding car tore past.
Missing him by inches.
Silence.
For a second he couldn't understand what had happened.
Then he looked up.
And saw her.
The girl who had pushed him.
She stood a few feet away.
Eyes squeezed shut.
Face pale.
Breathing unevenly.
One hand bruised and bleeding from the fall.
Yet she hadn't hesitated.
Not for a second.
She had thrown herself into danger for a complete stranger.
Something inside his chest tightened unexpectedly.
A strange feeling.
One he hadn't experienced in years.
Slowly, he stood.
His eyes never leaving her.
"Are you okay?"
His voice came out softer than intended.
She opened her eyes.
Those eyes.
Clear.
Honest.
Innocent.
"Yes..."
She gave a small smile.
"I'm fine."
Then immediately tried to leave.
As if saving someone's life was nothing.
"Wait."
She stopped.
"You're hurt."
She instinctively hid her injured hand.
"It's nothing."
The gesture made something unexpectedly warm flicker inside him.
"You're a student here?"
"Yes."
A brief silence.
Then he smiled.
"I just joined."
Her brows lifted.
"This late? In the middle of the semester?"
A small laugh escaped him.
"Family business."
She nodded.
Accepting the answer.
Trusting him immediately.
The realization made him stare a little longer than he should have.
"Come."
He gently motioned toward the medical room.
"Let's get that treated."
MEDICAL ROOM
The nurse applied antiseptic.
Eira immediately squeezed her eyes shut.
The medicine burned.
A tiny wince escaped her lips.
He couldn't stop watching.
Something about her fascinated him.
The way she reacted.
The way she spoke.
The way she cared.
Then—
Footsteps thundered through the room.
"EIRA!"
A girl burst inside.
Immediately hugging her.
"What happened to you?!"
The scolding began instantly.
The concern somehow even louder.
He almost smiled.
"Eira."
The name settled into his mind.
Eira.
Beautiful.
Simple.
Dangerously memorable.
The other girl finally noticed him.
"What happened?"
"She saved me."
Both girls looked at him.
"A car almost hit me."
The girl's eyes widened.
Then she immediately turned back toward Eira.
"Eira, why do you keep risking your life for everybody?"
Eira groaned.
Clearly accustomed to these lectures.
The other girl finally extended her hand.
"I'm Tessy."
He shook it.
"Jake William."
Something flickered briefly in her eyes.
Curiosity.
Suspicion.
Before she could ask more questions—
Her phone rang.
"Mom."
She grabbed Eira's hand.
"Come on."
And just like that—
She was gone.
Walking away.
Disappearing down the corridor.
Yet his eyes followed her until she vanished completely.
LATER....
"Sir, may I come in?"
The principal looked up.
Immediately smiling.
"Welcome, Mr. Lucifer."
Jake stepped inside.
"The son of Mr. William himself. Your father has helped this college tremendously."
"It's our pleasure, sir."
The principal nodded.
"You'll begin classes tomorrow?"
"Yes, sir."
Jake turned to leave.
Then paused.
"Sir... may I request something?"
"Of course."
"I'd like to join Miss Eira's class."
The principal blinked.
"Oh?"
Jake smiled politely.
"She's my friend."
The lie came easily.
"She can help me catch up with the syllabus."
The principal laughed.
"Approved."
Jake thanked him and left.
LATER THAT EVENING...
The city lights blurred outside the car window.
Jake leaned back against the seat.
Closed his eyes.
And immediately saw her again.
The girl with the bruised hand.
The girl who had pushed him away from death.
The girl who smiled despite being hurt.
Eira.
Her voice.
Her eyes.
Her kindness.
The memory lingered.
Refusing to leave.
A slow smile appeared on his face.
For the first time in years—
Something inside him had awakened.
And somehow...
It all began with a girl named Eira.