"Elara… listen to me."
Lucien's voice cut through the chaos in her mind.
The sounds around her were too loud.
Too sharp.
Every heartbeat in the courtyard thundered in her ears. Every movement felt amplified.
"I can't—" Elara whispered, gripping her head. "Something's wrong."
"Nothing is wrong," Lucien said firmly. "Your senses are awakening."
Another sharp pain rippled through her chest.
She gasped.
The pendant burned against her skin again.
Lucien looked down at it.
"The Veil is weakening," he murmured.
"What does that mean?" she asked, struggling to breathe.
Before he could answer—
A loud CRACK echoed from the forest.
Students screamed.
One of the tall trees near the fence suddenly snapped in half as something massive burst through the branches.
Teachers began shouting.
"Everyone back!"
"Stay together!"
But fear was spreading fast.
Lucien's entire body went rigid.
"They're not supposed to attack in daylight," he muttered.
"What are you talking about?" Elara asked.
Then she saw it.
Movement in the shadows of the trees.
Large.
Fast.
Watching.
Her heart pounded.
"Lucien…" she whispered.
"I see it," he replied.
The creature stepped just close enough for its eyes to catch the light.
Red.
Burning red.
Elara felt her body freeze.
"What… is that?"
Lucien's expression darkened.
"Not a wolf."
"Then what?"
His voice lowered.
"A rogue Lycan."
The creature let out a deep, chilling growl that vibrated through the air.
Students near the fence began backing away slowly.
None of them fully understood what they were looking at.
But instinct told them one thing.
Danger.
Lucien stepped slightly in front of Elara.
Protective.
"You need to leave," he said quietly.
"I'm not leaving you here," she replied.
His golden eyes flashed.
"Elara, if it reaches you—"
The rogue Lycan suddenly lunged forward, slamming against the metal fence.
The entire structure shook violently.
Students screamed and scattered.
Lucien's voice became deadly calm.
"It's already too late."
The creature's red eyes locked onto Elara.
It had found her.
And now it wouldn't stop.