Evening had already settled over the campus by the time I finally left the library.
I had stayed there longer than usual—not because I wanted to study, but because it was the only place that still felt quiet. The dorm had become unbearable lately. Too many voices. Too many footsteps. Too many sounds crashing into my ears all at once.
In the library, at least, the silence gave my mind room to breathe.
But even there, I couldn't escape my thoughts.
The chains.
The cave.
That creature's voice.
Next time… I won't be the one in chains.
The words kept replaying in my head as I stepped onto the empty campus path leading back to the dorm.
The night air was cold, carrying the scent of damp grass and old stone. Campus lights stretched long shadows across the pavement, making every corner feel darker than it should have.
At first, everything seemed normal.
But a strange uneasiness settled in my chest. It was the same heavy feeling I had in the cave—the kind that made it impossible to relax.
I slowed down and listened.
A faint sound came from behind me.
Footsteps. Slow. Steady.
I turned sharply.
Nothing.
The path behind me was empty, disappearing into darkness between the dorm buildings.
I let out a slow breath, telling myself I was overthinking. Maybe the last few days had finally gotten into my head.
I faced forward and quickened my pace.
A moment later, the sound returned.
Closer this time.
Footsteps matching mine.
My pulse quickened.
I stopped.
The footsteps stopped too.
A chill crawled up my spine.
This wasn't my imagination.
That same uneasy feeling pressed down harder, making every muscle in my body tense.
I forced myself to keep moving, my eyes fixed on the dorm building ahead. I was almost there.
Without warning, a shadow slid across the wall beside me.
I froze.
It wasn't mine.
Slowly, I lifted my head toward the rooftop of the building next to the path.
At first, there was only darkness.
Then—two dark eyes stared down at me from the edge of the roof.
My breath caught.
A figure crouched there, barely visible except for the outline of its body and those cold eyes fixed on me.
The air around it felt heavy. Predatory.
Not human.
For a split second, my fingers twitched, my body reacting before my mind could catch up.
The figure moved with unnatural grace, dropping from the rooftop and landing soundlessly a few feet away from me.
Now I could see it clearly.
Pale skin.
Dark clothes.
A calm expression that somehow felt more dangerous than anger.
A vampire.
Not the same one from before.
This one felt colder. More controlled.
Its dark eyes narrowed as it studied me, almost with curiosity.
A slow smile spread across its face.
"So…" it said, its voice low and amused.
It took one step closer.
"So you are the little wolf."