WILLA

"Class dismissed," Professor Joy announced abruptly.

She gathered her books and silver pointer before turning toward Verah and me.

"My office," she said shortly, walking out of the classroom.

Verah and I groaned at the exact same time while staring after her.

"I swear, if she makes us clean the cafeteria again..." Verah muttered. "I’d rather take literally any punishment, except points deductions."

"Same," I whispered.

Though honestly, I doubted anything could feel worse than more point deductions right now.

Students slowly began filing out of the classroom, their voices immediately rising into excited chatter while others stayed behind discussing everything that had happened during class.

Felix was one of the students still seated.

A small crowd had already gathered around him as he casually explained whatever information he’d supposedly uncovered from some mysterious source he refused to name.

Verah scoffed loudly. She glared at him in clear irritation. "He doesn’t even understand how serious this is."

He really didn’t. If anything, he looked entertained by the attention. Not once had he even attempted to apologize to Professor Joy for disrupting the class.

Still, I was curious too.

"If I may ask something..." I started carefully.

I glanced around first to make sure nobody nearby was listening before leaning closer to Verah and lowering my voice as much as possible.

"The werewolves and Lycans—"

Verah immediately slapped a hand over my mouth before I could finish. Her sharp glare cut straight through me.

"Anything except that," she warned firmly.

"Oh," I mumbled against her palm.

She kept her hand there for another second before finally lowering it.

"It’s a taboo subject in this academy," she added seriously.

"Is it?" I murmured, frowning. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

I glanced back at Felix.

He had attended this academy just as long as Verah had. There was no way he didn’t know the topic was forbidden.

So why was he speaking about it so openly?

"His father is a minister," Verah said dryly, like she had read my thoughts. "That idiot can deny saying anything and people would still believe him. And even if he doesn’t deny it, nobody can really touch him."

That explained everything.

"Now," Verah said, rising to her feet and dragging me up along with her, "let’s leave before I lose my patience and punch him in the face."

She pulled me out of the classroom. We stepped into Professor Joy’s office moments later.

The room was much smaller than I expected and tucked at the far end of the history classroom. Antique items crowded nearly every surface—old books, silver artifacts, strange carved figurines, and faded portraits.

Verah exhaled heavily and awkwardly twisted her hands behind her back. "We are—"

"Two hundred points," Professor Joy interrupted flatly without even looking at us.

She continued flipping through papers spread across her desk.

"We are doomed," Verah muttered under her breath.

Before we arrived, she’d explained that Professor Joy was also the head of House Valerius. Then, I’d already guessed this meeting wasn’t just about detention.

"You had an entire day available to do whatever nonsense you desired," Professor Joy continued calmly. "Hours. Minutes. Endless opportunities." She finally slammed the folder shut and raised her head.

"And yet," she said, her voice harsh, "you chose to sneak out during curfew?"

One brow lifted slowly as her gaze shifted from Verah to me, and back to Verah again.

"Um..." Verah mumbled.

"We’re sorry," I added quickly.

"Sorry?" Professor Joy snapped.

I flinched as her eyes narrowed dangerously at us.

"The inter-house competition is approaching," she continued in the same harsh tone. "We need every single point we can get if House Valerius intends to come out on top. Yet the two of you—"

She grabbed the silver pointer off her desk so tightly I genuinely thought she might throw it at us.

For one horrifying second, I expected her to cast some kind of spell. However, I remembered this was a werewolf academy, not a witch coven.

"We promise we’ll make up for it," Verah blurted out.

"We’re already behind on multiple things!" Professor Joy barked. "Exactly how do you intend to make up for this?"

Verah jumped at the volume but answered anyway. "We’ll win more points."

Professor Joy scoffed loudly. She opened her mouth to continue but a knock interrupted her.

"Come in," she said in a stiff tone.

Even before the door opened, I somehow already knew who it was. My stomach fluttered nervously.

I swallowed hard and turned toward the door just as it opened. Elliot stepped inside. He shut the door quietly behind him before immediately looking toward me.

Our gazes locked. Everything else in the room seemed to disappear. The professor. Verah. The office itself. None of it mattered. Only him.

Somehow he looked even more attractive than he had a few hours ago. Which honestly made no sense.

I wanted to look away. I knew I should. But I couldn’t.

Beside me, Verah suddenly tightened her grip painfully around my hand before yanking sharply.

Then she leaned close to my ear. "What are you doing?" she hissed.

I genuinely didn’t know.

After everything Verah had told me earlier, gawking at him like he was the last piece of candy in existence should’ve been the absolute last thing I was doing.

"You promised, Elyse," Verah snapped quietly.

I did. Yet, I couldn’t fully control my reactions either. It felt like something inside me kept pulling toward him.

Something stubborn. Something that wanted to understand Elliot instead of hate him.

Elliot tilted his head, and for the briefest second, I thought I saw concern flicker across his face.

"So, you’re here." Professor Joy spoke, breaking our connections.

Elliot’s expression instantly turned cold again.

He pushed away from the doorway, his shoulder brushing lightly against mine as he walked past.

I fought the urge to shiver. My gaze followed him automatically until he stopped in the center of the office.

He bowed respectfully toward Professor Joy.

"I came as soon as I received your message," he said calmly.

"Good." Professor Joy’s attention shifted entirely toward him now, completely ignoring Verah and me.

Verah immediately turned toward me. "Do you seriously have to eye-fuck him every time he’s nearby?" she growled under her breath.

Heat exploded across my cheeks. "Eye-fuck him?" I repeated in horror.

Was that what I’d been doing? Absolutely not.

"Pull yourself together," Verah murmured, gripping my shoulders and shaking me. "You always keep your promises. Don’t suddenly forget that because of him."

I gulped.

"Your parents trust you, Elyse," she went on. "Don’t betray that trust by running toward the enemy."

The enemy. Elliot Ashford.

"You know what to do with them." Professor Joy’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

Verah and I turned toward her at the same time. Confusion furrowed my brows as I tried to understand what she meant.

Beside me, Verah’s eyes widened in horror.

"What? No— not that!" she exclaimed.

Professor Joy and Elliot ignored her outburst entirely and continued their conversation like she hadn’t spoken.

"Yes, ma’am," Elliot replied. "Fortunately, I already prepared everything."

"No!" Verah shouted again, somehow sounding even more distressed.

Elliot gave another respectful nod toward Professor Joy before turning toward us.

His expression remained stern. And once again, his attention settled directly on me.

"Follow me," he ordered before heading toward the door.

I stayed rooted in place. So did Verah. Elliot paused near the doorway.

"Both of you," he added flatly.

I reluctantly obeyed. Verah didn’t move. Her fists clenched tightly at her sides while anger practically radiated off her in waves.

"I don’t think we deserve punishment like this," she snapped. "We already promised we’d earn the points back! It’s only two hundred points. Other students have lost far worse and nobody acts like the world is ending!"

Professor Joy didn’t even blink. "You’re dismissed."

Verah stomped her foot hard against the floor, veins visibly straining along her forehead.

Before she could continue arguing, I quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the office with me.

The moment we stepped outside, Verah yanked her hand free and glared at me. I lifted both hands innocently with a small awkward smile.

"I know things between you and Elliot aren’t exactly good," I said carefully, "but maybe you don’t have to react so strongly whenever he’s around."

"React strongly?" Verah repeated incredulously.

Her glare intensified. "You think I hate him?"

She let out another disbelieving scoff. I raised my shoulders in a half shrug.

If she didn’t hate him, then why did she act irritated every single time he appeared?

"I don’t have all day," Elliot cut into our conversation coldly. "Let’s go."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and started walking away again.

"It can’t possibly be that bad," I murmured, watching his retreating figure.

Verah gave me a flat look. "Wait until you see it before making assumptions."

I nodded quietly. The moment we stepped outside the building, we were met with a massive crowd gathered several feet away.

Mostly students.

Some stood on tiptoe trying to see over others while several had their phones raised, recording whatever was happening in the center.

Elliot immediately stopped walking. A frown settled across his face as his gaze swept over the crowd.

Then he glanced back at Verah and me. "Both of you stay here," he ordered before striding toward the commotion.

"As if," Verah muttered instantly before following after him.

Naturally, I followed too. Curiosity was stronger than common sense at this point.

Verah tapped the shoulder of a brunette standing near the edge of the crowd.

The girl turned toward us. Tears shimmered visibly in her eyes.

"What happened, Mary?" Verah asked.

Mary’s lips trembled, sniffling loudly. "S-she’s dead," she whispered, her voice broken.