✦ EIRA'S POV ✦
The moment I stepped into college, I knew something was different.
The entire campus was buzzing.
Students stood in groups.
Whispering.
Laughing.
Gossiping.
Every conversation seemed to revolve around one thing.
Adrain's party.
Apparently, his people had gone completely overboard.
What was originally supposed to be a private celebration for his parents' wedding anniversary had somehow turned into the biggest event of the year.
The invitations had spread through the entire college like wildfire.
And now everyone was talking about it.
"Did you hear who's coming?"
"I heard half the city's elite are invited."
"They say Adrain's family owns half the businesses in the country."
"I just want to see the mansion."
I rolled my eyes and continued walking.
Of course.
Only Adrain could turn a family anniversary into a national event.
A few minutes later, Tessy appeared beside me.
One look at my face and she immediately linked her arm through mine.
"Oh no."
I sighed.
"What?"
"That face."
She pointed dramatically.
"You're thinking about Mr. Arrogant blake again."
I nearly choked.
"Tessy!"
"What?" she laughed.
"The man literally looks like he owns the planet."
I tried not to smile.
Failed miserably.
She continued.
"Seriously, who walks around looking that arrogant?"
I laughed despite myself.
Encouraged, Tessy became even more dramatic.
"His face is always like this—"
She crossed her arms and glared into the distance.
"'I am Adrain. I am better than everyone. Even oxygen needs my permission to exist.'"
I burst out laughing.
"Tessy!"
"What? Am I wrong?"
"Completely."
"Exactly."
She grinned.
The heaviness inside my chest eased slightly.
That was Tessy.
Always finding a way to make me smile.
We were heading toward the canteen when suddenly—
"BOO."
I nearly screamed.
My soul practically left my body.
A familiar laugh sounded behind me.
I spun around.
"JAKE!"
He was laughing so hard he had to hold his stomach.
"Told you."
I glared.
"You almost killed me!"
Jake shook his head.
"Impossible."
Then his expression softened.
He poked my forehead lightly.
"Why so gloomy, my tomato?"
I groaned.
"I hate that nickname."
"No."
He smiled.
"You love it."
Before I could argue, his phone rang.
Jake glanced at the screen.
The smile vanished.
Instantly.
His jaw tightened.
He answered.
The conversation was short.
Very short.
But by the time he hung up, he looked annoyed.
Actually—
Frustrated.
Tessy immediately noticed.
"What happened?"
Jake ran a hand through his hair.
"Nothing."
Which obviously meant something.
Tessy narrowed her eyes.
"You're going to Adrain's party, aren't you?"
The reaction was immediate.
His jaw clenched.
Hard.
For a moment nobody spoke.
Then Jake exhaled slowly.
"I don't want to."
The answer surprised both of us.
"But?"
He looked away.
"But I don't have a choice."
His voice was colder than usual.
"Business."
Something flashed through his eyes.
Something dark.
Gone before I could understand it.
Tessy groaned dramatically.
"Great."
Jake looked at her.
"What?"
"I'm going too."
He looked genuinely horrified.
"I'll pray for you."
Tessy threw a napkin at him.
Jake laughed.
Then both of them suddenly looked at me.
I immediately knew what was coming.
"No."
Tessy blinked.
"We didn't ask anything yet."
"No."
Jake crossed his arms.
"Eira."
"No."
"You don't even know what we're going to say."
"Yes, I do."
Tessy pointed at me.
"You're going to the party."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
I glared.
She grinned.
Jake looked far too entertained.
"I'm not going."
Tessy rolled her eyes.
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
Jake finally interrupted.
"You are."
I stared at him.
Traitor.
He ignored my glare.
"You can't let one arrogant idiot control your life."
My heart skipped.
I knew exactly who he meant.
Tessy nodded immediately.
"Exactly."
Jake pointed toward me.
"You go."
Tessy pointed too.
"You dance."
Jake added.
"You eat."
Tessy grinned.
"And you have fun."
I folded my arms.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"End of discussion."
Both of them spoke at the same time.
I looked between them.
Then sighed.
Defeated.
"Fine."
They immediately high-fived.
I regretted everything.
That evening, Tessy practically kidnapped me.
For three straight hours.
Clothes.
Shoes.
Jewelry.
Hair.
Makeup.
Everything became a battlefield.
"No."
Tessy threw another dress at me.
"Try it."
"I hate you."
"I know."
An hour later, we were somehow ready.
I stared at myself in the mirror.
For once...
I almost didn't recognize the girl staring back.
Tessy smiled proudly.
"There she is."
I rolled my eyes.
Then we left.
The city lights blurred past outside the car windows.
The closer we got—
The more nervous I became.
Finally—
The car slowed.
Then stopped.
My breath caught.
A massive set of iron gates stood before us.
Beyond them—
Lights.
Music.
Luxury.
And in the distance...
A mansion so enormous it looked like something pulled from a dream.
Or a kingdom.
The gates opened.
Slowly.
Silently.
And for some reason...
A strange feeling settled in my chest.
As though the moment I stepped inside—
Everything would change.
Tessy grabbed my hand excitedly.
"Come on!"
I swallowed hard.
Then together—
We walked toward Adrain's door.
✦ ADRAIN'S POV ✦
The grand hall glittered beneath thousands of crystal lights.
Music drifted through the air.
Laughter.
Conversations.
Fake smiles.
Fake loyalties.
Exactly as expected.
Adrain stood on the upper balcony overlooking the entire hall.
Beside him stood Drek.
Both watched the guests below.
Businessmen.
Politicians.
Nobles.
Predators hiding behind expensive suits.
"Is everything ready?"
Adrain asked without looking away from the crowd.
Drek nodded.
"Every entrance secured."
"Good."
Silence followed.
Then Drek glanced sideways.
"What exactly are you planning tonight?"
A faint smirk touched Adrain's lips.
His silver eyes remained fixed on the guests below.
"The animal likes attention."
Drek frowned.
"What?"
"The bigger the audience..."
Adrain's smile deepened.
"The more eager the animal becomes to show its claws."
Realization slowly dawned on Drek's face.
"You want him to expose himself."
Adrain didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Then—
Movement near the entrance caught his attention.
His eyes shifted.
And everything else disappeared.
For one brief moment.
The music vanished.
The voices vanished.
The crowd vanished.
Only one person remained.
Eira.
Walking through the entrance.
The lights caught her hair.
Her dress flowed elegantly around her.
Simple.
Beautiful.
Dangerous.
Because she looked nothing like the girl who usually argued with him.
For the first time all evening—
Adrain forgot about the party.
Forgot about the trap.
Forgot about the war.
His gaze lingered.
Longer than it should have.
Much longer.
Drek followed his stare.
Then immediately groaned.
"Oh no."
Adrain ignored him.
Drek smirked.
"I hope you haven't forgotten me."
Silence.
"And I also hope this party isn't because you're in lo—"
The rest died instantly.
Adrain slowly turned his head.
The glare he received nearly sent Drek into the afterlife.
Drek immediately zipped his mouth shut.
"I said nothing."
Smart choice.
Then—
Adrain's expression darkened.
Because another figure had entered.
Jake.
His eyes immediately found Eira.
And the way he looked at her—
The familiarity.
The comfort.
The ease.
Made something ugly stir inside Adrain.
His jaw tightened.
His grip around the glass cracked it slightly.
Jealousy.
A ridiculous emotion.
A useless emotion.
Yet it refused to disappear.
Drek raised an eyebrow.
"What are you waiting for?"
A slow smile appeared on Adrain's face.
Without a word, he reached into his pocket.
Then opened his hand.
Drek's eyes widened.
A small black stone rested in Adrain's palm.
Ancient.
Smooth.
Covered in faint silver markings.
The markings seemed almost alive beneath the light.
For a moment, Drek forgot how to breathe.
"No."
His eyes widened.
"Where did you get that?"
Adrain casually turned the relic between his fingers.
"The Eye of Veyl."
The name alone darkened Drek's expression.
"That's impossible."
"It should be."
Drek stepped closer.
His gaze never left the relic.
The Eye of Veyl.
A forgotten artifact whispered about in ancient legends.
A relic believed lost centuries ago.
The stone that stripped away masks.
The stone that exposed fragments of a creature's true nature.
"Adrain..."
Drek lowered his voice.
"Do you realize what will happen if you use that here?"
A dangerous smile curved Adrain's lips.
"That's exactly why I brought it."
The silver markings glowed faintly.
Almost as if the stone itself were awake.
Drek stared at him.
Then at the crowd.
Then back at the stone.
Realization struck.
His eyes widened.
"Who are you trying to expose?"
Adrain's gaze drifted through the sea of guests.
Until it settled on one man.
Jake.
Standing beside Eira.
Laughing.
Far too comfortably.
Far too close.
Something dark flickered across Adrain's face.
But Adrain was already stepping forward.
And then—
He pointed directly at Jake.
Drek's expression changed instantly.
Shock.
Confusion.
Then disbelief.
"How do you know?" Drek demanded sharply.
Adrain didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
A MEMORY surfaced.
✦ FLASHBACK ✦
A torn photograph.
Adrain studying a strange carved line on the photographer.
Then another photo arrives.
Same symbol.
But this time—
It is carved into skin.
On a dead body.
A vampire corpse.
Drek had brought it.
Then—
Another memory.
Lila's hand.
That same symbol faintly glowing on her skin before she died.
And then—
Jake.
That night.
Impossible strength.
The way he moved like something beyond human limits.
The way even vampires hesitated.
Everything clicked.
✦ PRESENT ✦
Adrain's eyes narrowed slightly.
"He leaves traces."
Drek frowned.
"What?"
Adrain turned the glass slowly.
"The symbol. The strength. The timing."
A pause.
Then calmly—
"But there is no wolf scent."
Drek froze.
"What?"
Adrain smirked faintly.
"Because wolf-barreen leaves can easily hide their scent."
Drek sighed.
"And people wonder why I love you."
Before Adrain could respond—
Jake suddenly picked up a glass from a passing waiter.
His smile remained relaxed.
Confident.
Too confident.
Then he began walking forward.
Straight toward them.
Drek noticed instantly.
"So he's coming."
Jake stopped before them.
The air between them immediately became heavy.
Predator meeting predator.
Again.
"Congratulations."
Jake extended his hand.
His smile never faltered.
Adrain accepted it.
"Thank you."
Neither man blinked.
Neither looked away.
Both smiling.
Neither friendly.
Then Jake lifted his glass.
Turning toward the guests.
"As the host of tonight's celebration, I think Adrain deserves a proper toast."
A murmur spread through the hall.
More people turned toward them.
Watching.
Listening.
Waiting.
Adrain's smirk slowly returned.
Because he knew exactly what Jake was trying to do.
A game.
A challenge.
A test.
The wolf had stepped onto the battlefield.
And he believed he controlled it.
How unfortunate.
Because tonight—
Adrain intended to expose the monster hiding behind that smile.