The next day at Sawyer College, Ariana tried to focus on her classes.
But her mind kept returning to the strange moment in the kitchen the night before.
The way Jayden and Kayden had suddenly gone silent…
It felt like they were hiding something.
As Ariana walked through the college hallway, she suddenly heard a familiar mocking voice.
"Well, well… if it isn't the little maid."
Ariana stopped walking.
She turned around slowly.
It was Barbie, standing with Ava and Mia beside her.
Barbie crossed her arms and looked at Ariana with a cruel smile.
"I heard something interesting," Barbie said loudly.
"You're not just a scholarship student…"
She stepped closer.
"You're also working as a maid now."
Several students nearby started whispering.
Ariana clenched her fists but stayed calm.
"I'm not ashamed of working," she said firmly.
Barbie laughed.
"You should be."
Before Ariana could respond, Barbie suddenly pushed her shoulder.
Ariana stumbled back slightly.
"Stay away from people like us," Barbie said coldly.
Just as things were about to get worse—
A deep voice suddenly echoed behind them.
"That's enough."
Everyone turned.
Jayden was standing at the end of the hallway.
His cold blue eyes were locked on Barbie.
Barbie immediately looked nervous.
"Jayden… I was just—"
"Leave," he said calmly.
Barbie quickly stepped back.
Within seconds, she and her friends walked away.
The hallway became quiet again.
Jayden walked toward Ariana.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Ariana nodded.
"I can handle people like them."
Jayden looked at her for a moment.
"You shouldn't have to."
For a brief second, Ariana felt something different in his voice.
Concern.
But suddenly, Jayden's phone rang.
He answered it.
His expression immediately changed.
"What?" he said seriously.
After hanging up, Jayden looked toward the window outside.
His wolf instincts were alert.
Hunters had been spotted near the forest again.
And this time…
Things were about to become far more dangerous.