WEREWOLF SYSTEM

Elena's POV

Kyle was changing.

At first, it had been subtle—things only someone close to him would notice. The way he walked, the way he reacted to things just a little too fast. The way his eyes lingered on people, as if he could sense things beyond what they were saying.

But lately, it wasn't just me who noticed.

People whispered about it in the hallways, their voices hushed but not enough to be unheard.

"Did you see him catch that ball in gym? It was like he knew it was coming before it even got thrown."

"I swear I saw his eyes glow for a second yesterday."

"He's different. Like… off."

And then there were the moments of complete absence—like right now.

"Kyle?" I nudged his arm.

He didn't respond at first. His fingers were twitching slightly, his breathing shallow, eyes locked on nothing. Then, like a switch flipping, he blinked back into reality.

"What?" His voice was rougher than usual, edged with something I couldn't name.

"You zoned out again."

Kyle's brows furrowed as he sat up straighter. "I'm fine."

I didn't believe him.

His hands clenched and unclenched, his body tense, like he was barely keeping himself together.

And then, just as I was about to push further, the door swung open, and everything shifted.

A girl stepped inside.

Celeste Montgomery.

She moved with the kind of confidence that wasn't loud or showy but undeniable. Dark auburn hair cascaded past her shoulders in soft waves, framing a face that was almost too composed. Her eyes, a shade of brown so light they bordered on golden, swept over the room before landing—inevitably—on Kyle.

I wasn't the only one who noticed.

Kyle stiffened.

Celeste didn't just look at him. She studied him.

Like she was looking for something.

---

Kyle's POV

The whispers were still there.

Not loud, but present. A constant murmur at the edge of my mind. Sometimes I could almost make out the words. Other times, it was just a sound, a presence pressing down on me.

I should've been relieved that the classroom was quiet, but I wasn't.

Because now, I was being watched.

Elena's eyes lingered on me, her concern almost suffocating. And then there was Celeste—new girl, sharp eyes, sharper presence.

She wasn't just looking at me. She was evaluating me.

I forced myself to stay still as Mr. Calloway shuffled his papers. "Alright, class, we've got a new student today. Celeste Montgomery."

Celeste nodded but didn't speak. She didn't need to. There was something controlled about her, like every movement was carefully chosen.

"Since we're starting a new research project, I'll be assigning partners," Calloway continued.

Please, anyone but—

"Kyle, Elena, and Celeste. You'll be working together."

I fought the urge to groan.

Elena shot me a quick glance—half warning, half reassurance as if to say, be nice.

I exhaled through my nose and leaned back in my chair. Fine. Whatever.

Celeste, however, didn't waste time. She slid into the seat across from me, resting her elbows on the desk.

"So," she said, tilting her head. "What's your deal?"

I frowned. "Excuse me?"

She smiled. It wasn't unfriendly, but it wasn't warm either.

"You seem… different."

The way she said it sent an uncomfortable prickle down my spine.

I shrugged. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure you don't."

Her eyes flickered—just for a second—to my hands.

That's when I realized they were clenched into fists.

I forced them to relax.

Elena cleared her throat, sensing the tension. "So, um, the project? We should probably start planning."

Celeste didn't look away immediately. It was like she was waiting to see how I'd react.

Then, finally, she leaned back.

"Right," she said. "Let's get started."

---

Celeste's POV

Kyle wasn't normal.

I had known it the moment I stepped into the classroom.

It wasn't just the way he moved—too smooth, too controlled. It was the presence he carried. A weight in the air, subtle but undeniable.

I had spent my whole life preparing for this moment.

My father always told me werewolves were unnatural. That they were dangerous, that they had no place in this world. But looking at Kyle now, I didn't see a monster.

I saw someone who was slipping—someone standing on the edge of something he didn't understand.

And I needed to know how much he did understand.

So I tested him.

I dropped my pen. He caught it mid-air, his reflexes faster than he realized.

I asked an innocent question about heightened senses—his muscles tensed before he could stop himself.

He wasn't fully aware of what was happening to him.

That made him unpredictable.

That made him dangerous.

And that made him valuable.

The only question was—valuable to whom?

---

Kyle's POV

The night air was cold.

Too cold.

I blinked, disoriented. The world around me shifted into focus—trees, dirt, a thick mist curling around the ground.

Wait—bare feet?

I looked down.

I wasn't wearing shoes.

Or a shirt.

My pulse spiked, a surge of fear and confusion slamming into me all at once.

Where was I?

How did I get here?

I turned in a slow circle, heart hammering in my chest. The forest stretched out endlessly in every direction. No landmarks, no signs of how far I had gone.

This wasn't just a dream.

This was real.

Panic clawed at my throat, but beneath it—beneath the terror—was something else.

Something primal.

A whisper, slithering through my mind.

"Run."

A shiver crawled down my spine.

Then, in the distance—low, guttural, unmistakable.

A growl.

I wasn't alone.

I turned sharply, eyes scanning the shadows. The whispering grew louder, threading through my thoughts like it belonged there.

"Run."

But I didn't move.

I couldn't.

Because something was watching me.

A shape shifted between the trees.

I took a step back, every nerve screaming at me to run—but before I could move, the darkness surged forward.

And everything went black.