The day started normal.
For maybe ten minutes.
Ronan and Calla had just left the archive room when the first interruption found them — in the worst way possible.
Greg.
Of all people, Greg was waiting near the quad.
Leaning against a railing like he owned the world, hoodie pulled low, hands in his pockets. The same guy who helped drag Ronan into the woods on his first week. Same sneer. Same dead eyes.
Ronan stiffened the second he saw him.
Greg didn't waste time. He stalked straight up, crowding Ronan like he was still top dog on campus.
"You look different," Greg said.
Ronan didn't respond.
Greg grinned. "Not scared anymore? What happened, stray — finally grow teeth?"
Calla stepped in without hesitation. "Back off."
Greg ignored her. "Heard you've been nosing around where you don't belong. You and your hacker girlfriend."
He shoved Ronan hard.
Ronan didn't move.
Not an inch.
Greg blinked. Tried again. This time Ronan caught his wrist mid-push.
The air shifted.
"Don't," Ronan said, low.
"Let me handle him," the wolf growled. "Let me show him what fear feels like."
Ronan's grip tightened — just for a second. Not enough to break anything.
But enough to make Greg panic.
Greg yelped and jerked back like he'd touched fire. "What the hell—?"
"You're done," Ronan said. "You don't talk to her. You don't look at me. You disappear."
Greg didn't argue.
He ran.
They didn't even have time to breathe before the second hit.
Calla's phone buzzed.
Then again.
Then a voice — behind them this time.
"C."
She froze.
Ronan turned.
And saw him.
Tall. Polished. Leather jacket. Square jaw and a fake smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Calla's ex.
Drew.
Ronan had never seen him before. But he knew it the second the guy said her name like that — too familiar, too sharp.
Calla backed up a step. "What are you doing here?"
"You weren't answering," Drew said, shrugging. "I figured you were busy. So I came down."
Ronan moved slightly between them.
Drew noticed. "This him?" he said. "This the loser you've been wasting time with?"
"Go home," Calla said. Her voice was flat. But her hands were shaking.
Drew stepped closer. "You ghost me for two weeks and now I get this attitude? Nah, babe. You're coming with me. We're gonna talk."
He reached for her arm.
She slapped him. Hard.
The sound cracked across the quad.
Drew's eyes went dark. "You—"
He raised his hand.
That was it.
Ronan didn't think. Didn't ask.
He stepped in and dropped Drew with a single punch.
The guy hit the pavement and stayed there.
"Yes," the wolf said, pleased. "Good hit."
Calla blinked in shock. Then burst out laughing — sharp, startled, cathartic.
"God," she said, breathing hard. "What is with today?"
Ronan shook out his hand. "Somebody doesn't want us investigating."
"Yeah," Calla said, rubbing her face. "Looks like the universe is throwing every ex and idiot at us."
They sat on the steps for a while, letting the adrenaline wear off.
Later, back in their room, Ronan tried to rest — but the wolf stirred.
"She's still marked," the wolf said. "The leech isn't gone. Just quiet. It thinks you've lost focus. That's what it wants."
Ronan clenched his fists. "Then what do we do?"
"You pass the mark," the wolf said. "Pass the energy. The thing can't latch without a door. She gave it one. Now you need to give it another — the real one. The one behind all this."
"Lorne," Ronan whispered. "You're saying we have to get close to him."
"Closer than you want. Let the leech see the truth. Let it follow the scent."
Ronan told Calla.
She didn't freak out.
She just nodded, a little pale. "So… I'm bait?"
"Only till it finds its real target," he said.
"And then?"
"Then we finish this."
That night, they didn't study.
Didn't research.
Didn't chase shadows.
They just sat — side by side — on the roof of the east dorm, watching the stars come out.
"Tomorrow," Calla said, "we go again."
"Yeah."
"And Ronan?"
"Yeah?"
She nudged his shoulder. "Thanks. For punching my ex."
He smiled. "Anytime."