By third period, I was starting to notice a pattern. Everywhere I went, Knox was already there. In chemistry, he leaned against the back wall, not even pretending to care about the lesson. In the hall, he always managed to fall into step just a few feet behind me. In history, he sat two rows over, angled in his chair just enough to watch me while spinning a pencil between his fingers.
At first, I thought I was imagining it. But my wolf was quick to speak up. He's not just hanging around. He's guarding us.
Guarding me.
I fiddled with my pen, trying not to look obvious as I peeked over my shoulder. Sure enough, Knox's eyes were steady, scanning the room like he was waiting for something to jump out at me. Across the room, Erica noticed too. Her narrowed eyes flicked from Knox to me, sharp enough to cut glass. She leaned in to whisper something to one of her friends, lips pursed, hands tightening around her notebook.
My wolf sighed. She's threatened. She should be. Ezra assigned his second to shadow you. That means you matter.
"Or that he doesn't trust me," I muttered under my breath.
Trust and protection aren't opposites, my wolf said calmly. He's making sure no one touches you before you find your footing.
I tapped my pen against the desk, frustration buzzing under my skin. "But I don't want to be someone's responsibility. I don't want to hand over my life to some Alpha like he owns me."
It isn't about ownership, my wolf replied. It's about survival. Packs are families, not chains. Alone, you're a rogue—and rogues are hunted, Evelyn. You'd be looking over your shoulder every hour of every day.
"I've survived fine so far," I whispered.
Because no one knew what you were until now.
That silenced me. The truth in her voice was heavy, undeniable.
"And Ezra?" I asked finally. "Why does it feel like he's everywhere? Why can't I just... tune him out?"
Because he's Alpha-blood. His presence fills the room, even when he doesn't speak. You feel it because you're meant to. He recognized you. He claimed responsibility the second he told you to join his pack.
Heat crawled up my neck. I risked a glance across the room, and of course, Ezra sat three rows over, leaned back in his chair like the world bent for him. His gaze caught mine, steady and unblinking, and my chest tightened until I snapped my notebook shut just to break the connection.
You can't run from this, my wolf murmured. The choice isn't whether you join a pack. It's which pack you join. And Ezra's is offering you safety on a silver plate.
"And if I say no?" I whispered.
Then you'll live like prey. That's not who we are.
My pencil snapped in half between my fingers.
When the bell rang, the whole building seemed to exhale at once. People poured into the halls, laughing and shoving, but I stayed frozen in my seat. My wolf was quiet now, letting me feel the weight of everything she'd said. By the time I moved, my stomach was twisted in knots.
And of course, Ezra was waiting.
He leaned against his locker like he owned the hallway. His friends were scattered nearby, loud and obnoxious, but he wasn't with them. He was watching me.
Go, my wolf urged softly. Decide. Or he'll decide for you.
My legs carried me forward, shaky but determined. My books felt heavy in my arms, my heart heavier.
"Ezra," I said, stopping in front of him.
He lifted his brows, amused. "Finally worked up the courage to talk to me without me cornering you?"
"Don't flatter yourself." My voice wavered, but I forced it steady. "I've made a decision."
The corner of his mouth tugged. "Yeah?"
"I'll join your pack." The words burned on the way out, sharp and terrifying, but once they were said, I couldn't take them back.
The corner of his mouth tugged. "Yeah?"
"I'll join your pack." The words tasted foreign and sharp, but once they were out, there was no taking them back. "But on one condition—I won't be treated like a pawn. I'm not here to be ordered around or pushed aside."
For a second, silence stretched between us, full of locker slams and teenage chaos. Then Ezra pushed off the metal door, stepping into my space. Not close enough to touch. Just close enough that his presence wrapped around me like a cloak.
"Fiery," he murmured, eyes gleaming. "Good. My pack doesn't need pawns. It needs wolves who can stand their ground." Relief flickered through me, tangled with something sharper when he added, voice low and sure, "But understand this—you're mine now. My pack. My responsibility. My protection."
My pulse jumped. My wolf purred in quiet agreement. He means it. He'll protect us.
I lifted my chin. "Fine. But I'm still me. Don't forget that."
His smirk widened, like he liked that answer more than he should've. "Trust me, Evelyn, I couldn't forget if I tried."
We stood there a moment longer, some silent current snapping between us, before Ezra finally broke it. "Come by the pack house tonight. Bring your mom."
My stomach dropped. "What?"
"You didn't think you'd just say the words and be done, did you?" He leaned back against the locker, lazy but calculating. "There's a process. You meet the Alpha and Luna—my parents. You get welcomed officially."
I swallowed hard. "Your parents."
"Yeah." His smirk softened into something more serious. "Don't worry. They'll want to meet you. Especially once they know what you are."
My wolf stirred with a strange mixture of excitement and nerves. This is it. The beginning. We'll see where we belong.
Belong. The word lodged in my chest, heavy and terrifying and maybe, just maybe, a little hopeful.