The twilight painted the sky with orange and purple hues, but Eliza barely noticed. She walked with dragging steps toward the admissions building, a somber block that seemed to absorb the daylight, as if the place conspired to keep her in the shadows. The damp wind caressed her face, but far from comforting her, it only accentuated the feeling of helplessness she had been carrying for days. She clutched the folder with documents tightly, as if that simple act could anchor her to reality, but her mind was elsewhere, trapped in a whirlwind of thoughts she couldn't control.
Werewolves. Marco's words continued to resonate in her head like a persistent echo. It wasn't that she didn't believe in the supernatural; she had always felt a childlike fascination with the occult. But this time was different. This time, that fascination mixed with a visceral fear she couldn't explain.
As she approached the building, the creaking of branches in the wind grew more intense, almost deafening. That's when she saw him. A tall, dark figure leaned against the doorframe of the entrance, as if the place belonged to him. His posture was relaxed, but there was something in his presence that made her feel watched, trapped, like a mouse under a cat's gaze.
It was him. Lucian.
Eliza recognized him instantly; since their brief encounter a few days ago, she hadn't been able to stop dreaming about him. His black hair fell in messy strands across his forehead, and his golden eyes shone with an intensity that seemed to defy natural laws. But it wasn't just his appearance that disarmed her; it was something deeper, something that seemed to vibrate in the air between them, an energy that made her feel naked, vulnerable.
When their gazes met, she felt a knot in her stomach that left her breathless. Lucian flashed a half-smile, but it wasn't a warm or reassuring smile. It was cold, almost cruel, as if he knew something she didn't.
"Are you here to submit papers?" he asked in a deep voice, his tone imbued with a disdain that seemed designed to make her feel insignificant.
Eliza nodded awkwardly, unable to find her voice. It was as if the air around her had become thicker, heavier.
"Go ahead," he said, stepping away from the door with a movement so fluid it was almost hypnotic.
When she passed by him, she felt a strange heat emanating from his body. It wasn't the normal warmth of a person; it was something more intense, more primitive. But it wasn't just heat; there was a raw, wild energy that seemed to envelop her, trap her like an invisible net.
She entered the building with her heart pounding against her ribs and let out a shaky sigh. She hadn't realized she was holding her breath until that moment. As she walked toward the admissions counter, she tried to calm the whirlwind of emotions that invaded her. But it was useless. The sensation of being watched didn't disappear, as if Lucian had left an invisible mark on her, something she couldn't shake off no matter how hard she tried.
After submitting the documents, she left the building hoping he wouldn't still be there. But there he was, leaning against a nearby tree, watching her with his arms crossed over his chest and that golden gaze that seemed to pierce every corner of her soul. His presence was overwhelming, like a contained storm about to break loose.
"All set?" he asked in a casual tone, though his eyes said something else.
"Yes," Eliza replied, although her voice trembled slightly.
There was an awkward silence between them. Eliza felt her skin prickle under his gaze, as if he could see beyond the visible, beyond the human.
"You're not what I expected," Lucian finally said, tilting his head slightly as he studied her carefully.
Eliza frowned, confused and annoyed at the same time. There was something in his tone that deeply irritated her, as if she were being evaluated for something beyond her control.
"What do you mean?" she finally asked, trying to maintain her composure though she could feel her hands trembling at her sides.
Lucian smiled again, but this time his smile had a dangerous, almost predatory edge.
"Nothing," he replied with indifference. "Just an observation."
Before she could reply, Eliza felt a chill run down her spine. She quickly looked around, but saw nothing unusual. When she turned back to Lucian, he was no longer there.
Rage began to boil within her as she stood alone under the tree where he had been moments before. Who the hell did he think he was? What right did he have to behave as if she were an object of study or a piece in some twisted game? She clenched her fists tightly, feeling her nails dig into the palms of her hands almost to the point of breaking skin.
But the worst part wasn't his attitude; the worst was how he made her feel: small, vulnerable... trapped in something she didn't understand and hadn't asked for. That feeling enraged her beyond reason because she knew it was true: there was something about Lucian that pulled at her like an invisible and relentless force. And although she hated to admit it even to herself, a part of her wanted to know more. She wanted to understand why he exerted this power over her, why his presence ignited something inside her that she had never felt before.
As she walked toward the main path of the campus, she tried to convince herself that she should forget about Lucian and everything related to him. But she knew that was impossible. He had left a mark on her, an invisible bond she couldn't break no matter how hard she tried.
And the worst part was that Lucian knew it.