Chapter 11 - Another

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I jolted awake, heart racing. But the familiar surroundings of Smiley's house came into focus, and I realized I had fallen asleep in his arms, still curled up on the couch. His warmth was oddly comforting, as if his presence somehow warded off the unease from my dream.

Weirdly safe

I thought, trying to make sense of how I could feel this way about someone so... unsettling.

Smiley stirred beside me, blinking awake. His usual grin was softer in the morning light, and he greeted me with a simple nod. We moved through our usual routine—he made breakfast while I mindlessly sipped the coffee he handed me. Everything felt so domestic, like we'd been doing this for years rather than just days.

But the comfort didn't last long. Soon after breakfast, we were herded back to the teaching room. The dull buzz of conversations and the flicker of projector lights were all part of the new normal now.

I sat down, and almost immediately, Lea's head popped up from the seat next to me.

"You read anything good in that book?" she asked, her curiosity obvious.

"Why?" I replied, feeling like something was up with her sudden interest.

"Hm... I got curious but didn't wanna actually read it myself," she shrugged.

I sighed, knowing she'd keep pressing if I didn't answer.

"Well, I did read about the full moon stuff," I said, keeping it vague.

The idea of Lycans and werewolves and their inner beasts was still swirling around in my mind. It was fascinating but also unnerving.

What would Smiley be like under the full moon?

Before Lea could ask anything else, the door to the room creaked open, and Liv walked in with someone new. A girl trailed behind her, and a few steps later, a young guy appeared, his wide eyes scanning the room, clearly terrified.

"Wow, another one. And a guy this time?" Lea murmured, her voice low enough so only I could hear.

I turned to look at the new arrivals. The girl seemed more composed, though nervous, while the guy looked like he might bolt at any second. His hands fidgeted at his sides, and his gaze darted from person to person as if looking for an escape.

"Where am I?" the guy asked, his voice shaky. His fear was palpable, and it tugged at something inside me.

I remember that feeling.

I exchanged a glance with Lea, and she just shrugged, clearly not as fazed as I was by his panic. Liv was trying to calm him down, her voice steady but firm.

"You're safe here. Just sit down, and they'll explain everything soon."

The guy didn't look convinced. His eyes met mine for a split second, and I saw the raw terror there, the confusion that came with being ripped out of your normal life and thrown into something you couldn't even comprehend.

I know exactly what he's feeling

I wanted to say something comforting, anything to ease his anxiety, but I was still grappling with my own.

Am I even safe here?

The thought had been lingering in the back of my mind ever since I arrived, but seeing him—this new face filled with uncertainty—brought it back to the forefront.

The old man entered the room soon after, signaling the beginning of the day's lesson. He started droning on about mate bonds and the dangers of rejection again, but my mind kept wandering. The tension in the air was thick, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

As the lesson went on, I stole glances at the new guy. He wasn't adjusting well, fidgeting constantly and barely listening to the old man's words. I remembered how overwhelming it had been at first—the constant barrage of information about Lycans, werewolves, mates, and the full moon. It was like being submerged in a world where nothing made sense anymore.

Smiley wasn't in the room, which gave me a moment to breathe. His absence usually made me feel uneasy, but today, I welcomed it. I couldn't shake the thought of that nightmare from last night, how real it felt.

The man in the hoodie, the chase, the suffocating fear—it all lingered in the back of my mind.

Was that a memory?

A warning?

Or just my own paranoia creeping in?

As the old man continued speaking, I noticed the guy's hands were trembling.

He's not going to make it through this easily,

Lea leaned in and whispered, "Do you think he's gonna freak out?"

I shrugged.

"Maybe. I did."

She chuckled softly, but there was no humor in her voice. "Yeah, but you're stronger than you think."

I wasn't so sure. I looked over at the guy again, wondering how long it would take before he broke, or worse—accepted this strange, twisted reality like I had been starting to. The thought chilled me, and I shifted in my seat.

The old man wrapped up the lesson with the same ominous warning as always.

"Remember, your bond is everything. Without it, you may lose more than just a connection."

As we were dismissed, I found myself walking alongside the new guy. He still looked shaken, his eyes darting around as if he was expecting something to jump out at him.

"Hey," I said softly, unsure of what to say next. "It gets... easier." A lie, or maybe just something I wished was true.

He looked at me, his voice barely a whisper.

"Does it?"

I wanted to tell him yes, that it would all be okay, but I wasn't even sure if I believed that anymore. Instead, I just nodded, offering him a small, tight-lipped smile. He didn't seem convinced, but it was the best I could give.

Smiley was waiting for me when I got back. He had another movie ready, this time something lighthearted. We settled in together, his arm draped casually over my shoulders, and for a while, I let myself forget about everything. But deep down, the unease never left.

And as I drifted off, slipping into another restless sleep, I couldn't help but wonder—when would I wake up from this nightmare?

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