WEREWOLF SYSTEM

Aaron's POV

The moment I saw Kyle standing in my apartment, holding my chain, I knew he had gone too far. A low growl rumbled in my throat, vibrating through my chest.

His breath hitched, and I could see the way his fingers trembled as he set the chain down. Smart move. But not smart enough. "You shouldn't be here," I said, my voice dangerously low. Kyle didn't move, his eyes locked onto mine. He wasn't just afraid—he was calculating.

Trying to decide if he could run. If he could fight. Neither would end well for him. I stepped forward, closing the space between us in one smooth motion. "You think you're smart, Kyle?" I continued, my voice barely above a whisper. "Breaking into my place, snooping through my things.

Do you have any idea what you're getting yourself into?" He swallowed hard. "I saw the chain, Aaron," he said, voice tense. "I know what you are." I let out a slow breath, shaking my head. "No, you don't." Kyle thought he had uncovered the truth. That I was a werewolf. But he didn't realize how much deeper this ran. How much worse it could get. "You're making a mistake," I warned, stepping closer. Kyle took a step back. "You attacked me that night, didn't you?" I tilted my head. "Did I?" His jaw clenched. "The beast that came after me—it had this chain. Now Elena has one too. What is it, Aaron? Some kind of mark? A connection?" I said nothing. Because he wasn't wrong. But he wasn't right either. Kyle thought he was chasing one mystery. He didn't realize he had stumbled into something much bigger. I could feel the pull of the full moon growing closer, my senses sharpening, instincts kicking in. If I let my anger take over, if I lost control right now—Kyle wouldn't walk out of this apartment. So I forced myself to breathe. To stay human. "Listen to me, Kyle," I said slowly. "Drop this. Forget about what you think you saw." Kyle's eyes darkened with defiance. "And if I don't?" I took another step forward, my body radiating heat, the scent of predator thick in the air. "Then you won't live long enough to regret it."

Kyle didn't flinch. He held his ground, his breathing shallow, his fingers twitching slightly as if he were ready to bolt. But he wouldn't make it far.

Not with me standing in front of him.

"You don't get it," I said, voice low, measured. "You're walking on a razor's edge, Kyle. Keep pushing, and you'll bleed."

His jaw tightened. "I'm not afraid of you."

I smirked, my canines sharpening just slightly. "You should be."

Kyle's heartbeat spiked, but before either of us could take another step, a force crashed through the apartment door like a battering ram.

The wooden frame exploded inward, splinters flying in all directions.

Kyle was thrown to the ground, and I barely had time to react before a blur of movement shot toward me. A heavy impact slammed into my ribs, sending me skidding backward, my feet barely finding traction before I was forced to brace myself.

A growl. Deep. Familiar.

I wiped the blood from my lip and looked up, eyes glowing gold.

Another werewolf stood between me and Kyle.

Tall, broad, and radiating raw power. It's eyes gleamed silver in the dim light, his breathing controlled despite the violence in its stance. Looks older, more experienced. I could perceive that.

Kyle groaned on the floor, dazed.

The werewolf didn't spare him a glance. It's focus was entirely on me.

"Step away," the wolf said, voice a quiet snarl.

I curled my fingers into fists, every instinct screaming at me to fight. To tear him apart for interfering. But something held me back.

This wasn't a random attack.

It came here for Kyle.

And that meant Kyle wasn't just some clueless human anymore.

He had a protector.

And I had a problem.

The werewolf lunged.

I barely dodged in time. It moved with brutal efficiency, strikes fast, controlled. We clashed, fists meeting muscle, growls echoing through the ruined apartment. I drove my knee into his stomach, but it barely flinched before countering with a blow to my ribs that sent me reeling.

It was fast. Too fast.

Kyle groaned again, stirring slightly, and the moment my attention flickered toward him—just for a second—the werewolf struck.

It's palm slammed against my chest, a force like a sledgehammer knocking the air from my lungs. My back hit the wall, plaster cracking around me.

I tried to move, but suddenly my muscles felt heavy.

A numbing sensation spread through my limbs, my vision blurring.

Damn it.

It didn't just hit me.

Something else was involved.

Some kind of tranquilizer—wolf's bane, maybe. Something designed to slow me down.

The werewolf wasted no time.

It grabbed Kyle by the collar, hoisted him up, and before I could push past the fog in my head—

They were gone.

Elena's POV

I didn't expect to find Kyle unconscious back at Aaron's.

When I arrived at his apartment, the door was already unlocked, slightly ajar. My heart pounded as I stepped inside, the dim glow of the bedside lamp casting warm shadows across the room.

I gently laid Kyle on his bed, his shirt slightly torn, his breathing shallow but steady.

My chest tightened.

I approached slowly, kneeling beside him. His face was relaxed, peaceful in a way I rarely saw when he was awake. His usual sharp eyes were closed, his brows smooth.

Vulnerable.

Something inside me ached at the sight.

I reached out hesitantly, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead.

What happened to you tonight, Kyle?

His hand twitched slightly, fingers curling as if he was reaching for something in his dreams.

He had no idea I was here. No idea who brought him back.

A part of me wanted to tell him. Wanted to be the one he turned to when everything felt like it was spinning out of control.

But I couldn't.

Not yet.

Instead, I let my fingers linger against his cheek for just a second longer than I should have. Something I had always wanted.

Then, before I could convince myself otherwise, I leaned in.

Just a whisper of a kiss.

Barely there, barely real.

The texture of his lips was so soft that I wished I could stay longer, just to savor the feeling. This might be my only chance.

The atmosphere suddenly felt cold. I could hear our heartbeats loud, clear, and perfectly in sync.

A secret.

A moment that belonged only to me.

Then I pulled away, my heart racing, i slipped out the door before he could wake up.

Because if he asked how he got to his room or woke up to find me beside him, it would raise questions I wouldn't have an answer to.

But for now, I'm good with it just being a secret.