School felt louder than it should have.
Lockers slammed. Laughter bounced off the walls. The normal world moved on like nothing had cracked open beneath it.
Eliot hesitated at the entrance, backpack hanging a little too heavy on his shoulder.
Then—
Leon saw him.
The look was instant.
Relief first.
Then worry.
Then that quiet, unreadable seriousness that always meant later.
Rex spotted him next.
"Well I'll be damned," he muttered. "The ghost returns."
Theo stood so fast his chair scraped loudly. "Eliot."
That was it. Just his name. But it hit harder than anything else.
Eliot swallowed and walked over, hands tight around his straps. "Hi."
No one spoke for a second.
Leon finally nodded. "You okay?"
Eliot nodded back. "Yeah. I—yeah."
Rex snorted. "That's the least convincing 'yeah' I've ever heard."
Theo opened his mouth—then stopped.
Because someone else had just walked up to the table.
"Sorry—this is the science group, right?"
Heads turned.
The boy standing there was taller than Eliot, clearly older—senior class. Dark hair, neatly cut but not stiff, falling just enough into his eyes.
Sharp features softened by an easy smile.
He wore the school blazer like it actually belonged to him.
Confident. Calm.
Warm.
"I'm new," he continued. "Transferred in this week."
Theo blinked. "Uh—yeah. Yeah, it is."
The boy smiled wider. "Cool. I'm Adrian."
Something in Eliot's chest shifted.
Adrian's eyes flicked across the table, reading everyone in seconds—not judging, just understanding. When his gaze landed on Eliot, it lingered.
Not awkward.
Not intense.
Just… kind.
"Mind if I sit?" Adrian asked.
Rex shrugged. "As long as you're not here to steal my genius."
Adrian chuckled. "Wouldn't dare."
He sat—and immediately leaned in to look at Theo's notes. "Is that the energy lattice model? Your spacing's off by a millimeter, but your math is solid."
Theo stared. "…You noticed that?"
Adrian nodded. "Yeah. Easy fix."
Leon watched him carefully. "You good with pressure?"
Adrian met his gaze without flinching. "When it matters."
Leon didn't smile—but he didn't look away either.
Rex tilted his head. "Okay, wow. He's funny and smart. Rude."
Eliot hadn't spoken.
He couldn't.
Because something about Adrian felt… familiar. Like pieces he recognized in everyone else.
Theo's intelligence.
Rex's humor.
Leon's steadiness.
And somehow—gentleness that felt like home.
Adrian turned to him. "You're Eliot, right?"
Eliot blinked. "Y-yeah."
"I heard you're good with theory," Adrian said easily. "I'd love to work with you."
Eliot's face warmed. "I—I mean—yeah. Sure."
From the back of the room—
Lunara watched.
Arms crossed. Eyes narrowed.
Human.
Too calm. Too sharp. Too balanced.
Her tail flicked irritably beneath her coat.
"Tch," she muttered under her breath.
She didn't like him.
Not one bit.
Adrian laughed at something Rex said—then, just for a second, his eyes flicked toward Lunara.
Not scared.
Not dismissive.
Aware.
Lunara's ears twitched.
…Interesting.
Eliot didn't notice.
He was already smiling—small, real, the kind he hadn't worn in days.
And somehow, without meaning to—
A new variable had entered the equation.
Eliot's phone buzzed.
Once.Twice.
He frowned and pulled it out.
Mira.
His stomach dropped.
He hesitated—then answered.
"Hey—"
Her voice came through immediately, low and excited in a way that made his skin prickle.
"I found it," she said. "The fifteenth wolf."
Eliot's breath caught. "Mira, what are you talking about?"
"I tracked the signal," she continued, like this was the most normal thing in the world. "It moved. It's active again. You need to come—now."
The cafeteria noise faded.
Theo's eyes widened. "Eliot?"
Leon was already watching him—reading his face.
"Mira," Eliot said carefully, "this isn't—this isn't safe."
"You said you wanted answers," she replied. "I have them."
The call ended.
Eliot stared at his phone like it had burned him.
Rex leaned forward. "Okay, I don't like that look."
Theo's hands curled into his sleeves. "That was her, wasn't it?"
Eliot nodded slowly. "She says she found… another wolf."
Silence snapped tight around the table.
Lunara stood.
No warning. No drama.
She tugged her beanie lower, coat already halfway on. "I'll go first," she muttered, tail flicking irritably. "Before I say something I shouldn't."
She turned and walked out.
Leon stood immediately.
He reached out, gripping Eliot's wrist—not hard, but grounding. Then his other hand found Theo's, firm and steady.
"Rex," Leon said quietly.
Rex didn't joke this time. He was already on his feet. "Yeah. I'm coming."
Eliot looked between them, panic rising. "Guys, I don't even know where she is—"
"We'll find out," Leon said. "Together."
They started toward the exit.
"Wait."
Adrian's voice stopped them.
He stood slowly, confusion clear on his face—but no accusation. Just concern. "You're talking about wolves. Tracking. And now you're all leaving like something bad just happened."
Leon turned.
His expression was calm. Controlled.
"Science club emergency," he said evenly. "Personal."
Adrian frowned. "That didn't answer my question."
Leon met his eyes. "It wasn't meant to."
A beat.
Then Adrian nodded once. "Okay."
He stepped aside—but his gaze lingered on Eliot. "Just… be careful."
Eliot swallowed. "I will."
They left together—Leon leading, Theo close, Rex glancing back once.
Adrian remained behind, unease settling in his chest.
Outside, Lunara waited by the gate, arms crossed, jaw tight.
"Mira's a problem," she said flatly.
Eliot didn't argue.
Because for the first time, the pull wasn't just about secrets anymore.
It was about choosing who he trusted—and who might already be too deep to save.
The abandoned observatory sat on the edge of town, half-swallowed by vines and rust. The dome above it was cracked open, like something had tried to claw its way out.
Eliot slowed as they approached.
"This is where she said?" Theo murmured.
Leon nodded once. "Stay sharp."
Mira was already there.
Standing by a portable console, screens glowing pale blue against the dark. She looked… tired. Hair pulled back too fast. Eyes too bright.
Eliot stepped forward first. "Mira. You said you tracked the fifteenth wolf."
She looked up—and flinched.
Not fear. Guilt.
"I—" she started, then stopped. Pressed her lips together. "I made a mistake."
Rex groaned instantly. "Oh, you've gotta be kidding me."
Eliot's heart sank. "What do you mean, a mistake?"
Mira exhaled hard. "The signal wasn't the fifteenth. It was a reflection. Residual energy bouncing off an old relay."
Lunara's ears flattened. "You dragged us here for nothing."
"No," Mira said quickly. "Not for nothing."
Leon folded his arms. "Then explain. Carefully."
Mira hesitated—then tapped the screen. A map bloomed open.
"The real wolf is still alive," she said. "But not here."
A dot blinked far from their town.
"Ashfall City," she said. "Three hours away."
Rex stared. "…You want us to just what. Take a bus?"
Leon's voice sharpened. "Absolutely not. We're not running off to another city because you misread a signal."
Theo stepped subtly in front of Eliot, protective without thinking. "Leon—"
"This isn't a debate," Leon said. "We have school. Families. Responsibilities."
Lunara scoffed. "She's talking nonsense."
Mira's jaw tightened. "I'm not."
She turned another screen toward them.
Data scrolled fast—too fast.
"This wolf escaped," she said. "From containment. Recently."
Lunara stilled.
Really stilled.
"…Escaped?" she asked quietly.
Mira nodded. "They didn't let it go. It broke out."
The air shifted.
Lunara's tail flicked once. Her voice dropped. "That changes things."
Rex threw his hands up. "Oh come on! Even if that's true—what, we just leave? Our parents will totally be fine with 'hey, quick wolf rescue trip'?"
Theo nodded reluctantly. "He's… not wrong."
Mira closed her eyes for a second.
Then opened them—resolved.
"I'll handle that."
Leon frowned. "How?"
She crossed her arms. "Mr. Miller trusts my dad. And my dad's a big scientist."
Rex snorted. "That's your plan? Nepotism?"
"I'll lie," Mira said bluntly. "Say I'm taking you to see a research facility. A learning trip. I'll tell him it's important."
Eliot's head snapped up. "Mira—"
"He'll tell your parents," she continued. "All of them. It'll sound official. Safe. Boring."
She sighed, the confidence cracking just a little."…Convincing."
Silence.
Leon looked at the map. At the distance. At Lunara, who hadn't objected.
Rex muttered, "This is insane."
Theo glanced at Eliot. Soft. Worried. "Are you okay with this?"
Eliot swallowed.
No.Yes.He didn't know.
But that blinking dot in Ashfall City felt like a pull in his chest.
"…If a wolf escaped," he said quietly, "then it's in danger. Or someone else is."
Lunara looked at him then. Studied him. "You're too kind," she muttered. "It'll get you killed."
But she didn't say no.
Leon closed his eyes briefly.
Then nodded once. "If we do this—we do it carefully. Together."
Rex groaned. "I can't believe this is my life."
Mira allowed herself a small, tired smile.
"Then go home," she said. "Pack your bags."
The observatory lights hummed softly.
Ashfall City blinked on the screen—waiting.