Riley's POV
The next morning, I'm a wreck. Jasper's visit kept me up all night, her words looping in my head. Mate. Wolf. Time's running out. I've spent years suppressing my true nature, injecting that clear liquid to keep my wolf dormant. I don't even know what it means to be a werewolf, not really. Diane never told me anything about my father, but I've always known I'm different. Stronger. Faster. And sometimes, when I'm angry, I feel something inside me clawing to get out. I've buried it, but now it's like the truth is clawing its way to the surface.
I skip my morning hike and head straight to school, the vial tucked in my pocket. I'm paranoid, checking over my shoulder for Jasper or anyone else who might know my secret. At Blackthorn High, I keep my head down, but the triplets are impossible to avoid. They're in my first,period class, and as soon as I sit down, Silas's eyes are on me. Caleb and Ethan are quieter today, but they're watching too. Tara's glares are as vicious as ever, but I barely notice her. My mind's too busy spinning.
Lila slides into the seat next to me. "You look like you saw a ghost," she says, frowning.
"Just didn't sleep well," I mutter, pulling out my sketchbook. I start drawing to calm my nerves, but my lines are shaky.
"Want to talk about it?" she asks.
"Not really." I force a smile, but she doesn't push. The teacher starts the lesson, and I try to focus, but Silas turns slightly in his seat, his eyes flicking to my sketchbook. I slam it shut, my cheeks burning. Why does he keep doing this?
At lunch, I sit with Lila in the cafeteria, but my appetite's gone. The triplets are at their usual table, surrounded by their fan club, but they're not engaging. Silas is staring at me again, and Ethan's whispering something to Caleb. I push my tray away and stand up. "I need some air," I tell Lila.
She nods, but her eyes are worried. "Want me to come?"
"I'm good," I say, heading for the exit. Outside, the air is crisp, and I lean against the wall, closing my eyes. I need to figure out what Jasper meant. Why are the triplets dangerous? And why do they think I'm their mate?
I'm so lost in thought that I don't hear footsteps until someone clears their throat. I open my eyes and find Silas standing there, alone. My heart jumps. "What do you want?" I ask, straightening up.
"You've been avoiding us," he says, his voice low.
"Maybe I don't like being stared at," I shoot back.
He steps closer, and I tense. "You're hiding something," he says. "I can feel it."
My blood runs cold. "You don't know anything about me."
"Don't I?" His eyes narrow, and for a moment, I swear they flash gold. "You're not just some girl from Arizona, Riley. There's something about you… something we can't ignore."
I take a step back, my hand brushing the vial in my pocket. "Stay away from me," I say, my voice shaking.
He doesn't move, just watches me. "We're not the enemy," he says finally. "But you need to be careful. There are things in Ravenwood you don't understand."
Before I can respond, Ethan and Caleb appear behind him. "Everything okay?" Ethan asks, his tone light but his eyes sharp.
"Fine," I say, brushing past them. I can feel their gazes on my back as I head inside, my heart pounding. Silas's words echo Jasper's, and it's too much. I need answers, but I don't know where to start.
After school, I head home, my mind a mess. The house is empty, and I lock myself in my room, pulling out the vial. I stare at it, hating what it represents. I've been running from who I am for so long, but now it's catching up. I inject the liquid between my toes, wincing at the sting. It's the only way to keep my wolf buried, to keep pretending I'm human. But Jasper's right, the triplets know something. And if they figure out what I am, I'm not sure I can keep running.
That night, I dream of wolves. Three of them, massive and black, with blue eyes that glow in the dark. They're circling me, but I'm not afraid. I feel… connected to them. When I wake up, my heart's racing, and I know one thing for sure: the Hawthorn triplets are more than they seem. And I'm running out of time to figure out what.