Chapter 37 Chapter 37

Chapter 37 Chapter 37
Chapter 37: Eyes on Me

Noah’s

Ever since I told Enzo about my dreams—the strange lady, the attacking wolves, the name Nickolas—he’s been completely different. He watches me, constantly studies me, as if I were a complex puzzle he can’t solve.

At school, Ren is always there, hovering like a suffocating shadow. Every time I leave a classroom, he’s standing right at the door, his scarred face blank, but his eyes are sharp and actively tracking my every move. It’s completely suffocating, making me feel like a prisoner instead of just a student. What is he so afraid of happening? What is Enzo so afraid of?

I sat in class, my pencil tapping softly on the desk, my eyes drifting nervously to the door. Ren was there, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, staring straight across the room at me. My stomach twisted with anxiety. Why was he always watching me like that?

James slid into the seat next to me, his backpack hitting the floor, his voice low and casual. “Yo, Noah,” he said, glancing toward the door. “You okay? That guy’s been following you around forever now. What’s his actual deal?”

I forced a smile that didn't reach my eyes, my hands fidgeting with my pencil. “He’s just a bodyguard,” I said, my voice quiet. “Nothing for you to worry about, James.”

James raised an eyebrow skeptically, his eyes narrowing. “A bodyguard?” he said in disbelief. “Come on, man. You’re not some kind of celebrity. Why do you need a guy like that tailing you everywhere? Something’s definitely up, Noah. You’ve been acting weird lately.”

“I’m fine,” I said, my voice sharper than I had intended. “It’s just… Enzo’s protective, okay? That’s all the explanation you need.”

“Protective?” James said, leaning closer to me. “That’s more than just protective. That dude looks like he’s ready to tackle anyone who gets within ten feet of you. What is really going on? Is the Enzo guy, like, controlling or something toxic?”

“No,” I said, shaking my head firmly, my throat tight. “It’s not like that at all between us. He’s just… worried about my safety. Things have been rough for me lately.”

James frowned, his voice softening with concern. “Rough how, exactly?” he said. “You keep insisting you’re fine, but you look visibly scared, Noah. You know you can tell me the truth. I’m your best friend, after all.”

I wanted to tell him everything—about the werewolves, Eric, my dad selling me—but the words refused to come out. What if he thought I was genuinely crazy and lost his friendship? “I’m okay,” I said, my voice barely audible. “Just trust me for now, alright? I can handle this on my own.”

James sighed, glancing pointedly at Ren again. “If you say so, I’ll drop it,” he said. “But I honestly don’t like that guy staring at you like that. It’s seriously creepy and unsettling.”

I nodded, letting my eyes drop immediately to my desk.

The classroom door opened sharply, and my heart sank again. Dean walked in, his smug, annoying smile already in place, his eyes immediately scanning the room. He and Ren locked eyes for a second, a tense, silent stare that made my skin crawl. I looked down, pretending to focus completely on my book, but I felt Dean’s intense gaze on me as he told the class to quiet down.

“Settle down, everyone,” he said, his voice smooth and artificially calm. “Let’s begin the lesson right now.”

I kept my head low, my hands shaking beneath the desk, but I could feel his eyes burning into my skin. He walked slowly over, his steps deliberate and measured, and stopped right by my desk. He leaned down, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper, his breath feeling hot against my ear.

“If Enzo really wants to protect you properly,” he said quietly, “he’s doing a piss-poor job of it. A simple bodyguard like Ren? That is certainly not going to cut it in this world, Noah.”

I froze, my heart instantly racing, my eyes fixed and unmoving on my desk surface. “What do you truly want from me?” I whispered, my voice shaking uncontrollably. “Why can’t you just leave me completely alone, Dean?”

Dean chuckled, the sound low and cold, filled with malice. “Oh, I don’t personally want anything from you,” he said. “I’m just making perfectly sure you know your dangerous place in our world. You are absolutely not as safe as you sincerely think you are.”

He straightened up, walking back to the front of the class, his voice loud again. “Open your books to page 47 for today’s reading,” he said, acting as if nothing had happened at all. I didn’t move, my hands trembling violently, my mind racing. What did he mean by that? Was he actively working with Eric? Was he the actual reason I wasn’t safe anywhere?

James leaned over quickly, his voice low and concerned. “What was that all about?” he asked, his eyes wide with worry. “What exactly did Mr. Dean just say to you? You look like you just saw a ghost right here.”

“Nothing at all,” I said, my voice tight and dismissive. “Just… typical teacher stuff. Don’t worry your head about it.”

“Noah, please, come on,” James said, his voice urgent and pleading. “That was not normal teacher stuff at all. He clearly has it out for you. What is truly going on?”

“Drop it right now, James,” I snapped, then immediately softened my tone. “Please. I can’t talk about it with you. Not right now, not ever.”

He sighed heavily, shaking his head slightly, and turned back to his book, respecting my wish. The rest of the class dragged by slowly. Dean’s eyes flicked to me every few minutes, his unsettling smile making my stomach churn with unease.

When the bell finally rang, I grabbed my bag and immediately bolted out the door, my heart pounding hard. I stepped outside, the cool air hitting my face, and stopped dead in my tracks.

Enzo was there, leaning casually against his car, his arms crossed, his intense eyes locked directly on me. I chuckled with relief, walking over, my nerves easing just a little bit at the sight of him.

“What are you doing here?” I asked him, my voice light and surprised. “Don’t you have, like, Alpha pack stuff to deal with?”

He laughed, his smile warm but his eyes intense and protective. “I came to see you, Noah,” he said, stepping closer. “Is that considered a crime in your world?”

I glanced nervously around, noticing people staring—students, teachers, even a passing janitor. “People are definitely watching us,” I said, my face heating up with embarrassment. “You’re making a huge scene, Enzo.”

Enzo moved closer, his face inches from mine, his breath warm and inviting. “Let them watch all they want,” he said, his voice low and teasing. “I honestly don’t care who sees us together, Noah.”

My heart raced hard, my cheeks burning brightly. “Enzo,” I said, my voice quiet and pleading. “You’re embarrassing me right now.”

He grinned widely, opening the car door for me. “Get in quickly,” he said. “I’m personally driving you home today, all the way back to the mansion.”

I glanced at Ren, who was standing nearby, his face blank and unmoving. “What about Ren?” I asked, my voice hesitant. “He’s supposed to escort me—”

Enzo cut me off firmly, his eyes flicking a command to Ren. “Find your own ride back,” he said, his voice firm and final. “I’m taking Noah with me today.”

Ren nodded once, stepping back respectfully. “Alright, Alpha,” he said, his voice low. “I’ll head back to the mansion now.”

As I slid into the car, I caught a glimpse of Stan standing nearby, his eyes locked on me. His expression was cold and hard, like he wanted to end my life right there and then. My stomach twisted violently, fear creeping up my spine quickly. “Enzo,” I said, my voice quiet with sudden worry as he got into the driver’s seat. “Stan… he’s staring at me so intently. It looks like he absolutely hates me.”

Enzo’s jaw tightened instantly, his hands gripping the steering wheel. “Ignore him completely,” he said, his voice hard and dismissive. “He’s just Dean’s little shadow. He won’t touch a single hair on your head.”

“Are you sure about that?” I asked, my voice shaking slightly. “Because he honestly looks like he wants to kill me right now.”

Enzo reached over and placed his hand reassuringly on mine, his eyes soft but fierce with promise. “No one is touching you, Noah,” he said firmly. “Not Stan, not Dean, not Eric, not anyone else alive. You are with me now, and you are protected.”

I nodded slowly, my heart still racing with fear, as he started the car and drove off. Stan’s cold stare felt like it was burning into my back even as we left the school grounds.