Chapter 164 164

Chapter 164 164
Arielle's POV

Mandy was there, sitting at her desk, laughing at something Neil had said. She was fine. She was safe. Her head was thrown back, her laughter filling the room.

But standing behind her, just outside the window, was a shadow. A figure. Watching.

I couldn't see his face. But I knew who sent him.

Definitely someone sent by Logan to keep watch.

He didn't move. He just stood there, his silhouette dark against the glass, his gaze fixed on Mandy's back. Waiting. Watching. A silent promise of what he would do if I didn't obey.

I stood frozen, my hand still on the door handle, my heart hammering against my ribs. The shadow outside the window moved, a subtle shift, like a predator adjusting its stance. Then he lifted his phone, his eyes scanning the screen. Whatever he read seemed to be an order, a silent command, because he nodded once, then stepped back into the darkness and disappeared.

I let out a shaky breath, my legs threatening to buckle beneath me. Everything was fine. For now.

I pushed open the door and stepped into the classroom. Mandy's head snapped up, her eyes narrowing as she saw me. "There you are! Do you have a secret hobby of vanishing into thin air or something?" She crossed her arms, her foot tapping against the floor. "First you disappeared when we were alone, and in the field, you're just—poof—gone again. I'm starting to think you're avoiding me."

Neil, sitting beside her, held up his hands in mock surrender. "I'm staying out of this. You two can sort out your mysterious disappearing acts on your own."

Mandy shot him a look, then turned back to me. "Seriously, Arielle, where do you keep going? You look like you've seen a ghost every time you come back."

I forced a smile, waving a dismissive hand. "I told you, I just had to check on something. It's nothing. Really."

She squinted at me, clearly not convinced. But Neil's arm slipped around her shoulders, and she sighed, letting it go. "Fine. But you owe me an explanation later. And I'm holding you to that."

I nodded, grateful she didn't push further. Neil glanced between us, clearly uncomfortable with the tension, and cleared his throat. "So, uh, I was thinking about grabbing some food after this. You two want to join?"

Mandy opened her mouth to respond, but I cut in quickly. "I can't. I have to go to see the Chancellor. He called for me."

She frowned, her eyes narrowing again, but she didn't argue. "Fine. But you're not getting out of that explanation forever."

\---

Later, twenty minutes after the final bell had rung and the campus had emptied, I walked out of the main building, my steps slow, my mind churning. The sun was lower now, casting long shadows across the pavement. I spotted Mandy standing by the entrance, her arms crossed, her expression grumpy.

Goodness, I intentionally waited back, thinking she would have gone after not seeing me.

I stopped, my heart sinking. How was I supposed to slip away to the woods now? I had hoped she'd be gone already, off on a date with Neil. But she was still here, waiting.

She turned, and I quickly plastered on a casual expression, walking toward her. "Um, you're still here, Mandy?"

"Yes." Her frown deepened, and she looked toward the gate, her jaw tight. "That uncle of mine is really something else."

I blinked. "What? What happened?"

She huffed, crossing her arms tighter. "I wanted to talk to him about Logan. About what he did to you. But the moment I mentioned your name, he shut me down. He didn't even want to hear a word about it. Just walked off, looking like I'd committed treason."

My stomach dropped. "Hey, why did you even think to bring him up? Mandy, I told you to stay out of it."

"Because he could help, Arielle!" She stepped closer, her voice urgent. "If he knew what Logan was doing—the threats, the blackmail—he could set things straight. He's the Alpha. He could make Logan disappear. He could make sure Logan never bothers you again."

"No." The word came out sharper than I intended, and I saw her flinch. "Don't tell him anything. Please. Just... let me handle this."

She stared at me, her expression caught between frustration and concern. Then she let out a long breath, her shoulders slumping. "Fine. But if things get worse—if he tries anything again—I'm telling him. Whether you like it or not."

I nodded, forcing a small smile. "Okay. That's fair. But nothing's going to get worse, alright? I'm handling it."

She studied me for a moment, then gestured toward the parking lot. "Come on. Let's go home. I'm exhausted."

I shook my head. "I can't. I have my part-time job. I need to head straight there."

Her face fell. "Again? Arielle, you're going to work yourself to death. Why don't you just come with me first? We can pick out a dress for my date with Neil this weekend. I could really use your opinion."

I bit my lip, guilt twisting in my chest. "I can't. Maybe another time. Besides, you don't need me to pick a dress. You've got amazing taste."

She pouted, her eyes wide. "But I wanted your opinion! You're my best friend. You're supposed to be there for these important moments."

"I am there for you," I said, my voice softening. "I just... I can't today. I'm sorry."

She looked at me for a long moment, then sighed. "Fine. But you owe me. And we're doing this soon."

I nodded, relief flooding through me. "Promise."

She gave me one last look, then turned and walked toward her car. I watched her drive away, the guilt settling deeper in my chest.

I had just lied to my best friend. Again. And now I had to face the monster in the woods, alone. I turned toward the West Woods, my steps heavy, my heart pounding.

I prayed I would make it out alive.

I flagged down a taxi, my hand trembling as I gave the driver directions. I made sure to have him pull up a few feet away from the weathered wooden sign that marked the entrance to the west part of the woods. The sign was old, its paint peeling, the words barely legible: "West Trail — Unmaintained. Enter at Your Own Risk."

The driver gave me a strange look, his eyes lingering on the dark treeline ahead, but he didn't ask questions. I paid him quickly, and he drove off, his taillights disappearing around the bend.

I stood alone at the edge of the road, the silence pressing in from all sides. The trees loomed ahead, their branches twisting together like gnarled fingers, blocking out the fading light. My heart thumped against my ribs, each beat a loud, hollow drum in my ears. I took a breath, then stepped onto the narrow path that led into the woods.

The further I walked, the deeper the shadows grew. The air turned cool and damp, thick with the smell of earth and decay. I could hear faint sounds—the rustle of leaves, the snap of a twig—and my skin prickled with the awareness that I was not alone. Then I heard the snickers. Low, mocking, carrying through the trees like a warning.

I pushed through a curtain of hanging vines and found myself in a small clearing. Logan was there, lounging on a makeshift seat, surrounded by four others. Stefan was by his side, filling his glass with something dark and amber. The arrangement was deliberate, almost ceremonial, like they were preparing for a show. There was a lot of fun about to happen there. I could feel it in the air, thick and suffocating.

Logan looked up as I approached, a slow, lazy smile spreading across his face. "Well, well. Look who finally decided to show up." He rose from his seat, spreading his arms wide. "The Queen of my world has arrived."

He took a puff from a cigarette, the smoke curling around his face like a veil. He approached me, his steps unhurried, his eyes raking over me. "I was starting to think you'd lost your nerve. But here you are. My little puppet, dancing to my tune."

I stood my ground, my fists clenched at my sides. "What do you want, Logan?"

He dropped the cigarette, crushing it under his boot. Then he grabbed my arm, his grip bruising. "First, I need a kiss. A peace sign. That's all I'm asking."