Shadows behind the light
Shadows behind the light
The scent of her food still clung to Maya’s hands as she trailed behind Lena through the quiet paths leading toward the private apartments on the edge of Moonshine College's campus.
She gripped the paper food bags tightly in both hands, one for herself and one for Lily, her fingers starting to ache from the pressure, but her curiosity outweighed her discomfort.
Why was Lena heading this way?
This side of campus was known for housing elite students, often those who came from prestigious bloodlines or were part of special programs.
Lena had never mentioned knowing anyone here.
Maya slowed her pace, sticking to the shadows behind the trimmed hedges and low stone walls, trying to keep a safe distance.
Lena moved with purpose, her boots clicking softly against the cobblestone path.
Her long coat billowed behind her like a cape, her head high, her posture graceful.
There was something so poised about her, but Maya couldn't shake the twisting feeling growing in her gut.
"Who is she going to see?" Maya whispered to herself.
Her phone buzzed.
The sudden vibration nearly made her drop the food.
Balancing the bags in one arm, she fumbled with the phone and quickly answered.
"Hey, Lily."
"Maya, where are you? You've been gone forever. Did the food truck line grow or something?" Lily asked with a light chuckle.
Maya's eyes darted toward Lena, who was pausing at a corner, glancing over her shoulder.
"Uh... yeah. Kinda. You know how it gets on weekends," Maya said, forcing a laugh. "I'm just waiting for the last bit of it. I might be a little late, but I’ll be home soon."
"You sure everything is okay?"
"Totally. Just... starving. I’ll be there in a bit, I promise."
"Alright. Don’t let the food get cold."
"Wouldn’t dream of it."
Maya hung up just in time to duck behind a hedge as Lena turned fully, her eyes scanning the path behind her.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, then after a few seconds, she shook her head and kept walking.
Maya let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
As Lena approached the curve leading toward the apartments, a strange stillness filled the air.
The birds that had been chirping only moments ago seemed to vanish, and the breeze stilled.
Maya slowed her steps and narrowed her eyes, tension growing in her chest.
From the shadows of the trees that lined the path ahead, four figures stepped into view.
Maya froze.
They were wolves—but not just any wolves.
Their postures were cocky, their eyes glinting with mischief and malice.
Their clothes were worn, casual, and their scents gave away their lineage.
Commoners. Wolves on scholarship.
"Well, well, if it isn’t Little Miss Prestige herself," sneered one of them, a tall guy with a buzz cut and a jagged scar over his brow.
Lena halted mid-step. She looked at them without fear, her eyes cold.
"Move," she said flatly.
Another one of them laughed.
"Did you hear that? She thinks she can command us like we’re her servants."
"Probably used to ordering people around," said another. "Must be nice having everything handed to you. Titles, money, attention... and now you're walking around like you own the place."
Lena didn’t back down. She lifted her chin.
"I earned my place here. Just like you did. If you don’t like it, take it up with the admissions board."
"Oh, we don’t want to talk about admissions," the first wolf said, stepping closer. "We want something else."
Maya's stomach twisted.
Lena didn’t flinch.
"Touch me, and I swear, you’ll regret it."
The guy closest to her smirked and took another step.
"Feisty. I like that. Bet it’s fun being with a classy she-wolf. Never tried one before. You think you're better than us?"
"I know I am," Lena spat, her voice sharp and cold.
The others howled with laughter.
The guy reached out toward her.
SLAP!
Lena's palm met his cheek with a resounding crack.
His head snapped to the side, and for a moment, silence hung in the air.
Then he turned back, fury in his eyes.
"You little b—!"
BAM!
His fist collided with Lena's face.
She went flying to the ground, landing hard on her side, the impact knocking the air from her lungs.
"LENA!" Maya screamed, the food bags crashing to the ground as she rushed out of hiding.
The four wolves turned in surprise.
"Back off!" Maya shouted, planting herself between them and Lena, her heart pounding.
Lena looked up from the ground, a mixture of shock and pain in her eyes.
"Maya...?"
Maya didn’t break eye contact with the guy who had thrown the punch.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
"This doesn’t concern you," he growled.
"You made it my concern the second you laid a hand on her. You want to fight someone? Fight me."
The wolves hesitated.
Maya was no ordinary student. Everyone on campus knew her reputation and her boyfriend.
She wasn’t from a noble family, but she was known to hold her ground, known to be close with powerful people.
Especially Graham.
And more importantly, she wasn’t afraid.
"Let’s go," one of the other wolves muttered, suddenly uneasy.
"What? We can take them both," the first one insisted.
"It’s not worth it," another growled. "Not with her involved."
They glared at Maya, then at Lena, who was now slowly sitting up, blood trickling from her lip.
"This isn’t over," the lead wolf spat.
"Oh, I think it is," Maya said.
Her voice was steel.
The group turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Maya and Lena alone on the path.
The silence that followed was heavy.
Maya turned around and knelt beside Lena.
"Are you okay?"
Lena stared at her, dazed.
"You were following me?"
Maya nodded slowly, her eyes scanning Lena’s injuries.
"Yeah... I wanted to know where you were going. I didn’t think..."
Lena laughed bitterly.
"You didn’t think you would be saving me."
Maya helped her up.
"Come on. Let’s get you home."
Lena leaned on her slightly.
"You shouldn’t have gotten involved."
"Yeah, well, you shouldn’t have slapped a guy twice your size."
"He deserved it."
Maya smiled faintly.
"That he did."
As they started walking back, the ruined food forgotten on the ground behind them, Maya couldn’t help but look at Lena again.
Who was she, really?
And what else was she hiding?