CHAPTER 8

Autumn’s POV

The sunlight slipped through my window, casting a soft glow across the floor. Another day. Another reminder that I was still here, still stuck in the world that once destroyed me.

I stared at the ceiling for a while. My heart was steady, but it didn’t feel calm. It felt numb. Like it was preparing itself for the weight of everything I had to face that day.

School.

I had to attend two schools because it was a world with different possibilities. While college hadn’t resumed—my first year—I still had to attend the werewolf academy where we all went as werewolves. It was usually hard to keep up with, but it was only for the holidays. Besides, I wasn’t going to keep going. I wanted to focus on college so I could get a good degree for myself.

That was where we learned discipline and everything else as werewolves. We also got tips on honing our abilities. But somehow, that place was useless for me, because I no longer had that ability—thanks to them. I still needed to plan a little bit so I wouldn’t make the wrong decision.

I sat up and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. The floor was cold, but I didn’t mind. I pressed my feet against it, grounding myself. One breath in. One out.

I couldn’t afford to slip that day.

This life… it was a second chance. A cruel one maybe, but it was mine. I wasn’t going to waste it. I wasn’t going to make the same mistakes. I wasn’t going to let people get close again—especially not the ones who smiled while watching me fall.

Especially not Ivy and Rowan.

I walked to the bathroom and stared into the mirror. My reflection looked the same as before—same dark eyes, same pale skin, same tired face. But it wasn’t the same. Not really.

“I’m not her anymore,” I whispered to myself.

The girl who trusted too easily. The one who laughed with her best friends and cried when they turned on her. The one who was beaten, humiliated, and left to rot while everyone looked away.

She was dead.

I brushed my hair with slow, steady strokes. The old uniform still fit. I smoothed the skirt down and grabbed my bag. No breakfast that day. My stomach was twisted with too much emotion to eat.

As I stepped outside, the wind brushed my face—sharp and fresh. A reminder that the world kept turning whether I wanted it to or not.

“Autumn!”

I froze.

No. Not now. Not this soon.

“Autumn, wait!” another voice called out, too familiar. Too cheery.

I turned around slowly. My eyes landed on Ivy and Rowan. They were jogging toward me with big smiles like everything was okay. Like nothing ever happened. Like they hadn’t betrayed me in the worst way possible.

“Hey!” Ivy beamed. “We were just coming to find you!”

“We thought we could all walk together like before,” Rowan said, breathless and excited.

I felt my jaw tighten. My fingers curled around the strap of my bag. There it was again—that rush of betrayal. It burned under my skin.

But I kept my face blank. I wasn’t going to give them what they wanted. Not yet.

“I’m walking alone,” I said flatly.

Their smiles faltered.

“What? But we always—” Ivy started, laughing awkwardly. “Are you mad about something?”

Rowan tilted her head. “You look upset. Did something happen?”

Yes. You happened.

You two ruined everything.

But instead of saying it, I just blinked. “Nothing’s wrong.”

“You’re acting like a stranger,” Rowan said, frowning.

“You sure you’re okay?” Ivy added.

Their concern was fake. I could feel it. They were good at pretending. They always were.

I shrugged. “I’m fine.”

“Autumn…” Ivy tried to link her arm with mine again.

I took a step back. “Don’t.”

Her eyes widened. “What’s going on with you?”

“You’re imagining things,” I said, my voice still cold, flat.

There was a long pause. They looked at each other, clearly confused. Maybe even hurt. If only I could let them feel a fraction of what I felt.

Still, I knew I had to be careful. If I shut them out completely, they’d notice. They’d dig. They’d talk.

So after a few minutes of walking in silence, I forced a small smile. “I guess I’m just tired. I didn’t sleep much.”

They seemed relieved.

“Oh my God, you scared me,” Ivy laughed. “I thought you hated us or something.”

“No, of course not,” I lied smoothly.

“Good,” Rowan said, looping her arm with mine again. “Because we missed you.”

I forced myself not to pull away. Not yet.

As we reached school, I looked at the buildings rising in front of us—the gray stone, the tall towers, the guards. The werewolf academy always looked more like a prison than a school.

And maybe that was all it ever was for me.

By midmorning, I had already mapped out the first step of my plan.

I spotted a younger student, a boy I once helped avoid punishment last year. He owed me.

I walked up to him quietly. “Can you do me a favor?”

He nodded without hesitation. “Anything.”

“Tell Ivy and Rowan that Mr. Gale wants to see them behind the gym. Tell them it’s private and urgent.”

He looked unsure. “But—”

“Just do it,” I said softly.

He nodded and hurried off.

I watched the hallway clock tick. One minute. Two.

Then I saw them leave the classroom, whispering to each other. Curious. Unaware.

Perfect.

I stepped into a quiet corner where no one would notice me. From there, I could hear everything.

The alarm went off just moments later.

A voice bellowed through the speakers. “Two students found in a restricted area. Security report to the gym perimeter.”

Ivy and Rowan were dragged back into the hallway, wide-eyed and confused.

“What? We didn’t skip!” Ivy shouted.

“Someone told us the teacher needed us—” Rowan cried, struggling.

The instructor frowned deeply. “You’re seniors. You know the rules. Five lashes each.”

“No! Wait—” Ivy screamed.

My heart jumped. Not in guilt. Not really. It was more like adrenaline. Like I was finally doing something for myself.

The silver lashes were sharp, cruel, and loud. I flinched at the sound, remembering how it felt on my own back. The sting, the heat, the blood. The way no one cared.

Now it was their turn.

I stepped further back into the shadows, making sure no one saw me. But my ears stayed open.

“Stop! We didn’t do anything!” Rowan pleaded.

The guards ignored her. The punishment was swift. Controlled. Public.

Their cries echoed down the hall. Students whispered and stared. Teachers shook their heads.

When it was over, the two of them were taken to the infirmary—limping, pale, crying.

I should have felt something. Satisfaction, maybe.

But all I felt was silence inside. Like it was only the beginning.

I turned to walk away, feeling a little bit steady in my heart and with silent steps. A voice suddenly broke through my thoughts.

“You did this, didn’t you?”

I stopped breathing.

I turned slowly.

Agatha stood there, arms crossed, eyes sharp.

She wasn’t smiling.

“You were watching the whole time,” she said calmly. “And you’re way too calm for someone who wasn’t involved.”

I blinked. I felt something twist in my chest. Fear? No. Shock. Real, cold shock.

“Excuse me?” I said, voice low.

She stepped forward. “Don’t play dumb. You wanted them to suffer.”

“I didn’t do anything,” I said quickly.

Agatha raised an eyebrow. “You’re a better liar than before, I’ll give you that.”

“What are you even talking about?” I asked, trying to keep my tone even.

But inside, I was rattled.

How did she—?

“You changed,” she said simply. “I can't believe you are watching your friends get beaten and you're not even doing anything to help them.”

I stared at her, unable to speak.

“Do you think Ivy and Rowan just magically end up in the worst trouble of their lives?” she tilted her head. “Come on.”

“I had nothing to do with it,” I repeated, but this time my voice shook slightly.

She watched me closely, like she was trying to read something in my eyes.

And then she asked, softly, like it was just a casual thought—

“You’re the reason they got punished, aren’t you?”

My breath got caught for a moment but I quickly controlled myself. She knew already? I didn’t say anything until I got closer to her.

I smirked finally, “So what? Guess who's next?”

Her face changed immediately.