Bella's POV:
The next morning, the entire university buzzed with horror. Whispers spread like wildfire, those who came early had seen it all. A sheep hybrid girl had stumbled out of the bathroom, drenched in blood, deep scratches marring her body, and a long, brutal slash across her neck. She collapsed in the middle of the hallway, bleeding out as screams filled the air. No one moved, no one knew how to react. It was pure chaos. When the police arrived, they discovered a feral wolf in full beast form, restrained and barely conscious. He was taken into custody, awaiting trial. The university went into lock down as investigators swarmed the scene. Soon, the truth came out, the wolf was her boyfriend. He had killed her in a violent fit, and forensic tests confirmed the scratches matched wolf claws. But the most chilling discovery lay inside the stall where it all began, faint traces of a strange powder, the residue of a pill known to drive beasts into madness.
I stayed home. The city felt tense, holding its breath. News said every omega with a predator alpha mate was hiding away in fear, and I was no different. Having Knox on my back, life suddenly felt dangerous. My parents, still away on their trip, offered to come back, but I lied and told them everything was fine. It wasn't. I sat in the dark living room, the TV casting flickering light across my face as rain drummed against the windows. I tried to tell myself I was fine, but deep down, I was terrified.
The sharp stings in my right shoulder kept coming back, the same spot where that red dot had appeared after the club. It had gotten worse, spreading in thin, dark veins that crept toward my neck and chest. I'd started wearing turtlenecks to hide it. Earlier, I talked to Mia, she was shaken, too. But Noah had been there for her, comforting her until she smiled again. She said she was lucky, she trusted him, they knew each other since kids. That word stuck in my mind.
Trust.
That's when it truly hit me, Knox was like Noah. He was a carnivore. A predator by nature. In our world, alphas and omegas were divided to herbivores and carnivores, prey and predator. And though the government encouraged "safe" matches, herbivore with herbivore, carnivore with carnivore, I couldn't shake the feeling that fate had already chosen something far more dangerous for me.
Just then, the bell rang. My heart dropped. I knew it was Knox. I had almost a hundred missed calls from him, but I never answered. Maybe this was it… my time. I tried ignoring the ringing, the pounding on the door, but then it suddenly stopped. The silence was worse. My ears twitched, every instinct screaming danger.
I stood up quickly and walked to the door, swinging it open before I could think twice.
He stood there, drenched from the rain. His shirt clung to his skin, his usually fluffy black hair plastered to his forehead. His sharp, black ears stood alert, droplets sliding down them. His purple eyes, usually calm, confident, were filled with worry and something I hadn't seen before: fear.
Before I could say anything, he lunged forward and pulled me into his arms. I froze, shocked. He was shaking. His hold was desperate, crushing almost, like he thought I'd vanish if he let go. His scent, warm vanilla, strong and familiar, wrapped around me, almost protective.
Then his body suddenly went limp, his weight collapsing against me. I stumbled back, falling with him on top of me. His skin was ice cold, he must've been standing out in the rain for a long time.
For a moment, I thought he'd come to kill me. But looking at him now… soaked, trembling, unconscious, I realized something.
Maybe the only thing missing between us wasn't safety or distance.
It was trust.