Kenneth sighed as he stepped through the school gates, the familiar buzz of students moving between classes washing over him. The normalcy of it all felt surreal after everything that had happened. The past few days had been a blur of fights, revelations, and running for his life. Now, he was back here—at school, where everything was supposed to be simple.
But it wasn't. Not anymore.
Beside him, Frank walked in silence, his hands stuffed in his jacket pockets. "You sure about this?" he muttered under his breath.
Kenneth forced a smirk. "What's the worst that could happen?"
Frank gave him a look. "You really want me to answer that?"
Before Kenneth could reply, he heard footsteps approaching—several sets. He knew who it was before he even turned around.
--
Jessa, Jason, Mariah, Reddric, and Lena stood in a semi-circle, blocking their path. Their expressions ranged from suspicious to downright angry. Mariah had her arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently, while Jason's gaze flickered between Kenneth and Frank, as if trying to piece them apart like a puzzle.
"You two have a lot of explaining to do," Mariah said, her voice sharp.
Kenneth exchanged a glance with Frank. "Explaining about what?" he asked, feigning innocence.
Jason scoffed. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe how you both disappeared for days? How Frank's been dodging questions? How you—" he pointed directly at Kenneth "—look like you've been through a war?"
Kenneth shrugged. "Rough weekend."
"Cut the crap, Kenneth," Jessa snapped. "We know something's going on. And don't even try to say it's nothing."
Lena adjusted her glasses. "You're different," she said, her tone quieter but no less intense. "We all see it."
Kenneth hesitated for just a second, but that second was enough.
Mariah narrowed her eyes. "See? That right there. That hesitation. You're hiding something."
Frank let out an exaggerated sigh. "Alright, fine," he said, throwing up his hands. "You got us. Kenneth and I—" he glanced at Kenneth briefly before continuing "—got into some trouble with… some guys from another school."
Jason frowned. "Another school?"
Kenneth nodded quickly. "Yeah. We might've said the wrong thing to the wrong people. It turned into a whole mess, and, well… let's just say things got physical."
Mariah's expression softened slightly. "Wait… so you guys got into a fight?"
Frank nodded. "A really bad one. It's why Kenneth looks like hell and why we've been acting weird. We didn't want to drag you guys into it."
Lena still looked skeptical. "That doesn't explain why you both look like you haven't slept in days."
Kenneth rubbed the back of his neck. "You try getting into a fight with a bunch of jerks and see how well you sleep afterward."
Jason still looked suspicious, but Mariah exhaled, shaking her head. "You two are idiots," she muttered, though there was relief in her voice. "If you were in trouble, you should've just told us."
"Yeah," Reddric added. "We've got your backs."
Frank grinned. "We know. Just didn't want to make a big deal out of it."
Lena didn't seem convinced, but she didn't press further. "Fine. But if anything else happens, you tell us. No more secrets."
Kenneth and Frank exchanged a look. "No more secrets," Kenneth agreed, even though he knew that was a lie.
For now, they had bought themselves some time. But deep down, Kenneth knew the truth wouldn't stay hidden forever.
--
In a shadowy, candle-lit chamber beneath the Silver Cross Order's hidden base, a group of hunters gathered around a hooded figure. The air was thick with the scent of burning incense and old parchment. The figure, standing at the head of the long wooden table, slowly raised his hand, silencing the murmuring crowd.
"The Core Wolf cannot be defeated by ordinary means," the hooded figure spoke, his voice a rasping whisper that echoed through the chamber. "Silver is useless. Fire is meaningless. But there is a way."
Donovan, the leader of the Silver Cross Order, leaned forward. "We're listening."
The hooded figure pulled back his sleeve, revealing deep scars along his arm, as if fangs had torn into his flesh. "A Core Wolf is only vulnerable to one thing—the bite of another wolf."
The hunters exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. "Another wolf?" Donovan repeated. "You mean a regular werewolf?"
The hooded figure nodded. "Only the fangs of a wolf can tear through the essence of a Core Wolf. Their power is rooted in something beyond normal lycanthropy, but in the end, they are still part of the pack. And pack always turns against pack."
A woman with piercing green eyes, seated at the far end of the table, smirked. "So, we don't need silver—we just need a wolf that's willing to take him down."
The hooded figure's smile was grim. "Find a wolf. Make them desperate. Give them a reason to sink their fangs into the Core Wolf's throat."
Donovan stood, placing both hands on the table. "Then we need to find someone who hates him enough to do it."
The woman tilted her head. "I may have a candidate."
Donovan's eyes flickered with interest. "Then bring them in. The hunt isn't over. It's just beginning."
--
Back at school, Kenneth felt a strange unease settle in his chest. He had managed to fool his friends, at least for now, but something felt off—like a storm was gathering just beyond his sight.
He turned his head slightly, scanning the hallways. For a brief moment, he could have sworn he saw someone watching him from the far end of the corridor—a figure in a dark hoodie, standing completely still. But when he blinked, they were gone.
Frank nudged him. "You okay?"
Kenneth forced a grin. "Yeah. Just tired."
But deep down, he knew it was something more.
--
At the end of the school day, Kenneth and Frank stood near the bus stop, waiting in the dimming afternoon light. The usual crowd of students bustled around them, but Kenneth couldn't shake the eerie feeling that lingered in his chest.
Then, he spotted them—across the street, leaning against a lamppost. A figure clad in dark clothing, hood pulled low over their face. They weren't looking at anything in particular, but Kenneth knew. They were watching him.
"Frank," Kenneth muttered, nudging him subtly. "We've got company."
Frank followed his gaze, his expression hardening. "Yeah. I see them."
The figure didn't move. Didn't react. Just stood there.
The bus pulled up, doors hissing open.
Kenneth hesitated for just a second before stepping onto the bus, casting one last glance toward the stranger.
They were gone.