I'm standing in the corridor, waiting for Arwen. She's been distant lately, and I couldn't quite put my finger on why until I found out—apparently, her ex-boyfriend ghosted her. I learned this from Brigit, though I don't know the full story. Honestly, I don't need to. All I want is to be with her, to make sure she's okay.

I glance at my watch. It's almost time for our first class. I should feel more anxious, but my mind is stuck on Arwen. Where is she? Just then, I see Joshua and Leroy sprinting down the hallway, looking disheveled. When Joshua spots me, he waves for me to follow them. I hesitate for a moment. I don't want to leave my spot—what if Arwen shows up? But she's running late, and curiosity tugs at me. Something feels off.

I follow them into the classroom, and Joshua gestures for me to sit beside him. Arwen's seat remains empty between us, and the unease in my chest tightens.

"Arwen isn't coming to school today," Joshua says, his voice edged with concern.

I frown. "Why? What happened?" The words rush out of me before I can stop them.

Joshua rubs the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact. "She fainted yesterday. Leroy and I went over to her place after lunch."

Fainted? My heart skips a beat. "Is she okay? Can you take me to see her?" My questions come rapid-fire, the knot of worry tightening inside me.

"She had a fever," Joshua explains, but I hear the hesitation in his voice. "But she's okay now."

I don't believe him. I sense something deeper, something he's not telling me. His pulse quickens, and his eyes dart away as he speaks. I clench my jaw, trying to stay calm, but I know better. My instincts, heightened by the Lycan inside me, are screaming that something's wrong.

"She's okay now?" I press, but my eyes shift to the front of the classroom, where the teacher is starting the lesson. My thoughts are elsewhere, swirling in a storm of worry.

"Yeah, she's fine. I'll send her a message later. She might still be sleeping." Joshua's tone is dismissive, but I catch the flicker of uncertainty in his voice.

I bite back my frustration. His words do little to ease the storm inside me. Something's not right with Arwen, and I won't rest until I know for sure.

The day at school drags on, and if it weren't for Finn and Brigit reminding me to stay calm, I would've already scanned the entire city to find Arwen. I've been restless since this morning, unable to shake the worry gnawing at me. Joshua and I finished our last class together, and before heading out, I cornered Leroy to press for more details about Arwen.

Leroy didn't hesitate to answer my questions, telling me that she might just be stressed. Apparently, her brother Nick hasn't checked on her since last night, which only adds to my concern. He mentioned that they might see Arwen later, and even offered for me to join them. I declined, giving the excuse that I had things to attend to after class. Little did he know, I had every intention of following them, unnoticed. I need to know where Arwen is, but I can't just tag along with her friends—not when she's already distancing herself from me.

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It's frustrating, but I understand. I have to let her heal in her own time, even if my instincts scream at me to intervene.

As soon as the last class ends, I rise from my seat and head toward the door. Roisin mind links me, letting me know he's following Joshua and Leroy, tracking their movements. I send my thanks through the mind link and suppress the urge to chase after them myself. I need to speak with my father—the King—before anything else.

"Diarmid, are you ready to go home?" Brigit's voice breaks through my thoughts. She looks at me carefully, and I hate that look—the one that says she's worried.

I inhale deeply, steadying myself. "I'm fine, Brigit. Don't worry about me." My voice comes out softer than I intended. "Leroy confirmed it's not serious. I just need someone to keep an eye on her place."

As we walk toward the parking lot, I see Finn and Rhyian waiting. Finn hands me my helmet, and I nod in appreciation.

"Drive carefully, Alpha," Rhyian says, her voice calm but firm.

I nod at her, pulling on the helmet, and climb onto my bike. The engine roars to life beneath me, vibrating through my body, but it does little to shake off the tension knotted in my chest. Without another word, I take off, speeding through the streets toward Arwen's place, hoping for answers but fearing what I might find.

Before the sun dips below the horizon, Roisin and I stand a few blocks away from Arwen's apartment building. The shadows lengthen across the streets, and I feel the weight of the evening pressing down on me. I watch as Joshua and Leroy disappear into the building, my jaw tightening with frustration. I can't go in after them, not when Arwen has been pulling away and not with the tension brewing in the kingdom.

Roisin shifts beside me, the hum of his unease almost palpable. I mutter a quick thanks, but my focus is on Arwen's apartment. Every instinct in me wants to rush inside, to see her, to make sure she's safe. But I know I can't. Not yet. The unrest in the kingdom is growing, and I can't afford to make a move that might draw unwanted attention. The city is too fragile right now, and anything out of the ordinary could ripple through the fragile calm like a stone thrown in still water.

We slip into a nearby convenience store, blending in with the evening crowd. The fluorescent lights buzz above us, cold and sterile. Roisin buys a bottle of water, keeping up appearances, while I pretend to browse the aisles, my eyes constantly flicking back toward the street. Time drags painfully. Nearly an hour passes, and still no sign of her.

"We should go," Roisin finally says, his voice low but firm. He's right. We can't wait here forever.

With a reluctant nod, I follow him back outside. He mounts his bike, his movements quick and efficient, but I can sense his frustration mirroring my own. He nods at me once, then speeds off, leaving me standing alone in the growing darkness.

I linger for a few more minutes, hoping for something—anything—that would bring me closer to Arwen. A light flickering in her window, the shadow of her figure behind the curtains. But there's nothing. The building remains cold and distant, like a fortress I can't breach.

My heart feels heavy as I turn back to my bike. I place my helmet on, but I hesitate, glancing at her apartment one last time. The frustration inside me builds—an ache I can't quite shake off. I know she needs time to heal, but the distance between us feels like an abyss, and I don't know how much longer I can stay on the other side.

With a sigh, I rev the engine, the familiar growl of the bike doing little to calm my racing thoughts. I drive away, the city blurring around me, but my mind stays back at that apartment, wondering what's really happening behind those walls.