Lunchtime came, but instead of the usual buzz and chatter, the cafeteria felt heavy with tension. I could feel it the second I walked in-the stares, the whispers, the awkward glances from every corner of the room. It was like I was walking through a fog of judgment, and I hated it.
Normally, I would’ve headed straight for my table, where Tanya and Mal would be waiting with their usual smiles, talking about whatever gossip they’d picked up that morning. But today, things were different. They didn’t even look up when I walked in.
I hesitated for a moment, my heart sinking as I saw the two of them sitting together, talking quietly. I approached slowly, hoping maybe they’d greet me like normal, that all of this was just some misunderstanding. But when I got close enough to speak, they both fell silent. Tanya glanced away, and Mal didn’t even look at me.
“Hey,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “Can I sit with you?”
Tanya shifted uncomfortably, fiddling with her bracelet. Mal kept his eyes on his phone, his jaw tight. The silence stretched on, and I felt a knot form in my stomach.
“I’m sorry, Audrey,” Tanya finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. “We just… we need some space right now.”
“Space?” I echoed, feeling like I’d been punched in the gut. “Why? What did I do?”
Tanya sighed, looking torn. “It’s not just about you, okay? There are a lot of rumors going around… and… I don’t know what’s true anymore.”
I stared at them, stunned. My best friends-the people who were supposed to have my back-were turning their backs on me because of rumors. The anger and hurt that had been simmering inside me all day started to rise again.
“So you’re just going to believe whatever people are saying?” I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended.
Mal finally looked up, his eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite place-disappointment? Fear? “It’s not that simple, Audrey. People are saying a lot of things… about you, about Logan… and about what you really are.”
My breath caught in my throat. What I really am-those words hit hard. Were they talking about me being a werewolf? How much did they know? How much had been spread around?
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” I said, my voice quieter now. “You both know me.”
Mal shook his head, standing up and grabbing his tray. “We thought we did.”
Tanya gave me one last apologetic look before following him. I stood there, staring at the empty table, feeling more alone than I ever had before.
If even Tanya and Mal were avoiding me, things were worse than I thought.
I stood there, frozen, as Tanya and Mal walked away. The entire cafeteria seemed to close in around me, the noise of everyone else’s conversations a dull roar in the background. It didn’t matter what I said-they were gone. My best friends had turned their backs on me, and I had no idea how to fix it.
With a heavy sigh, I turned and left the cafeteria, my appetite completely gone. As I walked down the hall, the whispers followed me like shadows, soft but sharp, just out of earshot. People were talking about me, making up stories, twisting the truth into something ugly. I could feel their eyes on me, judging, wondering.
I kept my head down, trying to block it all out. I needed to think. If Warwick wasn’t the one who told everyone about Logan and me, then who did? And how much had they told? The thought made my chest tighten. The secret about Logan and me being step-siblings was bad enough, but if the truth about me being a werewolf got out, things could get dangerous fast.
I reached my locker, leaning against it as I tried to calm the storm in my mind. Someone was trying to ruin my life, and they were doing a good job of it. But who? And why?
The rest of the day was a complete disaster. Everywhere I went, it felt like the walls were closing in on me. In class, people whispered behind their hands, casting sideways glances my way, and no matter where I sat, I could feel the weight of their judgment. I tried to focus on my work, but the words on the page blurred together, my mind too distracted by the chaos unfolding around me.
Even the teachers seemed to sense something was wrong. Mrs. Wilson, my English teacher, kept giving me concerned looks, but she didn’t say anything. I wasn’t sure if that made things better or worse. I just wanted the day to be over.
Lunchtime had been bad enough, but things only got worse after that. Everywhere I turned, people seemed to pull away from me, like I was contagious. Some even avoided making eye contact altogether. It was like I had become some kind of outcast overnight, and I didn’t know how to stop it.
By the time the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, I was completely drained. My feet felt heavy as I made my way out of the building, not even bothering to look at anyone. All I wanted was to get home, away from the whispers, the stares, and the rumors. Maybe there, I could finally think straight.
The walk home felt longer than usual. My head was spinning with everything that had happened, and I kept replaying the conversation with Tanya and Mal in my mind. How could they just walk away like that? How could they doubt me so easily?
I reached my front door, fishing the keys out of my bag with shaky hands. The moment I stepped inside, I let out a deep breath, the tension in my shoulders easing just a little. Home. Finally.
I tossed my bag on the couch and sank down beside it, pulling out my phone. I hadn’t checked it all day, too afraid of what messages or posts might be waiting for me. But now, I couldn’t help myself. I needed to know.
As soon as I unlocked the screen, a new message popped up.
**Unknown Number: This is just the beginning, Audrey.**
My heart skipped a beat, and a cold wave of dread washed over me. Who was this? And what did they mean by “just the beginning”?
I stared at the message, my stomach twisting in knots. Whoever was behind this wasn’t done with me yet.