| RED'S POV |

Reality abruptly snapped me back to the present as the jarring sound of a notification echoed from my pocket. My eyes widened in shock, the weight of my actions crashing down upon me once again. Not this again!

Without a moment's hesitation, I pushed Nicholas away, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground. I paid him no mind as I fumbled to retrieve my phone, hastily unlocking it to read the urgent message.

'Office. Now '- Uncle J.

"She's here," I whispered, a surge of excitement coursing through my veins. But before I could fully process the thrill, my thoughts froze as Nicholas softly uttered my name. I didn't want to turn, didn't want to face the regret that lingered in his expression. Yet, my traitorous brain seemed to shut down whenever my name slipped from his lips. Reluctantly, I pivoted to meet his gaze, my own eyes guarded.

"Red, I'm so-"

"Please forget about everything that just happened... I need to..." I interjected, stepping back as the words spilled from my lips. I wasn't ready to hear his apologies, to confront the hurt and anger that swelled within me. Once again, he hadn't initiated the kiss of his own accord. There was always an excuse, and I had grown weary of it all. "Cancel practice today, I have to go." He attempted to draw closer, but in an instant, I conjured a disappearing spell in my mind, causing myself to vanish and reappear in the solitude of my room.

Ana and Avery were engrossed in laughter, their attention captivated by their phones. Seeking solace, I decided to remove my top, the weight of my emotions threatening to overwhelm me. Aunt May was nearby, and I couldn't afford to let myself crumble in front of her.

"Red, what are you doing here?" Avery's voice snapped me out of my thoughts as I began buttoning up my uniform. Ana dropped her phone, curiosity etched across her face as she approached me. "Yeah, and you seem flushed. Your lips look like someone sucked the life out of them." She chuckled at her own observation but swiftly fell silent. Avery, too, froze in place.

"Don't tell me..." Avery's voice trailed off, uncertainty lingering in the air.

"Did Nicholas..." Ana's words hung unfinished, but I couldn't bear to hear them. "My aunt's here," I interrupted, relief washing over me like a cool breeze.

"Really?" Ana's eyes sparkled with delight, and I nodded, finally zipping up my skirt. I slipped on my socks and shoes, taking a moment to compose myself. They were already changing into their uniforms, so I patiently waited for them. But as we prepared to leave, my mind wandered back to the events that transpired in the training hall, and a surge of annoyance clenched my fist.

"If he knew he would be sorry, why bother starting it?" I whispered to myself, frustration lacing my words. Men were so confounding. Ughhh!

"Let's go," Ana declared, grabbing hold of my hand and leading me out of the room. Avery followed closely behind, and together, we ventured forth, leaving behind the tumultuous emotions that threatened to consume me.

We made our way towards the bustling hall, students passing by with smiles, engaged in lively conversations and laughter. It was a pleasant sight to behold, but my mind couldn't help but drift back to the haunting images of the lifeless bodies I had witnessed in Uncle J's file. If the Dark Lord were to return, all this happiness would simply fade away, consumed by darkness.

As we approached, I noticed Dean and Jacob ahead, engrossed in what seemed to be a serious discussion. However, as soon as they caught sight of us, their expressions transformed into their usual charming smiles.

"What are you guys doing here?" I inquired, causing them to exchange a brief glance before Jacob stepped forward.

"Mr. Caddel summoned us from our rooms. He said your aunt was here and that you needed us," Jacob replied, his words catching me off guard. Was this his way of apologizing? Calling my friends so we could go and see my aunt together?

"But is everything okay between you guys?" My gaze locked onto Dean as he posed the question.

"What?"

"It's just that he appeared sad and angry when he called for both of us. He seemed utterly confused and looked like a complete mess. There was a hint of sadness in his eyes when he mentioned your name," Dean explained, his words hanging in the air as all the guys turned their attention to me, awaiting my response.

"It's n-nothing. Nothing happened," And nothing will ever happen again.

I started walking, feeling their presence behind me, their footsteps echoing in tandem with mine. It was comforting to have them by my side as we ventured forth to meet my aunt.

With little fanfare, we reached the office door, and I wasted no time in turning the handle. As I stepped inside, my eyes immediately welled up with tears as they fell upon Aunt May, engrossed in a conversation with Uncle J.

"Aunt May," I whispered, a mix of awe and disbelief coloring my voice. Our eyes locked, and in an instant, the coldness that had etched itself onto her face melted away. We both broke down, tears streaming down our cheeks.

Without a second thought, I rushed towards her, my arms enveloping her in a tight, emotional embrace. "I can't believe you're actually here," I managed to choke out, my voice thick with emotion. Her hands found their place on my back, offering a reassuring pat that she was indeed here.

"I'm here, dear," she laughed softly, and I reluctantly released her from my grasp. "You look different," she observed, her gaze searching my face for signs of change. I furrowed my brow in confusion, unsure of what she meant.

"How?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Just a feeling," she shrugged, dismissing the thought with a wave of her hand. Her eyes shifted to my friends, who were standing near the entrance, patiently waiting their turn. I nodded, silently inviting them to come closer.

Ana wasted no time and ran towards Aunt May, her arms wrapping around her in a warm embrace. "Oh, wow! She must be Ana, right?" Aunt May chuckled, her eyes sparkling with joy. I had told her everything about my friends, describing each of their personalities, so it didn't surprise me that she was able to guess correctly.

"Yes, and it's a total pleasure to meet you!" Ana exclaimed, her enthusiasm radiating from every pore. She eventually released Aunt May from her embrace, making way for Avery to step forward. Avery appeared slightly nervous, which was understandable since this was her first encounter with someone outside the supernatural world.

"It's nice to meet you," Avery said, her voice soft and unsure. Aunt May frowned for a moment, processing Avery's words before a warm smile spread across her face, and she pulled Avery into a hug.

"It's lovely to meet you too, dear," Aunt May said, her embrace surprising Avery. The unexpected gesture elicited quiet laughter from Ana and the rest of us, the tension slowly dissipating.

One by one, Dean and Jacob introduced themselves, and Aunt May effortlessly matched their names to their faces. It wasn't difficult to figure out who was who, especially since Jacob had a reputation as the player boy among our group.

A sharp cough sliced through the air, abruptly interrupting our little reunion. I glanced up, only to realize that Uncle J had been standing there the whole time, an aura of seriousness enveloping him. "If we are all done, I would like to address a more pressing matter," he declared, his voice commanding attention.

"Red, what I'm about to say may be triggering for you, but something that the soul eater uttered before his demise has been haunting me," he began, his gaze unwavering. I nodded, urging him to continue despite the unease that crept into my heart.

"Can you recall anything else from the night your parents were murdered?" he inquired, his words hanging heavy in the air.

I wasn't offended by the question, merely perplexed as to its significance. Nonetheless, I maintained my composure, determined to recollect as he had requested. "I don't know," I replied, my voice steady.

"Why this sudden line of questioning, J?" Aunt May interjected, her confusion mirroring my own.

Uncle J took a deep breath, settling back into his chair. "Because, before you dispatched that soul eater, he mentioned a wolf that had attacked him during the incident. What confuses me is that he claimed I had sent it, but I had no knowledge of any of it. How does a wolf suddenly infiltrate a house and assault a soul eater, fully aware of the risk involved?" he explained, the weight of his words casting a somber silence upon the room.

"What if it knew, Red?" Dean's voice pierced the silence, shattering the tense atmosphere.

"Explain," Uncle J demanded, his tone laced with curiosity.

"I mean, it must have been a werewolf. And it could only have attacked the soul eater if it sensed Red was in danger," Dean elaborated, his words dripping with conviction.

"Werewolves don't possess such heightened senses without a close connection," Avery interjected. "And at the time, Red was presumed to be human, unaware of our existence."

As they brainstormed potential explanations, my mind raced back to the night I was attacked in my room-the vivid dream of my parents' death, the soul eater's menacing presence at my door, and the wolf that had come to my rescue.

The wolf...

"I'm sorry I failed you, my dearest mate," the words spilled from my lips before I could fully comprehend their meaning. In an instant, the room fell silent, all eyes fixed upon me.

"What did you just say?" Uncle J's voice cut through the stillness, his tone laced with urgency.

"I think... I have a mate, and it's the same person from my dreams,"

The room fell into a hushed silence, punctuated only by the sound of our collective breaths. Each person present locked eyes with the other, their gazes filled with a potent mix of anticipation, uncertainty, and a shared understanding of the gravity of the moment. We stood on the precipice of something monumental, something that had the power to redefine everything we thought we knew.

Amidst the charged atmosphere, memories of our casual lunchtime conversations floated to the surface of my mind. The memory of that day when I had dared to speak of the man from my dreams, only to be met with playful mockery from Jacob and Ana, now felt like a distant echo. But Avery had been the solitary voice that believed in the veracity of my words, even if she struggled to comprehend the connection between my dreams and my fragmented memory. And now, as the weight of my revelation settled upon them, I hoped that my disclosure had finally painted a vivid picture of my inward torment.

Aunt May broke the silence with a gentle yet resolute question, her voice carrying a sense of both hope and trepidation. Her penetrating gaze fixated upon me, searching for any sign of hesitation or doubt.

"Red, have you tried to bring back your memories?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

I shook my head, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "I haven't had the time, with everything that's been happening," I confessed, my voice tinged with frustration. "Gwen, Aunt Morgan, and the dark lord... It's like something is blocking me from finding out."

Ana, unable to contain her curiosity, interjected with a sudden burst of conviction. "I know how to bring back her memories," she blurted out, her words slicing through the heavy air like a lightning bolt.

Surprise flickered across Jacob's face as he turned to Ana. "You do?"

Ana nodded, "But it won't be that simple," she cautioned.

Frustration surged within me, the tempest of emotions threatening to consume my resolve. "I don't care," I interjected, my voice laced with impatience. "Ana, I need to solve at least something. It's been nine years of this haunting mystery. Aunt Morgan and the Astrid clan have been quiet lately, and this could be my chance to finally uncover the truth."

Ana's expression softened as she met my gaze, her eyes reflecting a mixture of fear and understanding. "Red, you don't understand. It's risky, that's why I haven't talked to you about it," she softly spoke, her voice filled with genuine concern.

I held her gaze, my desperation palpable. "Ana, I don't have a choice. I need to take this chance. Even if there are risks, I'm willing to face them. I can't live in the shadows of my past any longer."

Silence settled over the room, the weight of our conversation hanging in the air. Outside, the tension seemed to seep into the surrounding atmosphere, as if the very world held its breath, aware of the gravity of our discussion.

Finally, Ana broke the silence, her voice filled with a mixture of resignation and resolve. "Fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it will be tomorrow evening."

A bittersweet smile tugged at the corners of my lips. Relief washed over me, mingling with a sense of trepidation. The die had been cast, and my fate was sealed. Tomorrow evening would be the pivotal moment, the threshold between my present and my past.

"Get ready, Red," Ana warned, her voice tinged with a somber intensity. "Because one wrong move, and you could die."