Luna Wrens POV

It had been a week since the dinner with the Wellington's, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The black Porsche hadn't appeared again—not that I'd admit how often I'd glanced over my shoulder to check.

My days had returned to their usual rhythm: classes, study sessions, and evenings spent dodging my mother's passive-aggressive remarks. But at night, when the world grew quiet, my mind replayed the strange moments of the past week.

Julian's smile lingered in my thoughts, as did the text from the unknown number. I hadn't responded, and no more messages had followed, but the unease it sparked hadn't faded.

This morning, though, was different.

I stood in front of my mirror, tugging on my uniform blazer and brushing a stray lock of hair out of my face. There was a faint knock at the door before it opened, my mother stepping in without waiting for an invitation.

"You're late," my mother said, her tone sharp but not unkind. "I wouldn't want you making a bad impression."

"Of course," I muttered, straightening the cuffs of my blazer. I kept my tone neutral, unwilling to spark another lecture.

My mother lingered by the door, studying me. "You've seemed distracted this week," she said, a rare note of concern creeping through her voice. "Is something going on at school?"

I paused, my hand frozen mid-adjustment. "No, nothing," I said quickly. "I'm fine."

My mother didn't look convinced but didn't press further. Instead, she gave a small nod. "Good. You can't afford to lose focus right now."

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again. I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs, ready to face another day— and whatever might come with it.

****

At school, I sat at my usual desk in the back corner of class, my textbook opened but untouched. I noodled absentmindedly in the margins of my notebook when grace dropped into the set beside me with an exaggerated sigh.

"Tell me we're ditching this place early today," Grace said, twirling a strand of her golden hair. She had a way of taking up all the air in the room, her bold, carefree attitude the perfect contrast to my quiet reserve.

I smiled faintly. "Some of us actually want to graduate, you know."

"Boring," Grace shot back, though her teasing was laced with affection. "Anyways, you're coming with me to Luke's party tonight. No excuses."

My stomach flipped. "You know I can't," I said quickly. "My parents would—"

"Lose their minds, I know," Grace interrupted, rolling her eyes. "But, Luna, come on. When's the last time you did anything remotely fun?"

I hesitated. Grace wasn't wrong—my life was a carefully choreographed dance, every step dictated by my parents' expectations. But parties weren't my thing, especially not ones that might get me in trouble.

"I'll think about it," I said finally, though we both knew it wasn't a real answer.

"You're impossible," Grace groaned, But she let it drop, turning her attention back to her phone. Just as Mrs. Martin entered the classroom.

"Alright, everyone, settle down," Mrs. Martin said, setting a thick pile of papers on her desk, with a thud. Her no-nonsense tone cut through the remaining whispers, and students hurried to take their seats. "Let's pick up where we left off. Open your books to chapter seven."

I flipped to the correct page, my hand moving almost automatically as I began jotting down notes from the lecture. The sound of pens stratching paper filled the room, broken only by the occasional cough or shuffle of a chair.

By the time the bell rang, signaling the end of class, my notebook was neatly filled with bullet points and underlined headers. I capped my pen, placing it carefully in the pocket of my bag.

As soon as the bell chimed, Grace spun around in her seat, her hands clasped together in an exaggerated plea. "Luna, please come with me tonight," she begged, her voice loud enough to turn a few heads. "I'll have so much more fun with my best friend there!"

I sighed, glancing around uncomfortably as the other student filtered out. "I don't know, G," I said, slinging my bag over my shoulder.

Grace groaned dramatically, flopping halfway over my desk like a wilted flower. "At least actually think about it," she insisted, her tone shifting to something more sincere. "Don't just go along with everything your parents tell you to do. They want you to be perfect, Luna, but—" She hesitated for a moment, as though weighing her words. "It's just not possible. No one's perfect."

I pressed my lips into a thin line, guilt tugging at the edge of my thoughts. Grace wasn't wrong—my parents' expectations loomed over me like a constant shadow. But going against them? The idea alone made my chest tighten.

"I'll... I'll think about it," I said finally, my voice soft. I met Grace's hopeful gaze and added, "I'll text you later, okay?"

Grace sighed, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You better. And don't overthink it, Luna. Just live a little."

I gave a faint nod before slipping out of the classroom. As I made my way down the hallway to my next class, Grace's words echoed in my mind. They want you to be perfect, but no one's perfect.

For the first time, I wondered what it would feel like to stop trying.

******

The school was eerily quiet as I walked through the hallways, my footsteps echoing off the polished floors. I had stayed late to finish my essay, the rest of the students long gone. The silence felt oppressive, wrapping around me like a shroud.

As I reached for my locker, that prickling sensation returned—the feeling of being watched. I froze, My breath hitching as my eyes darted around the empty corridor.

And then I saw him.

Kai Voss was leaning casually against a locker, his eyes fixed on me. There was something unsettling about the way he stood there, calm and composed, like he belonged to the shadows.

My chest tightened, but I forced myself to speak. "Are you following me?"

Kai tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "I think the word you're looking for is observing."

"That's not funny," I said, taking a step back, my instincts screaming at me to keep my distance.

He raised his hands slightly, as if to show he meant no harm. "Relax, Luna. I'm not going to hurt you. I was here too and just happened to see you in the classroom."

His words did little to ease my fear, I shook my head, still trying to maintain the space between us. "What do you want?"

Kai's expression shifted, becoming more serious. "To keep you safe."

The words hit me like a splash of cold water, sending shivers down my spine. "From what?" I asked. My voice barely above a whisper "I'm fine."

Kai stepped closer, his intense gaze pinning me in place. "You should really be more careful, Luna," he said quietly. "Not everyone has good intentions."

My heart raced as he closed the distance between us, his presence overwhelming. I wanted to yell, to demand answers, but the way his eyes bored into mine made my voice falter before the words could escape.

Kai's voice dropped lower, almost a murmur. "You should remember that."

Before I could respond, he leaned back and turned away, his footsteps echoing down the hall.

I stood frozen, my breath shallow and my hand trembling. His words, his presence, lingered like a shadow, making me question everything I thought I knew.

*****
The evening air was crisp as I parked my car near a quiet dock overlooking the sea. I often came here when I needed to think, the rhythmic sound of waves against the shore calming my restless mind.

I leaned against the railing, my arms wrapped around myself as I stared out at the horizon. The city's lights sparkled faintly in the distance, but here, the world felt far away— like I was suspending between reality and a dream.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, Jolting me out of my thoughts. I pulled it out reluctantly, my stomach sinking when I saw my mother's name on the screen.

"Where are you?" My mother's sharp voice demanded as soon as I answered.

"I'm out," I said cautiously, already bracing for the lecture.

"Out where? It's nearly dark, Luna. Do you have any idea how irresponsible this is? Get home right now."

"I just needed some air," I said, my voice tight. "I'll be back soon."

"Air? You don't need air; you need discipline," my mother snapped. "You're making a habit out of this lately— disappearing without telling anyone. You'll ruin your reputation and me and your father if people start noticing."

I almost laughed.  And here I was thinking maybe she actually cared about me for a change.

I gripped my phone tighter, my jaw clenching. "I'm not doing anything wrong," I said quietly, though the words felt hollow.

"Just get home," my mother said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

The line went dead, I stared at my phone, my chest aching with a mix of anger and frustration. I slipped it back into my pocket and turned my gaze back to the water, letting the sound of the waves wash over me.

For a brief moment, I felt the weight of Kai's words from earlier settle over me. "Not everyone has good intentions."

The thought sent a chill down my spine, I pushed myself off the railing heading back to my car

*****

I slumped into the driver's seat, the soft leather cool against my back as I exhaled a shaky breath. Exhaustion clawed at me—not just from my mothers relentless demands or the haunting weight of Kai's words in the hallway, but from everything. The constant pressure to fit into a life that felt too polished, too rigid.

For a moment, I stared at the glowing screen of my phone, my fingers hovering over Grace's contact. With a burst of defiance, I typed, I'll come to the party. I'll be at your place in 30 minutes. Before I could second-guess myself, I hit send. The message vanished, final and unchangeable.

I powered off my phone and tossed it into the passenger's seat. Starting the car, I pulled away from the docks, the hum of the engine breaking the silence. As the water faded in my rearview mirror, so did the weight of hesitation, replaced by the steady rhythm of a decision I wasn't entirely sure I was ready to face.

——————-

Hiii! New chapterrr I'm actually doing really well with getting updates out fast.

I hope you all enjoyed the chapterr and are excited for the next one. I know I'm excited to write it.

Alsooo I will be writing in Kai's POV very soonnn so you all will get to see what's going on inside his head yay!

And as always let me know what you think of the chapter hopefully you enjoyed it!

Okayy that's all for now don't forget to vote I love you all have an amazing rest of your day. ☺️🤍- Willow