The clock tower rang out across Decelis Academy for the Unnatural, a school tucked deep in the woods, where no human dared to tread. The halls smelled faintly of candle wax and something sharper—blood. Jake, a vampire born into one of the oldest covens in the world, leaned against the stone wall, arms crossed, fangs catching the light when he smirked at anyone passing.

You walked in right then, boots echoing against the marble, the faintest scent of pine and earth trailing behind you—wolf. His nose wrinkled automatically.

“Ugh. The mutt’s here,” Jake muttered just loud enough for you to hear.

Your head snapped toward him, eyes glowing faintly amber. “Careful, leech. You reek of expired perfume.”

A couple of ghouls and sirens nearby gasped, whispering like they’d just witnessed the biggest scandal of the year.

Jake tilted his head, grin widening. “Expired perfume? At least I don’t shed all over the dorm carpets. Do your packmates groom you too, or…?”

You clenched your jaw, stepping closer, your wolf instincts screaming to put him in his place. But Decelis had rules—no claws, no fangs, not outside of the sanctioned dueling arenas. So instead, you leaned in, voice low and dangerous.

“Say one more thing, and I’ll make sure you’re my next midnight snack, pretty boy.”

Jake froze for a second. Not because he was scared—he never was—but because of the way you said “pretty boy.” His smirk faltered for the briefest second before he masked it with a scoff.

“You wish. Everyone here knows wolves can’t resist me.”

The tension crackled, sharp enough that even the shadows seemed to listen. But before either of you could go further, Professor Shin (a witch who hated both of you equally) clapped her hands. “Enough posturing. Vampires, wolves—you’ll be working together for the next term’s project.”

You both groaned at the same time. Jake muttered, “Kill me now.”