Aurora’s footsteps echo too loudly on the empty path behind the old mill. She keeps her phone in her hand, thumb hovering over the call button. Something feels wrong. Heavy. Off. She walks faster. Then— A hand grabs her from behind. Her phone slips from her fingers. An arm locks around her waist. A hand claps over her mouth. Aurora’s scream is swallowed, trapped in her throat as she’s yanked into the shadows. She twists, panics— Then she feels it: teeth, scraping into her shoulder. Not deep, but sharp enough to burn. Sharp enough to tell her this isn’t a normal attack. Her knees give out. And then— A violent blur. A snarl. A body ripped away from her so fast she nearly falls with it. Aurora crashes onto the ground, trembling, clutching her shoulder. Her fingers come away with a smear of blood. The attacker hits a tree with a sickening crack—then scrambles away into the dark. Aurora is left gasping for air, half on her side, half upright, shaking uncontrollably. She doesn’t even realize someone is coming toward her until she hears her name: “Aurora—” Her head jerks up. Stefan. He’s moving toward her fast, but when he sees how frightened she is, he slows instantly, kneeling a few feet away. His face is pale and tense, eyes storm-dark. “Hey… hey, it’s okay. It’s me.” She tries to answer but only a broken noise comes out. Her breath stutters. Tears blur her vision. Stefan inches a little closer. “You’re safe now. I swear.” Aurora squeezes her eyes shut, holding her injured shoulder. Her body won’t stop shaking. When Stefan sees the bite—small but bleeding—something in him shatters. His jaw tightens, regret flickering across his face. Very gently, he reaches out. “Can I see it?” Aurora hesitates, but she nods, barely. Stefan’s touch is light, careful as he moves her hand away and examines the wound. His breath catches—so quietly she might not notice, but she does. His voice is steady, even though his eyes aren’t: “It’s shallow. You’ll be okay. I promise.” Aurora lets out a trembling sob, pain mixing with fear. Stefan immediately shifts closer—slow, so he doesn’t startle her—and he lifts her hand, placing it back over the bite to apply gentle pressure. “Keep holding it like that, alright?” His voice is soft but firm. Protective. She nods again, tears spilling silently. Stefan’s jaw tenses. He looks away for a moment, guilt heavy on his expression. “I should’ve been at school,” he says quietly. Not a confession—just regret. Raw and honest. Aurora tries to speak through her shaking: “How… how did you find me?” He swallows. He doesn’t want to admit the truth—that he was looking for her because he noticed her absence the second he walked into class the next day. His eyes lower. “I was nearby.” A simple answer. One that hides far more than it says. Aurora’s breath stutters again, another wave of pain hitting her. Stefan reacts instantly—moving closer, arm slipping behind her back to keep her upright. “Easy… I’ve got you,” he murmurs, steady and calm despite the fear in his eyes. She leans into him because she can’t not. She’s overwhelmed, trembling, hurting. Stefan holds her like she’s something fragile he’s terrified to lose. Not squeezing, not claiming—just supporting. He presses his hand gently to her back, grounding her. “I’m taking you home,” he says softly. Not asking—protecting. Aurora closes her eyes, letting herself breathe, letting herself trust him. And Stefan holds her tighter—still silent, still holding back every feeling he’s never dared to say—but tonight? Tonight he almost lost her. And that fear stays in his eyes as he lifts her gently off the ground.