Dirk had expected silence after the duel.
Instead, he found noise. Whispers trailing him through the halls, eyes burning into his back wherever he went. Fear, curiosity, admiration—all of it clung to him like smoke.
But when he entered his dorm, the noise stopped.
Because Enid Sinclair was there.
Waiting.
---
The Invitation
She bounced off the bed the second he opened the door. Her energy was impossible to ignore—bright, warm, alive in ways Dirk hadn't realized he'd been missing.
"You were amazing today," she said, practically glowing. "Like, stupidly amazing. People are still talking about it. I think you broke Ajax's ego more than his body."
Dirk gave a small shrug, shutting the door behind him. "He's fine. He just… underestimated me."
Enid's grin widened. "Everyone underestimates you. That's what makes it so much fun when you prove them wrong."
Before Dirk could answer, she grabbed his wrist. "Come on."
He raised a brow. "Where?"
"You'll see."
---
The Escape
She dragged him through the halls, past curious stares and whispered rumors, straight to the outside courtyard. The night was cool, the sky scattered with stars, the scent of pine hanging in the air.
Enid twirled once, arms wide. "See? Perfect night for running."
Dirk blinked. "…Running?"
She grinned, her canines flashing. "Wolf dash. No rules, just speed. You need it. You've been way too serious since you got here."
Dirk hesitated. "And if I refuse?"
Enid poked his chest playfully. "Then you prove everyone right—that you're just a scary, brooding wall of muscles. And I don't buy that."
---
The Race
So he humored her.
The first sprint was awkward—Dirk's long strides carried him effortlessly ahead, but Enid was fast, her werewolf blood burning bright. She laughed when he glanced back, her hair flying wild in the moonlight.
"Not bad, giant!" she shouted.
He smirked faintly. "Not bad yourself."
They ran through the trees, dodging roots and branches, Enid's laughter carrying like music. Dirk hadn't realized how long it had been since he heard something so… unburdened.
By the time they collapsed onto the grass, breathless, Enid flopped back, staring at the stars. Dirk stood over her for a moment, then finally lowered himself beside her, the ground trembling slightly under his weight.
---
The Bond
"You're not what people think you are," Enid said softly, eyes fixed on the constellations.
Dirk turned his head. "And what do they think I am?"
She smiled faintly. "A monster. Or a mystery. Or both."
"And what do you think I am?"
Enid's voice dropped, gentler than he'd ever heard it. "Someone who just needs a friend."
The words sank into him like sunlight breaking through clouds.
For a moment, Dirk forgot about shadows, obsessions, and the weight of secrets. For a moment, there was only a girl with bright eyes, lying beside him in the grass, seeing him for what he was rather than what he wasn't.
And for the first time in this new life, Dirk allowed himself to feel something dangerously close to peace.