Bella's POV:
I was walking down a dark hallway, swallowed by shadows. The walls around me were nothing but endless black, pressing in as though the corridor itself had no end. Then, faintly, a light appeared—small, distant, like a fragile star at the far edge of the void. I reached for it, my steps quickening into a run, desperate to catch it. But the more I ran, the further it seemed to drift away, mocking my effort.
My heartbeat thundered in my chest as I pushed myself faster. And then—without warning—the ground vanished. A gaping black hole opened beneath me, pulling me down into an endless abyss.
That's when the sharp sound of beeping pierced the darkness. My eyes flew open, sweat clinging to my skin. The alarm. Just my alarm.
Blinking, I looked around—my room, familiar yet unsettling in the dim glow of the night. The clock read 9:00 PM. With a sigh, I swung my legs out of bed, trying to shake the lingering dread of the dream.
"Shit. I'm late," I muttered, panic rising in my chest.
I yanked on a large hoodie and shorts, hardly caring if they matched, then bolted downstairs—nearly tripping on the steps. My parents sat on the living room couch, watching as I flew past.
"Bye, have a momentous day!"
I called, slamming the door behind me.
"Late as always!"
Mom's voice snapped from inside, her scowl almost visible even without seeing her face.
Unlike Mom, Dad adored me. He never minded what I did.
"Bye, sweetie, have a lovely day!"
he shouted cheerfully just before the door closed.
I stumbled into my shoes, smirking at their voices echoing inside. Typical.
Dad's POV (Jason):
Jessica turned to me the moment Bella left, her eyes narrowed with disapproval.
"Why are you so calm about this? She's late!"
I didn't want to argue, not again—not if it meant another night on the couch. So I shrugged it off.
"What? It's fine to be late. I was the same when I was in university."
Her frown deepened, confusion and anger mingling in her expression. Then she snapped,
"You know what? Don't talk to me. You teach her!"
She got up and left me alone on the couch. I sighed, rubbing my face. Really? Over this? Reluctantly, I stood and followed after her.
"Jessica, sweetheart, listen to me…"
Bella's POV:
I slid my shoes on and laughed under my breath. Yep, they were arguing again—about me, as always. Life's funny like that. Being an only child meant every little thing turned into a debate.
I grabbed my keys, slipped into my car, and started the engine. A soft playlist filled the silence, and I allowed myself a small breath of calm. In just a month, I'd graduate. Summer couldn't come soon enough.
Pulling into the university lot, I locked the car after grabbing my bag—my lifeline. Notebook, pencils, laptop: check. I was already running late.
"If Mom finds out, I'll be dead,"
I muttered, quickening my pace.
I stormed through the building, turning sharply around a corner—only to slam right into a hard muscular chest. The impact sent me crashing to the ground, pain flaring as I landed on my rear.
"Fuck…" I hissed under my breath, rubbing the ache.
A very deep, unfamiliar voice cut through.
"Are you alright?"
The scent of vanilla lingered in the air. My eyes widened as I looked up. He was tall—well over six feet—with broad shoulders and pitch-black hair that framed his sharp features. Two sleek, black panther ears twitched atop his head, their tips glinting faintly under the light, while a long, dark tail swayed lazily behind him, betraying a calm that didn't quite reach his golden, predatory eyes. For a moment, he looked less like a man and more like something otherworldly—power and wild instinct perfectly contained in human form. A spark shot through me, rooting me in place.
"Ow…"
The whimper slipped out, unbidden.
A scoff echoed in the hallway, pulling my gaze back to him. His expression was unreadable—until his lips curled in faint annoyance.
"Too fragile. Tsk."
The words cut sharper than I expected, stinging like a blade against my chest. I turned away, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me falter. Idiot. Crushing on a jerk like that.
From the corner of my eye, I caught a flicker of slight shock in his eyes on his face as I walked past. He hadn't expected me to ignore