Alden and Nyx stood outside the university's library, waiting for Dante Harrow. Nyx’s fingers tapped nervously against his jeans, feeling a mix of anticipation and dread. This was it. The moment of truth. If Dante was the one who could help him, then maybe, just maybe, he would finally get the answers he was looking for. But there was something about Dante that unsettled him, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

  “You sure about this?” Alden asked, his eyes scanning the bustling campus.

  Nyx nodded, his jaw tight. “Yeah. He’s the only one who has what I need.”

  Alden didn’t look convinced. “You realize who his family is, right?”

  Nyx shot him a sharp look. “I know. They’re hunters. I don’t need you to remind me.”

  The tension between them was palpable. The past few days had been filled with moments of strained silence, as Nyx tried to come to terms with the changes happening inside him. But now, in front of Dante, it felt like the weight of everything was about to come crashing down.

  As if on cue, a figure stepped into view—tall, dark-haired, and with a smirk that could only be described as predatory. Dante Harrow.

  He was younger than Nyx expected, only twenty, but his eyes held a maturity that suggested he’d seen far more than a college student should. His gaze flicked over to Alden first, then to Nyx, lingering with a hint of suspicion.

  “Well, well, if it isn’t Nyx.” Dante’s voice was dripping with sarcasm, his eyes narrowing as he crossed his arms. “I didn’t expect to see you here, asking for that kind of favor.”

  Nyx took a step forward, trying to keep his cool. “I need the purple wolfsbane. I need to test someone.”

  Dante raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but also amused. “Oh? And who’s the lucky candidate? You’ve been getting a little too close to the Alpha twins, haven’t you?” He tilted his head, smirking as if he already knew the answer. “Not exactly the kind of people you want to be messing with, Nyx.”

  Nyx’s stomach churned at the mention of the twins. The memory of the unknown Alpha who had changed his life, loomed like a shadow in his mind. But he didn’t let it show. “I don’t care about them,” Nyx replied, trying to sound more confident than he felt. “I just need to know if someone’s... different.”

  Dante’s smirk faltered for a moment, and his gaze flicked back to Alden, who stood silently at Nyx’s side, eyes wary. “You’re asking me for something that only hunters really handle. You think I’m just going to hand over a vial of purple wolfsbane without asking questions?”

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  Nyx felt the weight of the moment settle over him. He had to tread carefully. He couldn’t let Dante see too much fear. “I’m not asking you to do anything illegal. I just need to know if someone’s supernatural. You don’t have to get involved.”

  Dante’s eyes darkened slightly. “and may I know who that person is? Me and my father knows every supernatural that resides in the Blackwater Hallow. We killed those who think of entering this place with the intention of murdering. So tell me Nyx, which luck soul you think has escaped from our hands?’’

  Alden finally spoke up, his voice cold. “We’re not here to make enemies, Dante. We’re just trying to figure something out.”

  Dante’s gaze snapped to Alden, his lip curling in distaste. “Oh, I’m well aware of what you are, Alden. Supernaturals, always lurking in the shadows.” His voice dripped with disdain as he took a step closer to Nyx, his eyes never leaving Alden. “Well I asked you a question. Which person you think is a supernatural that is hiding among us?’’

  Nyx clenched his fists at his sides, resisting the urge to step between them. “The new girl, Amaya.”

  Dante’s smirk twisted into something darker, his eyes narrowing as he took a slow, deliberate step back. His posture was rigid, like a predator sizing up its prey. Nyx could feel the tension crackling in the air between them, thick enough to suffocate. It was as if Dante was waiting for something—waiting for Nyx to make a mistake, to slip up.

  "Amaya?" Dante repeated, his voice low, the sarcasm now replaced with something more dangerous. "You’re telling me, Nyx, that this girl—this new girl—is somehow hiding her true nature, and you want me to help you figure it out?" His gaze shifted back to Alden, as if checking for confirmation, though Alden’s expression remained unreadable. “That’s the best you’ve got?”

  Dante studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a casual shrug, he uncrossed his arms. “Fine. I’ll get you the wolfsbane. But this is your last chance, Nyx. If you mess with the wrong person, if you step too far out of line, don’t expect me to clean up your mess."

  Nyx exhaled, relief flooding through him, but he knew better than to show it. “Thanks, Dante. I’ll make sure you’re compensated.”

  “Yeah, yeah, just get it done,” Dante muttered, turning to walk away. He shot one last look at Alden before disappearing into the crowd.

  Nyx turned to Alden, feeling a wave of frustration. “He’s always like that. Sarcastic, impossible to deal with.” He let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair.

  Alden’s expression was unreadable, his eyes distant. “He’s a hunter. It’s in his blood to distrust people like me.”

  Nyx glanced at him, sensing there was more to Alden’s tone than just indifference. “And what about you? Are you... okay with this? Helping me?”

  Alden didn’t answer right away, his gaze fixed on the path Dante had taken. Finally, he shook his head, his voice low. “I don’t like the idea of you getting involved with people like him. But I’m here, and I’ll help you. Just be careful who you trust.”

  Nyx nodded, feeling the weight of those words settle on his chest. “I will. I promise.”

  As they began walking away from the library, Nyx’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the message from Aiden.

  “What’s going on with you and Alden? You are not focusing in the class, always spending time with the twins, you remember that they are the Alphas, right? Are you hiding something from me? Talk to me.”

  Nyx stared at the message for a long moment before typing a quick reply.

  “I’ll explain soon. Just... not right now.”

  He tucked his phone back into his pocket, but the knot in his stomach only tightened. There was no avoiding the truth much longer.