Eyes wide open

ABIGAIL’S POV

stormed away, barely noticing the people I bumped into as I shoved through the crowd, his words echoing in my head.My chest tightened as the hurt started to set in. Nothing could make me like him, not after this. Absolutely nothing.

My room was my sanctuary. Even in a shared student apartment, it was the one place that was all mine, where I could shut out the world and breathe.

I had two roommates, but we each had our own separate rooms. The common areas were shared, but my room? That was where I could breathe.

For now at least.

My former roommates had moved out, luckily for me. We weren’t compatible.

One was all bossy, and the other one was an obvious kiss up, The third? Always prying into my business. It was exhausting and inconvenient.

“Hey, are you okay?” Adeline said, snapping me out of my angry march toward my door.

“I’m fine Adeline, thanks”I muttered.

“Want me to get you some coffee?” She offered, her voice sweet and gentle.

“Maybe later. Thanks.” I forced a smile before slipping into my room. I let out a loud sigh, sliding down until I hit the floor.

DOMINIC’S POV

We stayed close, foreheads nearly touching as I dodged his punch, the sound of fists cutting through the air.

“You’re getting stronger Walter, tell me what’s your routine?” Enzo said as he threw a punch at me, which I dodged.

. “Just a little more practice.” I said with a smirk on my face, my voice steady.

Without warning, he threw a punch in my direction, his fist cutting through the air. I caught his hand mid-swing, holding it firmly in place, using my knee, to strike his gut, then swung his head towards the ground causing me to let out a slight chuckle.

“You've gone soft, mate," I taunted, grinning down at him.Enzo was heavier and more muscular, and therefore had put up more of a fight. I chuckled, looking down on him as he sat with his legs splayed on the ground.

He turned to his front, picking himself up, as he gave me a low sweep me causing me to fall on my butt. He stood up, his face giving a mocking smile, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

“Didn’t see that coming. You just got owned.” He chuckled.

I got up, still half out of it. "Smooth move, man," I said, standing there with my hands on my hips, staring him down.

Enzo let out a dry laugh. "Bro, that’s the same look you had when Charlotte caught you banging her sister."

I frowned for a second, then it clicked. "Dude, shut up. She came onto me!" I said, brushing off my shirt. "And you weren’t even there!"

Enzo smirked, shaking his head. "Man, I’ve got eyes everywhere."

Enzo kept messing with me, laughing like an idiot, so I cut him off. "Yo, we got practice today, don’t forget."

“Ugh, don’t remind me." He groaned.

“You hitting up the party tonight?” I asked

“Definitely.” Enzo replied.

“Good, because I don’t want to be the cause of another fight between two best friends. I could use some company,” I muttered.

“Hey, it wasn't your fault. Those girls came up to you, and you being you, did what you had to do," Enzo said with a loud laugh, as he gave my shoulder a playful shove and started walking.

As we walked together in the woods laughing about old times, that was when we heard a low familiar echoing from behind the lair. Someone was about to turn. We both picked up our pace, and moved towards the sound.

We got there and realized he was struggling through his first shift. My pack members gathered gathered him, cheering him on as he fought through the pain.

He probably was a first-timer, and to watch him reminded me of my first shift-unsure of myself, terrified of what I was becoming. I had been afraid of my own power, my own instincts. But in time, I learned to control it, and eventually I got used to it.

“Let’s get out of here.” I said to Enzo, nudging him slightly with my elbow.

ABIGAIL’S POV

I woke up groggily to the feeling of someone bouncing on my bed.

“Wake up!” She yelled, my eyes slowly opened and I realized it was my best friend- Elizabeth.

She had been my best friend and my number one supporter and defender since middle school, I was always the shy quiet type- more of an introvert. Building relationships never came naturally to me, but Liz had a way of breaking through my walls.

When Liz came along, I felt a freedom I had never known. Like the missing piece of my soul, she took me above all my insecurities and allowed me to fly high. I’m grateful we crossed paths.

I remember when she saved me from those cornering bullies back in high school, I was one of those bookworms who spent her afternoons in the library. But that day changed everything. There went Liz, bursting in, pepper-spraying them, giving me my freedom. From that moment on, we became official best friends.

Liz was studying psychology, nothing that surprised me, she was one of those intuitive types making her a fit for the field.

“Liz?" I mumbled, rubbing my eyes to sit up slowly.

"Well, look who finally decided to wake up!" Liz teased, her voice loud and playful. "How's my little sleeping beauty?"

I shook my head, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "You're too much, Liz." I muttered, still a bit sleepy.

"Come on, you know you love it!" she laughed, throwing a pillow at me.

I'm going to this party tonight, and I met this guy… super hot." She grinned mischievously, fidgeting with her hair as she did whenever she was up to something.

"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow, trying to seem blasé

"Yeah, I might just… you know, have a little fun, I'm telling you Abby, this guy is so my type."

I gave her my usual stern expression whenever she wanted to do something silly.

"What?!" She giggled. “

You know me. I live in the moment. And tonight," she said with a melodramatic pause, "is gonna be one hell of a moment."

"Just… be careful, okay?” I replied, not knowing how to respond.

“What do you mean? You’re coming with me.”

“What?” I blinked in disbelief.

Liz dragged me to the party, as always. It was some social sciences department thing that the president insisted everyone should attend, but, really, it wasn’t a big deal. It happened every year, and plenty of people skipped out on it.

As we entered, the strong smell of liquor and body odor knocked me right in the kisser. The place smelled incredibly bad. I held my breath, forcing a smile to mask my discomfort.

Elizabeth noticed someone across the room, her cheeks highlighting a pale pink. She looked at me, her eyes sparkling.

"Don't tell me you're leaving me," I begged, knowing full well what was to come.

“I’ll be back, just give me five.” She said stretching out her five fingers.

I sighed, giving her the go-ahead.

"You're the best!" she replied, her eyes filled with excitement as she left.

As she left I couldn’t stand it any longer, the smell in the room was unbearable, I turned and made my way out.

The hallway was surprisingly quiet and peaceful, not until when I started hearing faint sounds of moaning, I increased my walking pace, eager to find out what was happening.

As I continued, I noticed the noise coming from the left corner. I saw a girl bent over, letting out soft moans as she received hard backshots.

My eyes traveled up from her to the guy and I recognized him.

Is this a joke?