The school had closed hours ago, yet here I was, still waiting alone at the gates as the sky dimmed to a soft evening glow. I checked my phone for what felt like the hundredth time and dialed Magnus again. This time, he picked up after a few rings.
"Just wait a little longer, Aria," he said, sounding distracted.
I sighed, feeling a mix of worry and frustration. "Magnus, everyone else has left. Even Regan went home. Are you sure you're coming?"
"Yes, I’ll be there soon," he replied, though his voice was tense, as if he were handling something urgent. "Just trust me, alright?"
I hung up, glancing around at the empty street. It was quiet, almost too quiet. A chill prickled the back of my neck, and a wave of unease settled over me. The minutes ticked by, and with each passing second, my anxiety grew. It was already 5:56 pm—almost three hours since dismissal. Magnus should have at least sent someone to pick me up if he couldn’t make it himself. This wasn’t like him.
“Ory, what do you think?” I asked, reaching out to my wolf.
Ory’s voice came through, soft but protective. “I don’t like this, Aria. You shouldn’t be out here alone, especially at this hour. Magnus can be...thoughtless sometimes, but he does care. It’s his responsibilities that make things hard.”
I scoffed lightly. “Sometimes it feels like he forgets I’m here at all. I know he’s a Lycan King with a kingdom to protect, but that doesn’t mean he has to keep me waiting endlessly, right?”