Chapter 5 Cracks In The Mask

LINA'S POV

The courtyard's shadows swallowed me as I stumbled back from Kade, my heart hammering so loud I swore he could hear it. His eyes were locked on mine, wide and searching, his nostrils flaring like he'd caught a scent that didn't add up. My scent. My real scent-Lina, not Linc-had slipped through when the pendant faltered, just for a second, but it was enough. The shattered vial Rylan had thrown glittered on the stone, its glowing residue hissing faintly, and my wolf was howling, torn between fight and flight. Kade had saved me from exposure, but now he was the threat, his question hanging in the air like a blade: What the hell was that?

"Linc," he said again, stepping closer, his voice low, edged with something I couldn't place-confusion, maybe, or suspicion. His wildfire-and-leather scent wrapped around me, and that mate tug burned in my chest, making it hard to think. "You gonna explain, or do I have to guess?"

My mouth went dry, my mind scrambling for a lie. The pendant was scalding now, its magic flickering like a dying bulb. I tugged my cap lower, praying it hid the panic in my eyes. "Explain what?" I said, forcing my voice rough, steady. "Rylan's a psycho. You saw him. Probably spiked the air with something."

Kade's jaw tightened, and he didn't buy it-I could tell. He was too close, his heat radiating, and my wolf whined, urging me to lean in, to trust him. Stupid instinct. Trusting anyone here was a death sentence, especially him. "Don't play dumb," he said, his eyes narrowing. "That scent-it wasn't... normal."

"Normal?" I forced a laugh, stepping back to put space between us. My boots crunched on the broken vial's glass, and I winced. "You're sniffing too hard, Kade. Maybe lay off the protein shakes."

His smirk flickered, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Cute. But I know what I smelled." He took another step, and I backed into the pillar, trapped. His voice dropped, almost a whisper. "You're hiding something, Linc. And I'm not the only one who's noticed."

My blood ran cold. Rylan. Elias. Now Kade. The walls were closing in, and my secret was a fraying thread. I needed to deflect, fast. "What's your deal, huh?" I snapped, shoving off the pillar to meet his gaze. "You save me from Rylan, then grill me like I'm the bad guy? If you've got a problem, spit it out."

For a second, he looked thrown, like he hadn't expected me to push back. Then his smirk returned, sharper. "Oh, I've got no problem. Yet." He leaned in, his breath warm against my ear, and my wolf practically purred, traitor that she was. "But I'm watching you, newbie. Don't make me regret stepping in."

He pulled back, his eyes lingering a beat too long, then turned and stalked into the night. I sagged against the pillar, my legs shaky, my pendant cooling but still heavy. Kade hadn't exposed me, but he was a ticking bomb, and I didn't know how long I could keep him at bay. Worse, Rylan's vial-whatever it was-had shaken my disguise, and he wasn't done. I needed to find out who he was, what he knew, before he came back with something worse.

I slipped back to the dorm, the campus quiet except for the distant howl of a wolf in the forest. My room was empty-Jasper was probably still in the common room, charming someone with his nerdy banter. I locked the door and yanked off my cap, my hair spilling free. The mirror showed Linc-sharp jaw, flat chest-but my hazel eyes were too wide, too scared. Too Lina. I gripped the sink, my father's words echoing: Lead with will. But my will was cracking, and I didn't know how to fix it.

A soft knock startled me. "Linc? You in there?" Jasper's voice, muffled but urgent. I jammed my cap back on, checking my reflection before opening the door. He stood there, his glasses crooked, a leather-bound book clutched to his chest. His usual grin was gone, replaced by a frown that made my stomach twist.

"What's wrong?" I asked, stepping aside to let him in. My wolf was on edge, sensing trouble.

He shut the door, glancing around like someone might be listening. "I overheard something in the common room," he said, his voice low. "About you."

My heart skipped. "Me? What'd you hear?"

He set the book on my bed, its cover worn, the title faded. "Some seniors were talking-guys who run with Rylan. They said he's got it out for you, big time. Called you a 'problem' for the pack hierarchy. Said you're not what you seem."

The air left my lungs. Rylan. The stranger from the courtyard, the one who'd nearly exposed me. "Not what I seem?" I said, forcing a laugh that sounded hollow. "I'm just a guy trying to survive, Jasper. He's got the wrong idea."

Jasper didn't laugh. "That's not all. They mentioned a... ritual. Something about 'testing the unworthy' during the next full moon. Rylan's pushing for it, and he's got friends in high places." He hesitated, his eyes flicking to mine. "Linc, what's going on? You're freaking me out."

I wanted to tell him-god, I wanted to-but the words stuck in my throat. Jasper was the closest thing I had to an ally, but my secret was a grenade, and I couldn't risk the fallout. "Nothing's going on," I lied, my voice steadier than I felt. "Rylan's just a bully with a vendetta. I'll handle it."

He didn't look convinced, but he nodded, pushing his glasses up. "Okay. But be careful, man. Rylan's not like Bryce. He's... calculated. And that book?" He pointed to the one on my bed. "I swiped it from the library. It's old pack lore. Might have something on rituals, or whatever he's planning."

I glanced at the book, my wolf stirring. "Thanks, Jasper," I said, meaning it. "You didn't have to do that."

He grinned, some of his spark returning. "What are roommates for? Just don't get us expelled, yeah?"

"Deal," I said, but my smile was tight. He left, and I locked the door again, flipping open the book. Its pages smelled of dust and secrets, the text dense with werewolf history, pack wars, Alpha rites, mating bonds. My fingers froze on a passage about full moon rituals: To test an Alpha's truth, the pack may invoke the Moon's Judgment, a trial by scent and strength. Deceivers are revealed, their masks stripped by lunar magic. My pendant burned, and I slammed the book shut, my breath ragged. Rylan wasn't guessing. He knew.

I needed to act-find Rylan, figure out his plan, anything-but exhaustion hit me like a wave. I'd barely slept since arriving, and the Trials had drained me. I tucked the book under my mattress and headed for the showers, hoping hot water would clear my head. The bathroom was empty, steam curling from the stalls, and I locked myself in one, letting the water scald my skin. For a moment, I let Linc slip away, my hair loose, my guard down. It felt good, too good, until a creak outside snapped me back.

I shut off the water, my wolf alert. The air shifted, carrying a scent-cedar and storm, sharp and familiar. Elias. My pendant flared, and I scrambled to dry off, tugging my cap over wet hair. I stepped out, and there he was, leaning against the sink, his blazer gone, his sleeves rolled up. His eyes met mine in the mirror, and that mate tug hit me so hard I nearly stumbled.

"Linc," he said, his voice calm but heavy, like he was measuring every word. "Late night?"

"Couldn't sleep," I said, my voice rough, my heart pounding. He was too close, his scent overwhelming, and my wolf was practically begging me to close the gap. "What's your excuse, Professor?"

His lips twitched, not quite a smile. "Checking on stragglers. You've been... noticeable. The Trials, Rylan's interest. Care to explain?"

My stomach dropped. He was fishing, just like Kade, but Elias was sharper, his questions a scalpel. "Nothing to explain," I said, gripping my towel tighter. "Just trying to keep up."

He stepped closer, his eyes searching. "You're not like the others," he said, almost to himself. "There's something... different." His hand twitched, like he wanted to reach out, and my pendant burned, my scent flickering again. His nostrils flared, and I saw it-recognition, suspicion, something deeper.

Before I could lie, a crash echoed from the hall, followed by a shout. "Linc! Get out here!" Jasper's voice, panicked.

I bolted past Elias, my wolf snarling, and found Jasper in the corridor, his glasses askew, blood trickling from his lip. Behind him stood Rylan, his cold smile gleaming, and two seniors, their fists clenched. My pendant flared, and I knew this wasn't a coincidence.

"Found your friend snooping," Rylan said, his voice dripping with malice. "Care to join him, Linc? Or should I call you something else?"