The Red Eyed Rogue

chapter 2

*Rowan's P.O.V*

I parked my bike in the school parking lot between a red Maserati Spyder and a Honda CB 250. Most of the other students were already in class, but a few lingered in the lot. These were the ones who didn't care about being on time and didn't face consequences because, well, their parents had money.

I already knew the layout of the school; this wasn't my first time here. Heading toward the office to collect my schedule, I opened the door and was immediately hit by the familiar flowery scent of Mrs. Grey.

She sat at the reception desk, scrolling through her phone. Her plain brown hair now had golden highlights, and her once prominent dark circles were miraculously gone.

Her head shot up so fast when she noticed me standing in the doorway that I got whiplash just watching. Her bright smile faltered for a moment, making it obvious she was expecting someone else. If I had to bet, I'd say it was a male—probably a specific Toby Grey.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were happy to see me," I teased, leaning casually against the doorway.

Mrs. Grey, the younger sister of the Luna of the Blood Moon Pack, liked to call herself the "cool aunt."

"Ah, Rowan," she said, chuckling. "May told me she was sending you back to school, even though you told her no. And if you didn't, she said she'd burn that baby of yours."

"She's got a knack for threats," I replied dryly.

Mrs. Grey's smile widened. "Not that I'm unhappy to see you, mind you. It's not every day I get to see my favorite lone wolf."

"I'm the only lone wolf you know," I deadpanned.

She laughed, pulling out a piece of paper. "Here's your schedule. You won't need a map—you already know the place like the back of your hand. Now off you go. You're already ten minutes late." She shooed me out with a wave of her hand.

Before stepping out, I turned back with a grin. "By the way, Mia, you're looking hot—for Mr. Grey."

"You brat!" she exclaimed just as the door clicked shut behind me.

Math was my first class, and I made my way there at a leisurely pace. The door was closed when I arrived, so I knocked and pushed it open.

"Hi, sorry I'm late," I started, "but I just found out I go—" I froze mid-sentence when I saw the teacher.

"Oh God, not you again," I groaned.

"Trust me, I'm no happier than you are, Mr. Wolf," Mr. Grey retorted, raising an eyebrow. "I'd really hoped you weren't coming back."

"Yeah, well, I'm here," I shot back.

He sighed and gestured toward the desk in the back corner, next to the window. "Go to your usual seat, and don't worry about being late—Mia told me you'd be."

Rolling my eyes, I added, "You do know we all know you and Mia are mates, right?"

He just shook his head with a small smile. "It's good to have you back, Rowan."

"Yeah, yeah. Now continue boring us, please," I said with mock exasperation, earning a round of laughter from the class.

Third Person POV

The girls in the class giggled at the playful banter between Rowan and Mr. Grey. Everyone in the school knew about Rowan Wolf—not just because he was the only lone wolf in the state but because of his looks.

His jet-black hair was cut short, accentuating his sharp jawline. His eyes were a striking gray that seemed to shift depending on the light—tinged with green under the sun and with blue indoors. He wasn't as muscular as many of the other werewolves in the school, but his lean frame was defined, and when his shirt clung just right, you could glimpse his six-pack. At an even six feet tall, he carried himself with quiet confidence. And then there were the tattoos—something the girls often whispered about but could never quite figure out.

Despite his popularity, Rowan wasn't the type to hang out with the usual cliques, attend parties, or participate in group activities. The only places you'd reliably find him were the old diner downtown or the UR—the Underground Ring, where supernatural fights were held.

What added to Rowan's mystique was that he'd never shown interest in anyone, despite his looks and reputation. His lack of romantic involvement only amplified his appeal, especially since it was no secret that Rowan was bisexual. The air of mystery made him irresistible to many, though no one had ever seen him with a significant other.

If Rowan ever spent time with anyone, it was the young mated pair Lenox and Mauve Fortis, the children of the Blood Moon Pack's Alpha and Luna. Their bond with Rowan was well-known in the town. After all, Rowan had saved their parents' lives years ago, nearly dying in the process, and the story of his miraculous recovery was practically legend.

Rumors swirled about Rowan's other connections, too. He was occasionally seen with Calvin Wells, the heir to the Mortui, the oldest vampire clan in existence, and Calvin's girlfriend, Gwen Stans, who was locked in a succession battle for leadership of the Maleficia witch coven.

But even among these connections, Rowan remained a lone wolf—both literally and figuratively.