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“Take it away from you? Is this your university now?” Emely asked, amused.

Oh, if only she knew how much this university belonged to me...

Adrenaline mixed with all the anger that had built up inside me over the years, like water in a dammed lake. Only now, the lake resembled a raging sea, threatening to slowly but surely break the dam.

I was ready to echo my warning through the halls of this university.

“Because I'm possessive, Emely,” I muttered, glancing at the western tower of Vanderwood.

Everything in me was ready to demand what was mine. Fair and merciless vengeance.

“That sounds like a bad pick-up line,” Emely laughed.

I forced my gaze out of its stare again, looked at Emely, and tried to focus on her instead of my toxic plans for this place.

“Speaking of pick-up lines.” I looked around, checking to make sure I hadn't overlooked him, but he really wasn't here. “Where's your teenage crush?”

Emely's eyes widened noticeably.

“Kieran! Stop teasing me about the Oliver thing. I was thirteen, damn it!”

Amused, I smiled.

“We both know I'm not talking about our weatherman.”

The color returned to Emely's cheeks.

“Where is this jackass?” I snorted. “Still in his hole with the witches?”

Emely's gaze was indecisive. And I wondered if she still had feelings for him.

I was surprised that she had always stood up for him, because he had acted against the pack, against her interests.

That was probably what being in love did to you. It clouded your judgment, blinded you, and deluded you into believing in certain things. Constructs, like supposed love.

“Kieran,” Emely said with concern. “You’ve really missed a lot.” She hesitated. “Julian's father was murdered on the night of the winter ball.” Pain clouded her gaze. “Julian is gone.”

Of course, I knew about the murder of Graham Bardot, a good man I had respected. Just as I knew about the other murders and news concerning the town's police files because I had access to the Blairville Police Department's database. But I couldn't explain that to Emely.

On top of that, my asshole father had taken over Bardot's position. It was something he had been planning to do for years, and it disgusted me that Graham's death – with whom, it should be noted, he had always patrolled – had literally promoted him to the town's new police chief.

Let's see how long he could keep order here...

“I heard,” I admitted, lying only halfway. “It was obvious he’d take off.”

Emely pressed her lips together, looking glum.

I wanted to be angry at Julian, but I wasn’t in a position to judge his recent decisions. His father was dead. And unlike me, he’d had a good relationship with his old man.

The prickling on the back of my neck was too much.

That was enough.

I turned around.

“That guy really pushes my buttons!” I growled.

“Damn it, Kieran.” Emely hissed, pulling me around to face her. “Please. Let this be my business. And ignore...”