*At **Blackthorne University**, humans and supernatural beings studied side by side. It wasn't unusual to pass a witch in the hallway, a werewolf in your biology lecture, or a vampire grabbing coffee before class. The supernatural world had long since stopped hiding; it had simply become part of everyday life.*
The night stretched on endlessly, swallowed by the steady hum of the Impala. The road slipped past beneath the headlights, monotonous, almost soothing— a fragile illusion in a life where nothing truly was anymore.
After a year of watching each other from a distance, it is now possible to acknowledge the other’s existence—and, above all, the attraction between them.
Taylor, Belly, and I have always been inseparable since childhood. But even more so since Belly and I turned 11. That year, Laurel and Belly learned that I was pretty much on my own, especially during the summer. Until I was 14, I spent the summer with Steven, Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah. At first, I felt bad about crashing and had trouble fitting in with the group, but they always made sure I was included. After that, my aunt took over, and I moved to Canada. This year, Belly and I are finishing high school; in September, I'm going to college with her. To celebrate, she invited me back to the summer house. I don't know about Suzannah's relapse or whether Conrad knows about it. Steven and I have stayed in close contact, and Jere and I have our own networks. Belly and I used to talk every week.