Some souls don't fall in love at first sight.

They simply remember each other.

The silver eyes haunted her.

Even after she tore her gaze away from the faculty building...
Even after Emily's voice filled the air...
Even after the sprawling campus swallowed her into its labyrinthine halls—

Those eyes refused to leave her mind.

They weren't familiar because she had seen them before.

They were familiar because...

They felt like home.

Aurelia shook the thought away.

Stop it.
You've never met him.

"Here we are!"
Emily pushed open two grand oak doors.

The Grand Auditorium unfolded before them—
Crystal chandeliers draped from vaulted ceilings,
Rows of velvet seats stretching toward an elevated stage adorned with the university crest.

Students from every corner of the university trickled in.
Some laughed,
Some introduced themselves,
Others stared—again—at Aurelia.

Emily sighed dramatically.
"I should've expected this."

"What?" Aurelia asked.

"Everyone's looking at you."

Aurelia smiled politely.
"I've gotten used to it."

Emily leaned closer, whispering,
"I don't think I ever could."

As Aurelia searched for a seat, a strange sensation crawled beneath her skin—
Her wolf, restless.
Not afraid.
Searching.

She closed her eyes for a moment, whispering, "Calm down."

But the feeling only intensified.

Someone was watching her.

Not the students.

Someone else.

Someone...

Powerful.

On the highest floor of the faculty wing,
Professor Cassian Veyre stood alone.

The orientation speech echoed faintly through the speakers of his office.
He wasn't listening.
His eyes were fixed on a single file resting on his desk.

AURELIA VALERIUS
Age: 20
Major: Ancient History
Medical Records: Restricted
Bloodline: Classified
Guardian Information: Sealed

Cassian frowned.

Impossible.

Even heirs of the most influential Alpha Houses had public records.

No one was this protected—
Unless someone feared what would happen if the truth ever surfaced.

His fingers drummed the desk lightly.

Who are you...

His wolf answered before his mind could.

Mate.

Cassian snapped the file shut.

No.

He refused to accept a conclusion born solely from instinct.

Mate bonds required scent.
Touch.
Recognition.

Not a single glance across a courtyard.

And yet...
His heartbeat still hadn't slowed.

The auditorium lights dimmed.

The Chancellor stepped onto the stage.

"Welcome to Vespera University."

Polite applause rippled through the hall.

"As many of you know..."
"This university has stood for more than four hundred years."

"It was built on the belief that knowledge shapes leaders."

"And leadership shapes the future."

Aurelia listened quietly.

Until—

"Some areas of the campus remain permanently restricted."

Her attention sharpened.

"For your own safety, students are strictly prohibited from entering the North Tower, the underground archives, or the East Crypt."

A murmur swept through the crowd.

Emily whispered,
"Every year they say the same thing."

"No one's ever explained why."

Aurelia's gaze drifted to a stained-glass window.

Behind it...
She could've sworn she saw someone standing outside.

Watching.

But when she blinked—

They were gone.

Elsewhere,
Vivienne Noir entered the auditorium late.

Every student instinctively parted for her.

Power.
Respect.
Fear.

She noticed Aurelia immediately.

Of course.

Everyone did.

Vivienne hated herself for looking.

And hated Aurelia even more for existing.

Why?

She didn't know.

Only that the feeling had always been there.

Ancient.
Persistent.

Like a scar that never healed.

As she sat, a sharp pain exploded inside her head.

Her vision blurred—

Flames.
A palace.
A woman in white.
Golden hair.
A man screaming—

"Aurelia!"

Vivienne gasped.

The vision shattered.

She gripped the armrest until her knuckles ached.

"What..."
She whispered.
"...is happening to me?"

The orientation ended.

Students poured into the corridors.

Emily stretched dramatically.
"I'm starving."

Aurelia laughed softly.
"I thought you said that an hour ago."

"I did."
"And I'm starving again."

They headed toward the university café.

Halfway there—

Aurelia stopped.

She smelled something.

Not perfume.

Not coffee.

Not rain.

Something colder.

Something ancient.

Her wolf snapped to attention.

Alpha.

Not just any Alpha.

A dominant one.

Her pulse quickened.

The scent drifted through the hallway like dark cedarwood, winter rain, and smoke.

Unconsciously, she followed it.

One step.
Another.

Emily blinked.
"Aurelia?"
"...Where are you going?"

"I..."
She didn't know.

She just kept walking.

The scent grew stronger.

Her breath slowed.

Her heart raced.

She rounded a corner—

And collided with someone.

Books scattered across the gleaming floor.

"Oh!"
"I'm so sorry—"

She bent to gather them.

Another hand reached for the same book.

Their fingers brushed.

Just barely.

The world stopped.

A sharp pulse shot through them.

Not pain.

Electric.

Aurelia looked up.

Silver-gray eyes.

Cassian Veyre.

For a heartbeat—

Neither moved.

Neither spoke.

Time itself seemed to hesitate.

His hand lingered beneath hers.

His breath hitched.

His wolf roared.

Mine.

Cassian withdrew his hand abruptly.

His expression unreadable.

"I'm sorry."

His deep voice echoed softly in the quiet hallway.

Aurelia couldn't respond.

She had never heard a voice so...

Familiar.

He handed her the book.

Their fingers almost touched again.

Almost.

Cassian stepped back.

Professional.

Controlled.

As if nothing had happened.

"I suggest watching where you're going."

He turned and walked away.

His footsteps echoed until silence returned.

Aurelia remained frozen.

Emily hurried over.
"What happened?"

Aurelia stared after him.
"...I don't know."

Far ahead, Cassian didn't look back.

But for the first time in years...

He smiled.

Only once.

Only for a second.

And no one was there to see it.

Some touches last only a second.

Yet they awaken lifetimes.