Chapter 54

Lila’s POV

We slipped into class with fifteen minutes to spare, practically ghosting through the near-empty lecture hall. Rowan steered me up three flights of stairs—no elevator privileges for us—and into the furthest corner of the top row. Perfect. Two walls flanked us like protective bouncers, and Rowan was sandwiched between me and the void. Honestly, I’d rather ruffle some stranger’s seating ego than let my wolf brain take over and redecorate with teeth.

I fired up today’s PowerPoint—my academic battle station—just as the first stragglers trickled in. Rowan’s palm settled on my thigh, warm and steady. When a guy plopped down in the seat to my right and leaned in like he owned the place, Rowan’s grip tightened in a hilariously subtle warning. I scooched closer, half hoping the guy got the message: this seat was taken, and his spidey sense should be tingling. After all, nothing says “keep back” like a dude ready to bloom fangs.

Miraculously, not once did m