Dormitory

"Move."

The deep voice came from behind her, followed by a sharp shove that nearly sent her stumbling into the board. Raine bit back a curse and turned to face the culprit.

A tall, broad-shouldered guy with dark eyes and a smirk that screamed arrogance. His shirt was stained with dried blood, and his knuckles were still raw.

He looked at her, head tilting slightly, as if she were an insect he was debating on crushing. "Didn't think someone like you would make it through the first night."

Raine held his stare, refusing to let her gaze waver. "Disappointed?"

The guy chuckled, shaking his head. "No. Just surprised." He glanced at the board, finding his name easily. "See you in Sector C,

Then he was gone..

At this point she has no idea who would beat each other in killing her.

Raine exhaled sharply.

Raine found Domitory Sector C tucked at the far end of the academy grounds. It was a looming stone building with ivy-strangled walls and narrow windows. It looked like a place where people went missing and no one asked questions.

She stepped inside, the scent of damp wood and sweat thick in the air. The hall was lined with doors, each marked with a brass number. She found hers near the middle. C-14.

The handle was cool under her palm as she pushed the door open.

The first thing she noticed was the bed against the far wall, already claimed. A duffel bag sat open on the floor, clothes spilling out like their owner hadn't bothered unpacking properly. The second thing she noticed because it was impossible not to was the guy leaning against the window, a lit cigarette dangling between his fingers.

He turned at the sound of the door, exhaling a slow curl of smoke before raking his gaze over her. "You're smaller than I thought."

Raine tensed. "You were thinking about me?"

A smirk tugged at his mouth. "Nah. Just expected my roommate to be someone I'd have to kill in their sleep."

She dropped her bag onto the empty bed and faced him fully. He was tall, broad in a way that suggested he was more muscle than bone, with dark, shoulder-length hair that hung loose around his face. His gray eyes were sharp, assessing.

"You still might," she muttered, unzipping her bag and pretending she wasn't hyper-aware of every move he made.

He chuckled, low and amused, before pushing off the window and holding out a hand.

"Killian."

Raine hesitated. She hadn't expected *this*—casual introductions, normal conversation. She had braced herself for threats, maybe a fight, but this? It felt almost dangerous in a different way.

She clasped his hand. His grip was firm, his palm rough with callouses.

"Rowan, I hope we get along. " she said, forcing herself to meet his gaze without flinching.

Killian's smirk deepened. "Welcome to Sector C, Rowan."

He dropped her hand and moved past her, kicking his duffel aside before flopping onto his bed like he had nowhere else to be.

Raine swallowed hard and turned to unpack, but she could feel his gaze still on her.

Killian was firmly built. From a renowned werewolf family of assassins. Him passing the first three trials was thanks to the number of other recruits he ended their life.

He stayed at his bed watching Raine with a smirk. Wondering how easy it would be to snap her into half.

Raine on the other hand, was now trembling in confusion, how the hell is she supposed to change her outfits with this dude's preying gaze. He just wouldn't look away not even for a little seconds.

"Don't worry, I'm not gay" he said.

"Good thing you are not"she bit her lips nervously, honestly she was hoping he was, it would have been very much better if he was gay.

Her skin was already agitated from wearing those bands on her chest since the previous day. She took out her inhaler and use it thrice.

"Do you want the window side?" Killian asked.

"No thank you I'm fine. Thanks for offering"

Killian smirked. he then rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling as if he had all the time in the world.

Raine tried to focus on unpacking, but her hands wouldn't stop trembling. The academy was brutal, and she wasn't sure who was more likely to get her killed; Rowan Vale's enemies, or her own damn roommate.

She forced herself to keep breathing evenly. Showing weakness was as good as painting a target on her back.

She turned to her bag, unzipping the hidden compartment where she'd stashed a knife. Just in case.

The moment her fingers closed around the hilt, Killian spoke. "Smart."

Her spine snapped straight. "Excuse me?"

He sat up, resting an arm on his knee. "Keeping a blade close. Most recruits don't make it past the second week because they assume their roommate isn't the first threat." His eyes gleamed, something dark and knowing. "You already know better, don't you?"

Raine didn't answer. She didn't need to, she was even more confused at his very perfect eyesight. I mean, she tried to cover with her body but I guess she wasn't that big.

Killian chuckled, leaning back again. "I like you, Rowan. Try not to die too quickly please"

She swallowed, her grip tightening around the knife before she slid it under her pillow. "Same to you."

If he was that great, why did he end up in dormitory section -C , he should have been in A.

A knock at the door interrupted whatever Killian was about to say next.

Raine exchanged a glance with him. He lifted a brow, clearly expecting her to answer it.

She hesitated before walking towards door , keeping her shoulders squared as she reached for the handle. The room was ateo man room so another roommate was the last thing she was expecting.

The door creaked open, revealing a curvy figure standing in the hallway.

"Someone's already marked you," the girl whispered. "You need to come with me. Now."

Raine's breath caught. Marked?

Killian let out a low, unimpressed hum from behind her. "Well, that didn't take long."

Raine turned back to the girl. "Who? And is it the same marking I think ? "

The girl didn't answer. Instead, she glanced past Raine, locking eyes with Killian. Her expression was that of shock. She recognised him. And she was afraid of him.

Raine's pulse hammered. "Who marked me?" she demanded again, her voice sharper this time.

The girl exhaled shakily, her gaze darting back to Raine.

"The most beautiful first year ."