Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Yasmin’s POV

My thumbs hovered over the keyboard, shaking so violently I could barely type.

Tell me this is a joke, I texted my best friend, Ella. It cannot be true.

A second later, Ella’s bubble popped up, the typing dots dancing agonizingly before her reply appeared. Nobody knows for sure yet! The whole Academy is losing their minds. Apparently, two guys were caught making out in the dark corner of the combat hall last night. The photo on the school blog is so blurry it looks like it was taken on a potato.

I zoomed in on the attached image. It was a pixelated, shadowed mess of two figures tangled against the concrete wall of the training gym. But as I stared at the edge of the frame, my heart did a cold, sickening flip.

On the bench right next to them was a discarded wool scarf. It was dark green with a distinct cream stripe.

Daniel’s scarf, my mind whispered.

I shook my head, squeezing my eyes shut to block out the thought. No. It couldn't be him. Daniel was a sweet, traditional guy from a prestigious Beta family. He was supposed to be my fated mate. He had been sweet to me all semester in nursing class. I was just letting my anxiety get the best of me because of my father’s illness.

It is just a generic scarf, I texted back, trying to convince myself as much as Ella. Half the guys in the combat track wear those. It is definitely not him.

If you say so, babes, Ella replied. Anyway, enough school drama! Friday night is the Blood Moon Festival! Are we going shopping today? We need to hit the spa, get a wax, and definitely buy some gorgeous lingerie for your mating ceremony. You have to look perfect for Daniel!

I let out a soft, heavy sigh, looking at my sleeping father. I cannot, Ella. I do not have the budget for shopping right now. Every single penny has to go toward my dad’s medical bills.

Oh, Yas, I am so sorry, Ella sent back quickly, followed by a string of heart emojis. I forgot. But please, if you change your mind, even just to get away for an hour, let me know. I will pay!

Thank you, El. I will let you know.

Locking my phone, I quietly stood up from the hospital chair. I stepped out into the hallway, letting the duty nurse know I was heading home to pack up my things before the final move.

The walk to our small, two-bedroom house felt incredibly heavy. My father and I had always lived a very humble, simple life. Walking through the quiet rooms, I began packing my personal belongings into two small suitcases. I did not own much, but as I cleared out the hallway closet, I stumbled upon a dusty storage bin filled with the things my mother had left behind when she abandoned us.

She had been a woman obsessed with vanity. Most of her things were designer clothes, hardly worn, some still with the tags on because she hated to wear the same outfit twice.

I adjusted my glasses, staring down at the silk and lace. I might absolutely despise the woman who abandoned my sick father, but as I pulled out a set of unused, beautiful baby-blue lace Victoria’s Secret lingerie and a matching, form-fitting baby-blue dress, I had to admit they were stunning.

I tried them on in front of the cracked mirror. Because I was much more voluptuous and curvy than my mother had ever been, the fabric clung to my hips and chest with a tight, breathtaking grip. But the height was perfect.

"I will have to manage," I whispered to my reflection, smoothing down the blue fabric. I did not have the luxury of spending money on a new dress, and this would have to do.

By Thursday afternoon, the transition was complete. Daniel’s father had come by the hospital to sign the final paperwork for the house, handing over the fifty-five thousand dollars. It was a massive relief, but my mind was still spinning with how I would eventually raise the remaining fifteen thousand dollars needed to cover the rest of the surgery and post-op care.

I moved my suitcases to the private ward room. The hospital staff, who had basically adopted me over the last nine months, smiled warmly.

"Do not worry about the space, sweetheart," one of the day nurses said gently, patting my shoulder. "Keep your bags tidy in the corner locker. We will make sure nobody touches them."

On Friday evening, the atmosphere in the hospital changed. The Blood Moon Festival was tonight, the sacred night of the mating ceremony.

When I finally finished changing into the tight, beautiful baby-blue dress, stepping out of the small staff bathroom, a chorus of gasps and cheers erupted from the nurse’s station.

"Oh, look at our girl!" Nana, the eldest nurse on the floor, cheered, clapping her hands together.

"You look absolutely beautiful, Yasmin!" another nurse chimed in, holding up her phone. "Come on, let us take a picture for your dad!"

I couldn't help but beam. I had been devastated when I had to forfeit my dream of medical school, but these women had shown me that being a nurse and healer was just as vital to the pack's survival. They had taught me so much over the last year, holding my hand through my darkest days.

The nurses gathered around, and Nana stepped forward, handing me a small envelope with a single red rose. "We all chipped in a little pocket money for you, darling. A small graduation and mating gift."

My eyes welled with tears. "You guys... you didn't have to."

"Of course we did," Nana whispered, pulling me into a warm embrace. She leaned into my ear, her voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "Now, remember what to expect tonight. When your fated mate claims you, it is going to be intense. A lot of biting, a lot of screaming, and definitely some very loud bedroom work."

My cheeks flared a bright, violent crimson. Instantly, an unbidden image of Alpha Roman in his office, his chest heaving as he dominated that blonde woman, flashed through my mind. He certainly did a good job of lecturing me on that, I thought, my heart doing a strange, guilty flutter.

"Nana, stop teasing her!" another nurse laughed.

The staff helped my father sit up in his bed, supporting him so we could take a quick, smiling photo together. He looked so proud, his pale face glowing with happiness as he looked at me in my dress.

With their blessings ringing in my ears, I finally left the hospital and headed to the grand Pack Ball.

The Great Hall was a sea of luxury, decorated in deep crimson and gold to celebrate the Blood Moon. I managed to find Ella near the entrance. She looked absolutely stunning in a floor-length red gown that made her look like royalty.

"Oh my goddess, Yasmin!" Ella gasped, grabbing my hands. "You look incredible! That blue is everything on you!"

We took a few pictures together, laughing and chatting about how nervous we were for the matching ceremony to begin. Ella’s family was incredibly kind, welcoming me to sit at their VIP table since my father couldn't be there.

But as the night went on and the music swelled, I found myself zoning out. I stared at the sparkling chandeliers, my mind drifting back to the crushing weight of reality. Fifty-five thousand is paid. I still need fifteen thousand. Where am I going to get fifteen thousand dollars?

The heavy, suffocating anxiety made it hard to breathe.

Suddenly, my dark thoughts were brutally shattered.

From the far side of the ballroom, near the grand arched entrance, the terrifying sound of someone screaming bloody abomination ripped through the music.

The entire ballroom fell dead silent.