WOLFHEART WAY

~Davina~

I didn’t turn to wave Soren goodbye before leaving, I left quietly. He’d promised to send letters now and then, perhaps that was the string of hope I was holding on to.

The Nightshade estate sat at the far end of Wolfheart Way like a thing that had decided, architecturally, to be unapologetic about what it was.

It was large, dark stone and high windows and a gate I had to be buzzed through in the way of things tended by people paid to tend them rather than grown by hands that loved them.

There was a fountain I passed on the way in, a wolf mid-lead, cast in iron… strange.

I stood in the entrance hall with my bags at my feet and waited.

The housekeeper appeared first, a small woman, soft-faced with grey-streaked hair and very observant eyes. She smiled at me with the specific warmth of someone who had decided to form an opinion before being given one.

“You must be Davina,” the woman said. “I’m Anne. I keep the house.”

“Thank you, Anne.”

“Alpha Nightshade is in his study. He’ll be out.” Anne looked at my bags. “Let me take those upstairs. Your room is in the east wing, third from the end. It gets good light in the mornings.”

“That’s kind of you.”

Anne took the handle of the largest case and paused, looking at me with those observant eyes. That moment lasted half a beat longer than it should.

“Good,” Anne said softly. Her voice sounded almost like she was answering a question she’s been asking herself for some time.

Before I could respond, footsteps came from the stairs.

Heat rushed to my face. I had rehearsed this. I rehearsed it on the drive over, the way I rehearsed anything that seemed difficult to do.

My greatest fear, pretending I didn’t have a huge crush on Alpha Aiden, was a death sentence. I couldn’t control it, he was in my dreams, taking my clothes off and touching me where I pee.

Or maybe Crimson Arch made me that way. Whatever it was, it didn’t care.

He will be here. I need to be polite, keep my eyes somewhere that’s not his face till I go to my room if necessary.

Aiden came down the stairs gently but calculated, the way he always did anytime we crossed paths. He did everything without acknowledging that the world required adjusting to his presence rather than the other way around.

He looked at me.

“Davina.”

“Unc—Alpha Nightshade.” I almost slipped. It would have been a better option to be with Uncle Makar than him.

“Aiden is fine.” He stopped on the last stair, and I understood that it was tactical even if it wasn’t conscious…the height…the slight looking down. “Three things. Be on time. Don’t touch anything in my study. If you have a problem, bring it to me, not the staff or anyone at school.”

I held his gaze. I have failed triumphantly. “Understood.”

“Classes start Monday. Anne will show you the academy tomorrow.” He paused. “Do you need anything?”

“No.”

“Good.” He turned. The conversation, apparently, was over.

“Aiden.”

He stopped. I watched his shoulders, the slight adjustment, looking over his shoulder with attention that meant he was listening even while facing away.

“My father didn’t ask if I wanted this. Last time you asked me to come work for you and suddenly I’m at your school. But I want to assume those dots crossed.” I kept my voice even. “I’ll do what’s expected of me and I’ll be good at it. But I’d prefer if we kept this as it is. Obligation. Not charity or job offer.”

A pause.

He turned his head, just slightly, not enough to look at me fully but enough.

“Noted.”

Then he walked away. Once his presence was gone, I exhaled through my teeth, slowly. Fine…this will be fine.

My dormant phone buzzed, and a notification popped up from a number I haven’t saved. I never saved anyone’s number on it.

“Next Friday. Same room.”

I didn’t need to ask before knowing who it was. I pressed my thumb against the screen until the message disappeared, then followed Anne upstairs.