91

ALINA

The morning after my conversation with Claude, I was still in my room finishing breakfast alone when I heard a knock. I wasn’t expecting anyone, so when Claude stepped inside, I blinked at him in surprise.

“Hi,” I said, tilting my head. “Is everything okay?”

I’d been in the closet just moments earlier, rummaging through clothes without much thought. Now I stood in tights and an oversized t-shirt, my hair scraped into a messy bun that I hadn’t even bothered to smooth.

He smiled faintly, his hand hidden behind his back. “Everything’s fine. I just came to show you something.”

Curiosity pulled me forward. “What is it?”

He revealed a small folded piece of paper and handed it to me.

I took it carefully, glancing at him once before lowering my eyes to read. At first, I didn’t understand what I was looking at. The words blurred a little, so I read slowly, my mind catching each sentence like a cautious fisherman pulling in a net. But then I saw the phrase: has been given provisional admission for our fall classes.

My chest tightened, and my confusion melted into something bright and trembling. “What is this? Is it real?”

His grin widened, dark eyes lighting up. “It’s real. You’ve just been accepted into one of the best paramedic programs in the state.”

I didn’t think about it. I just launched myself forward, wrapping my arms around him. He was saying something else, but I barely heard it over the pounding of my own pulse. I was too full, too giddy, too… everything.

“I know you mentioned wanting to be a doctor or a healer,” he continued, “but this was the closest thing I could get without a high school diploma—”

“Claude!” I cut him off, and he paused mid sentence.

“What?” he asked, a little wary.

“Shut up.” My voice cracked, but I was smiling so hard my cheeks hurt. “I never thought I’d even get this chance. I don’t care if all I’m doing is handing lab coats to doctors. I’m… I’m happy. So much.” I felt my throat tighten and forced the words through anyway. “Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

I hugged him again, and this time his hand came up to pat my back, a little awkwardly.

“Well, I’m glad you’re happy,” he said. Then his mouth curved into a small, almost guilty smile. “There’s just one thing.”

My stomach didn’t drop immediately. Not until I caught the hesitation in his tone. “What?”

“The school’s a few towns over,” he explained. “You’ll have about an hour’s drive each way.”

Relief washed through me, and I laughed. “Claude, I’d take a ten-hour trip if it meant I could go. That’s nothing.”

He studied me for a moment, then nodded, as if reassured. “Good. Because there’s… another thing.”

I put my hands on my hips. “Now you’re just dragging it out.”

“This one’s important,” he said, his tone losing some of its playfulness. “Your classes start today.”

That didn’t bother me. if anything, I liked it. No time to overthink, no time for fear to settle in. “Fine by me.”

“And,” he added, watching my face closely, “Alexander is coming back today.”

The words hit like a glass of ice water down my spine. Every trace of joy in my head scattered. My mouth went dry, and I stared at him.

“I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “I just got the call this morning. His plane lands in a few hours.”

I lowered my eyes, willing them to stop stinging. “Okay.” It was all I could manage without my voice breaking.

Claude’s hand was suddenly under my chin, tipping my face back up. “Here’s what you’re going to do. Get dressed now, and be ready to leave before he sees you.”

I blinked at him. “Isn’t that dangerous? They lock everything down when he’s on his way back. Roads, gates. Everything. No one gets in or out.”

His lips twitched in a smirk. “That’s why you’re lucky you have me as your best friend.” He draped an arm over my shoulders, guiding me toward the closet. “You just focus on getting ready for your first day of school. Leave my brother to me.”

I tilted my head back to meet his eyes. He gave a firm nod, the kind that told me the plan was already in motion.

“Go on,” he said, releasing me. “You don’t want to be late, do you?”

I shook my head, slipped around him, and wrapped my arms around his waist in a quick hug. “Thank you, Claude. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

He ruffled my hair lightly. “Maybe one day you will. But today? Today you just go.” Then he glanced at his phone and groaned. “And preferably quickly, because I’m pretty sure Alexander’s about to start wondering why his car isn’t at the airport.”

I yelped and darted for the closet, rifling through hangers. My usual approach to clothes was simple, find something that fit, hope it wasn’t falling apart, and call it good. Since coming here, I had more options than I could ever wear, but even then, it was usually Lisa who took pleasure in choosing outfits for me.

Sure enough, a voice behind me said, “What are you doing? And why do you look like you’re headed to a street corner birthday party for hobos?”

I glanced down at my mismatched jeans and t-shirt. “This wasn’t the plan,” I muttered. “Can you help me?”

Her eyes lit up immediately. “Of course. But why? Where are you going?” She started flipping through a section of the closet I’d never even noticed before.

“School,” I said.

She spun around, her mouth parting, eyes searching mine. I nodded, and that was all it took for the tears I’d been holding in since Claude’s visit to spill over.

“I’m so happy for you,” she said, crossing the room to squeeze my hand. “This is the best news in a long time.”

“I still don’t think I’ll believe it until I’m sitting in class,” I admitted, laughing through the tears. “Or maybe until I’m taking my first test. Is it weird to be excited about tests?”

“No,” she said with a laugh. “I get it.”

Her gaze shimmered faintly, but before I could comment, she clapped her hands. “All right, let’s get you dressed so you can dazzle everyone.”

She chose a simple blazer layered over a bright blouse, paired with loose fitting jeans. “And we need to do something about your hair,” she added, eyeing my messy bun.

I touched a loose strand self consciously.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she teased. “Let me make you look good. Especially now that the Alpha is coming back. You might as well make an impression.”

My chest tightened at that, but I pushed the feeling down. This was supposed to be my moment.

All my dreams—well, at least one of them—were coming true. That was the only thing I wanted to think about.