Chapter 4

Stephanie's pov.

I ignored the stares that followed me out of the Dean's office. Whispers followed behind me but I kept walking beside Mom towards the car.

Beside the car, Mom opened the passenger's seat, eyes turning back to me. “Get in”

It wasn't a suggestion. It was an order.

I slid into the car, sitting silently as I watched her from the corner of my eyes. She got into the driver's seat beside me and ignited the car to life.

The drive back home was filled with silence, but inside the house, it turned to chaos.

“You heard the Dean.” Mom paused. “Everything can get resolved if you apologize to Caroline and her family”

I shook my head sideways. “I can't do that, Mom”

“What the hell is wrong with you, Steph?” Mom snapped.

I was being serious. I won't apologize to Caroline.

“Mom, why don't you listen to me too?” I parted my lips for some seconds before I continued. “I said I did nothing wrong, she caused whatever it is that happened!”

“You should have let it go, Steph!” Mom yelled and I flinched. “Her family is powerful, and that alone is reason enough for you not to cross people like her!”

My fists curled and my teeth bit into my lips from inside my mouth until I tasted copper.

After seconds of heavy silence, I spoke. “You make it sound like we were never like her. We weren't always like this. My father was an alpha too”

Tears welled up in my eyes as memories crashed into me. This was Caroline's fault. Because of her, memories we had tried so hard to bury were returning in fragments. Mom fell silent and I knew she was feeling angrier, but was trying her best to keep everything in control.

The tension in the room heightened for no reason and when Mom was about to speak again, someone walked down the stairs.

Ellen.

Ellen spoke, voice low and careful. “I brought news from the hospital”

The room fell silent and we watched her, eager to hear the report.

“They said she's not getting any better. She's not awake yet, but thankfully, the family are firm on not pressing charges”

Mom exhaled and I hated the fact that I remained the bad person in all of this.

Why is she not getting better? Why is she not waking up?

The moment she collapsed last night, it suddenly felt staged. Like a perfect rehearsed play someone like Caroline is capable of.

“You chose an extra year over apologizing to Caroline?” Mom asked.

Her voice was dangerously calm and it made me hesitate before I responded.

“Yes”

Ellen gasped. “Wait…. What?”

But that moment, Ellen was invincible. Mom's eyes stayed locked on mine, and I also stared back at her.

“Fine then.” Mom resigned. “I won't have you spend the summer without you repenting for what you did”

Just like the rest, Mom didn't believe I was totally innocent. Only Ellen understood me.

“You'll spend the summer at Ellen's. Mayor Killian should be able to hurl some senses into you”

My eyes widened in shock. “What?”

The look on Mom's face told me she wasn't joking. She was really serious about sending me to Ellen's dad.

“I'll ask if you can spend the summer with him” Mom said.

“You don't need to ask, he'll definitely approve” Ellen chirped in.

I turned to her, the shock on my face still there. “You too?”

Many people knew Mayor Killian who resides at the outskirts of the city. He was respected, powerful and untouchable. Also strict as hell.

The last time I saw him was last Christmas and I remembered thinking Ellen's father was unfairly attractive.

That was completely irrelevant right now.

Ellen moved closer, snapping me out of my thoughts with a whisper. “You need a break from everything that's happened, Steph. My place is the right place to do that”

Ellen was right. I needed this break.

“When do I leave?” I asked Mom.

She turned on her heels and turned towards the stairs. “Today. Start packing”

I packed my things like Mom had ordered and by evening, her car drove to Alpha Killian's big estate.

She dropped me off and left immediately, leaving me to wheel my bag into the house myself. When I got to the door, I placed a knock.

Once.

Twice.

I attempted to knock the door the third time but the door opened, leaving my hand hanging in the air, eyes catching on Killian Ashley instantly.

Two seconds.

Five…… and I was still staring.

“I'll do the greetings if you won't” Killian's voice rose, sliding through the silence smoothly. “Nice to see you again, Stephanie”

His tone was calm, but as much as I thought about it, it was also dangerous.

I blinked my eyes, finally realizing I had been staring at Killian for too long.

“Uhm…..” I stuttered. “Hello, Mr. Ashley”

“Killian” he corrected. “That sounds better”

It wasn't the first time I was being corrected, I just never got used to it.

“My Mom asked me to stay here for the summer because of—” Killian’s voice cut me off, making it impossible for me to complete my sentence.

“I heard. Your mother called me.” He responded. “I saw the news too, you made quite a mess”

I didn't respond. I only wondered if he was going to let me in or not.

Killian stepped away from the doorway, holding the door open for me. “Come in”

I wheeled my bag inside, and looked around the sitting room. It was still the same, the interiors…… everything. Including Killian’s scent that never faded.

He guided me up the stairs and opened the door to Ellen's room for me to walk in.

“Ellen won't be home for a while, you can use her room while yours get prepared” he said. “Feel at home and tell me if you need anything”

He turned and I watched his back as he left. My eyes moved back to the room and they roamed around.

For the first time since last night, I allowed myself to believe I might find peace in Killian Ashley’s mansion after everything that had happened.