Chapter 9

Zahra's POV

After what feels like forever, I’ve napped, eaten my poor excuse for a breakfast, and chatted more with Henry.

Eventually Crescent Vale’s campus rises out of the trees and my stomach flips. I angle my blank phone screen to check my makeup. It looks fine, none the worse for wear after my brief nap. I try to surreptitiously take a look at my arm. It’s still red with the faint outline of Eli's fingers. Of course. Fuck I didn't bring a cardigan or anything I can cover it with. Zanthe is still snoring, the lazy cow, and hasn’t healed me yet. Fuck!

I notice Henry's eyes track my movements, when I lift my hands to fix my hair. His jaw ticks but he says nothing as we roll to the outside of the auditorium.  Nine fifteen. perfect timing. We step out together and move through the doors side by side to find where I need to be.

We’ve taken two steps into the entrance hall when a shout breaks from the left and a blur of movement tears toward us. Instinct hits like a switch and Henry and I drop into defensive stances. Zanthe snaps awake and surges forward in my head, ready to defend me.

Then my brain catches up with my body and the shapes resolve, into faces.  Five of them, all broader and hairier than I remember, and the hairiest one in front is my brother.

“Za‑Za,” Zach yells. Heads turn in our diction at their lack of decorum, as they barrel towards us. Zach sweeps me off my feet and crushes me to his chest. Pain sparks as my ribs grind and I yelp.

“Fuck, Zahra, sorry.” He sets me down fast and holds me at arm’s length.

“It’s okay, Yacky. I am just still a little tender from training yesterday.” I am suddenly very aware of Henry beside me and catch the scowl that slices across his face, at my blatant lie. before he schools it away. I clear my throat and turn to the others.

Xander, Oscar, Eliot, and Max are all here, grinning like idiots. Oscar has grown in some facial hair, not as thick as Zach’s, but he has this hot little scruffy beard thing, going on. Xander, Max, and Eliot are still clean‑shaven. It is so fucking good to see them. Something inside me settles, something, that until this moment, I hadn't realised was out of place. 

then Luna Alison and Alpha Lucas approach.

“Zahra, darling, it is so wonderful to see you. We have missed you so much,” Alison murmurs into my hair as she hugs me tight. Even Alpha Lucas folds me into a massive hug.

“I wasn’t expecting to see any of you. I thought you would all be at camp already?” I ask, looking from Xander to Zach.

“We got permission to arrive late once we knew your graduation was today,” Xander says. “We have to report tomorrow morning.”

I nod, smiling and absurdly awkward. “Well, I need to head inside and get ready, but I will see you all later?”

They all agree, and I am folded into five more hugs before anyone lets me go. Goddess, it’s a lot. I haven't been touched this much in three years. Outside of training, the only person who touches me is Eli.

‘It is so good to see them. I swear they are all hotter than before,’ Zanthe crows, bouncing around in my skull like a puppy. I am happy too, but the swell of emotion leaves me a little dizzy, and completely overwhelmed.

The campus is a maze. I weave through classroom blocks and cross two separate buildings trying to find the room where they are handing out the pre‑ordered gowns. If I hadn’t done my degree online this would be easier. I might actually know my way around. Remorse hits out of nowhere. I missed so many chances by not being on site. Then I remind myself I got my degree AND an academy place. Most people don't have either.

At last, I find the right room, sign in, and collect the stuffy black and gold robe. It smells faintly musty, like a cupboard and moth balls. At the cap table the woman frowns when I admit I forgot pins, but she digs out spares and together we get the stupid thing to sit right.

I fall in behind a couple of giggling girls so I don’t get lost again and follow them back to the main auditorium. I take my assigned seat and finally let myself breathe.

Once the ceremony ends, everyone spills into a massive marquee set up in one of the quads. I thread through the crowd and snag a flute of lukewarm champagne. I take a sip and have to resist the urge to spit it straight out, eugh! Its disgusting.

“Titch! Over here!” Xander’s voice cuts through the noise. He and Oscar break from the crush and meet me halfway.

“Hey,” I say, smiling. The anonymity of the ceremony helped, but being jammed into a tent with half of Crescent Vale has my anxiety creeping back up my throat. Xander takes my hand without asking. “Come on, the others are over here,” he says, and the simple heat of his palm steadies me. Oscar falls in behind like a quiet wall. Goddess, I’ve missed them.

Then my brain flashes to Eli, what the fuck would he say or do, if he saw Xander holding my hand?! I ease my grasp from Xander’s, he frowns down at me, then settles a guiding hand at the small of my back instead. Somehow that feels even more dangerous fuck! Thank the goddess Eli isn't here.

“Zahra, darling,” Alison beams, pulling me into a hug. “Congraduation!”

I giggle at her joke. Xander groans. “Seriously, Mum?”

She giggles and kisses my cheek. “It’s so lovely to see you, precious girl. I can’t wait to have you home this summer.”

A twist of guilt hits low. Clearly no one has told her yet. I flick a look at Henry. He has the grace to wince. Alison and Lucas catch it.

“What?” Lucas asks, all Alpha curiosity.

“Well…” Heat crawls up my neck. “I’ve been invited to a training course this summer. Edwardo personally put me forward. Apparently, it’s a really rare opportunity, so…”

“Oh, I see.” Alison’s smile dips, then softens with understanding. “How long are you home for?”

“I need to report to the Task Force training centre on the morning of the tenth, so a few days.”

she rallies, her excitement growing again; “Excellent. A week is nothing to sniff at. We’ll make up for lost time. And once you’re back at the academy, you’re allowed home on weekends and at Christmas in your fourth year, aren’t you?”

I nod. “Yes. And I can’t wait.” She hugs me again and some of the tightness in my chest eases.

We chat, and the guy’s hover around us, chiming in here and there but mostly listening. There’s a strange vibe from them all today, Max and Oscar look stony faced, Xander’s smile isn't reaching his eyes, and he looks broody when he thinks no one’s looking. Zach too. goddess knows what’s going on with them all, perhaps this is normal for them now... it’s not like I know them anymore that thought hits me hard.