Chapter 5

TANYA'S POV

The silence in the Dean's office was suffocating. Everyone was staring at me, waiting for my reaction to Alpha Victoria's words.

"How lovely to finally meet the girl who spent last night in my son's bed."

My throat went dry. I wanted to run, to disappear, to be anywhere but here. But my wolf wouldn't let me. She pushed forward, making my spine straighten.

'Don't you dare bow to her,' my wolf growled. 'We did nothing wrong.'

"Miss Davis," the Dean cleared his throat awkwardly. "Perhaps you'd like to sit down?"

I tore my eyes away from Alpha Victoria and looked at the Dean. He seemed uncomfortable, like he didn't want to be here either. Mrs Big Belly, on the other hand, looked thrilled. She'd been waiting for a chance to expel me.

"I'd rather stand," I said, keeping my voice steady.

Kenneth smirked from his seat. "This should be good."

Gideon's head snapped toward him. "Shut your mouth, Petty."

"Gentlemen," Mr. Henderson warned. "This is not the hockey rink. Show some respect."

Alpha Victoria moved closer to me, circling like a predator. "Tell me, Miss Davis. Do you make it a habit of

sleeping with men you just met? Or was my son special?"

Heat crept up my neck, but I refused to look away. "With all due respect, Alpha Victoria, what happened

between Gideon and me is none of your business."

Gasps filled the room. Mrs Big Belly looked like she might faint. Kenneth's mouth dropped open. Even the Dean looked shocked.

But Gideon? He was trying not to smile.

Alpha Victoria stopped circling and faced me directly. "None of my business?" Her voice was dangerously calm.

"When it involves my son and the future of the Blackwood pack, it becomes my business, very much my business."

"Mother," Gideon stood up. "That's enough."

"Sit down, Gideon."

"No." He walked over to stand beside me. "Tanya's right. What happened between us is private. You had no right to drag her here and humiliate her."

Alpha Victoria's eyes flashed silver. "I had every right. You're my son, the heir to the Blackwood pack. Every

The decision you make reflects on our family."

"So this is about your reputation?" I asked before I could stop myself. "Not about me or Gideon or me, but about how it looks for the great Blackwood family?"

The room went dead silent. I could feel everyone holding their breath, waiting to see what Alpha Victoria would do.

She studied me for a long moment, then, surprisingly, she laughed. "You have spirit. I'll give you that." She turned to the Dean. "What are the charges against Miss Davis?"

The Dean shuffled his papers. "Hosting an unauthorized party, possession of alcohol in the dormitory, leaving campus without permission after curfew."

"And the punishment?"

"Typically, expulsion. But given that this is her first offense, we could consider suspension."

My heart sank. Suspension meant losing my scholarship. My parents couldn't afford to keep me here without it.

"Please," I whispered, hating how weak I sounded. "I'll take any punishment, but please don't suspend me. I need this scholarship."

Kenneth leaned back in his chair. "Should've thought about that before sneaking around with Gideon."

"Says the guy who cheated on her with her best friend," Gideon shot back.

Kenneth jumped to his feet. "That's different!"

"How?" Gideon stepped forward. "How is what you did any different? At least I didn't lie to her for three years."

"Enough!" Alpha Victoria's voice boomed through the office, making everyone freeze. "Mr. Petty, you're

dismissed. This matter doesn't concern you."

"But I'm the one who reported them!" Kenneth protested.

"And I'm the one telling you to leave. Now." Her Alpha command was unmistakable. Kenneth's wolf forced him to obey, and he left the office, slamming the door behind him.

Alpha Victoria turned back to the Dean. "What if I were to make a substantial donation to the college? Say,

enough to build that new athletic facility you've been wanting? Would that change the punishment?"

My eyes widened. Was she seriously trying to buy my way out of trouble?

"Alpha Victoria," I started, but Gideon grabbed my hand.

"Let her handle this," he whispered.

The Dean's eyes lit up. "Well, a donation of that size would certainly be... appreciated. Perhaps we could reduce the punishment to community service and probation?"

"Done." Alpha Victoria pulled out her phone. "My assistant will transfer the funds today. Miss Davis will serve whatever community service you deem appropriate, and this matter will be closed."

"Wait," I pulled my hand from Gideon's. "I don't want your money. I'll take the suspension."

Everyone stared at me like I'd grown a second head.

"Don't be stupid," Mrs Big Belly snapped. "Alpha Victoria is offering you a way out."

"I don't need her charity." I looked directly at Alpha Victoria. "You can't just throw money at problems and

make them disappear. If I'm guilty, then I should face the consequences."

Alpha Victoria's expression was unreadable. "Even if it means losing everything? Your scholarship, your

Education, your future?"

"Yes." My wolf was howling at me to shut up, but I couldn't. "Because accepting your help means I owe you.

And I don't want to owe anyone anything, especially not you."

Gideon looked at me with something like admiration. "Tanya..."

"She's insane," Mrs Big Belly muttered.

Alpha Victoria walked closer, studying my face. "You're either very brave or very foolish. I haven't decided which

yet." She turned to the Dean. "The offer stands. Take it or leave it, but it's not for Miss Davis to decide. It's your

college, your rules."

The Dean looked between us, clearly torn. "Alpha Victoria, I appreciate the generous offer, but perhaps Miss Davis has a point. We can't show favoritism simply because..."

"Because I have money and power?" Alpha Victoria finished. "You're right. That would be unfair." She paused.

"What if we made it about merit instead? Miss Davis, what's your GPA?"

"3.8," I answered, confused.

"And your major?"

"Biology. Pre-med track."

Alpha Victoria nodded. "The Blackwood Foundation offers scholarships to exceptional students pursuing

medical careers. You would qualify based on merit alone. The scholarship would cover your tuition, and in

return, you'd complete an internship at one of our pack hospitals."

I blinked. "That's..."

"Not charity," she finished. "It's an investment in promising young wolves. You'd earn it through your work.

Interested?"

It was a trap. It had to be. But it was also an opportunity I couldn't afford to refuse.

"What's the catch?" I asked.

"Smart girl." Alpha Victoria smiled, and this time it reached her eyes. "The catch is that you'd be under my

watch. Working for my foundation means following my rules. And trust me, I have many rules."

"Mother, you can't be serious," Gideon said.

"Oh, I'm very serious." She didn't take her eyes off me. "What do you say, Miss Davis? Will you accept?"

My mind was racing. This would solve everything, the suspension, the scholarship, my future. But it would also tie me to the Blackwood family. To Alpha Victoria. To Gideon.

'Take it,' my wolf urged. 'We need this. We need to stay close to our mate.'

"I need time to think about it," I said.

"You have until the end of the day." Alpha Victoria checked her watch. "It's 9 AM now. Give me your answer by 5 PM." She headed toward the door, then paused. "Oh, and Miss Davis? Regardless of your decision about the

scholarship, stay away from my son. Whatever you think happened between you two last night, it was a mistake.

Gideon has responsibilities, expectations, a future that doesn't include a girl who just got her wolf at nineteen."

The words hit like a physical blow. Gideon's hand tightened on my arm.

"Mother, that's not..."

"Enough, Gideon. We're leaving." She opened the door. "5 PM, Miss Davis. Don't keep me waiting."

After they left, the Dean dismissed everyone except me. He looked exhausted.

"Miss Davis, I'm going to level with you. Alpha Victoria Blackwood is not someone you want as an enemy, but she's also not someone you want controlling your life. Whatever you decide, make sure it's what you really want,

not what's convenient."

I nodded, unable to speak.

When I finally left the office, Jess and Gina were waiting outside. They both hugged me immediately.

"What happened?" Jess asked. "We saw Kenneth storm out looking pissed, then Alpha Victoria and Gideon left together."

"It's complicated," I said, suddenly exhausted. "Can we just go back to the room?"

As we walked across campus, my phone buzzed.

Gideon: Don't listen to my mother. What she said about you wasn't true.

Gideon: Meet me tonight. Same bar. 10 PM. Please.

Gideon: We need to talk about what's happening between us. You feel it too, I know you do.

I stared at the messages, my thumb hovering over the keyboard. Before I could respond, another text came

through.

Unknown: This is Alpha Victoria. I'm sure my son has already contacted you. Do not meet with him. Consider this your first test. Choose wisely.

My blood ran cold. How did she get my number? And how did she know Gideon had texted me?

Another message appeared.

Gideon: She's watching my phone, isn't she? That's why you're not responding. Tanya, please. I need to see you. Then one more. Unknown: Tick tock, Miss Davis. The clock is running. Your answer by 5 PM, remember? And whether or not you meet my son tonight will very much influence my decision about that scholarship.

I looked at Jess and Gina. "I think I'm in serious trouble."

"What kind of trouble?" Gina asked.

Before I could answer, a black SUV pulled up beside us. The window rolled down, revealing a woman in a dark suit.

"Miss Davis? Alpha Victoria requests your presence. Get in."

"Wait, what? I haven't decided yet!"

"Alpha Victoria doesn't like to be kept waiting. She's moved up the deadline. You have ten minutes to decide, and she wants to discuss the terms in person."

My phone buzzed again. Multiple texts.

Gideon: Don't get in that car.

Gideon: Tanya, I'm serious. My mother is dangerous when she doesn't get what she wants.

Gideon: Please, just wait for me. I'm coming to campus right now.

Unknown (Alpha Victoria): Get in the car, Miss Davis. Or kiss your future goodbye.

Jess grabbed my arm. "Tanya, this is crazy. You don't have to go with them."

But I did. Because Alpha Victoria was right about one thing, she held all the power here. My scholarship, my

education, my entire future was in her hands.

"I have to," I said quietly.

"Then we're coming with you," Gina said firmly.

The woman in the SUV shook her head. "Alpha Victoria's orders. Miss Davis only."

I looked at my best friends, then at the car, then at my phone, where Gideon's messages kept coming through, begging me not to go.

I thought about the Dean's warning. About Alpha Victoria's smile that didn't reach her eyes. About the way

She'd circled me like prey in that office.

And I thought about my wolf's words from last night.

'Mate. He's our mate.'

If Gideon really was my mate, then his mother was about to become the most important person in my life. And right now, she was testing me.

I took a deep breath and got in the car.

As we drove away, I watched Jess and Gina getting smaller in the rearview mirror. My phone was blowing up with messages from Gideon, but I couldn't look at them.

Because something told me that whatever was about to happen in this car was going to change everything.

The woman driving glanced at me in the mirror. "Alpha Victoria wanted me to tell you something."

"What?"

"She said, 'Welcome to the family, Miss Davis. Let's see if you survive it.'”