Chapter 22

The main building was even more breathtaking up close. The massive double doors, carved from dark oak and inlaid with silver runes, creaked slightly as I pushed one open and stepped inside. The foyer was vast, with vaulted ceilings and a grand staircase that split into two directions halfway up. Sunlight streamed through stained glass windows, painting the polished marble floors with splashes of color. It felt more like a cathedral than a school.

I approached the reception desk, where a middle-aged woman with a tight bun and glasses perched on the edge of her nose was typing away at a computer. Her fingers stilled as I approached, and her eyes flicked up to meet mine. For a moment, her expression was neutral, but as recognition dawned, her lips thinned into a tight line.

“I’m here to enroll in classes,” I said, keeping my tone even. I handed her my forms, the edges slightly crumpled from how hard I’d been gripping them.

She took the papers but didn’t look at them right away. Instead, she studied me with an expression that was equal parts suspicion and pity. Behind her, I caught sight of a younger staff member leaning over to whisper something to a colleague, their eyes darting in my direction. My stomach churned, but I kept my face blank.

The receptionist finally looked down at my forms, scanning them quickly before nodding toward a row of chairs by the wall. “Take a seat. Someone will be with you shortly.”

“How long is shortly?” I asked, but she was already turning back to her computer, pointedly ignoring me. I clenched my jaw and walked over to the waiting area, plopping down on one of the stiff wooden chairs. The cushions were thin and uncomfortable, the fabric scratchy against the back of my thighs.

Minutes dragged into what felt like hours as I sat there, clutching my empty latte cup and trying not to look at the students passing by. They all seemed to know who I was—their glances lingered too long, their whispers too loud. My name rippled through the air like a curse.

“That’s her.”

“The Cartwright girl.”

“Can you believe she has the nerve to show up here?”

I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, my nails digging into my palms. They didn’t know me. They didn’t know what I’d been through. But their judgment still hit like a sledgehammer, each word driving the nail of humiliation deeper.

Finally, the door to an adjacent office creaked open, and a tall man stepped out. His presence silenced the room instantly. He was older, with silver streaking his dark hair and a sharply tailored suit that screamed authority. His expression was as cold and unyielding as the marble floors.

“Miss Cartwright,” he said, his voice clipped. “Come with me.”

I stood, smoothing my skirt with shaking hands, and followed him into his office. It was a spacious room with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a massive oak desk. The windows overlooked the campus, but the beauty outside did little to soften the tension inside.

“Have a seat,” he said, gesturing to a chair opposite his desk. I obeyed, perching on the edge of the seat as he settled into his own chair and steepled his fingers.

“Miss Cartwright,” he began, his tone as frosty as his expression. “We’ve reviewed your enrollment application, and I’m afraid we cannot accept you at this time.”

The words hit me like a slap. “What? Why not?”

He raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by my reaction. “Your… history is well-known, Miss Cartwright. Nightfall Academy has a reputation to uphold, and your presence here would cast a negative light on this institution.”

I stared at him, incredulous. “You’re rejecting me because of rumors? That’s not fair.”

“It’s not just rumors,” he said sharply. “Your record speaks for itself. Arrests, detention… Need I go on?”

My throat tightened, but I forced myself to speak. “I’m trying to start over. To build a better future for myself. Isn’t that what education is supposed to be about?”

For a moment, his expression softened, but it quickly hardened again. “Even so, the board has made its decision.”

Desperation rose inside of me with the force of a tidal wave. This was not happening. I need this to work. This was supposed to be my ticket away from my dad and all his bullshit. “Please,” I begged, my voice sounding too airy to be mine. “I’ll do anything. I just need a chance.”

He sighed, leaning back in his chair. For a long moment, he studied me, his gaze weighing a decision. Finally, he spoke.

“There is one condition,” he grunted out. “If you can get a member of the Bloodmoon Brotherhood to vouch for you, we will reconsider your application.”

My heart sank. The Bloodmoon Brotherhood. Of course. They were practically royalty in the werewolf world, their reputation untouchable. But, they’re the enemy. Supposedly, at least—since my dad doesn’t give a shit about it as we have one vacating space in our home as I sit here.

And then it hit me: Darius. He was the only person from that pack that I knew. The only one I had any connection to. But considering how things had gone between us, I had no idea how I was supposed to convince him to root for me. My chances felt as bleak as the odds of me and Darius getting along. It was next to none.

“Fine,” I said, standing.“I’ll get someone to vouch for me.”

The headmaster’s lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. “Good luck, Miss Cartwright. You’ll need it.”

As I left his office, I already had a plan in motion. I was going to forge a fake letter with Darius’ signature. It shouldn’t be too hard to accomplish. Bet he’s got some forms lying around my dad’s office—hell, maybe there’s a contract in there of terms between him and my dad for some work or whatever.

The whispers in the hallway seemed louder now, the stares sharper. I clenched my fists and strode toward the exit, my mind racing and determination taking lead.

Here’s to just hoping Darius doesn’t find out about it.