LOGINFor the next two days, Rafael did not kiss me. This was becoming suspicious. Not because he was supposed to kiss me. Obviously. He was free to spend his time not kissing me. I was also free to spend my time not thinking about why he wasn't kissing me. Which I did. Very successfully. Except during breakfast. And architecture. And my library shift. And once while brushing my teeth. Maybe twice. The problem was the word. Later. Rafael had said it after our project results. Not maybe. Not we'll see. Later. Like the interrupted moment between us wasn't over. Just postponed. And now every time I saw him, some ridiculous part of me wondered whether later had arrived.
The alarm didn't stop.It followed us across the academy.Red lights flashed against stone walls.Doors slammed.Students ran toward secure buildings while instructors shouted directions.Some had already shifted.Claws scraped against stone.Growls came from every direction.And beneath all of it—heartbeats.Hundreds of them.Fast.Terrified.Chaotic.I held Rafael's hand and ran.“Administration building?” I asked.“Yes.”“That's across the courtyard.”“I know.”“Excellent security planning.”“Not now, Violet.”“I talk when I'm scared.”“I know.”We reached the end of the path.A group of younger students rushed from the training hall.An instructor stood in front of them.“Dormitories! Move!”Rafael pulled me aside to let them pass.
There were few things more terrifying than kidnappers, invisible attackers, mysterious men outside academy gates, or jewelry with its own heartbeat.Professor Arden holding our final project.I sat perfectly still.Beside me, Rafael looked irritatingly calm.“How are you not nervous?” I whispered.He kept his eyes on Professor Arden.“I am.”I listened.His heartbeat was steady.I turned toward him.“Liar.”His mouth twitched.“You're abusing your new ability.”“I prefer using available resources.”“That's cheating.”“Then stop lying to me.”His heartbeat changed.Just slightly.I smiled.“See?”Rafael finally looked at me.“You're enjoying this.”“Immensely.”“Good.”That one word caught me off guard.Before I could ask why, Professor Arden spoke.“Som
The cut on my finger was gone before dinner.Completely.I checked it twice.Not because I expected anything different.Fast healing had officially become one of the least interesting things happening to me.Which was concerning.A month ago, a cut disappearing in hours would have resulted in screaming.Now?I looked at my finger and thought:Good. One less problem.Personal growth.Probably.I finished my library shift later than usual because someone had returned twenty-seven books ten minutes before closing.I had opinions about that person.Strong ones.Isara found me putting the last three onto a cart.“You can leave those.”“I have principles.”“You have an inability to stop working.”“That too.”She took the book from my hand.“Go.”“You're throwing me out?”“Yes.”
I did not call Luca.This was probably a terrible decision.To be fair, most of my recent decisions seemed terrible when examined carefully.Walking into forbidden gardens.Following mysterious lights in dreams.Getting kidnapped.Almost kissing two Alphas.Listening to jewelry.My standards had changed.I sat on the edge of my bed at 2:23 in the morning, holding the amulet between two fingers.It had stopped glowing.Completely.No silver light.No warmth.No mysterious heartbeat.Nothing.I stared at it.“You are becoming exhausting.”Silence.“Which is impressive considering you're jewelry.”Still nothing.I pressed the pendant against my ear.No heartbeat.I felt ridiculous.Then I remembered the sound.Thump.Slow.Deep.Coming fr
Matteo was waiting outside my dorm the next morning.That was becoming a problem.Not because I disliked seeing him.That was the problem.I pushed open the main door and stopped.He leaned against the stone wall with two coffees in his hands.“You know,” I said, “most people send a message before appearing outside a woman's home.”“Most people don't bring coffee.”“That doesn't make it less suspicious.”He held one cup toward me.“Cappuccino.”I stared at it.Then at him.“No olives?”His mouth twitched.“I considered it.”“Then you chose life.”I took the cup.“Thank you.”“You're welcome.”He pushed away from the wall.I started toward the main academy building.He fell into step beside me.I took one sip.Perfect.Annoying.“You remembered.”







