Mag-log inI learned about the punishment at breakfast.
Not from Rafael. Not from Matteo. From Anna. Which made it significantly better. She dropped into the chair opposite me with the expression of someone carrying information that could improve my entire day. “You're going to love this.” I lowered my spoon. “Someone finally banned studeThe 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.”
I learned about the punishment at breakfast. Not from Rafael. Not from Matteo. From Anna. Which made it significantly better. She dropped into the chair opposite me with the expression of someone carrying information that could improve my entire day. “You're going to love this.” I lowered my spoon. “Someone finally banned students from asking to smell me?” “No.” “Shame.” “Rafael and Matteo got detention.” I stared at her. Then slowly put my spoon down. “What?” “Detention.” “At university?” “Alpha detention.” I had no idea what Alpha detention was. But it was already my favorite thing.
I went to bed expecting to dream about Alpha detention.Specifically Matteo and Rafael being forced to give a joint presentation while Luca sat in the front row and corrected them.It would have been a good dream.Instead, I opened my eyes in the white forest.I knew immediately.Not because of the trees.Not because of the snow.Because of the silence.That impossible silence.The kind that didn't exist anywhere in the real world anymore.Especially not for me.No heartbeats.No breathing.No footsteps behind walls.Nothing.I stood between tall white trees.Snow covered the ground beneath my bare feet, but I wasn't cold.I looked down.I was wearing the same thin white dress I'd worn the first time I'd dreamed of this place.“Seriously?”My voice traveled between the trees.No answer.I
The problem with almost kissing two different Alphas within twenty-four hours was that apparently neither of them forgot. I had hoped the Moon Festival might help. Music. Food. Hundreds of people. Distractions. Instead, I had created a new problem. I had danced with Rafael. And Matteo had watched. At first, I thought he'd handled it surprisingly well. No interruption. No sarcastic comment. No sudden need to challenge Rafael to something unnecessarily masculine. He'd even lifted his glass toward me. Your choice. Progress. Beautiful, mature progress. Then the dance ended. And Matteo looked at me. Not casually. Not briefly. He looked too long. That was where everything went wrong. “You're staring.” Anna appeared beside Matteo. He didn't look at her. “I'm looking.” “That's staring with better marketing.” Matteo finally glanced at her. “Don't you have someone else to bother?” “Yes.” She pointed toward me. “Her. But she's currently occupied.” I was standing







