By morning, everyone knew the Alpha heir had rejected his mate.

I heard the whispers before I even opened my dorm room door. Low voices carried down the hallway, punctuated by giggles and gasps. My wolf stirred uneasily inside me, still raw from last night, still confused about why we'd let our mate walk away.

He's not our mate, I reminded her. He made that clear.

She whimpered in response.

I grabbed my bag and stepped into the corridor. The conversation three doors down cut off immediately. Two girls I didn't know stared at me, their eyes wide with poorly concealed shock.

"Morning," I said flatly.

They scattered like I'd growled at them.

Great. This was going to be a fantastic day.

The walk to the main building felt like running a gauntlet. Students lined the pathways, clustered in groups, all of them watching. Their voices followed me like a shadow.

"That's her."

"Can you believe it?"

"Pathetic."

"I heard she actually thought he'd accept her."

"Unwanted by her own mate. That's got to sting."

I kept my chin up and my eyes forward. My wolf wanted to snarl at them, to show teeth and make them back down. But I didn't have fangs yet. Didn't have claws. I was still learning how to even feel her presence without panicking.

So I walked. One foot in front of the other. Pretending their words didn't cut.

The courtyard was worse. More students. More stares. A group of Alphas near the fountain stopped mid-conversation to watch me pass. One of them, a guy with a scar across his jaw, whistled low.

"Rejected before she even shifted properly," he said loud enough for everyone to hear. "That's got to be a record."

His friends laughed.

My hands clenched around my bag straps. Keep walking. Don't react. Don't give them the satisfaction.

But my wolf snarled inside my head, furious and protective even if I wouldn't let her be.

I made it to the main entrance before I saw him.

Darius stood near the doors, surrounded by his usual crowd. The blonde from last night clung to his arm, all smiles and perfect hair. He looked completely unbothered, like last night hadn't happened at all.

Like I didn't exist.

The bond tugged painfully in my chest. My wolf whined, wanting to go to him, wanting to fix whatever was broken between us.

But I forced myself to turn away. Forced my feet to carry me past him without a word.

"Elara!"

I stopped. Turned.

Celeste jogged up to me, slightly out of breath. "Hey. I've been looking for you."

"Why?"

She fell into step beside me as I headed toward the academic building. "Because I figured you could use a friendly face after... you know."

"After everyone found out I'm the wolfless loser who got rejected by the Alpha heir?" I kept my voice neutral. "Yeah. Subtle, aren't they?"

"They're idiots." Celeste glanced over her shoulder, then lowered her voice. "For what it's worth, half of them are just jealous."

"Jealous of what? Being humiliated?"

"Jealous that Darius even noticed you in the first place." She shrugged. "Most of these girls have been throwing themselves at him for years. The fact that the bond chose you? That's got to drive them crazy."

I didn't know what to say to that. The bond hadn't chosen me. It had cursed me.

We climbed the stairs to the second floor where my first class was supposed to be. Students crowded the hallway, switching books at their lockers, laughing with friends. Normal Academy life.

Except everyone went quiet when they saw me.

The whispers started up again.

"Is that really her?"

"She doesn't even look like much."

"What did Darius see in her?"

"He didn't see anything. That's why he rejected her."

Celeste tensed beside me. "Ignore them."

"I am."

But it was harder than I wanted to admit. Every word felt like a tiny knife, slicing deeper than the last. I'd spent my whole life being invisible, being overlooked. Now I was the center of attention for all the wrong reasons.

We reached my classroom, and Celeste squeezed my shoulder. "You're stronger than this. Don't let them break you."

"I won't," I said.

But even as I said it, I wondered if I was lying.

The morning dragged. Every class was the same. Stares. Whispers. Professors who pretended not to notice but definitely did. I sat in the back, kept my head down, and counted the minutes until I could escape.

Lunch was going to be a nightmare.

I considered skipping it entirely, but my wolf was restless and hungry, and I needed to eat if I was going to survive the afternoon. So I made my way to the dining hall, bracing myself for round two.

The noise hit me first. Hundreds of voices echoing off the high ceilings, silverware clattering, chairs scraping. I grabbed a tray and loaded it with food I probably wouldn't eat, then scanned the room for somewhere safe to sit.

Celeste waved from a table near the windows. Alone, thank god.

I wove through the crowd, ignoring the looks, and dropped into the seat across from her.

"Survived the morning?" she asked.

"Barely."

She pushed a bottle of water toward me. "It'll get better. Give it a few days. They'll find someone else to talk about."

"Or Darius will do something else humiliating and they'll never shut up."

Celeste winced. "Fair point."

I picked at my food, not really tasting it. Across the room, I could see Darius at the Alpha table, the blonde still glued to his side. She laughed at something he said, touching his arm, leaning in close.

The bond twisted painfully.

My wolf growled.

"Stop looking at him," Celeste said gently.

"I'm not."

"You are. And it's only going to make it worse."

She was right. I forced my eyes away, focusing on my tray instead. But I could still feel him. The bond hummed between us like a live wire, impossible to ignore no matter how hard I tried.

"Strength is my only answer," I muttered.

"What?"

I looked up at Celeste. "Strength. That's all I've got. If I let this break me, I'll never survive here."

She studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Then don't let it break you."

"I don't plan to."

But even as I said it, I felt the weight of every stare, every whisper, every cruel word pressing down on me. How long could I keep pretending it didn't hurt?

After lunch, I had a free period. Most students used it to study or hang out in the common areas, but I needed air. Space. Somewhere I could breathe without feeling like the walls were closing in.

I headed outside, following a path that led away from the main buildings toward the forest edge. The campus backed up against miles of protected wilderness, and students were allowed to walk the perimeter trails as long as they didn't go too deep.

The trees provided cover. Shade. Privacy.

I found a bench near a small clearing and sat down, letting the quiet settle over me. My wolf stretched inside my mind, testing her boundaries, getting used to existing.

Can we run? she asked.

Not yet. We haven't shifted.

When?

I don't know.

She huffed, frustrated. I didn't blame her. I was frustrated too.

The sound of footsteps on gravel made me tense.

I turned, half expecting to see Celeste or some nosy student who'd followed me. But the figure emerging from the tree line wasn't someone I recognized.

He was tall. Broad-shouldered. Dark hair fell across his forehead in calculated disarray, and his smile was sharp enough to cut. He wore the Academy uniform, but something about the way he carried himself screamed danger.

My wolf perked up, wary.

He leaned against a pillar near the trail entrance, arms crossed, watching me with an intensity that made my skin prickle.

"You're Elara Bennett," he said. Not a question.

"And you are?"

His smile widened. "Gideon Wicke. I'd say it's nice to meet you, but I'm guessing you've had enough false pleasantries for one day."

I stood slowly, slinging my bag over my shoulder. "If you're here to gawk at the rejected mate, you're late. Everyone else already got their fill this morning."

"Actually, I'm here because I think you're interesting."

"Interesting." I repeated the word like it tasted bad. "Right."

He pushed off the pillar and walked closer. Not threatening, exactly, but deliberate. Like he knew exactly how much space to take up to make me notice.

"You stood up to Darius," he said. "Twice, from what I heard. Once in the courtyard when you first arrived, and again last night when he dragged you outside."

"Word travels fast."

"Always does when it involves the Alpha heir." Gideon stopped a few feet away, still smiling that sharp, dangerous smile. "Most people would have rolled over and shown their throat. But you didn't."

"Is there a point to this conversation?"

"Just making an observation." He tilted his head, studying me like I was a puzzle he wanted to solve. "You're not what I expected."

"And what did you expect?"

"Someone broken. Someone weak." His eyes glinted. "But you're not, are you? You're angry."

My wolf bristled. He was too perceptive. Too aware.

"I don't have time for this," I said, moving to walk past him.

He stepped into my path.

Not blocking me, exactly. Just... there. Close enough that I could smell the faint scent of pine and something darker. Close enough that my wolf sat up and paid attention.

"What if I told you," Gideon said softly, "that Darius isn't the only wolf at this Academy worth knowing?"

"I'd say I'm not interested in knowing any wolves right now."

"Not even one who could make him regret what he did to you?"

That made me pause.

Gideon's smile turned smug, like he knew he'd caught my interest. "Darius Fenrir thinks he's untouchable. The future Alpha. The golden boy. Everyone bows to him, scared of what he might do if they don't."

"And you're different?"

"I'm not scared of him." Gideon leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to something almost conspiratorial. "And I don't think you are either."

He was right. I wasn't scared of Darius. I was hurt. Angry. Humiliated.

But not scared.

Gideon straightened, his expression shifting to something almost friendly. "Look, I know you've had a rough couple of days. I'm not trying to add to that. I just think you could use an ally. Someone who isn't going to pity you or treat you like you're made of glass."

"And you're volunteering?"

"I'm offering."

I should have walked away. Should have told him to leave me alone and gone back to my dorm. But there was something about the way he looked at me. Like I was a person, not a mistake. Like I mattered.

It had been a long time since anyone looked at me that way.

Gideon extended his hand toward me, palm up. An invitation, not a demand.

"Walk with me, Elara," he said, his smirk softening into something almost genuine.

My wolf growled a warning.

But I looked at his hand, then at his face, and wondered if maybe, just maybe, he was exactly what I needed right now.

An ally.

Or a distraction.

Or something far more dangerous than I realized.

His smile was sharp enough to cut.

I stared at Gideon's outstretched hand for a long moment, weighing my options. My wolf was still growling warnings in the back of my mind, but honestly? I was tired of listening to instincts that had gotten me nowhere.

"One walk," I said finally. "That's it."

"One walk." He didn't lower his hand. "I promise I don't bite. Well, not on the first walk, anyway."

Despite everything, despite the horrible morning and the whispers and the rejection still burning in my chest, I almost smiled.

Almost.

I ignored his hand and started walking down the trail. He fell into step beside me easily, hands shoved in his pockets, looking completely relaxed.

"So," he said after a moment. "How does it feel to be the most talked-about person on campus?"

"Fantastic. Really living my best life."

He laughed. Actually laughed, like I'd said something genuinely funny instead of bitter. "See, that's what I like about you. No pretense. Most people would try to play it off, act like they don't care."

"Who says I care?"

"The tension in your shoulders. The way you haven't looked at me directly since we started walking. The fact that you're gripping your bag strap hard enough to leave marks."

I loosened my grip immediately. "You're observant."

"I pay attention." He glanced at me sideways. "Especially to interesting people."

"There's that word again. Interesting."

"Would you prefer 'fascinating'? 'Intriguing'? I can use a thesaurus if it makes you more comfortable."

This time I did smile. Just a little. "You're annoying."

"I've been called worse."

We walked in silence for a bit. The path curved along the forest edge, dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves overhead. It was actually peaceful out here, away from the stares and whispers. Away from Darius.

The bond tugged faintly in my chest, like it was checking to make sure I hadn't forgotten about him.

As if I could.

"Can I ask you something?" Gideon said.

"You're going to anyway."

"True." He kicked a stone off the path. "Why did you come here? To the Academy, I mean. You had to know it would be rough. Wolfless girl in a school full of predators."

"I'm not wolfless anymore."

"You know what I mean."

I did. And the truth was complicated. My family had pushed for me to come here, hoping the Academy's training might trigger my shift. My aunt had called in favors with the council. My uncle had practically begged.

But the real reason?

"I needed to get away," I said quietly. "From home. From people who looked at me like I was broken."

"And how's that working out for you?"

I shot him a look. "You tell me."

He grinned. "Fair point."

We reached a small bridge that crossed over a stream. Gideon leaned against the railing, looking out at the water. I stood beside him, grateful for the excuse to stop walking.

"For what it's worth," he said, "I don't think you're broken."

"You don't even know me."

"I know you stood up to Darius Fenrir. Twice. That takes guts." He turned to face me, one elbow still resting on the railing. "Most people are too scared to even look him in the eye, let alone tell him off in front of half the dining hall."

"Maybe I'm just stupid."

"Or maybe you're exactly what this place needs." His expression shifted, something darker flickering behind his eyes. "Someone who doesn't worship the ground he walks on."

There was an edge to his voice when he said Darius's name. Old anger. Old hurt.

"You don't like him much, do you?" I asked.

"That's putting it mildly."

"Why?"

Gideon was quiet for a moment, his jaw tight. Then he shook his head. "Long story. Not a good one. Let's just say Darius and I have history, and it didn't end well."

I wanted to ask more, but something in his expression told me to let it go. For now.

"So what's your deal?" I asked instead. "Why help me? You barely know me either."

"Maybe I like the underdog." He pushed off the railing and started walking again. I followed. "Or maybe I just enjoy watching Darius squirm. Either way, seems like a win-win situation."

"I'm not a weapon you can use against him."

"I'm not asking you to be." He glanced at me. "But if you happen to make his life a little more complicated just by existing? Well, that's just a bonus."

We crossed back onto the main path that led toward the quad. Students were scattered across the lawn, studying or tossing a frisbee. Normal afternoon activities.

Except the moment they saw me walking with Gideon, everything stopped.

Again.

Conversations cut off mid-sentence. Heads turned. Eyes tracked our movement like we were the day's entertainment.

"Here we go," Gideon muttered. "Three, two, one..."

The whispers started.

"Is that Gideon Wicke?"

"Why is he with her?"

"Did she move on already?"

"This is going to make Darius lose his mind."

My wolf stirred uneasily. She didn't like the attention. Didn't like being watched like prey.

"Ignore them," Gideon said softly.

"Easy for you to say."

"Actually, it's not. But you fake it long enough, eventually it gets easier."

We were halfway across the quad when I felt it. That familiar, overwhelming presence that made my wolf sit up and take notice.

Darius.

I didn't have to look to know he was there. The bond told me exactly where he was, standing near the library entrance with his arms crossed and his eyes locked on us.

On me and Gideon.

The fury radiating off him was almost tangible.

"Don't look," Gideon said quietly. "Keep walking."

"I wasn't planning to."

But I could feel Darius's stare burning into my back. Could feel the bond stretching tight between us, vibrating with his anger. My wolf whined, confused and distressed by his emotions.

He rejected us, I reminded her. This shouldn't bother him.

But it clearly did.

Gideon steered us toward a bench near the fountain, deliberately choosing one in full view of where Darius was standing. He sat down and patted the space beside him.

"Are you trying to start something?" I asked.

"Me? Never." His smile was pure innocence. "I'm just tired from our walk. Can't a guy rest?"

I sat down, more out of stubbornness than anything else. If Darius wanted to glare, let him glare. He didn't get to reject me and then act like he had any claim over who I spent time with.

"That's the spirit," Gideon said, reading my expression. "Show him you're not waiting around for him to change his mind."

"I'm not."

"Good. Because he doesn't deserve you."

The words should have felt hollow. Meaningless. But something about the way Gideon said them, casual and certain, made me believe he actually meant it.

We sat in silence for a few minutes, watching students pass by. The stares continued, but they felt less suffocating with Gideon beside me. Like having someone in my corner made the weight of their judgment a little lighter.

"So," Gideon said eventually. "What are your plans for surviving this place?"

"Keep my head down. Graduate. Leave."

"Boring."

"Practical."

"Where's the fun in that?" He stretched his arms along the back of the bench. "You could make waves instead. Show everyone they were wrong to underestimate you."

"And how exactly would I do that?"

"Training. Prove you're not weak just because your wolf came late." He tilted his head thoughtfully. "I could help, if you want. I'm pretty good in the arena."

"Why would you do that?"

"Because watching you kick ass would be incredibly satisfying." He paused. "And because, like I said, I think you're interesting."

There was that word again. But this time, it didn't sound like a lie.

My wolf was still wary of him, still uncertain. But she wasn't growling anymore. That had to count for something.

"I'll think about it," I said.

"That's all I ask."

Movement caught my eye. Darius had shifted positions, no longer leaning against the library but walking toward the quad. Toward us.

His expression was stone. Cold. Furious.

The blonde from earlier rushed to catch up with him, grabbing his arm. He shook her off without looking at her.

"Incoming," Gideon murmured.

"I see him."

"Want to leave?"

I thought about it. Thought about running, avoiding the confrontation, making this easier on everyone.

But then I remembered the rejection. The humiliation. The way he'd looked at me like I was nothing.

"No," I said. "I'm not running."

Gideon's smile widened. "There's that fire. Hold onto that."

Darius was only a few feet away now. Close enough that I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his hands were clenched into fists. The bond screamed between us, a mess of anger and hurt and something else I couldn't name.

But he didn't come all the way to the bench. Just stopped. Stared. The silent fury in his eyes spoke volumes.

The blonde caught up to him, tugging at his sleeve. "Darius, come on. Let's go."

He ignored her.

Gideon leaned back casually, completely unbothered by the Alpha heir's rage. "Problem, Fenrir?"

"Stay away from her," Darius said, voice low and dangerous.

"Why?" Gideon's smile was all teeth. "You made it pretty clear you don't want her. So why do you care who she spends time with?"

"That's not your business."

"Actually, I think it's Elara's business. And she chose to sit here with me." Gideon looked at me. "Unless you want to leave?"

All eyes were on me now. Students had stopped pretending not to watch. This was the drama they'd been waiting for all day.

I met Darius's gaze and saw the conflict there. The wolf that wanted to drag me away from Gideon. The pride that refused to admit he'd made a mistake.

"I'm fine where I am," I said quietly.

Something flickered across Darius's face. Pain, maybe. Or anger. I couldn't tell.

The blonde tugged harder on his arm. "Darius, please. You're making a scene."

He finally looked away from me. Looked at her instead, and whatever he saw there made him step back.

"This isn't over," he said.

Then he turned and walked away, the blonde hurrying to keep up.

I released a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.

"Well," Gideon said cheerfully. "That was fun."

"Fun is not the word I'd use."

"Exciting? Dramatic? Weirdly satisfying?"

Despite everything, I laughed. Short and sharp, but real.

Gideon turned to look at me, and his expression softened into something genuine. "You handled that well."

"I didn't do anything."

"Exactly. You didn't give him what he wanted. That's everything."

The sun was starting to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the quad. Students were packing up their things, heading to dinner or back to their dorms.

Gideon stood and offered me his hand again. This time, I took it.

He pulled me to my feet, and for a second, we were standing closer than I expected. Close enough that I could see the flecks of amber in his dark eyes. Close enough that my wolf took notice and sat very, very still.

"He'll regret rejecting you," Gideon said softly, his voice pitched just for me. "I'll make sure of it."

Darius was everywhere. Watching. Silent. Dangerous.

I noticed him first in the hallway outside my morning class. Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, eyes tracking my every move. He didn't say anything. Didn't approach. Just watched.

The bond hummed between us, restless and uncomfortable.

By lunch, he was at the Alpha table with his usual crowd, but his attention wasn't on them. It was on me. Every time I glanced up from my food, there he was. Staring.

"He's doing it again," Celeste muttered, stabbing at her salad.

"Ignore him."

"Kind of hard when he looks like he's planning your murder."

I forced myself to look away. To focus on my food. On Celeste's stories about her pack back home. On anything that wasn't Darius Fenrir and his intense, burning stare.

But the bond wouldn't let me forget. It tugged constantly, a thread connecting us no matter how much I wanted to cut it. My wolf was confused and restless, not understanding why our mate was near but not approaching. Not claiming. Not fixing what he'd broken.

Because he doesn't want us, I reminded her for the hundredth time.

She whined in response.

After lunch, I had Pack Dynamics, which was basically a history class focused on wolf hierarchies and territory laws. Boring, but necessary. I grabbed my books from my locker and headed to the second floor.

The classroom was half full when I arrived. I chose a seat near the back, hoping to blend in and avoid any more attention.

No such luck.

I'd barely opened my notebook when someone dropped into the seat beside me.

"Hey. You're Elara, right?"

I looked up. A guy with sandy brown hair and an easy smile sat next to me, his own books already spread across the desk.

"Yeah," I said cautiously.

"Caleb Bane." He offered his hand. "I'm a Beta. Second year."

I shook it. His grip was firm but not aggressive. "Nice to meet you?"

"Sorry, that was weird. I just noticed you're new and figured you might want some help navigating Professor Hale's class. He's brutal if you don't keep up with the reading."

"Oh." That was... surprisingly nice. "Thanks."

"No problem." Caleb pulled out a worn notebook filled with detailed notes. "I've got all the lectures from last semester if you want to borrow them. Might help you catch up."

"You'd do that?"

"Why not? We're all stuck in this place together. Might as well help each other out."

My wolf settled slightly. Caleb's energy was calm. Friendly. No ulterior motives that I could sense.

"That would actually be really helpful," I admitted.

"Cool. I'll bring them to the library later if you want to study."

Professor Hale walked in before I could respond, and the class fell silent. He was an older wolf with silver hair and sharp eyes that missed nothing. He dove straight into a lecture about Alpha succession rights, scribbling terms on the board faster than most students could keep up.

I tried to focus. Tried to write notes that made sense. But my concentration kept slipping because I could feel Darius again.

The bond told me exactly where he was. Outside the classroom. In the hallway. Pacing.

Why was he here? He wasn't in this class. His schedule was completely different from mine.

But I could feel him out there, his wolf agitated, his emotions bleeding through the bond whether I wanted them or not.

My hand tightened around my pen.

Class dragged. Every minute felt like an hour. When Professor Hale finally dismissed us, I packed up quickly, hoping to slip out before anyone could corner me.

Caleb caught up with me at the door. "Hey, so library? Around four?"

"Yeah, that works."

"Cool. I'll grab my notes and meet you there."

I stepped into the hallway and immediately froze.

Darius stood across from the door, leaning against the opposite wall. His eyes locked onto me the second I appeared.

Students flowed around him, giving him a wide berth, but he didn't move. Just stared.

Caleb noticed him too. "Uh. Is that who I think it is?"

"Yep."

"And he's staring at you because...?"

"Long story."

"Right." Caleb glanced between us nervously. "Want me to walk with you?"

"I'll be fine."

"You sure? Because he looks like—"

"I'll be fine," I repeated, more firmly this time.

Caleb hesitated, then nodded. "Okay. See you at four."

He headed down the hallway in the opposite direction. I took a breath and started walking, keeping my eyes straight ahead.

Darius pushed off the wall.

My wolf perked up immediately.

He fell into step beside me, matching my pace easily. His presence was overwhelming, taking up all the air in the hallway.

"We need to talk," he said.

"No, we don't."

"Elara—"

"You made yourself very clear the other night, Darius. There's nothing left to talk about."

I walked faster. He kept up without breaking a sweat.

"Who was that?" he asked.

"None of your business."

"The Beta. Caleb. Who is he to you?"

I stopped walking and turned to face him. Students scattered around us, sensing the tension. "Are you serious right now?"

"Answer the question."

"He's someone helping me with class notes. That's it."

"You don't need his help."

"Actually, I do. Because unlike some people here, I didn't grow up learning all this pack hierarchy stuff. I'm behind, and he's being nice enough to help me catch up."

Darius's jaw tightened. "I could help you."

"No, thank you."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want your help, Darius. I don't want anything from you."

The bond twisted painfully between us. My wolf whimpered, hating the conflict, hating the distance.

But I held my ground.

"You can't just walk around with random Betas," Darius said, his voice low. "People will talk."

"People are already talking. In case you forgot, you rejected me in front of half the school. My reputation is already in the gutter. What difference does it make who I study with?"

"It makes a difference to me."

"Well, it shouldn't. You don't get to reject me and then police who I spend time with."

His eyes flashed gold. "That's not what I'm doing."

"Then what are you doing? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you want all the control and none of the responsibility."

"I'm trying to protect you."

"From what? A guy offering to share his notes?"

"From people who might use you to get to me."

I laughed. Actually laughed, bitter and sharp. "You think Caleb is using me? He's a Beta who's been nothing but kind. Meanwhile, you rejected me, humiliated me, and now you're following me around like some kind of jealous—"

I stopped myself before I could finish that sentence.

But Darius heard it anyway.

"Jealous?" His voice was dangerously quiet. "You think I'm jealous?"

"I don't know what you are. And honestly? I don't care."

I turned to walk away, but his hand shot out and caught my wrist. Not hard. Not bruising. But firm enough to stop me.

"Let go," I said.

"Not until you listen."

"There's nothing to listen to, Darius. You made your choice."

"I made the wrong choice."

The words hung in the air between us.

My wolf surged forward, hopeful and desperate.

But I shoved her back down.

"Too late," I said quietly. "You don't get to take it back now."

"Elara—"

"No. You called me weak. Wolfless. A mistake. You said you didn't want me." My voice cracked slightly, and I hated myself for it. "So whatever regret you're feeling now? That's your problem, not mine."

I yanked my wrist free and walked away.

This time, he didn't follow.

The library was quiet when I arrived just before four. Most students were at sports practice or hanging out in the common areas, so the reading room was nearly empty.

I found a table near the back and spread out my books, trying to focus on the lecture notes I'd scribbled earlier. They were a mess. Half-finished sentences. Missing key terms.

"Rough class?"

I looked up. Caleb stood there with a thick binder under his arm and that same easy smile.

"Something like that."

He sat down across from me and opened the binder, revealing pages of neatly organized notes. "Here. Start with chapter three. It covers the basics of Alpha succession, which is what Hale's been focusing on."

I pulled the binder closer, genuinely grateful. "Thank you. Seriously."

"No worries." He pulled out his own textbook. "Want to go through it together? Sometimes it helps to talk it out."

"Sure."

We spent the next hour working through pack hierarchy structures and territorial rights. Caleb was patient, explaining things I didn't understand without making me feel stupid. It was nice. Normal.

For a while, I almost forgot about the bond. About Darius. About everything.

Almost.

The library doors opened. I didn't look up, too focused on a particularly confusing section about Beta obligations.

But my wolf went on high alert.

And then I felt him. That overwhelming presence. The bond snapping tight like a rubber band about to break.

Darius stood at the entrance, his eyes locked on our table.

On Caleb sitting across from me.

"Uh," Caleb said quietly. "That's the Alpha heir."

"I know."

"And he looks really angry."

"I know."

Darius crossed the library in long strides. Students looked up from their books, sensing danger, but no one moved to stop him.

He stopped at our table, his hands flat on the surface, leaning forward. His entire focus was on Caleb.

"Leave," Darius said.

Caleb's eyes widened. "I'm sorry?"

"You heard me. Leave."

"We're studying," I said sharply. "You have no right—"

"I have every right." Darius's voice was low and dangerous. "This is my mate."

The word echoed in the quiet library.

My mate.

After everything. After the rejection. After telling me he didn't want me.

Now he was claiming me in front of witnesses.

"You rejected me," I said coldly. "Remember?"

"I made a mistake."

"That's not my problem."

Caleb stood slowly, clearly uncomfortable. "Maybe I should—"

"Sit down," I told him. "We're not finished."

But Darius's wolf had other ideas.

It burst forward without warning, taking partial control. His eyes blazed pure gold. His canines extended. The air around him crackled with Alpha power so strong it made my own wolf cower.

He turned that power on Caleb, and his voice came out as a growl.

"Stay away from her."