SOPHIA’S POV
After dinner ended, the night air felt colder than before.
I shivered as I stepped outside the restaurant. The laughter and noise behind us faded slowly. The only sounds I could hear were the footsteps on the pavent. I looked up at the streetlights along the path.
My wolf stirred gently inside . She was alert but calm. It was as if she sensed that for once, there was no imdiate threat.
Nick walked beside with his hands in his pockets. He looked relaxed as usual. It was easy to be around him.
His aura was easy.
"So," he said lightly, glancing at with a grin, "on a scale of one to ten, how awkward was tonight for you?"
I laughed before I could stop myself. He had no idea. Nobody knew who Damien was to yet it seed like everyone noticed the tension between us.
It slipped out naturally, surprising . "That bad, huh?"
He chuckled. "I’m a teacher. I recognize emotional landmines when I see them."
"I should’ve known," I said, shaking my head. "You people are trained to spot discomfort from a mile away."
"Occupational hazard," he replied. "But for what it’s worth, you handled it well. You looked calm. You seed unbothered and ....confident."
If only he knew how hard I’d worked to appear that way.
"Thank you," I said softly.
We continued walking toward the school. The building was visible in the distance.
As we walked, Nick talked easily, telling about a student who once tried to convince him that howork was against school policy and another who cried because her sandwich was cut the wrong way. I laughed again, genuinely this ti, and my wolf relaxed even further. I felt her curling lazily inside my chest.
"You’re easy to talk to," Nick said after a mont. "You know that, right?"
I looked at him. He was handso in a simple way. He had brown eyes, an easy smile, and great hair. There was nothing overwhelming about him.
"I don’t hear that often," I admitted.
"Well, you should," he said. "You make people feel comfortable."
That word "comfortable" did sothing to . Comfort had been absent from my life for a long ti. Trust , staying in the Stonewall Villa and the pack house for years taught to be on my guard at all tis.
As we reached the school gate, he slowed his steps.
"Listen," he said, rubbing the back of his neck slightly, "would you like to grab a al soti? Nothing fancy. Just food and good conversation."
My wolf lifted her head. She seed curious. I smiled politely. "That sounds nice."
"Nice?" he teased. "I’ll take that as a yes."
"It’s a maybe," I corrected gently. "But a polite maybe."
He laughed. "Fair enough."
We said goodnight, and as I walked toward the staff quarters, I didn’t notice the dark figure standing across the street. But he noticed us.
I felt it later, too late, the wave of irritation in the air.
The feeling made my wolf growl.
Damien.
He wasn’t standing alone. The principal was with him.
As I walked closer, I heard him talking to her. He smiled politely when she offered him a guest room for the night, insisting that the school would be honored to host him.
"I appreciate the offer," he said smoothly, "but I already know where I’ll be staying."
I only learned what he ant when later on, I opened the door to my room and froze.
Damien stood inside.
My heart slamd against my ribs, and my wolf shot upright.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I demanded, gripping the doorfra.
He turned slowly. Even without moving, his presence filled the small space instantly. "I’m staying here tonight."
My shock turned to disbelief. "Excuse ?"
"The guest rooms are occupied," he said calmly, as if that settled everything. "This room is available."
"This is my room," I snapped. "You can’t just barge in and claim it."
His eyes turned gold for a split second. "I’m not asking."
"And I’m not agreeing," I shot back. "You can use the communal room like everyone else."
There was silence between us. His wolf pushed against mine, demanding dominance. I held my ground. My wolf growled low in response.
"I’m not sleeping in a communal space," he said coldly.
"Then that’s your problem," I replied, grabbing my keys. "Not mine."
Without waiting for his response, I turned and walked out. My hands shook with anger and sothing dangerously close to hurt. I didn’t stop until I reached my car. I spent the night there, curled in the driver’s seat, wrapped in a blanket, staring at the dark ceiling.
My wolf stayed awake with . She was restless and protective. We both felt unsettled.
*
Later, I saw movent through the windshield. Will, Damien’s Beta, approached with Ashley and Tiffany. I watched quietly from a distance as they walked toward him.
Ashley ran ahead with a smile that made my chest ache. Damien knelt, opening his arms, and she threw herself into them.
Tiffany followed, placing a hand on his shoulder, smiling softly. They looked perfect. They looked like an amazing family.
My throat tightened painfully.
I watched Damien lift Ashley effortlessly, heard her laughter in the night. I saw the way Tiffany leaned into him and how he didn’t pull away.
My wolf whimpered softly as tears burned my eyes.
This was what letting go looked like.
I turned away before they could see . I pressed a hand to my chest to steady and calm myself.
My heart beat increased even more.
Whatever bond had once existed or whatever hope I had clung to, it was slipping through my fingers.
And for the first ti, I allowed myself to mourn it.
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