The bonds stretch uncomfortably. Not painful, but present. A constant awareness of her location, her emotional state, the distance between us.
"Mr. Ashworth." Valenti's voice cuts through my distraction. "Would you like to demonstrate the exercise?"
"Of course." I stand, moving to the center of the studio, and run through the breathing pattern she outlined. It's automatic. Muscle memory from years of training.
But my mind is still on Vespera.
When class finally ends, I'm out the door before Valenti finishes her closing remarks. Down the stairs. To the Movement studio where she is.
I pause outside the door. Through the window, she's in the center of the room, moving through some combination with perfect control. Her body knows what to do even when her mind is elsewhere.
She looks happy. Relaxed. Completely in her element.
And none of the other students are bothering her. No whispers. No pointed looks. Normalcy.
Maybe this can actually work.
The door opens and students start filing out. I step back, trying not to look like I was lurking. Trying to be casual.
Vespera emerges mid-conversation with another Omega—a girl I don't recognize. They're laughing about something, easy and natural, and when Vespera sees me her smile falters only slightly.
"Dorian," she says. "This is Maya. We're in Movement together."
"Nice to meet you." I extend my hand, forcing myself to be polite. Normal. Not a controlling Alpha.
Maya shakes it, eyeing me with obvious curiosity. "You're Vespera's... pack?"
The question hangs there. Loaded. Dangerous.
"I am," I say simply.
"Cool." Maya turns back to Vespera. "So lunch tomorrow? There's that new café off campus."
"Yeah, definitely. Text me."
They exchange numbers—Vespera has friends now, is making plans without checking with us first—and then Maya waves goodbye and disappears into the crowd.
Vespera looks at me. "You were waiting outside my class."
"I was passing by."
"Liar." But she's smiling. "Come on. I have an hour before my next class. Let's grab food."
We walk to the dining hall together. Not touching, but close enough that her scent wraps around me, the bond humming contentedly.
The dining hall is packed. Students everywhere, the noise level deafening. We get food and find a table near the windows.
Stephanie and Robbie join us without asking.
I tense slightly—not because they're a threat, but because of what they represent. Witnesses to how fucked up this all is. People who know the truth and are choosing to help anyway.
"How was Movement?" Stephanie asks Vespera, sitting across from her like this is normal. Like we're all friends having lunch.
"Good. Exhausting but good." Vespera smiles at her, genuine and warm. "Professor Cruz is intense."
"He always is first week." Stephanie glances at me, then away. Still nervous around us, but not running. That's progress. "You surviving?"
"So far."
