The day she was ushered into the academy, I stood on the third-floor landing and watched. The second she stepped through the door, her gaze shot up to meet mine. The look of relief on her face renewed my vigor for life, two years of pressure and stress lifting from my shoulders.
But thenheshowed up to escort the new entrants around the grounds.
Laurant.
The Alpha who sold out his own kind for his personal safety.
She looked at him with those big eyes, her breath catching in her lungs as she tripped over her own feet, and I almost cracked a molar.
Universe, not him.Not him.
I always knew that, despite the laws forbidding them, packs were a natural part of life. I believed in fate, mostly because I felt it. With Nyx. But to tell me I’d be pack brothers with a boot-licking traitor to our kind was a blow to the gut I was never prepared for.
And although he never acted on it—and I watched him long enough to ensure it stayed that way—I could see he felt the same way I did for Nyx, despite not knowing her nearly as long.
But he didn’t deserve her.
And yet, my inherent desire for Nyx’s happiness kept me from burning him alive.
When he told us at lunch a few days ago that he was going to be auctioned next quarter, part of me wanted to gloat; ask him how it felt to be abandoned by the people he sold his soul to.
But I couldn’t.
Nyx’s utter devastation seeped into my pores, wrapped around my heart, and all I could do was growl in anger. My Omega’s sadness made my rage build.
Unable to sleep tonight with so many unwanted thoughts floating around my mind, I traversed the guarded halls to Nyx’s room, wanting to be with her. Comfort her. And maybe, selfishly, be comforted in return.
Buthebeat me to it.
Their scents are strong as they seep from under the door, a mingling of autumn ozone and bluebells carried on an ocean breeze. Without meaning to, without warning, my cinnamon and clove scent rises to meet them, meld with them.
My fist wraps on the door, firm, but not too loud.
It swings open to reveal Nyx, eyes frenzied, lips parted. She grips my arm with more strength than I’d expected, yanks me inside, and shuts the door.
Her hand grips mine tightly now, her shoulders rise on a huge intake of breath. She opens her mouth to speak, when the world around us goes dark.
The unmistakable sound of a power-down rings in my ears before everything goes deathly silent.
Then, the halos around our necks die, and the control boxes fall to the ground in a chorus of clanks.
“Holy shit,” Nyx breathes.
“What the fuck is happening?” My free hand goes to my neck, which has borne the weight of that collar since I was twelve. The physical weight was next to nothing, but the oppressive weight…
“She did it.” Nyx turns wide eyes on me, then Laurant. “Mira. She found the rebellion. They’re here.”
“She’s right,” Laurant whispers, then falls silent for a beat, listening to something I can’t hear. “There’s a commotion downstairs.”
Elation courses through my body in a way I’ve never felt before.
The rebellion is here. Freedom is on the horizon, in life or in death.
I never imagined this day would come.
I squeeze Nyx’s hand before reluctantly releasing it. “If that’s true, we need to help them.”
“Yes,” Nyx chimes a second before the lights turn back on. “But first—”
