"You're delusional if you think this changes anything," Sera hisses. "Caspian will get bored. He always does. And when he does, I'll be there. Like I've always been. Like I was always meant to be."
I look at her, really look at her. Beneath the rage and venom, I can see the desperation. The fear. She's losing everything she thought was guaranteed.
"You're right," I say quietly. "This doesn't change anything. Because he was never yours to begin with."
Her eyes flash with fury. "You little..."
"Walk away, Sera." I let some of my wolf show in my eyes. "Before you do something you'll regret."
For a moment I think she'll actually try something. Her hands clench into fists and her friends tense beside her. But then she sees something in my expression that makes her hesitate.
"This isn't over," she says.
"Yes, it is." I step around her. "You just don't know it yet."
They let me pass but I can feel their glares burning into my back as I walk away.
I lift my chin and walk toward the main building. Let them stare. Let them whisper. I'm Caspian's mate now and I'm not going to hide it.
Lily is pacing our dorm room when I walk in. She spins around and her eyes go wide.
"Nova! Oh my god, where have you been? I was about to call campus security and..." She trails off as her gaze lands on my neck. "Is that what I think it is?"
I touch the mark self consciously. "Yeah."
"From Caspian?"
"Yeah."
She stares at me for a long moment, then breaks into a grin. "Holy shit. You're mated to the Alpha heir of the Academy." Lily's voice rises with excitement. "Do you know what this means? Sera Whitlock is going to lose her mind. She's been planning her future with Caspian since they were kids and now you..." She gestures at my neck. "You're his mate. Officially. Permanently."
"I know."
"This is huge, Nova. You're under pack protection now. You have status. No one can mess with you without answering to Caspian and the entire Jett Pack." She pauses, expression turning serious. "Although Sera is definitely going to try something. She's vicious when she's threatened and you just took everything she ever wanted. Watch your back with her. Claiming bite or not, she'll find a way to make you pay."
"I can handle Sera."
Lily grins and reaches out to squeeze my arm. "I know you can. And honestly? It's amazing. Chase can't just drag you off campus anymore. You have the pack backing you now."
"I need to shower and change," I say. "We missed morning classes."
"Worth it?"
I think about last night. About Caspian's claiming, the bond snapping into place, how he held me after. About this morning and the possessive tenderness in his touch.
"Worth it," I confirm with a big grin.
I shower and the hot water stings against the bite mark but I don't care. I can feel the bond with Caspian humming contentedly in my chest and I can feel Julian's bond too, quieter but still there. Both of them. Both mine.
When I emerge, Lily helps me find a top that partially covers the claiming bite. No point hiding it completely now. Everyone is going to see it anyway.
We head to lunch and the dining hall goes silent when I walk in. Every eye turns to me, to the mark on my shoulder. The proof that I'm Caspian's mate.
I spot Caspian at the Dominion table. He sees me at the same moment and goes completely still. The bond pulls tight between us, pleased that I'm wearing his mark openly.
At the same table, I notice Nico. He's sitting with the other Dominion members but his eyes are locked on me. On the bite mark visible above my collar. His expression is unreadable but I can see the tension in his shoulders. He stares for a long moment, then looks down at his plate and turns away, focusing intently on whatever his friends are saying.
I also see Julian at the faculty table. Our eyes meet across the room and I feel his careful control through our bond. He's trying not to react, trying to act like seeing me with another male's claiming bite doesn't affect him.
