"Before the shift." He stops in front of me and those Alpha eyes search my face. "Something changed before your first shift and I can't figure out what."
My heart is racing but I keep my expression neutral. "I don't know what you mean."
"You smell different." He leans closer and I feel the pack claim pulling between us. "Not heat. That faded. This is something else. Something new."
Panic spikes through me because if he can smell Julian on me, if he can sense the mate bond, everything falls apart. "Probably just shift aftermath. My wolf is still settling."
He doesn't look convinced. His eyes narrow slightly and I can see him processing, trying to figure out what his instincts are telling him.
"You're under my protection now," he says finally. "That means if something is wrong, if someone is threatening you or hurting you, I need to know."
"Nothing's wrong."
"Are you sure about that?"
The question hangs between us. He's giving me an opening to tell him whatever I'm hiding and I can see the concern under the Alpha authority. He actually cares. That makes lying to him worse.
"I'm sure."
He holds my gaze for a long moment and I force myself not to look away. Finally he nods though I can tell he doesn't believe me.
"If you say so." He turns to leave but pauses at the door. "But I'm watching closer now, Nova. Whatever you're hiding, I'll figure it out eventually."
The door closes behind him and I exhale slowly. He's going to keep pushing. Keep watching. And sooner or later he's going to notice something that gives me away.
I have to be more careful. The bond needs better hiding and I need to stop letting Julian's emotions bleed through where an Alpha might sense them.
I pick up the staff and go back to training, trying to exhaust myself enough that I stop thinking about how this could fall apart.
I survive the rest of the evening by avoiding everyone. Dinner in my room instead of the dining hall. Study session alone in the library. Back to my dorm before curfew where I can pretend the bonds pulling at me from different directions aren't slowly driving me insane.
The next day passes in a blur of classes and careful avoidance. Julian's History lecture where I keep my eyes on my notes and ignore the bond humming between us. Pack Dynamics where I sit in the back and feel Caspian's eyes on me even though he doesn't approach. Combat training where I push myself until my muscles scream.
By afternoon I'm crossing the quad between classes, actually believing I might make it through the day without another complication, when someone falls into step beside me.
"Miss Bardot. What a fortunate coincidence."
I don't have to look to know who it is. Chase Valemont's voice makes my skin crawl.
"Mr. Valemont." I keep walking, hoping he'll take the hint.
He doesn't. He matches my pace easily, hands in his pockets like we're just two people having a casual conversation. "I've been meaning to speak with you about your unique situation."
"I don't have a situation."
"Don't you?" He smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes. "First shift at eighteen with no support from a pack? No family to guide you through it? I'd call that quite the situation."
I stop walking and turn to face him. "What do you want?"
"The Council is interested in Silverpelt bloodlines. We like to offer support to students with unusual gifts."
"What kind of support?"
"Protection. Resources. A place within Council structure once you graduate." He says it like he's offering me something valuable. "We take care of those who are different."
"I'm a student. I don't need Council protection."
"Everyone needs protection, Miss Bardot." His smile goes cold. "Especially those who are different. The Academy can only protect you while you're enrolled. After that..." He trails off meaningfully.
