Chapter 0023

The morning sun painted the sky in soft hues as I pulled up to Nathaniel's house. He slid into the passenger seat with his usual grin.

"Place your bets," he said immediately. "What's today's grand gesture?"

I rolled my eyes. "You're assuming there will be one."

"Please, Evelyn. After yesterday's spectacle? That man isn't done marking his territory."

A shiver ran down my spine. "Fine. What's your prediction?"

"No idea. But I do know the entire school will be crammed into the cafeteria at lunch, waiting for the show."

Perfect. Exactly what I didn't need.

As we parked, Nathaniel turned to me. "Still no leads on who it is?"

"None. But someone's running a betting pool. Find out who's topping that list—might help narrow it down."

"Consider it done."

The school hummed with whispers all morning. My secret admirer had become the hottest gossip. Did these people have nothing better to do?

When the lunch bell rang, my stomach twisted. Part of me dreaded Adrian making another appearance—especially after yesterday. The other part? Annoyed anticipation.

I stepped into the cafeteria. Every head turned. Conversations halted mid-sentence.

Silence.

Then, as if on cue, murmurs resumed when nothing happened. I grabbed my food and sat down, oddly... disappointed.

Then—

A hush.

Four older wolves strode in, dressed in classic barbershop quartet attire: striped vests, crisp white shirts, and those ridiculous little hats.

My lips curved. He hadn't let me down.

A harmonica note pierced the air. They launched into a song—You're a Heavenly Thing—complete with rose petals showering over me when they sang about "sprinkled roses." I laughed as they pantomimed throwing something away.

But the finale?

"You're all mine, all mine."

A statement. A claim.

The room erupted in applause. One man handed me an envelope before they exited.

Inside, the note read:

Evelyn,

Let me be clear—I intend to make you mine.

Fate hasn't spoken yet, but I'll wait.

Because I know you'll be mine.

My heavenly thing.

-Patiently yours, Your Secret Admirer

Selene preened under the attention.

Nathaniel peered over my shoulder. "Well. That's not subtle."

"No kidding." I exhaled sharply. "Who is this guy? This is either bold or reckless."

"Considering how often Selene's been front and center lately? He's doing something right."

I shot Sebastian a text about the quartet. No reply.

Later, Nathaniel delivered the betting pool's top contenders: Adrian, Donovan, Sebastian, and—I choked—Nathaniel himself.

"Very funny."

"Hey, I had to try."

That left Adrian and Donovan as real possibilities.

Training with Dad was brutal as ever. Paralyzed from the waist down, he still matched me rep for rep on upper body exercises. The Broken Warrior? More like the Unbreakable.

Back in my room, the flowers' scent lingered. Still no word from Sebastian. I left it alone.

That night, wolves battled in my dreams—Adrian and Sebastian, bloody and snarling. Adrian won. He kissed me, then sank his teeth into my neck—

I jolted awake, gasping.

3 AM. Might as well start the day.