Chapter 0024

Morning light spills through my window as I stretch awake. Today feels different—lighter somehow. My warriors still fall to Evelyn's skill during training, but the sting of defeat doesn't linger like before. Even Sebastian, her fiercest opponent, can't match her.

Donovan meets me with a takeout bag from Celestia, the scent of cinnamon rolls making my stomach growl. The school halls buzz with one topic: Evelyn's secret admirer. I spot Julian near the lockers, his notebook already open for business.

"Julian." We exchange quick fist bumps. "Who's leading the betting pool?"

His grin turns sharp. "Interested, Adrian?"

"Maybe." If my name's on that list, placing a bet could throw everyone off her scent.

"Top five includes you and Donovan here."

Donovan blinks. "Why me?"

Julian rolls his eyes. "You're the only Beta who buys Celestia's gold-leaf desserts, genius."

I toss fifty on the table. "My money's on Donovan."

My Beta freezes mid-bite, syrup dripping from his croissant. Slowly, he wipes his hands and matches my bet. "Fifty says it's Adrian."

Bastard knows he'll win.

Julian cackles as he recalculates odds, muttering about "psychological warfare" as he disappears into the crowd.

Lunch is a spectacle. The entire student body crams into the cafeteria, waiting. When Evelyn enters, her gaze darts around—searching. That tiny frown? Perfect. Just wait, sweetheart.

The quartet's entrance silences the room. Rose petals rain down as they launch into an upbeat rendition of Perfect. Evelyn's laughter rings out, bright and unguarded, and Theron purrs approval in my mind. We did that.

The standing ovation shakes the walls. When Harry hands her today's note, my pulse spikes. Yesterday claimed her publicly. Today? No more games. Adrian Grey wants Evelyn Sinclair, and we're done hiding it.

Her eyes flare gold—Selene surging forward—before she tucks the card against her chest.

Training field gossip swirls after school. Sebastian vehemently denies involvement. Donovan and I shut down questions with lethal glares. Most theories point to Alpha Sebastian—logical, given their training sessions.

Genevieve guards the note's contents like a vault. "The gifts speak for themselves," is all she'll say, smirking when someone mentions the Celestia reservations.

Theron's growl vibrates through me as we spar. Let them guess. Soon, everyone will know.