Chapter 4 CHAPTER FOUR | AN ENDING AND A BEGINNING
Alaia POV
Two hours later, Jordyn and I were standing downstairs, taking pictures before we had to head out. Soon after, Aaron joined us, and before we knew it, all the graduates who lived in the packhouse had piled in on our impromptu photo shoot.
The parents were so proud, snapping tons of pictures; It was fun for a few minutes, but soon it became overwhelming. I grabbed Aaron and Jordyn and pulled them out the door to the car.
“It was becoming a madhouse in there,” I huffed before climbing in the passenger seat of Aaron’s car. Jordyn hopped in the back before Aaron got in and took off.
I sang along to the radio as I watched the scenery pass outside the window. This trip would be one of the last times I’d ever have to come back to this place, I thought to myself; this was awesome. As that thought ran through my mind, we arrived at the school, pulled into the parking lot, and then made our way to the football field, where the graduation ceremony was.
On our way, Alexi walked up to Aaron and began talking about the party, never once sparing Jordyn or me a glance. If he didn’t see me, then I wouldn’t see him. I grabbed Jordyn’s wrist and pulled her along so we could get away from the guys. She knew how I felt about Alexi and didn’t ask questions.
We finally made our way to the field and found our seats and passed the time chatting about a few things, mainly what we would be wearing to the party tomorrow, before Aaron and his friends joined.
They sat right in front of us, giving me a front-row view of Victoria trying to shove her tongue in Alexi’s ear while smirking back at me. Jordyn saw this and growled lowly at Victoria, which made her shrink back a bit before turning her head and staring straight ahead.
When Principal Barnaby walked to the podium and began to address the crowd, Alexi looked over his shoulder and caught my eye.
Then he winked.
Not a hey, buddy wink. Not the easy, automatic charm he used on everyone else. This one was — quieter, somehow. Like it was meant specifically for me, delivered specifically when no one else was likely to see it.
Jordyn made a small sound beside me that she disguised very poorly as a cough.
I faced the front and fixed my eyes on the principal and told myself it meant nothing. He was just being nice. Except I'd been watching Alexi Kostov be nice for three years, and it had never once looked like that.
Victoria, two rows ahead, was craning her neck in our direction with an expression that could have curdled milk.
I faced forward. Kept my face completely neutral. Did not smile. At least not on the outside,
“Stop it,” I told myself. “Tomorrow is your birthday. Tomorrow everything changes. Stop looking for something that isn't there.”
I pressed my lips together and tried very hard not to think about the fact that Alexi would be at that party tomorrow night.
“Ms. Alaia Miller, Summa Cum Laude.”
The crowd, which was filled to the brim with Opal Moon pack members, erupted into cheers. I stood up and walked to the stage, spotting my parents in the audience on the way. My mom was crying happy tears, and Dad’s eyes were full of nothing but pride when he saw me. Goddess, I loved them.
Once I approached the podium, Principal Barnaby reached out to shake my hand while passing me my diploma. “Congratulations, Ms. Miller, it’s been an honor having you as a student.”
Hearing this made me choke up a bit, so I just offered a small smile and nod, then said: “Thank you so much, sir.” He then turned and called the next student while I made my way off the stage.
After all the graduates had received their diplomas, we all wandered around the field for a bit longer, congratulating each other and speaking with some of our favorite teachers, before I finally decided to call it a night and head home.
It was a fun experience, but it was now over, and my bed and pajamas were calling my name.
As soon as I entered the packhouse, I made a beeline for the stairs and headed for my room. It had been an exhausting day, and tomorrow would be even worse. Sighing internally, I opened my door and took a few steps before I fell face-first onto my bed.
A few minutes later, I heard footsteps, then let out a loud “Oof” as Jordyn leaped through the air and landed on me.
“Sleepover, Bitch!” she yelled out, which caused me to groan loudly. She just laughed and slapped my ass.
“Get up and into your pajamas. Then we’re heading downstairs for movies and popcorn.”
Before I could protest, she closed herself off in the bathroom to change. By the time she came back out, I’d already changed into a pair of sleep shorts and a tank top and was ready to go.
“Come on, sexy mamma, let’s get this movie night started.”
I laughed and walked behind her down the stairs and into the theater room.
As one of the biggest packs in the country, Opal Moon had a considerable packhouse, which gave us the space to have a large and comfortable theatre room. With the plush seats and snack bar, you’d never know that you weren’t in an actual movie theater. I headed for the good seats in the middle of the room and settled in.
A few minutes later, Jordyn came up and handed me a blanket, followed by a giant cherry slushie and a bucket of popcorn. Before I could ask, she said, “Extra butter,” with a smirk. I smiled as I thought of how amazing my best friend was.
“So, what are we watching?”
“I’m not sure,” she said as she settled in.
“The boys said they would pick the first movie of the night.”
By “the boys,” I knew she meant Aaron and Alexi.
My cheeks heated up when I thought of the wink he sent me at graduation, but I quickly came back to Earth when he walked in the room, followed by Aaron and a few other pack members. The guys took seats behind us as the lights started to dim, and The Fate of the Furious began to play on screen.
I turned my head to Jordyn and gave her my best side-eye.
She just smiled and whispered, “Just enjoy it, babe. We all deserve to have a little fun tonight.”
I knew she was right, so I turned back to the screen and began to watch the movie.
Two movies in, I was struggling to keep my eyes open. It was almost midnight, and I was secretly praying to the goddess that Jordyn would take pity on me and let this movie night end here.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aaron stand and stretch.
“That’s it for me, guys. My dad needs me in his office to go over some last-minute details for the welcoming of the Alphas tomorrow. Come on, Alexi, I’m sure there’s something a future Beta can help out with.”
The guys walked off, and I figured everyone else would start to head back to their rooms at their departure.
No such luck.
Jordyn jumped up and announced, “For the final movie of the night, we’ll be watching Wedding Crashers; you’re all welcome.” I so wanted to protest, but I loved Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson so...
Right around the point when Vince Vaughn is being jerked off under the dinner table, something shifted.
My heart rate went strange — not anxious, just different, like a second pulse trying to sync up with mine. My palms were damp. A low throb started behind my temples. I looked down at my phone.
12:17 AM.
My birthday.
I was eighteen.
The headache sharpened for just a second — and then something inside me opened up like a window, and I was suddenly, completely awake in a way that had nothing to do with caffeine or sleep.
Oh, I thought. Oh, it's her.
Before I could fully process it, a voice spoke in my head. Smooth and warm and entirely certain of itself, like it had been waiting a very long time for this.
Hello, gorgeous.
I startled so hard I nearly knocked Jordyn's slushie into her lap.
The voice chuckled.
Don't worry, my love. I'm Amethyst. The other part of your whole. We're one and the same — and I am so happy to finally talk to you.
I was smiling so wide it hurt my face. Around me, the movie played on, and the pack laughed at something on screen, and none of them had any idea that the entire shape of my life had just quietly rearranged itself.
My goddess, Amethyst. I could barely hold the thought steady. I can't wait to see you. What does your fur look like? Do you have my eyes?
She laughed again — and it was the warmest sound I'd ever heard from inside my own head.
All in time, Doll. You'll have to wait for our first shift. But I'll be right here until then.
I sat very still in my theater seat and let that land. She was here. She'd always been here, waiting, and now she was here.
Tomorrow, my mate bond would be active. Tomorrow, four visiting alphas will be at this packhouse. Tomorrow, everything would either begin or terrify me or — most likely — both.
But tonight, for just this moment, I had Amethyst. And somehow that made the rest of it feel less like falling and more like standing at the edge of something beautiful.
I leaned over and told Jordyn I was heading to bed. She started to protest, then took one look at my face and let me go without a word.
I made it to my room, got under the covers, and lay in the dark listening to the quiet new presence settle alongside my own heartbeat.
Goodnight, Amethyst.
Goodnight, gorgeous. Tomorrow, we find him.
I closed my eyes.
For the first time all week, I wasn't afraid.
