Chapter 28
We were extremely late for class the next morning. My fault, as I went back and forth for ages over whether I should wear my ring. My husbands had sworn they wouldn’t mind if I wanted to keep it on the down low for now—and a part of me wanted to keep it for just… me.
Me and my pack.
I switched between wearing it around my neck on a necklace, to leaving it in my drawer, to slipping it onto my finger.
Finally, I decided to be bold. It wouldn’t ruin any narrative we were trying to spin. Quite the contrary. Just like everything else the Kingsman pack did, it would look, to everyone else, like a bid for control.
I did, however, have to wear the ring upside down because I was prone to bursting into tears every time I saw the cute little hexagons placed haphazardly across the silver.
It almost happened six times in the Neuro and Behavioural Patterns Arkology class, but luckily, that wasn’t the one I cared about right now. I’d made it to lunch, and I’d dared to flip it hexagon-diamond side up for now as I headed to the water fountain with my cup.
I was feeling more hopeful than I had in so long, closing in on what I needed. I’d had Dusk make Decebal get me website after website of all the kinds of studies I needed to scour, to be sure.
The last puzzle piece. And I was getting near the truth I needed for my plan.
Even if it was… well, it was scary. It was all for our future. The future that felt a thousand times more real now there was a ring on my finger.
I turned, a cup of water from the drink fountain in my hand, and almost walked straight into Jasmine Lynn. She sneered at me, taking a step back, but I grit my teeth, side stepping her and reminding myself of the time I’d sunk my teeth into her neck.
I didn’t have to care what she thought. Plus, Roxy said she was an outcast now. Of course, not outside of Omega Studies, since all she’d been doing was tailing the Lincoln pack like a puppy, but it still made me feel a little better.
She had a bitter look on her face as she pushed past, but halted as her eyes found the ring on my finger.
“They did propose then?” Her voice was snide, and a grin was spreading across her face. “Someone said the ring was pathetic, but I had to see for myself.”
I felt the blood drain from my face as I took a step back.
“A pack that rich, and you get a ring that can barely catch the sunlight.”
“Ilove it,” I said, heat rising in my blood.
“You’re gold pack,” she laughed. “You’d cry with joy if they bought you a ring made of plastic.”
Passersby were staring, but I grit my teeth.
This wasn’t worth my time.
“You’re just jealous because you joined a pack that doesn’t want you.” Roxy was at my side in a moment, and I saw Jasmine’s eyes flash with disgust.
“You’re far from top nowadays, Roxy. A packless fucking loner.”
“Funny, because the alphas who rejected you have been leaving flowers at my doorstep for days now.”
Roxy’s hand was on my arm, already tugging me away.
“Wait—are they?” I asked.
Roxy grinned. “Not just flowers,” she said smugly. “The North Prince pack and the Valaren pack seem to be in a bit of a war.”
“Are you going to say yes to any of them?” I asked.
“No. But I will keep my mouth shut long enough to see how far the courting gifts go. And to be honest, I don’t have any plans for my next heat.” She shrugged. “Anyway.” She waved away the conversation. “For the record Shatter, I know for a fact that Dusk had that custom-designed.” She eyed my ring.
“He did?” I asked.
“I’m pretty sure everyone in his contact list got unending pictures. I suggested an adjustment for... this one.” She pointed to one of the hexagons in the piece. “It was just a little too organised, I think.”
I grinned as we sat back down with the others, and I hugged the ring close.
“Everything all right?” Ransom asked, looking at me curiously.
“Jasmine was just being a jealous bitch,” Roxy said with a shrug. “I think she’s realised that the Lincoln pack isn’t as obsessed with her as she hoped.”
I stared down at the ring, second guessing and hating that Jasmine got that kind of reaction from me. Did that mean the Lincoln pack was going to find out? I mean… of course they would. I’d known that when I’d chosen to wear it. It was probably better if they found out through Jasmine anyway. Then I wouldn’t have to live through it.
“I’m glad you wore it, Nightshade,” Umbra said to me as we made our way back to the apartments after classes. “We should celebrate with a movie night tonight.”
I perked up. “In the nest?” I asked. That way I could get cuddles, do my research, and watch movies all at once.
“Yeah, why don’t you guys get started on the homework, and I’ll grab some food for the evening.”
I busied myself adjusting the pillows in the bed just perfectly while Ransom flicked through his textbook, grumbling at the work set and complaining that he wasn’t even going to pass the class anyway, so what was the point?
I grinned as Dusk got to his feet. “I’ll be right back. Decebal’s just out front,” he said, tucking his phone in his pocket.
“What does he want?” Ransom asked.
“Just dropping something off.”
I peered up at him, noting that he’d just vanished from the bond.
“Oh, he called earlier,” he added, catching my expression. “He said to tell you to look into case study 632 he sent. Said it seemed to match what you’re looking for. Something about uh… cleaving—no, uh bond transfer. Unusual case, alpha… died part way through? Something like that.”
If he was watching me carefully to catch my reaction, he got it. I dove for my laptop, flipping it open in seconds.
“Alright. I’ll be back in a moment. Ransom better have picked the movie.”
The case studies were blurring on the screen as I scrolled, searching for the one he’d referenced. What he’d described sounded exactly like what I needed.
“What do you think Umbra’s getting?” Ransom asked, flicking through the channels. The start of a movie sounded before he hit pause. “Won’t be ruined by some popcorn, will it?”
I was barely listening as I reached the study.
He chuckled, and kissed me on the temple, and I realised he’d said something else. I hadn’t heard.
“I’ll get you all the options,” he said.
The little circle was loading on the screen as I clicked the study. Not fast enough.
This could be it, the answer I’d been searching for.
A Hail Mary.
Finally, the page loaded and my eyes scanned it, reading through.
Sure enough, it was a dark bond transfer. The pack lead had died part way through the negotiations.
But how had he died?
That’s what I needed to know.
Ransom returned in the doorway already, but I didn’t look, instead reading line after line, skimming to get to the answer.
“One second,” I said vaguely, glancing up, and then I froze, my blood turning to ice.
The alpha in my doorway wasn’t one of my mates.
Mord Sato was standing in the doorway, watching me curiously.
But… this was my home.
My nest.
He wasn’t supposed to be here. He couldn’t be here—not when I was so close… My heart hammered in my chest as I glanced down at the computer screen, just in reach, yet…
Mord took a step forward, and I shifted back, a low whine in my chest, eyes fixed on his one boot that was in my territory.
“Your mates,” he said quietly, “Are out of patience.”