“I’ll keep you in the loop, Selene. I won’t hide anything from the Luna, and if my sons ask, I won’t lie—but I’m leaving it up to you to decide how much you tell them about your involvement,” Alpha Michael said, his eyes steady on mine. “And I want you to tell me if you’re harmed at school, no matter how small the incident. My wolf and I have been monitoring things for a while. You’re tougher than anyone I know, but you’re still young, and you’ve been dealing with more than you should.”

My fists clenched. “I won’t tattle every time someone shoves me in the hallway, Alpha. I’m not weak; I can handle myself.”

His gaze sharpened. “And yet, you’re letting yourself be a punching bag. Standing up for others is admirable, but it’s also draining if you’re always carrying everyone’s weight. You’re not weak, Selene, but sometimes strength means drawing a line.”

I felt a mix of anger and vulnerability boil over. “It doesn’t matter. The school administration sides with whoever looks better on paper. They’ve already warned me that even one more ‘incident’ could get me suspended or worse. And I refuse to risk my place in the Elite training because someone can’t control themselves. This has been my dream since I was a kid.” My words tumbled out in a torrent, frustration burning hotter with every syllable. “I won’t let someone’s insecurities cost me everything I’ve worked for.”

A knock cut through my rant, and the door cracked open. “Bitty?” Ethan’s voice was tense. “I can feel your emotions through the door—it feels like I’m being hit with an adrenaline rush out here.” His knuckles were white on the door handle, his chest rising and falling unevenly as he stood there, waiting.

I looked back at Alpha Michael, his expression unreadable. “How long has Ethan been this in-tune with you?”

“Since yesterday. After Luna Ava told me about the contents of the package…” I trailed off, trying to put it into words. “He said he could feel my fear, almost like it was his own.” I forced myself to meet the Alpha’s eyes. “Is that…normal?”

He nodded slowly, but his face gave nothing away. “I think there’s more going on between you two than you realize.” He paused, then said, “And there’s one more thing. I wanted you to be the first to know—Prince Andrew, Warriors Hogan and Nickolas want you training with the Elite Warriors.” He leaned forward, a glint of pride in his eyes. “They want you, Selene. And soon.”

My breath hitched as his words sunk in. Train with the Elite? My mind reeled with the thought of working alongside the best. “What…when…?” I stammered, finally managing to jump to my feet, uncontainable excitement washing over me. “Oh my goddess!”

I bolted around his desk and hugged him tight, catching him slightly off guard, though he recovered quickly, squeezing me in a fatherly embrace. A pang hit me as I realized that this was the fatherly pride I’d longed for. Swallowing hard, I released him, attempting to steady my excitement.

“They’re giving you a year here first. They’ll come to check in at the end of the school year, and then they’ll decide when you’ll join. But you will join.” He pulled back and smiled. “I couldn’t be prouder of you, Selene.”

I hadn’t realized how much I’d needed to hear that. Emotion welled up, my happiness spilling over into tears as I hugged him again. I’d made it. I’d earned the recognition and respect I’d fought so hard for.

The door flew open, and I jumped. Ethan was there, his face flushed with worry. “Bitty, what’s going on? You’re all over the place emotionally—it’s like an earthquake in here.”

Aaron and Ryan were right behind him, their faces pinched with the same anxiety. “What happened, Dad?” Aaron asked, his eyes darting to me as though he could read the situation if he looked hard enough. “Selene, are you alright?”

Still giddy with the news, I threw myself at Aaron, then Ethan, wrapping each of them in a hug. They each took turns holding me, visibly relieved as they felt the excitement radiating from me.

“You’re not going to believe this,” I said, unable to stop grinning. “The Alpha King, Warrior Hogan, and Warrior Nickolas want me to train to be an Elite Warrior!” I could barely contain myself, my heart racing with the thrill of sharing this.

But the reactions were…unexpected. Ryan stiffened, his expression darkening. Aaron’s grip on the desk turned his knuckles white. Ethan paled, sinking to his knees as if the air had been sucked from his lungs. “Bitty,” he said, his voice choked, “you can’t leave. We need you here. Can’t you see that?”

My happiness wavered, deflating slightly. “What? I’m not leaving right now. It’s just training, and it won’t even start until next year!” I tried to laugh it off, my enthusiasm dipping as they looked at me like I’d just shattered their world.

Ryan’s grip on me tightened, keeping me in place. I searched his face, wondering why they were reacting this way. “You’re all leaving for your own training soon, too,” I said, the realization hitting me with a pang. “You can’t be upset that I want this, too.”

“Selene, it’s different with you. We don’t want you leaving,” Ryan said, his voice almost pleading. “We’d be back. But this—it’s so far away.”

Anger flickered to life inside me, creeping up and melting my excitement. “You’re all hypocrites, then. You get to leave for months of training and come back changed, but the second I have something of my own, you all can’t handle it.” I pulled away from Ryan, crossing my arms, voice low and cold. “I won’t sit here waiting like some delicate flower. I’ve fought for this. You, all of you, have no right to try and take it from me.”

They looked as though they’d been slapped. Silence stretched between us, thick and tense. “Selene, we’re just worried about you. You’ve been through enough here. It’s just…”

I shook my head, each of their looks of disappointment hardening something inside me. “You’re not my keepers. I’m a warrior of this pack, and I’ll be treated like one. Don’t call me anything but my name, and keep your distance until you’ve accepted that I’m not staying here just to sit on the sidelines.” My voice was barely above a whisper, but I knew they felt the weight behind it. They didn’t own me, and it was time they understood that.

Turning, I looked to Alpha Michael. “Alpha, may I use your gym? I need to blow off some steam, and I’d rather do it alone right now.”

He nodded, his face impassive. “Of course. Use it as long as you need.”

As soon as I was through the door, the low rumble of arguments erupted behind me. I winced, but my anger remained steady. They didn’t get to cage me in like that; not after everything.

Gamma Brett waited for me in the hallway. He said nothing, simply nodded and led me down to the private training room. He secured the space and wordlessly began wrapping my hands, his silent strength grounding me.

The moment I faced the punching bag, the floodgates opened. With each strike, I poured out every hurt and frustration that had built up—my father’s scorn, Stacey’s jabs, my friends’ suffocating protectiveness. The anger that churned within me was finally unleashed, blow after blow, until my knuckles throbbed and my breath came in gasps.

The physical exhaustion took over, dampening the edges of my fury until, finally, I could feel something close to peace settle within me. The room was quiet, and the sting in my fists felt like triumph. Brett handed me a towel, his gaze respectful and calm.

“You know,” he said as I toweled off, “strength isn’t just in the battle. It’s also in what you fight for. Remember why you’re here, Selene.”

I nodded, the clarity of his words seeping into me as I realized he was right. I didn’t have to be understood by everyone. I just needed to keep pushing forward and to keep the strength I’d been fighting so hard to build.