Page 72 of Alpha's Hated Mate

“It is.” I open to a random page, turning it toward the barrier so she can see the familiar handwriting. “That’s his handwriting, isn’t it?”

Nadia falls silent, her gaze transfixed on the journal.

“You need to know that in his final months,” I continue, “he came to believe that Neutrals and Scarlets exist in natural balance. That one cannot—should not—dominate the other.”

Confusion crosses her features, followed quickly by more doubt. “No. That’s not . . . he wouldn’t . . . ”

I read his final entry aloud: “‘The future of our kind lies not in dominance, but in balance. Scarlet and Neutral, passion and temperance, power and control—two halves of the same whole.’“

For the first time since I’ve known her, Nadia Vaultmore has nothing to say.

“You know,” I say, noticing that she’s now avoiding my eyes. “I believe you when you say you did everything to honor your father.”

I stand, approaching the small transfer slot used for delivering meals. “If you truly want to honor your father, you need to honor all of him by reading this.” I slide the journal through the opening.

Nadia doesn’t move immediately, staring at the journal as if it might burn her.

I knock at the door and the guard on the other side opens it. Before leaving, I pause one more time and look back.

Nadia reaches for the journal with hesitant fingers, almost reverently. It’s a small gesture, but stirs a feeling in me that I never anticipated—hope for her redemption.

For Aydan’s sake, I hope that something in those pages reaches Nadia. Not that I’d ever admit it out loud, but maybe—just maybe—she deserves a second chance of having a relationship with her brother. I know how much it would mean to Aydan if his sister found her way back from the darkness.

Chapter Twenty-Nine—Saffron

Isit next to Yarra in Professor Robertson’s Advanced Lunar Cycles class when the academy-wide alert tone rings through the speakers. Everyone startles and exchanges confused glances.

“Your attention please,” Dean Fowler’s voice echoes across campus. “All students and faculty are to report to the main auditorium immediately. This is a mandatory assembly.”

Professor Robertson adjusts her half-moon glasses. “Well, that’s unexpected. Let’s move along, everyone.”

“What’s going on?” I whisper to Yarra as we gather our things.

She shrugs, her purple hair catching the light. “No idea. Chad didn’t mention anything about an assembly today.”

Students flood the hallways, a current of nervous energy propelling us toward the assembly hall. Rumors ripple through the crowd.

“ . . . catch another Blood Lycan . . . ”

“ . . . finally putting Scarlets in their own dorm . . . ”

“ . . . blue bloods keep pulling pranks in the library . . . ”

I roll my eyes. “Never a dull moment at Moonhelm.”

“Maybe it’ll give us more time to study for that stupid quiz,” Yarra says with a smirk.

The massive doors of the assembly hall stand open, and we’re swept inside with the crowd. The room buzzes as students fill the seats. I follow Yarra toward the middle section, scanning the room for anyrealclues to this mysterious gathering.

Dean Fowler perches on one of the chairs up front. My stomach drops at the sight of Aydan and Chad flanking him on either side, all of their faces etched with stern lines.

“Hey,” I nudge Yarra, pointing toward the stage. “What’s your husband doing up there with Aydan?”

Yarra’s eyes widen. “I have no idea. Chad didn’t say anything about this to me.”

“That’s weird.” A knot forms in my stomach. Since we got back from Claymore, things have been relatively quiet. No Scarlets have gone missing. No eerie visions. Did something happen yesterday while Aydan and I were meeting with the Alpha King?

Dean Fowler rises and approaches the podium. The room gradually falls silent.

---