SLOANE
The moment Alpha Lance dismissed me, the tension that had been coiled in my spine for the entirety of our conversation loosened—but only slightly.
I stepped out of his office, breathing in the crisp academy air, hoping it would help me clear the fog of worry crowding my mind. It had been a productive meeting, or at least I told myself that. He was kinder than I expected, sterner than I preferred, and observant in the way only a seasoned Alpha could be. He asked questions I wasn’t sure how to answer without unraveling into a mess of anxiety and half-truths.
So yes, I needed a walk. A long one.
The academy grounds were quieter than usual. Winter still clung to the air even though the sun had been up for hours, and the cloudy sky cast everything in a muted silver glow. But the qui
