I stepped back, my heart racing. The words kept ringing in my ears-mated, Luna, claim her. They couldn’t possibly be talking about me… could they? My mind scrambled to make sense of it all. Logan, his father, the pack-none of it aligned with the world I knew. Yet, deep down, something gnawed at me, a strange familiarity with what they were discussing.
Before I could think, I heard footsteps approaching the door. Panic surged through me, and I quickly slipped back into the hallway, pressing my body against the wall. I held my breath, hoping they did not notice me.
Logan came out of the room alone, quietly shutting the door behind him. His face was clouded in frustration, his hand raking through his hair in a way I had seen many times before when he was stressed. He paused for a moment, standing still as if debating something within himself.
I held my breath, hoping he wouldn’t notice me pressed against the wall just around the corner. My pulse quickened, my heart pounding so hard I was sure he could hear it.
After what felt like an eternity, Logan started walking away, his footsteps barely audible on the plush carpet.
As Logan’s footsteps faded down the hallway, I let out a shaky breath. My mind raced, heart still pounding. Could my birthday get any worse? First the cryptic letter, now this overheard conversation that left me with more questions than answers.
Mated? Luna? What did any of it even mean?
And why did it feel like Logan was somehow at the center of all of this?
I pressed my back against the wall, closing my eyes for a moment to steady myself.
Everything felt surreal, like I was trapped in some strange nightmare. How could my life go from normal-well, as normal as it could be with everything that had happened lately
-to this?
My birthday, the one day that was supposed to be about me, had turned into a mess of secrets, danger, and confusion. I felt like I was being pulled into something far beyond my understanding, and there was no one I could turn to for answers.
I peeked around the corner, making sure Logan was really gone, before slipping away down the opposite hallway. I needed space, time to think. But where could I go?
Everywhere I turned, it seemed like there were more secrets waiting to be uncovered.
As I walked toward my room, the weight of the day finally hit me, pressing down on my chest. I needed answers. But most of all, I needed to know why Logan had kept this from me. What was he hiding?
With my head swirling with thoughts, I reached my room and shut the door behind me, leaning against it for support. Could this day get any worse?
I pulled out the letter from my pocket, the one that had sparked all my anxiety earlier.
The edges were crumpled from my grip, and I stared at the words again, as if they would somehow reveal more in the dim light of my room.
“I know your secret.”
What secret? What did they know, and how was it connected to what Logan had been discussing with his father? Too many pieces of the puzzle were missing, and I had no idea where to start.
The next morning I decided to push the mess aside and act as though everything was perfectly fine. It was a new day and not only a new day but our school and I was not going to let anything ruin it
I stared at myself in the mirror, forcing a confident smile. “You’ve got this,” I muttered to my reflection. “You are the captain of the debate team. You are smart, capable, and you don’t have time for all this drama.”
Being captain of the debate team had always been something I was proud of. It gave me a sense of purpose, a place where I could prove myself. I loved the thrill of making an argument and defending my position, the way my words could shift a room and change minds. It was one of the few things in my life that made sense.
I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs, determined to face the day with my head held high. At least l’d have Tanya and Mal to distract me from the craziness.
I got to school and everyone was excited about the debate. Tanya and Mal were by my side giving me the support I needed to push through the day. We headed toward the debate prep room, when out of the corner of my eye, I saw her-Taylor.
Of course, she would be here, showing off her confidence and her icy glare. Taylor had always been my biggest rival, both academically and socially. If there was anyone who could get under my skin, it was her. And to make matters worse, she had or still has who knows history with Logan. Everyone knew about it, even though she tried to act like she’d moved on. The truth? Logan was just using her, and it was painfully oblivious to everyone but her. She was smart, and Logan had always appreciated her intelligence. She probably helped him with school work, tutoring him, and keeping his grades up while he barely paid her attention otherwise.
Then there was Madison, the other twat who is also glued to Logan’s side. She has what Taylor didn’t-status. She is popular and beautiful, just like him. It was more like vice versa, all the guys drooling over her and all the girls drooling over Logan. They looked like the perfect match, at least from the outside. But Logan didn’t care about her either. He only keeps her around because she made him look good. She matched his standard of being the golden boy at school, but beyond that, I doubted there was any real connection between them.
Still, it made my blood boil. They were both so arrogant, thinking they had some claim on him, like Logan was some sort of prize to be fought over. And here I was, stuck in the middle of a tangled mess I hadn’t asked for.
Tanya nudged me, snapping me out of my thoughts. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” | lied, forcing a smile. “Just thinking about the debate.”
Mal raised an eyebrow. “Sure, it’s the debate you’re thinking about and not a certain someone.”
“Taylor is nothing near me, I am going to crush her soul.”
Tanya smirked, clearly amused by my sudden fire. “Now that’s the energy I’m talking about. Crush her soul, captain.”
Mal laughed, shaking his head. “I’ve never seen you like this, Audrey. I like it. A little ruthless, but I like it.”
I forced a grin, trying to channel that ruthless energy. It was easier to think about outsmarting Taylor in the debate than dwell on the mess Logan had tangled me in. I had to win today, not just for my team, but for myself. I needed to prove something-to Taylor, to Logan, and maybe even to myself.
“She won’t know what hit her,” | said, feeling the confidence surge. I had every reason to be here. I was smart, prepared, and driven.
Nothing was going to distract me from this.
As we walked into the debate room, the buzz of excitement hit me. The audience was filing in, and the teams were already setting up.
Across the room, I caught sight of Taylor, her blonde hair perfect as always, and that self-satisfied smirk on her face. It made my stomach twist with frustration.
She caught my eye and raised an eyebrow, as if daring me to take her on. I squared my shoulders, refusing to back down from her unspoken challenge. Today was my day. Not hers.
“Ready, captain?” Mal asked, handing me my notes.
“Born ready,” | replied, shooting him a grin.
But as we settled into our spots, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of more than just the debate. Taylor wasn’t the only challenge l’d be facing today.
The room buzzed with energy as students shuffled into their seats, excited whispers filling the air. I could feel the tension building, not just between me and Taylor, but throughout the room. The debate was about to begin, and everyone knew it would be a big one.
Suddenly, Principal Hawthorne cleared his throat, and the noise died down. He stood at the podium in his usual sharp suit, his greying hair neatly combed. He looked over the room, his serious eyes briefly checking each team before speaking.
“Good morning, everyone,” he said, his voice firm. “Today, we have a special event. Our debate teams will discuss an important issue, and as always, I expect the best from all of you.” His gaze moved to me and Taylor, a hint of a smile on his face. “May the best team win.”
With that, he stepped aside, and the room filled with chatter again as the teams prepared to take their positions. I could feel my heart pounding as I exchanged glances with Tanya and Mal, both of them nodding in encouragement.
As I looked across the room, I spotted Taylor again. She was leaning against her team, looking confident and ready to take me down. But I wouldn’t let her intimidate me. I took a deep breath, reminding myself that I was prepared and ready to fight for this win.
The moderator announced the topic, and I focused on my notes. It was time to show everyone what I was capable of. No distractions, no worries about Logan or any of the drama swirling around me. Today was about the debate, and I was going to crush it.