**Eight Months Later**
Aria
“Aria, get your ass downstairs already! You’re gonna be late for your first day of college!” Aunt Esther yells from the kitchen.
“I’m coming!” I shout back, rolling my eyes as I smooth my hands over my hair. With one last glance in the mirror, I nod in approval. Palazzo pants and a chiffon blouse-casual yet elegant. Perfect.
By the time I reach the kitchen, Aunt Esther has already set the table. The smell of pancakes fills the air, and my stomach does a happy little flip.
“Come sit down,” she says, motioning to the plate. “I made your favorite…pancakes.”
I sigh, shaking my head. “You didn’t have to, Aunt Esther. I’m already late.” Even as I say that, I grab one and take a huge bite.
“Let me see you.” She’s already reaching for my hair, smoothing it down like I’m five years old. “Gotta make sure you’re looking fine.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” I chuckle, still chewing. “It’s only college, not a damn job interview.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she waves me off. “But it’s crazy for a she-wolf like you.”
“Actually, no,” I say, swallowing. “Being around humans isn’t so bad. Although… I kinda miss talking to other werewolves.”
“Don’t worry,” she reassures me. “Maybe we can visit Doctor Rish and the others on Christmas Day.”
I smile, but deep down, I want more than that. Yeah, Doctor Rish and his group of rogue wolves are great, always welcoming whenever we visit, but… it’s not the same.
“Don’t forget to call Doctor Rish and thank him,” Aunt Esther reminds me as she hands me a glass of juice. “Without him, this wouldn’t even be possible.”
“I will,” I promise, taking a sip. Doctor Rish made it possible for me to get into Long Range University without my academy transcripts. I only took the SATs, passed, and got accepted…thanks to his friend, a rogue like him, who just so happens to be the chancellor.
Setting the glass down, I push my chair back. “Thanks, Aunt Esther.” I wrap my arms around her in a quick hug before grabbing my bag. “Gotta go. See you later!”
“Bye, kiddo!”
I rush out to the car…a beat-up minivan that Aunt Esther lets me use. Since I’m not staying in a dorm, it saves money, and thankfully, the apartment isn’t far from campus.
By the time I pull up to Land Range University, the place is packed. It’s fall, so the whole campus is buzzing with students…probably other freshers like me. The university isn’t anything fancy or overly modern, mostly old, brick buildings with a classic feel. It’s not massive, but the greenery makes it look kinda nice.
After parking near the Arts Faculty, I kill the engine and hop out, making my way toward the building. Hopefully, finding my department won’t be a pain in the ass.
On the second floor, I spot a group of students talking in the hallway. I walk up to a girl with bright red hair, her dress so tight it looks like she got sewn into it.
“Hey, do you know where the psychology department is?” I ask, trying to sound casual.
She spins around, and holy shit…my heart nearly stops.
Mia.
My mouth drops open as I stare at her.
Mia, on the other hand, looks just as shocked. Her eyes widen, then narrow, her entire expression going from stunned… to cold.
“Aria?”
I hear another familiar voice. Beside Mia, standing just as frozen, is Lily.
Okay, what the actual fuck is going on? My best friends? Here?
But, goddess, my heart is pounding. I haven’t seen them in so long.
Mia’s face hardens. “Let’s go, Lil,” she mutters, grabbing Lily’s arm.
“Mia, wait!” I beg, reaching out before she can walk away. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”
She stops in her tracks, turns back around, and I swear I see her jaw tighten.
“Happy?” Her voice cracks with emotion. “Aria, you left us. You left without even looking back.” Her eyes glisten, but she holds her ground. “We were supposed to tell each other everything. And you…. you just cut us off.”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, my throat tightening. “I’m so fucking sorry.” Tears burn my eyes. “Please… don’t be like this.”
Lily doesn’t hesitate. She steps forward, pulling me into a tight hug. “Goddess, I’m so glad you’re okay,” she breathes. “We were so worried.” She leans back, looking at Mia.
“Come on, Mia,” Lily says, nudging her. “She’s still our friend.”
Mia stands there, arms crossed, glaring at me for a long moment. Then, finally, she sighs and mutters, “You had us so fucking worried, Aria.”
And just like that, she pulls me into a hug.
I clutch her back, squeezing my eyes shut. “I’m sorry… so, so sorry.”
After a few minutes, we’re all sitting together in an empty lecture hall, still processing the absolute mindfuck that we’ve somehow ended up in the same university.
“I can’t believe you guys actually remembered our dumb little agreement to come here,” I say, shaking my head in disbelief.
Mia grins. “We did it with you in mind. We figured, who knows? Maybe she’ll show up.” She gestures at me. “And look at that…you did!”
We all laugh, but Lily wastes no time getting to the real questions. “So, what the hell happened, Aria? Where have you been?”
“I’ve been staying with Aunt Esther. Remember her?” I say, watching their reactions.
Mia and Lily exchange glances before Mia speaks. “Wait, Aunt Esther? The one who used to take care of you at the pack house?”
I nod.
“I can’t believe this,” Mia mutters, looking stunned.
“Yeah, she was banished, right? Why the hell didn’t we think of her?” Lily groans, smacking her forehead.
I chuckle. “We kept in touch even after she was banished. She was the only person I could turn to.”
Mia exhales, shaking her head. “Well, I’m glad she took care of you because, damn, girl, you look amazing.” She whistles, giving me a once-over. “Your hair is literally shining.”
I laugh. “Same goes for you two. You’re both glowing.”
Mia rolls her eyes. “If you’re talking about Lily, it’s because she’s been squealing ever since she found her mate last month.”
“Really?!” I reach for Lily’s hands, already squealing myself. “I’m so happy for you, babe!”
“Thanks, Aria,” Lily beams. “I’m so fucking happy too.”
“Tell me about him!”
Lily sighs dreamily. “He’s tall, manly, handsome, gentle… and a Shadow Pang warrior.”
The name slams into me like a punch to the gut.
“Shadow Pang?” My body tenses.
Lily nods, oblivious to my reaction. “Yeah… after you left, Mia and her family moved to Shadow Pang, courtesy of Damon’s family. I met my mate when I visited her there.”
“That’s… great,” I say, pushing down the tightness in my chest. “So, none of you are in Full Moon Pack anymore?”
“Nope.” Mia shakes her head. “But I heard Ethan lost his shit.”
“What?” My brows shoot up.
“Yeah,” Mia says, leaning forward. “After you left, he spiraled…obsessed with alcohol, drugs, all that mess. He became erratic and violent, so Alpha Stevens sent him to werewolf rehab.”
I snort. “Serves him right. Couldn’t care less about that bastard. What surprises me is that Alpha Marcus actually let you guys stay in his pack,” I say, eyeing them both.
Mia and Lily exchange another look.
“Alpha Marcus isn’t really… well,” Lily says hesitantly.
I wave it off. “Hope he gets better,” I say, not wanting to dwell on that. Because if I do, it’ll lead to talking about the one person I really don’t want to talk about.
Glancing at my watch, I jump up. “Shit, I need to get to class. What are you guys studying, anyway?”
“Theater arts,” Mia says with a dramatic hair flip.
“And business management,” Lily adds.
I shake my head, grinning. “I can’t believe y’all actually chased your dreams.”
“Same as you,” Mia smirks.
We laugh before I pull out my phone. “Alright, let’s exchange numbers.”
They both give me a weird look.
“What?” I frown.
Lily crosses her arms. “What happened to your mind link? Why couldn’t we reach you?”
I exhale. “I was banished. Not just from Full Moon Pack…but from Shadow Pang too.”
Mia sighs. “Right… forgot about that.”
We exchange numbers, and as we stand, Mia nudges my shoulder. “We’re so not done catching up. You still need to tell us what it’s like being rogue and living with humans.”
I smirk. “Deal.”
Lily perks up. “Oh! Aria, do you wanna come to Theo’s birthday party tonight? It’s not far from campus.”
I freeze. “Wait-Theo is here?”
“Yeah, kinda,” Lily says. “He goes to school here. Damon too.”
Mia notices the look on my face and quickly adds, “Don’t worry…if you’re thinking about Alpha Lucas, he’s not coming to the party.”
My stomach drops at the mention of his name. I swallow hard. “Is… Lucas also studying here?”
Mia and Lily share one last look before Mia finally nods.
“Yeah.”
My heart stops.
What the fuck!