Chapter 43: The Freshman Ball

After kidnappings, secret laboratories, Moon Court attacks, and becoming Alpha of a resurrected Pack, I almost forgot I was still a freshman.

Tessa did not.

"The Freshman Ball is tonight."

I stared at her.

"No."

"Yes."

"I have a terrorist scientist threatening me."

"She can wait until after pictures."

"That's not how terrorism works."

Rhea appeared behind Tessa holding a garment bag.

"I voted yes."

"You don't vote on my social life."

"I'm Keeper."

"Of archives."

"I'm expanding the portfolio."

Mom had apparently joined the conspiracy.

The dress they chose was midnight blue.

Simple.

Fitted.

Silver embroidery curved along the waist like moonlight.

When I saw myself in the mirror, an old instinct appeared.

Turn sideways.

Check stomach.

Check arms.

Check whether anything looked bigger.

I caught myself.

Then stopped.

I looked again.

Not for flaws.

Just me.

Tessa noticed.

"You good?"

"Yeah."

And I meant it.

The ball was held in Hollowcrest's grand hall.

The same freshman community that had once mocked an anonymous fat girl now went silent when I entered.

I hated how predictable people were.

Whispers followed.

"That's Nessa."

"Lunaris Alpha."

"Rowan Vale's mate."

"She was Knox's online girlfriend."

That last one made me roll my eyes.

Could I ever become famous for something that didn't involve a man?

Rhea walked beside me.

"If anyone calls you fat pig tonight, I'm legally allowed to bite them."

"No, you're not."

"Keeper privilege."

"Still not real."

Rowan waited near the stairs.

Black suit.

Silver tie.

No royal sash.

No Nightvale insignia.

I noticed.

"You dressed like a normal student."

"I am a normal student."

A dozen security officers were hidden around the hall.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Relatively."

He offered his hand.

"May I?"

I took it.

"Yes."

Across the room, Knox stood with several Stormridge students.

His eyes met mine.

For a second, I remembered the old fantasy.

The first meeting I had imagined for over a year.

Knox seeing me.

Being amazed.

Telling me I was beautiful.

Choosing me.

That fantasy had once powered hundreds of miles of running.

Tonight, it felt strangely small.

Knox approached.

Rowan's hand tightened.

I squeezed it.

"Behave."

"I am."

Knox stopped in front of us.

"You look beautiful."

"Thank you."

No hidden meaning.

No hope.

Just a compliment.

Then he looked at Rowan.

"You clean up okay."

Rowan smiled.

"You too."

"That sounded painful."

"It was."

Elodie arrived moments later.

Silver dress.

Hair loose.

She looked stunning.

Knox's attention shifted toward her automatically.

Interesting.

Elodie noticed too.

"Hi."

"Hi."

Awkward silence.

I stepped backward.

"This seems like none of my business."

Rowan immediately followed.

"Excellent instinct."

We left them standing together.

On the dance floor, Rowan held out his hand.

"I should warn you."

"What?"

"I'm terrible at this."

"The future Supreme Alpha can't dance?"

"I can command armies."

"Can you count to three?"

"Usually."

We danced.

He stepped on my foot once.

I laughed so loudly people stared.

"Stop."

"You actually are terrible."

"I warned you."

"How did your family allow this?"

"My mother tried."

"Failed."

"Clearly."

The music changed.

Slower.

His hand rested carefully at my waist.

"Better?"

"Marginally."

I leaned closer.

For several minutes, I forgot Helena.

Forgot Marcus.

Forgot Pack politics.

I was eighteen.

At a university ball.

Dancing badly with a boy I liked.

Maybe that was why the danger found us then.

The lights flickered.

My body tensed.

Rowan felt it instantly.

"Stay close."

A message appeared on the giant projection screen.

HELLO, NESSA.

Music stopped.

Students screamed.

Security moved.

Another line appeared.

YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET KNOX HERE.

My blood went cold.

The screen changed.

Old messages between Knox and me appeared.

Private messages.

Then screenshots from the transfer thread.

Laughter didn't come this time.

Everyone knew who I was now.

The humiliation Helena expected didn't work the same way.

I walked toward the stage.

Rowan grabbed my hand.

"What are you doing?"

"Taking it back."

I climbed onto the stage.

The screen showed my old photograph.

Two hundred pounds.

Round face.

Shy smile.

The exact image I had once sent Rowan as a test.

Whispers moved through the hall.

I took the microphone.

"Yeah."

The room quieted.

"That's me."

I looked at the photograph.

"I was seventeen."

No shame.

"My boyfriend saw that photo and decided I wasn't attractive enough to deserve honesty."

Knox lowered his head.

"So he gave my account to someone else."

I looked toward Rowan.

"He was wrong to do that."

Then back at the crowd.

"But the girl in that picture didn't do anything wrong."

Silence.

"She wasn't disgusting. She wasn't a joke. She wasn't less worthy of respect because she weighed more."

My voice steadied.

"And I'm done letting people use her to embarrass me."

I turned toward the projection camera.

"Helena, if you're watching, find better material."

The screen went black.

For two seconds, nothing happened.

Then applause started.

Tessa first.

Rhea.

Then others.

I stepped off the stage.

Rowan met me.

His eyes were shining.

"Don't."

"I'm not crying."

"You're terrible at lying."

He hugged me.

My phone vibrated.

Unknown number.

One message.

[Good. You passed.]

My stomach dropped.

Another followed.

[Now let's see whether Rowan does.]