Melissa.

That was... totally weird.

The thought repeated itself over and over in my head as I walked, my steps quickening without me consciously deciding to move faster. Why was he acting like that? Why did his voice sound so gentle, his touch so careful? My heart was still racing, pounding so loudly in my chest that I was half-convinced anyone passing by could hear it. Each thud echoed in my ears, refusing to calm down no matter how many deep breaths I tried to take.

I tightened my grip around the ice pack and headed straight for my room, my mind a chaotic mess of thoughts I didn’t want to entertain.

When I finally reached my door, I slipped inside quietly, closing it behind me with the utmost care. The room was dim, the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the window. Galen was fast asleep, curled under her blanket, her breathing slow and even. I paused for a moment, watching her chest rise and fall, relieved that at least one of us could rest so peacefully.

I had no intention of waking her.

I tiptoed across the room and lay down on my bed without making a sound, the mattress dipping slightly beneath my weight. Only then did I allow myself to breathe properly. I stared up at the ceiling, my thoughts still racing despite the quiet surrounding me.

My gaze slowly dropped to the ice pack resting in my hand.

And then, without warning, heat rushed to my cheeks.

I couldn’t stop the blush even if I tried. The image came back vividly, too vividly,his face so close to mine, his breath warm against my skin, his lips just inches away from my own. My heart skipped a beat at the memory, and I squeezed my eyes shut, as if that alone could chase it away.

"No," I muttered to myself, shaking my head. "Get it together, Maria."

I turned my face to the side, pressing the cold pack lightly against my cheek as if to ground myself. I couldn’t just suddenly decide he was good because of a few kind gestures. That was foolish. Dangerous, even. Warmth didn’t always mean safety. Kindness didn’t always come without a price.

I reprimanded myself silently, my thoughts sharp and unforgiving.

You’ve seen what kindness can turn into. Don’t be stupid.

But the doubt crept in anyway.

Was it really just a little warmth?

He had stepped in when Vanessa was trying to kill me. He hadn’t hesitated. He had pulled her away and saved my life. He had walked me to the kitchen, gotten an ice pack, and insisted on helping me himself. He hadn’t mocked me. He hadn’t threatened me. He hadn’t hurt me.

He had been... nice.

The realization made my chest tighten in confusion.

And then another thought followed, unwanted but persistent.

He was part of the competition.

My stomach twisted.

Did he join because he wanted to win? Or did he join because... he liked me?

The question sent my heart into another frantic rhythm, and I groaned, dragging my free hand over my face in frustration.

"Arrrghhhhhhhhh!" I let out a muffled howl, burying my face into the pillow to keep from waking Galen.

Why was my mind doing this to me?

What exactly was wrong with me?

I rolled onto my side, staring blankly at the wall. Had he cast some sort of spell on me? Was this how Alphas affected people? Or was I just so starved for kindness that even the smallest act felt overwhelming?

The sudden interest terrified me. Not in the usual sense of fear, not because someone was threatening me, not because it was unwanted. No, this was different. This was the kind of fear that gnawed at the edges of your mind when you realized you couldn’t control the way your own heart reacted, when something, or someone, had a hold on you that you didn’t know how to resist. And that terrified me more than anything else could.

Part of me didn’t know how to reject it. Part of me wanted to lean into it, even as another part screamed that I shouldn’t. I hated that. I hated that my thoughts betrayed me, wandering unbidden toward him, toward the low, steady cadence of his voice, the way his gaze softened unexpectedly when it landed on me, the subtle strength in his presence that made me feel both seen and unsteady at the same time. I hated the way my pulse seemed to pick up without warning, the way my chest tightened as if my body were remembering something I didn’t consciously recall. I hated how instinctive it all felt, how my mind seemed powerless to prevent the feelings that kept rising against my will.

Enough.

I forced myself to inhale slowly, deliberately, letting the air fill my lungs, then exhale just as deliberately, counting each breath, tracing the rhythm of in and out, one, two, three... until the tightness in my chest eased just enough to let my mind rest, even if only briefly. Tomorrow will come whether I am ready or not. And whatever it held, I would face it with a clear head, even if my heart refused to cooperate.

No more overthinking. No more what-ifs. No more spiraling into possibilities that would never exist until they arrived. I closed my eyes, clutching the ice pack lightly to my cheek as sleep edged in, slow, deliberate, pulling me away from the restless currents of thought. My body, my mind, my heart, they all needed pause. They all needed this rest.

No matter what happened, one thing was certain: I needed it. I needed to rest. To recover. To brace myself for what tomorrow would bring.

Tomorrow was another day.

And I had no idea what it had in store for me, but I would meet it awake, aware, and at least for a few hours, free of the pull that terrified me so much tonight.

***

I stirred awake, the first light of dawn spilling softly through the curtains. The warmth of the bed was comforting, yet something felt... off. I turned my head toward the corner where Galen usually slept, only to find the bed empty. My brow furrowed.

She must have woken up earlier than I did, I thought. That explained why the room felt quieter than usual. My cheeks flushed slightly with guilt—I had overslept. The chores wouldn’t wait, and I needed to get moving before anyone noticed.

Carefully, I slipped out of bed, trying not to disturb the stillness of the room. The floor was cool beneath my feet, and I wrapped the blanket tighter around my shoulders, my mind already running through the tasks ahead.

As I stepped into the corridor, the first rays of sunlight glinted off the walls. Everything felt calm, deceptively calm. I walked briskly, focusing on the list of things I had to accomplish before anyone could call me out for being late. My heartbeat was a little louder than usual, echoing in my ears, but I told myself it was just nerves, nothing more.

I had reached the main hall when I noticed movement ahead. A figure stepped into my path, tall and composed, with a presence that immediately made me pause. My chest constricted, and I felt a flutter of unease I couldn’t quite place.

"Good morning," a smooth voice said, calm and steady. I looked up, and my eyes met his—Alpha Daniel.

For a moment, I froze. His expression was neutral, but his gaze held a warmth that made my skin prickle. He wasn’t threatening, but there was an intensity in his eyes that demanded attention.

"I....good morning," I managed to murmur, my voice a little shaky. I kept my hands close to myself, gripping the blanket tightly, unsure how much of my unease he could sense.

"I didn’t expect to see anyone out this early," he said, his tone easy, as though he had been walking the corridors himself and stumbled upon me by chance. "Are you all right? You look a little... unsettled."

I swallowed hard. How much should I tell him? My instinct screamed at me to remain silent, to protect myself, but the concern in his voice made it harder to deflect.

"I’m fine," I said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just... getting an early start on chores."

He nodded, stepping a little closer, his presence calm but deliberate. "You don’t have to do everything alone, you know," he said softly. "If you need help, I can assist. You don’t have to carry it all yourself."

I hesitated, the offer stirring a mix of relief and unease in my chest. "I... I can manage," I said finally, my voice quieter now.

He smiled faintly, not pressing, not pushing. "All right," he said, giving me just enough space. "But don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything. It’s better to accept help than risk yourself unnecessarily."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak further. His eyes lingered on me for a moment longer, scanning my face as though memorizing it, before he finally stepped aside.

I exhaled slowly, my chest loosening as I moved past him, though my heart still thumped in my ribs. What was it about him that unsettled me? He was calm, polite, and even... considerate, yet I felt a strange tension under his gaze.

Shaking my head, I focused on the chores ahead. The day was already moving faster than I could keep up with, and I couldn’t afford to let my mind wander. But as I walked, the memory of his eyes lingered, and I felt a curiosity I couldn’t quite explain creeping into my thoughts.

For now, I had to focus on what I could control, my tasks, my responsibilities, and most importantly, surviving another day in this complicated world. But somewhere in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but wonder...why had he been there, in the quiet hallway, watching me?