Chapter 61 - graduation

Rosie

My heart pounded so loudly in my ears I was sure Jude, with his wolf-heightened hearing, could hear it as I listened to the dean droning on about embarking on new journeys and the future being ours... Blah blah blah But I couldn’t really focus on any of the words because my legs were trembling beneath my graduation gown, and all I could think about was that it was finally happening.

It was today.

My hands gripped the empty diploma folder in my lap so tightly that my knuckles turned white. Beside me, Jude reached over and squeezed my hands gently, his touch warm and comforting. "Breathe, sweetheart," he whispered softly.

I nodded absentmindedly, but I wasn’t really processing his words because my mind was spiraling with anxiety and excitement. What if I tripped walking across that stage? What if I made some embarrassing mistake in front of everyone? What if—

God, I could feel my heart picking up speed, pounding faster and faster until I thought it might burst out of my chest.

Jude must have sensed my panic through our bond because he pulled me closer, and I felt the warm wave of calming pheromones wash over me, soothing my anxiety. I released a shaky breath, and my shoulders dropped slightly.

"Thank you," I mumbled, and he squeezed my hand again in response.

My entire body tensed as I watched other graduates’ names being called one by one. Some walked across the stage dramatically with exaggerated strides; some even danced their way up, making the crowd laugh and cheer. Each name brought us closer to M, and my stomach twisted in anticipation.

Then I heard it. My name.

"Martinez, Rosie Elsa."

The sound of my own name rang through the auditorium, and I nearly jumped right out of my skin when a hollering noise started—clapping and cheering that resonated around the entire room. Everyone, and I mean everyone in that auditorium, turned to stare directly at me.

And I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole from the embarrassment.

Because at the very back of the auditorium I could see Elena and Marcus clapping, contrasting his usual stoic face; Maya jumping up and down while screaming my name; and what looked like half the Winter pack—familiar faces whooping and cheering.

My cheeks burned hot with redness, and I could feel the heat creeping down my neck. But when I glanced at Jude he was smiling at me with love and pride in his amber eyes that it made my chest pull. He lifted my hand to his lips and pecked my knuckles softly.

"Go get your degree, sweetheart," he murmured.

I stood up on shaky legs, straightened my spine, lifted my head, and started walking toward the podium. I didn’t even know how I managed to put one foot in front of the other without stumbling, but somehow I did. And with each step I took, I felt my confidence growing: the cheering of all those people in the crowd, the pack members, my mate’s eyes on me, the baby moving gently inside me—it all spurred me on and made me walk higher.

I reached the dean, and he smiled warmly at me as he handed over my degree certificate. I took it with trembling hands and stared down at the official document with my name printed in elegant script.

Rosie Elsa Martinez. Bachelor of Arts in Education. Second Class Upper.

I’d actually done it.

Then someone, one of the senior professors, reached up and changed my cap tassel from the right side to the left, and another roar of cheers erupted from my people at the back.

As I carefully descended the podium steps, trying not to trip over my gown, Jude suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Before I could react, he snatched me around my waist and twirled me in a circle, making my gown billow out around us.

"You did it, sweetheart!" he said against my ear, his voice tingling with emotion.

"Yes, we did it," I responded breathlessly and dropped my head to capture his lips in a kiss right there in front of everyone.

After the graduation ceremony officially ended, we walked out of the auditorium into the late afternoon sunlight. People were everywhere outside: families congratulating one another, graduates hugging and taking pictures, the air buzzing with excited energy.

I spotted Elena, Marcus, and Maya standing with River and a few other pack members off to the side, and I practically ran to them.

Elena pulled me into a crushing hug first, her soft voice murmured. "I’m so proud, daughter," she whispered. "So incredibly proud."

Marcus hugged me next, which still surprised me every time; it was brief. "Well done, Rosie," he grunted, and I was very sure it was Elena that forced him.

Maya was bouncing on her toes. "My genius Rosie! We need pictures.”

Congratulations were said over and over; flowers were thrust into my arms until I could barely hold them all, and cameras flashed as we posed for what felt like uncountable photos.

Then I looked around for Jude to take a picture together with both our degrees, and I frowned in confusion.

"Where’s Jude?" I asked, scanning the crowd.

Elena, Marcus, and Maya all looked at each other with these weird secretive smiles that made my suspicion spike immediately.

"He went home," Maya said with a casual shrug.

"Home?" I repeated. "Why? What happened? Is something wrong?"

"We don’t know," Maya said, but she was grinning now. "Maybe you should go home and find out."

Then she actually winked at me, and I shook my head because what were they all up to? 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

River stepped forward and offered to drive me back to the Winter mansion, and I appreciated it because honestly I couldn’t wait to be back in the embrace of my mate. Jude’s name had been called before mine during the ceremony, but he hadn’t moved to walk across the podium at his turn, choosing instead to wait with me.

So why would he just disappear now?

River dropped me off at the front of the mansion and waved as he drove away, leaving me standing there with my flowers and degree certificate clutched in my arms with my graduation gown still on.

Why was everyone behaving so suspiciously? I raised an eyebrow in question at the empty driveway.

I grabbed the hem of my gown and as soon as I opened it a small piece of paper that had been stuck to the outside fell and fluttered to the ground. I bent down carefully and picked it up.

Congratulations on your great day, sweetheart.