—Alexia—
I pushed the infirmary door open slowly, blinking against the softer hall light. My legs felt heavy, like every step was a negotiation with my own body. Zeus trotted quietly at my side, warm and steady beneath my hand, the knot of exhaustion and wariness still curling in my chest like smoke. But the hall wasn't empty.
Finn and the others stood there, waiting. The moment stretched, full of unsaid words, eyes that held concern and something softer that made my chest tighten.
Finn shifted, hands in his pockets, voice low. "We know you said you needed space. But… we couldn't leave you alone."
I met his gaze, feeling the weight in it, the silent promise I wasn't sure I was ready for but needed anyway.
Jasper grinned, cutting the tension. "Well, look who's up. Missed your sunshine, chaos queen."
I rolled my eyes, a small, tired smile tugging at my lips despite everything. Asher and Soren exchanged a glance, relief softening the edges of their guarded postures.
"We're walking you back," Finn said. "You shouldn't be alone right now."
Part of me wanted to argue. But Zeus nudged my hand, warm and certain, and I let him be my answer. We started down the hall, slow and uneven, the silence easing under Jasper's nonsense facts and Soren's quiet watchfulness. I felt the bond flicker at the edge of my mind—raw, fragile, but there. When we reached my dorm, Kaia was waiting with a mountain of junk food spread on her bed and a grin that could light up the entire floor.
"Emergency girls' night," she declared. "Boys, out."
Jasper raised his hands in mock surrender, Asher smirked, and Soren offered a quiet nod. Finn lingered, his eyes soft when they met mine, then he gave a small nod before following the others out. The door clicked shut, sealing us inside the cozy chaos of Kaia's posters and mismatched pillows. Zeus curled at the foot of my bed, his sigh a small anchor in the room.
Kaia plopped onto her bed with a dramatic flop, grabbing chips. "Okay. Spill."
I sank onto my bed, running a hand through my hair. "It's… a lot."
Kaia's smile faded, replaced with quiet attentiveness. "I'm here."
I let out a breath. "I lost control. Asher called me dangerous. Said maybe I should be turned in."
The words tasted like ash.
Kaia's eyes hardened, but her voice stayed soft. "That's rough."
"It's just… hearing it made it real." I looked down at Zeus, who nudged my knee. "What if they're right?"
Kaia leaned forward. "Listen to me. Dangerous doesn't mean bad. It means powerful. You're allowed to be powerful."
I swallowed. "The rumors are getting worse, Kaia. I hear them in the halls—students saying I snapped, that I'm a bomb waiting to go off."
"Let them talk," she said firmly. "They don't know you."
I didn't respond. My magic pulsed beneath my skin, restless.
Kaia's eyes softened. "Lex, you're not alone in this. Let them help you. Let me help you."
Zeus thumped his tail once against the floor, a quiet agreement.
I managed a small, real smile. "Thanks."
Kaia tossed me a candy bar. "Chocolate. Non-negotiable."
I laughed, tension loosening a fraction.
We were halfway through a bag of chips when she grew quiet, eyes flicking to the door. "Word is, the Council's been sniffing around."
I stilled. "What?"
Kaia shrugged, but the tension in her shoulders betrayed her. "Heard a couple of the older shifters talking. They're asking about what happened in the courtyard, about you."
Fear coiled cold in my chest. "What does that mean?"
"It means," Kaia said carefully, "you need to be ready. You need to learn control before they decide for you what happens next."
I looked at Zeus, his amber eyes watching me, calm and unafraid. Control. The word echoed, heavy.
"I don't want to be a threat," I whispered.
"You're not," Kaia said. "You're a storm learning how to breathe."
I closed my eyes, letting her words sink in, letting Zeus's steady warmth remind me that for now, I wasn't alone.