His smile was sharp enough to cut.
I stared at Gideon's outstretched hand for a long moment, weighing my options. My wolf was still growling warnings in the back of my mind, but honestly? I was tired of listening to instincts that had gotten me nowhere.
"One walk," I said finally. "That's it."
"One walk." He didn't lower his hand. "I promise I don't bite. Well, not on the first walk, anyway."
Despite everything, despite the horrible morning and the whispers and the rejection still burning in my chest, I almost smiled.
Almost.
I ignored his hand and started walking down the trail. He fell into step beside me easily, hands shoved in his pockets, looking completely relaxed.
"So," he said after a moment. "How does it feel to be the most talked-about person on campus?"
"Fantastic. Really living my best life."
He laughed. Actually laughed, like I'd said something genuinely funny instead of bitter. "See, that's what I like about you. No pretense. Most people would try to play it off, act like they don't care."
"Who says I care?"
"The tension in your shoulders. The way you haven't looked at me directly since we started walking. The fact that you're gripping your bag strap hard enough to leave marks."
I loosened my grip immediately. "You're observant."
"I pay attention." He glanced at me sideways. "Especially to interesting people."
"There's that word again. Interesting."
"Would you prefer 'fascinating'? 'Intriguing'? I can use a thesaurus if it makes you more comfortable."
This time I did smile. Just a little. "You're annoying."
"I've been called worse."
We walked in silence for a bit. The path curved along the forest edge, dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves overhead. It was actually peaceful out here, away from the stares and whispers. Away from Darius.
The bond tugged faintly in my chest, like it was checking to make sure I hadn't forgotten about him.
As if I could.
"Can I ask you something?" Gideon said.
"You're going to anyway."
"True." He kicked a stone off the path. "Why did you come here? To the Academy, I mean. You had to know it would be rough. Wolfless girl in a school full of predators."
"I'm not wolfless anymore."
"You know what I mean."
I did. And the truth was complicated. My family had pushed for me to come here, hoping the Academy's training might trigger my shift. My aunt had called in favors with the council. My uncle had practically begged.
But the real reason?
"I needed to get away," I said quietly. "From home. From people who looked at me like I was broken."
"And how's that working out for you?"
I shot him a look. "You tell me."
He grinned. "Fair point."
We reached a small bridge that crossed over a stream. Gideon leaned against the railing, looking out at the water. I stood beside him, grateful for the excuse to stop walking.
"For what it's worth," he said, "I don't think you're broken."
"You don't even know me."
"I know you stood up to Darius Fenrir. Twice. That takes guts." He turned to face me, one elbow still resting on the railing. "Most people are too scared to even look him in the eye, let alone tell him off in front of half the dining hall."
"Maybe I'm just stupid."
"Or maybe you're exactly what this place needs." His expression shifted, something darker flickering behind his eyes. "Someone who doesn't worship the ground he walks on."
There was an edge to his voice when he said Darius's name. Old anger. Old hurt.
"You don't like him much, do you?" I asked.
"That's putting it mildly."
"Why?"
Gideon was quiet for a moment, his jaw tight. Then he shook his head. "Long story. Not a good one. Let's just say Darius and I have history, and it didn't end well."
I wanted to ask more, but something in his expression told me to let it go. For now.
"So what's your deal?" I asked instead. "Why help me? You barely know me either."
"Maybe I like the underdog." He pushed off the railing and started walking again. I followed. "Or maybe I just enjoy watching Darius squirm. Either way, seems like a win-win situation."
"I'm not a weapon you can use against him."
"I'm not asking you to be." He glanced at me. "But if you happen to make his life a little more complicated just by existing? Well, that's just a bonus."
We crossed back onto the main path that led toward the quad. Students were scattered across the lawn, studying or tossing a frisbee. Normal afternoon activities.
Except the moment they saw me walking with Gideon, everything stopped.
Again.
Conversations cut off mid-sentence. Heads turned. Eyes tracked our movement like we were the day's entertainment.
"Here we go," Gideon muttered. "Three, two, one..."
The whispers started.
"Is that Gideon Wicke?"
"Why is he with her?"
"Did she move on already?"
"This is going to make Darius lose his mind."
My wolf stirred uneasily. She didn't like the attention. Didn't like being watched like prey.
"Ignore them," Gideon said softly.
"Easy for you to say."
"Actually, it's not. But you fake it long enough, eventually it gets easier."
We were halfway across the quad when I felt it. That familiar, overwhelming presence that made my wolf sit up and take notice.
Darius.
I didn't have to look to know he was there. The bond told me exactly where he was, standing near the library entrance with his arms crossed and his eyes locked on us.
On me and Gideon.
The fury radiating off him was almost tangible.
"Don't look," Gideon said quietly. "Keep walking."
"I wasn't planning to."
But I could feel Darius's stare burning into my back. Could feel the bond stretching tight between us, vibrating with his anger. My wolf whined, confused and distressed by his emotions.
He rejected us, I reminded her. This shouldn't bother him.
But it clearly did.
Gideon steered us toward a bench near the fountain, deliberately choosing one in full view of where Darius was standing. He sat down and patted the space beside him.
"Are you trying to start something?" I asked.
"Me? Never." His smile was pure innocence. "I'm just tired from our walk. Can't a guy rest?"
I sat down, more out of stubbornness than anything else. If Darius wanted to glare, let him glare. He didn't get to reject me and then act like he had any claim over who I spent time with.
"That's the spirit," Gideon said, reading my expression. "Show him you're not waiting around for him to change his mind."
"I'm not."
"Good. Because he doesn't deserve you."
The words should have felt hollow. Meaningless. But something about the way Gideon said them, casual and certain, made me believe he actually meant it.
We sat in silence for a few minutes, watching students pass by. The stares continued, but they felt less suffocating with Gideon beside me. Like having someone in my corner made the weight of their judgment a little lighter.
"So," Gideon said eventually. "What are your plans for surviving this place?"
"Keep my head down. Graduate. Leave."
"Boring."
"Practical."
"Where's the fun in that?" He stretched his arms along the back of the bench. "You could make waves instead. Show everyone they were wrong to underestimate you."
"And how exactly would I do that?"
"Training. Prove you're not weak just because your wolf came late." He tilted his head thoughtfully. "I could help, if you want. I'm pretty good in the arena."
"Why would you do that?"
"Because watching you kick ass would be incredibly satisfying." He paused. "And because, like I said, I think you're interesting."
There was that word again. But this time, it didn't sound like a lie.
My wolf was still wary of him, still uncertain. But she wasn't growling anymore. That had to count for something.
"I'll think about it," I said.
"That's all I ask."
Movement caught my eye. Darius had shifted positions, no longer leaning against the library but walking toward the quad. Toward us.
His expression was stone. Cold. Furious.
The blonde from earlier rushed to catch up with him, grabbing his arm. He shook her off without looking at her.
"Incoming," Gideon murmured.
"I see him."
"Want to leave?"
I thought about it. Thought about running, avoiding the confrontation, making this easier on everyone.
But then I remembered the rejection. The humiliation. The way he'd looked at me like I was nothing.
"No," I said. "I'm not running."
Gideon's smile widened. "There's that fire. Hold onto that."
Darius was only a few feet away now. Close enough that I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his hands were clenched into fists. The bond screamed between us, a mess of anger and hurt and something else I couldn't name.
But he didn't come all the way to the bench. Just stopped. Stared. The silent fury in his eyes spoke volumes.
The blonde caught up to him, tugging at his sleeve. "Darius, come on. Let's go."
He ignored her.
Gideon leaned back casually, completely unbothered by the Alpha heir's rage. "Problem, Fenrir?"
"Stay away from her," Darius said, voice low and dangerous.
"Why?" Gideon's smile was all teeth. "You made it pretty clear you don't want her. So why do you care who she spends time with?"
"That's not your business."
"Actually, I think it's Elara's business. And she chose to sit here with me." Gideon looked at me. "Unless you want to leave?"
All eyes were on me now. Students had stopped pretending not to watch. This was the drama they'd been waiting for all day.
I met Darius's gaze and saw the conflict there. The wolf that wanted to drag me away from Gideon. The pride that refused to admit he'd made a mistake.
"I'm fine where I am," I said quietly.
Something flickered across Darius's face. Pain, maybe. Or anger. I couldn't tell.
The blonde tugged harder on his arm. "Darius, please. You're making a scene."
He finally looked away from me. Looked at her instead, and whatever he saw there made him step back.
"This isn't over," he said.
Then he turned and walked away, the blonde hurrying to keep up.
I released a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
"Well," Gideon said cheerfully. "That was fun."
"Fun is not the word I'd use."
"Exciting? Dramatic? Weirdly satisfying?"
Despite everything, I laughed. Short and sharp, but real.
Gideon turned to look at me, and his expression softened into something genuine. "You handled that well."
"I didn't do anything."
"Exactly. You didn't give him what he wanted. That's everything."
The sun was starting to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the quad. Students were packing up their things, heading to dinner or back to their dorms.
Gideon stood and offered me his hand again. This time, I took it.
He pulled me to my feet, and for a second, we were standing closer than I expected. Close enough that I could see the flecks of amber in his dark eyes. Close enough that my wolf took notice and sat very, very still.
"He'll regret rejecting you," Gideon said softly, his voice pitched just for me. "I'll make sure of it."