Chapter 141 Reunion
Wynter's POV
The carriage wheels crunched over the familiar gravel path leading to Moonshadow Academy, and my chest tightened with each turn.
Through the Bond, I felt Chase’s steady presence beside me, his hand warm and solid in mine, his thumb tracing gentle circles.
You’re not alone, his voice echoed in my mind, warm and certain. Whatever happens, we face it together.
I know, I replied, trying to sound braver than I felt. I just—what if everyone still thinks I’m the cursed Beta who doesn’t belong here?
Then they’re idiots, Chase replied, Alpha authority bleeding through. You’ve proven yourself a hundred times over.
The carriage slowed. Students lingered near the gates, their heads turning as we passed, whispers following us like ghosts.
My wolf bristled, but I forced myself to breathe and remember everything we’d survived. We’d faced Bloodrock’s fortress, rescued Jax and Anne, brought down a tyrant, and forged an alliance.
I could handle a few gossiping students.
The carriage stopped, and Chase squeezed my hand before stepping out first, then turned to help me down with a courtesy that now just made my heart warm.
“Wynter! Oh my God, Wynter!”
Rosalie barreled down the dormitory steps, tears streaming down her face as she crashed into me. “I was so worried!” she sobbed. “When you were expelled, when you just disappeared—I didn’t know if you were safe—”
“I’m okay,” I managed, hugging her back. “Rosie, I’m okay. I’m here.”
She pulled back, hands cupping my cheeks. “You’re not okay. You look exhausted. There’s something different in your eyes—something harder. What happened?”
Through the Bond, I felt Chase’s gentle encouragement.
“A lot,” I admitted. “Too much to explain here. Can we—?”
“Yes, of course.” Rosalie took my hand, pulling me inside. “I’ve kept your room exactly as you left it.”
---
The walk to our room felt surreal—familiar hallways now strange after everything I’d experienced. Students fell silent as we passed, their stares curious, hostile, or maybe respectful. I unconsciously moved closer to Chase.
When Rosalie opened the door, I felt something in my chest crack. Everything was as I’d left it, but there were new touches—fresh flowers, my favorite cookies, a “Welcome Home” banner.
“You did all this?” My voice broke.
Rosalie nodded, tears spilling over. “I wanted you to know someone was waiting for you. That you still had a home here.”
I pulled her into another hug. “You did everything you could. And you kept my space safe. That’s more than enough.”
We settled onto my bed, and the words poured out—the drowning, the rescue, the truth about my father, the final confrontation with Draven. Not every detail, but enough. Rosalie’s grip tightened with each revelation.
“You almost died,” she whispered, pulling me into a hug. “If you had died, I would never have—”
“But I didn’t,” I said. “Serra got the mechanism working just in time. And now we’re here.”
“You did more than survive,” Rosalie said. “You saved people. You brought down a tyrant. You’re a hero.”
I shifted, uncomfortable, but she pressed on, almost shy. “There’s something I need to tell you too. About Connor.”
I tensed, remembering his cruelty toward Jax.
“He apologized,” Rosalie said quickly. “He’s been trying to make amends. He helped gather evidence against Grey and Stone. He stood up to people saying terrible things about you.”
Through the Bond, I felt Chase’s cautious approval.
“Are you back together?” I asked.
Rosalie nodded. “I know you have every reason to hate him. But I think he’s genuinely changed.”
I weighed my anger against her happiness, then squeezed her hand. “If he makes you happy, and he’s changed, then I’m glad. Just—if he ever hurts you again—”
“I’ll kick him to the curb myself,” Rosalie promised, smiling.
We talked for another hour. Gradually, some of the tension in my chest eased. This was still home. Rosalie was still my sister in all the ways that mattered.
---
The next evening, Rosalie pushed open the common room door with a grin. “Surprise!”
The room had been transformed—banners spelling out WELCOME BACK, tables of food, half the student body crammed into the space. All eyes turned to me.
“I organized a welcome back party!” Rosalie squealed. “Everyone wanted to celebrate your return!”
Through the Bond, I felt Chase’s amusement—he hadn’t known either. I spotted him across the room with Jax, who was in a wheelchair but grinning.
“Sis!” Jax called. “Get over here! This party’s for you!”
I made my way to him, accepting congratulations and welcomes. He looked so much better than before.
“You shouldn’t have come,” I said, kneeling beside him.
“Wouldn’t miss this for the world, Sis,” he said, ruffling my hair. “Everyone here needs to know if they mess with you, they mess with me.”
Through the Bond, I felt Chase’s approval as he moved closer.
Then the door opened, and the room fell silent.
Anne stood in the doorway, her wounds already healed. She looked small and terrified as every eye turned to her.
She found my gaze, squared her shoulders, and walked in.
“I know I don’t deserve to be here,” she said. “But I want to stand with you, Wynter. I want everyone to know I’m on your side.”
I stood, meeting her eyes, then held out my hand. “Then stand with me.”
Anne’s face crumpled with relief as she took my hand. She moved to stand at my side, with Chase and Jax forming a protective line.
The party resumed, but I noticed three girls—Vivienne Ashcroft, Celeste Moreau, Margot Blackwood—watching with disbelief and hostility.
---
“So this is the Beta who thinks she can stand beside an Alpha heir?”
Vivienne’s voice carried across the room, dripping with contempt.
Through the Bond, I felt Chase’s fury spike, his Alpha presence pressing outward with dangerous intensity.
“I mean, really,” Celeste added, “she gets expelled for associating with Rogues, then comes back like nothing happened?”
“What do you expect from someone whose father got himself killed playing diplomat?” Margot sneered. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
Red flooded my vision, my wolf snarling, but before I could move—Chase’s hand closed around my wrist, holding me in place with gentle firmness.
Let me handle this, his mental voice came, cold and lethal.
His Alpha presence exploded outward, making everyone in the room stagger, the three girls stumbling backward.
“Apologize,” Chase said, his voice quiet but commanding. “Now. Properly.”
Vivienne’s face drained of color. “Lord Sterling, we were just—”
“I don’t care what you think you were doing,” Chase interrupted, eyes burning gold. “You insulted my mate. You disrespected her father’s memory. Apologize, or learn what it means to make an enemy of Silvermoon’s heir.”
Vivienne went white. “I—I apologize, Lady Wynter. My comments were inappropriate.”
“We apologize,” Celeste and Margot echoed.
“Get out,” Chase said, and they fled.
---
On their way out, the three girls stalked down the corridor, faces red with humiliation and resentment. As fate would have it, I had just stepped out alone, needing a moment to breathe. We crossed paths under the shadowy arches outside the common room, and I saw the flicker of calculation in their eyes—quick glances down the hallway to make sure Chase wasn’t nearby.
Margot curled her lip. “Look who it is. The Beta charity case.”
Vivienne folded her arms, her voice low and venomous. “You really think you belong here, don’t you? Just because Lord Sterling pities you?”
Celeste gave a brittle laugh, eyes darting over my shoulder as if expecting Chase to appear at any moment. “Or maybe the Bond’s a trick. Maybe you’re just good at faking things—like your whole life.”
Their words stung, but I stood my ground. I wasn’t the same girl who’d first arrived at Moonshadow. I opened my mouth to reply, but then a new voice cut through the tension.
“That’s enough.”