Chapter 107 *

Chapter 107 Chapter 107
Angelina’s POV
The drive back from Logan's lake house was quiet.
Caelan sat in the driver's seat, one hand on the wheel. I stared out the window, watching the trees blur past.
We'd both stayed at the lake house last night. But now we were heading back together.
My phone buzzed. A text from my mom.
Where are you? When are you coming home?
I typed back quickly. On my way. Be there soon.
Twenty minutes later, we pulled up in front of my house.
I grabbed my bag from the back seat. Caelan got out too, walked around to my side.
The front door opened before we reached it.
My mom stood there. She was wearing an apron, flour on her hands.
Her eyes went wide when she saw both of us.
"Aria!" She looked from me to Caelan, then back to me. "You're both... together?"
Behind her, my dad appeared. He looked tired, like always. But his eyes sharpened when he saw Caelan.
My mom's face changed. A small smile appeared. "Did you two go somewhere together?"
Shit. "We ran into each other," I said quickly. "Just a coincidence."
My mom's smile got bigger. "A coincidence? "
"Yes."
"Aria." Her tone was knowing now. "Were you two on a date?"
"No."
"It's okay if you were! You're fifteen, it's normal to—"
"Mom. We weren't on a date."
I shot Caelan a look. A warning. Back me up. Now.
Caelan looked at me. Then at my mom. That stupid smile appeared on his face made him look almost innocent.
"Mrs. Sterling." His voice was polite. Respectful. "Your daughter and I happened to be at the same location. That's all."
What was wrong with me?
Arriving home with Caelan like it was the most natural thing in the world. And I hadn't even thought about it. Hadn't planned what to say to my parents. Just... did it.
When had I gotten so comfortable around him?
My mom didn't look convinced. But she stepped back, letting us inside.
"Well, come in then. Both of you. I made lunch."
After lunch, I went upstairs to my room. Checked the time on my phone.
12:47 AM.
The meeting with Victor Wu and Meridian was at 4 PM.
I had a few hours.
I took a shower. Changed into clean clothes. Black slacks, white button-up shirt, blazer. Then I sat on my bed. Pulled out my phone.
Scrolled through my contacts. Found the Derek’s number I was looking for.
I stared at his name for a long moment.
We'd been texting back and forth for the past few weeks. Short messages. Nothing personal. Just checking in.
He'd asked to meet up. Said he wanted to talk about something important.
I'd agreed to meet him today. Before the business meeting with Victor.
My finger hovered over his name. Then I pressed call.
"Aria." His voice was calm. Professional. "I was wondering if you'd call."
"You said you wanted to meet."
"I did. Are you free this afternoon?"
"Yes."
"Perfect. There's a coffee shop on Fifth Street. Do you know it?"
"I'll find it."
"One-forty?"
I checked the time again. 1:08 PM.
"I'll be there."
"Good. See you soon."
He hung up.
I put my phone in my pocket. Stood up from the bed.
Grabbed my jacket and headed back downstairs.
My mom was in the living room now. Watching TV.
"Mom, I'm going out."
She looked over. "With who?"
"Just a friend."
"The same friend from before?"
"No. Different friend."
She smiled. "You're very popular lately."
"Mom."
"I'm teasing! Be safe. Call me if you need anything."
"I will."
I left the house. Started walking toward Fifth Street.
It was about a twenty-minute walk from my house. The coffee shop was in the artsy part of town. Lots of small boutiques and galleries.
I got there at 1:36.
The coffee shop was called "The Daily Grind." Very original.
I pushed open the door. A bell chimed above my head.
The inside was exactly what I expected. Exposed brick walls. Mismatched furniture. Indie music playing softly.
There were maybe ten people inside. Most of them on laptops.
I spotted Derek immediately. He was sitting at a table in the back corner. He looked up when I walked in. Nodded once.
I walked over. Sat down across from him.
"You're early," he said.
"So are you."
His mouth curved slightly. "Punctuality is important in our line of work."
"Our line of work?"
"You'll understand soon enough."
A waitress came over. Young. Maybe college age. She had bright purple hair.
"Can I get you anything?" she asked.
"Coffee. Black," I said.
"Same," Derek added.
The waitress nodded and walked away.
We sat in silence for a moment. Derek looked the same as always. Sharp features. Greying hair. Eyes that saw too much.
In my past life, he'd been my father. But in this life, he was just Derek. A stranger who'd taken an interest in me for reasons I didn't fully understand.
Well, I understood some of it. He knew I was different.
The waitress came back with our coffee. Derek picked up his cup. Took a sip. Then set it back down.
"You're probably wondering why I wanted to meet."
"The thought crossed my mind."
"I have a proposition for you."
I leaned back in my chair. "I'm listening."
Derek's fingers drummed on the table. "What do you think about special agents?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Special agents?"
"Or special operatives, if you prefer. People who work in the shadows. Handle classified missions. Serve their country in ways the public never knows about."
I kept my expression neutral. "I don't have an opinion."
"Really?" He studied my face. "I think you do."
"Then you're wrong."
Derek smiled slightly. "You're very good at deflecting. But I've been doing this a long time. I can see when someone's interested."
"I never said I was interested."
"You didn't have to."
I picked up my coffee. Took a drink. It was bitter.
Derek watched me the whole time. Finally I set the cup down. "What's your point?"
"My point is this." He leaned forward slightly. "I want to recruit you."
I stared at him. "Recruit me for what?"
"To become a special operative." Derek continued. "We recruit young people every year. People with talent. With potential. We train them. Make them into something extraordinary."
"And you think I have potential."
"I know you do. I've seen it."
"So you want me to work for you."
"Not for me. For the country."
I leaned back in my chair. "And what do I get out of it?"
Derek smiled. "I knew you'd ask that."
"Of course I'd ask that. I'm not doing this for free."
"No one expects you to." He took another sip of coffee. "The benefits are substantial. You'd have access to resources most people never see. Training facilities. Weapons. Intelligence networks."
"That's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?"
I looked directly at him. "What's in it for me? Personally."
Derek set his cup down. His expression got serious.
"Strength."
"You want to become stronger," he continued. "I can see it in your eyes. The way you move. The way you fight. You're not satisfied with where you are now."
He wasn't wrong.
"If you join us, you'll undergo training that most people can't even imagine. Intense. Brutal. But effective. You'll become stronger. Faster. More skilled. And you'll have access to knowledge and techniques that are kept classified."
"You'll train with the best operatives in the world. Learn from people who've been doing this for decades. And when you're ready, you'll be deployed on missions that actually matter."
I thought about it. Turned the idea over in my mind.
At Thunder Peak, I'd been able to partially shift. My hands had transformed into wolf claws. But Yara was still sleeping.
I didn't know why. Maybe it was because this body was too young. Maybe it was because I'd been reborn and something had changed.
Whatever the reason, I needed to get stronger. I needed to wake Yara up.
And if Derek's training could help me do that, then it was worth it.
It was very tempting.
But there was a problem.
"I have one condition," I said.