Chapter 71 *

Chapter 71 Chapter 71
Angelina’s POV
Caelan didn't answer right away. He just looked at me with those ice-blue eyes, completely calm. Then he tapped something on my phone screen.
"Adding myself as a contact."
I blinked.
That wasn't what I expected him to say.
Caelan's face showed no emotion. No explanation. He just pulled out his own phone from his pocket and opened whatever social media app he'd accessed on mine.
I watched him type in his information and send himself a friend request.
A second later, his phone buzzed. He accepted the request without looking up.
The whole thing took maybe thirty seconds.
Then he handed my phone back to me.
I took it, still processing what just happened.
Why would Caelan suddenly want to add me on social media?
My eyes flicked to his phone screen as he adjusted something.
His contacts list was completely empty except for one name.
Mine.
Just me. No one else.
That was... weird.
I glanced back at my own phone. The friend request had gone through. Caelan's profile picture was blank—just a default gray silhouette. No posts. No photos. Nothing.
I was about to lock my phone when I caught something in my peripheral vision.
Caelan was sorting his contacts into folders.
He'd just moved my name into a category labeled "Family."
My breath caught.
Family?
I remembered our conversation from a few days ago. When I'd asked him why he came to the Sterling house.
His answer: "For you."
I knew what that meant. Or at least, I could guess.
And now he'd just put me in his "Family" contacts folder.
The implication was clear.
I looked up.
Caelan's sharp blue eyes were locked on mine. Intense. Unreadable. Waiting.
He wasn't saying anything, but I knew what he was waiting for.
He wanted to see where I'd put him in my contacts.
I held his gaze for a second. Then I looked back down at my phone.
I didn't hesitate.
I opened my contacts, found his name, and dragged it into my "Friends" folder.
That's my answer.
Whatever Caelan thinks about me, whatever feelings he might have, I'm not interested.
I'd lived one life already. Died once. Been reborn into this body. I didn't come back to fall in love or get tangled up in some Alpha's complicated world.
I came back to live freely. To enjoy this second chance without the weight of my past life crushing me.
Love wasn't part of that plan.
And Caelan Thorne was dangerous. An Alpha like him didn't do anything halfway. Getting involved with him would pull me into a world I'd worked hard to leave behind.
The only reason I put him in "Friends" instead of leaving him unsorted was simple.
I don't want him as an enemy.
Caelan was powerful. Ruthless when necessary. Making an enemy of him would be stupid. But keeping him at a friendly distance? That was manageable.
I raised my eyes to meet his again.
His expression hadn't changed. Still cold. Still unreadable.
But there was no anger. No disappointment.
He just stood there, calm as ever, like my decision didn't bother him at all.
He's not the petty type.
That much was obvious.
I stood up from the armchair without saying a word.
Then I turned and walked toward the stairs, heading up to my room.
Three weeks had passed since Spirit Week. Thanksgiving break was just around the corner.
Tomorrow I'd be carrying out Victor Wu's assignment. Protecting his son. I'd be gone for a few days.
I still hadn't figured out how to explain it to my family.
The school bus dropped me off at the usual corner. I walked the three blocks home, my backpack slung over one shoulder. November in California meant the sun set earlier now—the sky was already turning that deep purple-orange color.
When I rounded onto our street, I spotted Leo sitting on the porch.
He had a beer in one hand, feet kicked up on the railing. When he saw me coming, he raised his free hand in a lazy wave.
"Hey, sis."
I walked up the porch steps. "You're home early."
"Got off work at four today. Figured I'd enjoy the weather before it gets dark." He took a sip of his beer. "How was school?"
"Fine."
I pushed open the front door and dropped my backpack just inside. Before I could head upstairs, Leo called out.
"Aria, come sit with me for a bit."
I turned back. Leo patted the empty chair next to him.
I walked back out and sat down. The evening air was cool but not cold. Across the street, Mrs. Maddox was watering her lawn. A few houses down, some kids were playing basketball in their driveway.
Normal suburban life.
"Want a drink?" Leo asked.
"I'm fifteen."
"So? I started drinking at fourteen." He grinned. "Just offering."
"I'm good."
We sat in silence for a minute. Leo seemed relaxed, but I could tell he had something on his mind. The way he kept glancing at me sideways.
Finally, he spoke.
"So, remember when you were in the hospital? "
"Yeah."
"You were using that German learning website. The one with the all-black page and the silver raven in the middle, wings spread out."
My stomach dropped.
I kept my face neutral. "What about it?"
"I've been trying to find it. There's this guy at the racing circuit—German dude, really good driver. I figured if I could learn some German, maybe pick up some tips from him, you know?" Leo leaned back in his chair. "But I can't find that website anywhere. I've searched everything—Google, Reddit, even asked some people who speak German. Nobody's heard of it."
He turned to look at me directly.
"So I was wondering if you could send me the link."
I felt Caelan's presence before I saw him.
He'd come out of the house so quietly I hadn't heard the door. Now he stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame. Black leather jacket, dark jeans, boots. His blue eyes were watching me with that too-sharp intelligence.
He knew about The Raven Court. He knew what that symbol meant.
And Leo had just described it perfectly.
"No," I said.
Leo was confused. "What?"