Lucien’s words from earlier clung to her like a curse as she walked back to the dorm.
Your parents are here.
He had to be lying, she told herself for the hundredth time. Just trying to get under my skin. Stir up trouble. Like always.
Her brows furrowed. "He has to be lying," she muttered aloud, as if saying it would make it true.
But something about the way he had said it, calm, measured, too smug to be bluffing—had shaken her.
Still, her pride wouldn't let her panic. She held her head up, squared her shoulders, and kept walking.
She was only a few feet from the dorm entrance when a tall shadow blocked her path.
She stopped.
Her eyes slowly traveled up to meet the stern face of a man in uniform. The Headmistress's personal guard.
Her stomach dropped.
“Valeria Valemont,” the man said, his voice deep and precise, “you are expected in the Chief Office.”
Her heart skipped a beat.
No. No, no, no.
She tried to keep her face neutral. “What for?”
“You’ll find out when you get there.”
The guard turned and began walking. Valeria didn’t need to be told to follow. She already knew.
Lucien had been telling the truth. She followed in silence, gripping the sleeves of her uniform tightly. Each step felt like a countdown to doom.
The hallways were quieter than usual. Her senses were unusually sharp. Every creak of the floor, every gust of wind from the open windows sent chills down her spine.
Finally, they reached the Chief Office.
The guard opened the door, motioning her inside. She stepped through the doorway… and froze.
Her mother was standing by the desk, arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her father was seated, hands clasped in his lap, eyes staring at the floor. Both were dressed impeccably, the signature Valemont family crest embroidered in silver thread across their coats.
Her mother’s head snapped toward her the moment she entered. Her father didn’t even look up.
“Valeria,” her mother said, voice sharp and cold. “Sit.”
She obeyed, slowly making her way to the chair across from them.
The silence was suffocating.
“What on earth are you thinking?” her mother hissed. “A werewolf, Valeria? Do you want to shame this family?”
Valeria swallowed hard but said nothing. Her eyes flickered toward her father—still no response.
“You were sent here to uphold your bloodline. Your legacy. Not to mingle with beasts!” her mother continued.
“Mother…” Valeria whispered. “It’s not like that—”
“Oh, really?” Her mother’s voice rose. “Then what is it like, Valeria? We’ve heard the rumors. We’ve seen the photos. That boy has been tailing you like a lovesick puppy.”
Valeria flinched.
Her mother’s lips curled in disgust. “You’re ruining everything. Do you have any idea what you’re risking?”
Still, her father remained silent.
That silence hurt more than the yelling.
Valeria turned to him. “Father…”
He finally looked at her, his eyes not angry, but disappointed. That was worse. Far worse.
“I trusted you,” he said quietly. “Before you left, I said one thing. ‘I trust you to do what’s right.’”
Valeria's throat tightened.
“I…” She faltered. “I never meant to betray your trust.”
“You knew what was expected of you,” her mother said sharply. “And yet you got involved with a werewolf.”
Valeria's hands curled into fists. “It wasn’t planned. I didn’t mean for any of it to happen.”
“But it did happen, Valeria,” her father said, standing up. “And now we have to fix it.”
Her heart thudded. “What… what do you mean?”
“We’re taking you home,” her mother announced.
Valeria shot up from her chair. “What? No!”
“Yes.” Her mother’s tone was final. “You’ve clearly lost focus. The Academia is no longer the place for you.”
“You can’t do that!” Valeria cried. “I’m in the middle of term—”
Her father raised a hand. “We can and we will.”
She shook her head, backing away. “No. I won’t go.”
He paused, eyes narrowing slightly. Then, in a voice low and deliberate, he said, “If you resist, we’ll contact Tristan’s father.”
Valeria froze.
“We’ll tell him everything. That his son is violating ancient accords by courting a vampire heir. We’ll push for his immediate expulsion from the Academia.”
Her breath hitched.
“We’ll ensure,” her father continued, “that the two of you never see each other again. Not here. Not outside. Not ever.”
Valeria stared at them, speechless.
Her legs felt weak. Her heart pounded so loudly she thought it might explode.
“He’s… he’s done nothing wrong,” she whispered.
Her father’s gaze was hard. “You think the council will care? He’s a werewolf. That’s all they need.”
Valeria’s chest ached. She felt as if the walls were closing in.
This wasn’t just about her anymore. This was his future too.
Her parents were ruthless. They would do it. They had the power. The connections. They could ruin Tristan’s life in a matter of days.
Her throat burned. She looked down, biting her lip to keep it from trembling.
“I asked you a question,” her father said quietly. “Will you come home willingly… or will you destroy that boy’s future, too?”
Valeria’s eyes stung.
She thought of Tristan’s smile. His awkward attempts to understand her world. The rabbit, Alpha. The way he looked at her like she was the only one that mattered.
She thought of the nights they snuck glances across the dining hall. The time he had protected her from that hex in Spellcraft. The way his hand had brushed hers and made her heart flutter.
She was in love with him.
It hurt to admit, even to herself, but it was true.
And she couldn’t be selfish. Not now.
Valeria straightened her back, even as her eyes glistened.
“I’ll go with you, father,” she said softly.