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Chapter 317
~Solstice’s POV~
I heard her voice before I even caught her scent, that soft, familiar tone threading through the air like a song I’d missed for far too long.
My wolf, Equinox, leapt for joy inside , her excitent surging so strongly I almost laughed out loud. She was restless, eager, jealous even.
And she had every right to be.
But right now, I wasn’t bothered. When she finally t Valerie, she’d understand why she had lived rent-free in my mind since the day I got her.
Sothing shifted in my chest the mont I knew they were at the door—a tightening, a pull I couldn’t na. I tossed the feeling aside, holding my breath as I braced for their reaction.
I’d imagined over twenty possible scenarios, but when the door creaked open, nothing prepared for the way Valerie’s eyes lit up and softened at the sa ti.
I didn’t even notice the tear slip down her cheek until she repeated my na.
"Solstice."
This ti, I moved and so did she.
We collided in the middle, arms wrapping around each other in a hug so tight it stole my breath for a mont.
The warmth of her, the way her familiar scent wrapped around , it was like coming ho after being gone too long.
We pulled back just enough to see each other’s faces. Valerie’s lips curved into a smile.
"Happy birthday, baby girl."
A lump rose in my throat. "I thought you forgot... and forgot ," I admitted, half teasing, half serious, and in a way that did not let the other two understand what we ant to each other.
Sisters, cousins, best friends, twin blades, twin trouble... na it. Valerie and I were one.
Valerie shook her head, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. "I did... but I would have rembered."
I arched a brow. "Then you’ve got a lot to tell about what kept you so busy and who dared occupy your thoughts, cause I am officially jealous."
"Definitely."
Movent caught my eye, and I turned to see Isla standing off to the side, grinning like she’d been watching a secret reunion unfold.
"Hello, Silver," she greeted. "Or should we call you Solstice now, too?"
"Solstice is fine," I replied. "It’s my real na, after all."
Erald had joined her, her sharp green eyes assessing with amusent. "So does that an you’re visiting under your real na instead of an alias?"
I tilted my head, letting a small smile form. "Well, everyone already knows the truth now, don’t they? Besides..." I paused, letting the suspense hang in the air. "...says who I’m visiting?"
That made all three of them exchange puzzled looks.
Valerie’s brows knit together. "What does that an, Sol?"
Instead of answering, I reached into my back pocket and pulled out the thick cream envelope. Without a word, I placed it in her hands.
She glanced at before sliding the letter free. As her eyes skimd the page, her breath caught. "It ans... I, Solstice Gold, am now a bona fide student of PSA."
"What?" all three girls chorused in perfect unison.
Isla and Erald rushed forward, crowding around Valerie to peer at the letter. Sure enough, the gold-embossed crest and formal wording made it impossible to deny.
"Birthday gift from Dad," I said, trying to sound casual but unable to keep the pride from my voice.
Another tear escaped down Valerie’s cheek. "How? I thought your dad was furious with you."
"He was," I admitted. "But my older brother convinced him. He saw how miserable I was after leaving school, so he reached out to Principal Whitmore himself. Convinced her. And she agreed."
"Wow," Erald murmured absently, still staring at the letter. "Your dad must have really talked her into it."
I smirked. "So, girls... who missed ? Because I know I missed myself and you girls."
"We all did," Isla blurted, "especially Valerie."
"She went nuts on her mates for you," Erald added with a knowing grin.
My smile widened as I turned to Valerie. "Looks like you love way more than you let on, Vi."
The students here didn’t know the truth—that Valerie and I were cousins. To them, we were just two friends who had t at school and gotten impossibly close.
"Don’t push your luck," Valerie said, but there was a faint smile playing at her lips.
Isla and Erald both giggled before pulling us into a group hug.
I could feel Valerie’s shoulders shake slightly with silent laughter as we all clung to each other for a few seconds before finally pulling back.
"By the way," I asked, glancing around, "where’s Astraea? I can’t perceive her scent."
The shared smile between the girls dimd. Isla exchanged a look with Erald before speaking.
"She’s trouble," Isla said flatly. "And she’ll soon be leaving the room."
My brow furrowed. "Why? What happened?"
"Let’s just say..." Isla began, her tone darkening, "...she’s a snake and—"
"I’ve got the most brilliant idea!" Erald cut in, practically bouncing where she stood. "What if Solstice becos our new roommate instead of Astraea?"
Valerie’s eyes widened. "Yes!"
"Then you can move back from the Alpha heirs’ house and we’ll be complete again," Erald declared.
I blinked, caught off guard. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Valerie’s leaving there now?"
"Yes," Isla confird, "but it’s a long story."
I grinned, the excitent of being here, with them, bubbling up inside . "Oh, you’ve got all night to tell ," I teased, giggling as I looped my arm through Valerie’s.
This—this feeling of being surrounded by my people, my place—was better than any party or gift. This was ho.
"So, since it’s my birthday," I giggled at all of them, "I was thinking maybe we could do sothing fun? Girls’ night out."
"Wait, like actually sneaking out to so bar or...?" Erald looked sceptical, but I knew even she was dying just to let loose.
"Yes, or we throw a mini party here for us four. Except you girls all have sowhere important to be?"
"Not ," Isla imdiately resigned. "And probably the sa with Em, but Valerie, on the other hand, has hubbies."
Valerie rolled her eyes. "They haven’t proposed yet. Besides, I need a break from male energy. It’s her birthday. For her, a night away from my mates... that I’d die for."
She burst out laughing, and everyone followed.
"I love you, Val."
"Love you too, Sol."
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