Aria’s POV
The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting warm stripes across Lina’s sleeping face.
She’d actually slept through the night. In her own bed. Without crawling into mine at 3 AM.
Progress.
I sat on the edge of her bed, watching her breathe. Those dark lashes against her cheeks. Those little fists curled under her chin. She looked so peaceful. So innocent.
So completely unaware of what today would bring.
"Lina." I brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. "Ti to wake up, baby."
She stirred. Mumbled sothing. Burrowed deeper into her pillow.
"Co on, sleepyhead." I tickled her side gently. "Big day today."
One eye cracked open. Suspicious.
"What big day?"
"We’re going to find you a school."
Both eyes flew open now. Wide. Alard.
"A school? Here?"
"Yes, here." I pulled back her blanket. "A school where kids are like you. Where you don’t have to hide."
She sat up slowly. Her black-gold eyes searched my face.
"Will they like ?"
"They’ll love you," I said firmly. "How could they not?"
Cassius had given directions to the best school in the territory.
"Silverpine Academy," he’d said. "It’s expensive, but it’s worth it. The teachers are excellent. The facilities are top-notch. And they’re known for being... inclusive."
Inclusive. That word had stuck with .
In the wolf world, "inclusive" usually ant "we tolerate Ogas as long as they know their place."
But Cassius had insisted this school was different. Progressive. The kind of place where a child’s bloodline didn’t determine their worth.
I hoped he was right.
The drive took twenty minutes. Lina pressed her face against the car window the entire ti, drinking in the unfamiliar landscape. Trees gave way to buildings. Buildings gave way to more trees. Everything was greener here than in the human city. More alive.
The school was magnificent. Stone buildings covered in ivy. Sprawling grounds with playgrounds and gardens. A fountain in the center courtyard, water sparkling in the sunlight.
It looked like sothing from a storybook.
"Mommy." Lina’s voice was small. Awed. "Is this a castle?"
"It’s your school." I couldn’t help but smile. "If you like it."
Her eyes went huge. "This is for ?"
Three years ago, I couldn’t have dread of sending my daughter sowhere like this. Three years ago, I was struggling to afford rent in a crumbling apartnt.
But I’d worked hard. Saved every penny. Built a life that I was actually proud of.
My daughter deserved the best. And I could finally give it to her.
"Co on." I unbuckled her seatbelt. "Let’s go et the teachers."
A woman erged from the office. Tall. Elegant. Silver streaking through her brown hair.
"Mrs. Moon?" She extended her hand. "I’m Victoria Thornwood. Head of admissions."
"Just Ms. Moon." I shook her hand. "And please, call Aria."
"Aria, then." Her eyes dropped to Lina. Softened. "And this must be our potential new student."
Lina pressed closer to my leg. Peeking out with cautious eyes.
"She’s a bit shy," I apologized. "New environnts make her nervous."
"Perfectly understandable." Mrs. Thornwood crouched down to Lina’s level. "Hello, Lina. I’m Mrs. Thornwood. Do you like cookies?"
A tiny nod.
"Well, we have the best cookies in the entire territory. Would you like to try one while your mommy and I talk?"
Another nod. Slightly more enthusiastic.
Mrs. Thornwood smiled. Stood. Gestured toward her office.
The office was comfortable. Warm. Nothing like the cold, sterile administrative spaces I rembered from my own school days.
Mrs. Thornwood’s gaze shifted. Beca more assessing. "I notice you don’t carry a wolf’s scent, Aria."
My heart stuttered.
Of course she’d noticed. Every wolf in the territory had probably noticed by now. I slled like nothing. Like a blank space. Like sothing was missing.
"May I ask...?"
"I’m human," I said. "Or close enough. I lost my wolf years ago."
Mrs. Thornwood’s eyebrows rose. Just slightly.
"But Lina’s father is a werewolf," I continued quickly. "Full wolf. That’s why she has abilities. That’s why she needs to be here."
Silence.
I waited. Braced myself for the rejection. For the polite but firm explanation that Silverpine Academy didn’t accept children of... whatever I was now.
"Thank you for being honest," Mrs. Thornwood said finally. "That must not have been easy."
I blinked. She smiled gently. "Aria, we have several half-blood children enrolled here. Children of wolves and humans. So have wolf abilities. So don’t. We believe every child deserves an education, regardless of their parents’ backgrounds."
The tension in my shoulders released all at once. I hadn’t realized how tightly I’d been holding myself.
"I was worried," I admitted. "That Lina would be treated differently. That other children might..."
"Bully her?" Mrs. Thornwood shook her head. "Not here. We have a zero-tolerance policy. Our students are taught from day one that differences are to be celebrated, not mocked."
God. If only I’d had a school like this when I was young.
"The children here are kind," she continued. "They’ll accept Lina for who she is. I promise you that."
I wanted to believe her. Desperately.
"Okay." I let out a breath. "Okay. Thank you."
I looked down at Lina. She’d finished her cookie and was now examining the office with curious eyes. Taking in the bookshelves. The plants on the windowsill. The soft carpet under her feet.
"What do you think, baby?" I asked her. "Do you want to go to school here?"
She considered. That serious expression she always wore when thinking hard.
"Are there more cookies?"
Mrs. Thornwood laughed. "As many as you want."
"Okay." Lina nodded decisively. "I’ll stay."
"Bring her at eight tomorrow morning," Mrs. Thornwood said as she walked us to the door. "The Sunflower classroom is in the east wing."
"Thank you." I shook her hand again. "For everything."
"Thank you for trusting us with your daughter." Her eyes were warm. Sincere. "We’ll take good care of her."
I believed her.
For the first ti since arriving in the wolf world, I actually believed things might be okay.
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