Alpha’s Hybrid Cinderella
Chapter 24

When Monday came around, I dragged myself to classes with bags under my eyes. The nightmares that had begun bothering me never left even after several days, and they were becoming more and more graphic each night. Maybe it was because I was trying to hard

to forget about Evan. The futile conditioning I tried to put my mind through was only making me think of him more.

I couldn't keep going like this. Seeing Evan in my dreams was torment enough, but Evan doused in blood, in pain, drowning in anger and hatred as he killed me over and over again... The banshee weed might find good use with me, too, not just him.

The first class today was physiology and the discussion of the evolutionary leap from human to werewolf. Hundreds of years ago, a mutation in a small group of our progenitors became a dominant trait, one that spread to many of their offspring. The ability to shift into a wolf form was determined by the inheritance of a protein chain. That chain signaled certain glands to release high-energy hormones that induced the shift.

Was that why my wolf had been unable to show herself for so long? Did I have an underactive gland that only recently matured? But the coincidence of suddenly being able to shift when Flicka had been tormenting me in class...

Cassiel? I called, hoping to awaken my slumbering wolf. Can I ask you something? How did you suddenly take over that first day, with Flicka?

Cassiel stirred. It wasn't sudden, she answered. Ever since coming to Scarlet pack, something has been changing. I became stronger when I was so weak before. Strong enough to come out and show myself.

Do you think it might be because I'm not so locked up anymore? Maybe being able to interact with the pack induced something. I was only allowed out for school back in Dark Moon, and even then I missed so many classes because Kris wouldn't allow me to leave without finishing my tasks.

It might be. I don't know. What I do know is I'm stronger now.

When class ended, my phone vibrated in my pocket with a chain of text alerts. Raf again - she had found the new cafe that just opened up on campus and would positively die if we didn't go there right away. I smiled and headed off.

***

I only realized something was wrong when I approached the counter and found no sign of Raf. I turned, wondering if she had caught a table in the back of the cafe, but all I saw was a huddle of giggling students, mostly girls, in the corner. Was Raf there? No. Not Raf. A face peeked around someone's waist, and I stared at the sight of Ken waving me over.

Ken? Ken Joseph? What was he doing here all the way on this side of campus? Moreover, where was Raf?

He dismissed all of his ardent admirers with firm but kind goodbyes as I gingerly approached. I didn't know about this. Being told to come over by a popular, handsome man after he had just shooed away a sea of other girls wouldn't end well for me, probably. Flicka and her friends were already trouble enough, but with Ken's admirers added to the bunch...

"Hey, Claudia. How are you? You must be starving, Raf mentioned you skipped breakfast today."

"So Raf did put you up to this."

"Aw, Claudia. Don't blame her. She was just trying to help a poor guy out who can't seem to get your attention no matter what he does." He winked at me. "That's me, by the way. I'm that guy."

"Ken..."

"Ah! I got you! You're smiling. Rafael said you were in dire need of that. Mission accomplished! Why don't you sit with me so we can have a celebratory drink? I'll get you an extra shot of espresso to get you up and running, how about that?"

It was impossible not to let him raise my spirits. Ken had ten times the charisma anyone should legally be allowed to possess, and he was putting it on full display as he reeled me into gentle conversation peppered with playful jokes. He even bought me a second coffee, and after the warm drink, I was indeed feeling better.

"I'm really glad you showed up," he said after a while. "You look exhausted, and I'm surprised you even came to classes in this state. What's up?"

It was the first time he'd delved deeper than superficial conversation, but he was so easy to talk to that the truth came out of me before I knew what I was saying. "Nightmares," I sighed. "It's not terrible, just keeping me up."

"Clearly it is terrible if it can do that. Don't tell me it's midterms stress?" He leaned closer over the small table, frowning. "Or does this have to do with you visiting Dark Moon?"

My eyes widened, and he gave me a meaningful look.

"Bingo, huh? Don't be so surprised. When Evan goes anywhere, it makes waves, and I even found out you went with him. But visiting home isn't all it's cracked up to be. I've been to Dark Moon myself a few times about ten years ago or so, and I can't imagine you were treated that well there."

"Well... it's like you say. Maybe a little worse."

It was too easy to talk to him. He put no pressure on me to carry the conversation, and yet I found myself responding easily to his questions and asking a few of my own. He didn't dwell too long on the unpleasant topic of Dark Moon either, and soon changed the subject to something more lighthearted.

Did he know what had happened there, I wondered. Did he know Evan had nearly everyone slaughtered?

***

Ken was infuriating! He sat in on my herbology class as a guest, and the professor welcomed him with open arms. When I asked him how in the world he was going to deal with missing two of his own classes, but he shook his head with a knowing smile. "My GPA is sterling, don't worry," he told me. "I'll even help you with your assignments later, how about that?"

Ken Joseph! How lucky he was to be such a stellar student when he barely even tried. But it was impossible to stay upset with him, and when he invited me to dinner after my classes were over, I couldn't help accepting. It was too much fun, spending time with him. Little did I know he was taking me to his home. Was he going to tell me he happened to be a great chef, too? Some people really had it all.

For example, this manor with all of its stunning architecture and decor. If I'd thought the Scarlet pack house was beautiful, this was twice as elegant and modern with its New Age designs and extensive gallery of paintings, sculptures, and murals all over every wall. "You live here?" I asked, dumbfounded as I stared at his living room from the massive kitchen. "This looks more like an art gallery. Did you hire some big-shot artist to do all of this?"

Ken laughed as he fetched two aprons from a drawer. "I commissioned it all," he said. "Well, I painted a few of them myself, but I won't tell you which."

"Tell me!"

"Nope. Maybe after we eat, and only if you finish your plate."

"Ken..." I shook my head, smiling, but a sudden thought had me looking around in confusion. "Wait. Are we alone?"

"Yes, what's wrong?"

"This isn't a pack house?"

"No, no. It's my place, personal."

"No staff either?"

"Just the housekeeping team who comes by weekly."

"And you cook for yourself, too?"

He grinned. "You seem worried. I'm pretty good, I'll have you know... Let me prove it to you."

He was telling the truth. All along, I had thought he must be pampered like a prince at home, but he was so self-sufficient, even teaching me how to cook the steaks properly. It helped that all the kitchenware was top of the line quality, of course, but even still, part of my slave duties had involved work in the kitchen. And yet he put my cooking to shame as he explained all the intricacies of his technique.

It was late into the night when I reluctantly told him I had to go home. He didn't try to dissuade me. With a smile, he ushered me into his car and took me to the Scarlet pack house, and it wasn't until I checked the time when we arrived that I realized he had driven slowly to squeeze more time for chatting on the trip over.

When we reached the Scarlet pack estate, he opened my door and helped me out. But he didn't step away.

"Claudia. Can I kiss you?"

I was so surprised I didn't answer, but he didn't wait for it anyway. He leaned in... and kissed me gently on the cheek.

It was so tender it made my chest hurt. My heart skipped a beat, heavy like a stone.

"I'll come pick you up tomorrow morning, Claudia. Is that okay?"

I could do nothing but nod my head.