Chapter 82: I’ll reject the verdict
WILLA
After hours of sweeping, scrubbing, dusting, and hauling out dusty old boxes, the room finally felt somewhat livable.
It was noticeably smaller than our old one.
The walls were a plain, dingy off-white, still marked with stubborn scuff marks that refused to come off no matter how hard we scrubbed.
"We are changing that colour on the wall ASAP," Verah declared, wrinkling her nose. "It looks like we’re in a prison cell."
I nodded absentmindedly, staring at the single large rectangular window. It let in decent natural light, but the view was nothing special — just the neighbouring dorm wing instead of the sweeping academy grounds we used to have.
We’d hung simple white curtains we found in a supply closet to soften the harsh glare.
On opposite sides of the room stood two standard XL twin beds with basic metal frames. We’d topped them with the academy-issued mattresses and added our own bedding — crisp white sheets with soft grey and blue accents.
Between the beds sat a small shared nightstand with a plain lamp.
I scoffed quietly, my gaze moving to the matching wooden desks pushed against the wall beneath the window. Their surfaces were heavily scratched, with several puncture marks like someone had taken their anger out on them.
The sentinels had refused to let us take anything else from our old room besides our personal belongings.
I glanced back at Verah. She was grumbling again as she shoved clothes aggressively into the tall double wardrobe against the far wall.
"I don’t think I can survive here," she muttered. "Why did my father refuse to come to the meeting?!"
She turned to stare at me, frustration clear on her face.
"I don’t know," I said.
I didn’t even know how many people were on the council yet, or who exactly had made the verdict.
"Of course you don’t." She sighed. "Amnesia."
She turned back to the wardrobe and continued shoving clothes inside like the furniture had personally offended her.
"I don’t know how this is going to be, but I am not staying here for the rest of the year just because of a silly mistake."
"I’m sorry," I apologized again.
Verah slammed the wardrobe door so hard the old, slightly warped wood rattled violently. She spun around, scowling at me.
"I told you it’s not your fucking fault. Stop apologizing!"
She paced away from the wardrobe to the middle of the tiny room, arms folded tightly against her chest, eyes narrowed in fury.
Dust stained her cheeks, forehead, and the tip of her nose, but she didn’t seem to care anymore. Even though earlier she had been so desperate to look her best.
She walked over to the window, yanked it open, and a gentle rush of wind glided into the room. It carried the sweet scent of fresh roses and wild jasmine.
Verah thrust her head out. For a brief second she stayed like that. Then her shoulders started to shake. I took a step closer.
"Are you alright?" I asked softly.
She didn’t respond. I moved nearer, touching her arm. Still no reaction. I rested my side against the window frame and followed her line of sight to see what had deepened her anger.
There he was.
Lance. Standing in the middle of the courtyard with Candace. He laughed at something she said, nudging her shoulder in a gentle, familiar way I had never seen from him before. Candace acted shy, ducking her head with a small smile.
My brows furrowed. I strained my ears, trying to catch what they were saying. But all I heard was the rushing wind.
My damned enhanced hearing refused to activate when I needed it most.
My heart skipped painfully as Lance leaned in closer to Candace, his face inches from hers, lips nearly brushing. His mouth moved, and Candace responded, her cheeks flushing.
My heart clenched. My fingers curled tightly around the window sill until my knuckles turned white. I wanted to look away, to force my mind off whatever was happening below... It could be nothing, after all. I shouldn’t care.
But he was supposed to be my mate. Candace was an enemy. He shouldn’t be talking to her, let alone acting so chummy and familiar around her.
But I couldn’t tear my eyes away. It didn’t help that jealousy chose that exact moment to rear its ugly head, twisting sharp and hot in my chest.
"My cousin moves freely, flirting with anything that wears a skirt," Verah said, her voice flat and unamused. "I’m not surprised."
"But I am surprised he’s doing it with that bitch he knows I have no good relationship with," she sneered.
"What is he even doing here?" I murmured. And Candace too. She should be in her own stupid house, unless she’d heard the news and come here just to mock us.
The latter felt more likely. Still, it didn’t explain whatever was going on between her and Lance.
"It’s someone like him one needs to be loyal to," Verah continued in a mocking tone. "If only we could choose for ourselves, I’d be my own Luna and Alpha. I don’t need a manwhore in my life."
I didn’t respond. I just kept staring. Now they were holding hands, walking away from the courtyard together.
Is he taking her home?
Don’t be stupid, Willa.
But that was the only thing I could think of.
Verah pushed away from the window and stood behind me.
"I’m going to reject the verdict," she said suddenly.
"Hmm," I murmured, still distracted. Then her words sank in and I turned to her with wide eyes. "What?"
"I am going to reject it," she repeated firmly.
"How?" I asked. "The council’s words are final. You’re going to get in trouble."
"Better to be in trouble than not get to voice my opinion," she answered.
I shook my head. "If you’re doing this because of me, I’m—"
"I’m doing it for myself too," Verah said.
"Okay," I nodded slowly. "But I don’t want you to get into trouble."
I looked around the small, dusty room, then back at her. "This isn’t as bad as you’re making it out to be. We can manage. Besides, if we push hard in the upcoming competitions, we might earn enough points to get out of here."
Verah waved her hand dismissively. "I don’t have the patience for that."
"Hmm," I mused.
I dared another glance over my shoulder toward the courtyard. Lance and Candace were gone.
He really did followed her home. My fingers curled tightly at my sides, nails digging into my palms.
"What’s with the glare on your face?" Verah questioned, narrowing her eyes at me.
"Nothing," I said quickly, rushing over to the door.
"Where are you going?" She called after me. "We aren’t done here."
"I’ll be back in ten minutes," I answered, already opening the door and stepping out before she could stop me.
