My Fated Alpha's Cruel Game (Elena and Marcus) novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Elegant Stranger

Elena’s POV

I walked through the front doors of the school with my jaw set and my bag slung over my shoulder.

Every step toward Brooks’ office felt like a march to a firing squad. The fluorescent lights buzzed over my head. The hallway was empty. Everyone else was in class, where I was supposed to be, where I wanted to be, because at least in class I could see what was coming.

I knew what this was. Brock’s parents had finally gotten to the board. Someone had decided that a low-pack girl who put her fist through the face of a warrior’s son didn’t deserve a diploma. I had my speech half-ready before I touched the doorknob.

I knocked once. Hard.

“Come in, Elena.”

I pushed the door open.

Brooks was behind his desk, a thick manila folder squared up in front of him. He gestured to the chair across from him. Calm. Not angry. Not even a little.

That made me more nervous, not less.

“Before you say anything,” I said, sitting down and gripping the arms of the chair, “whatever Brock told you, he started it. I have witnesses. I am not—”

“Elena.”

“—going to be punished for defending myself when he—”

“Elena. Stop.”

I stopped.

He slid the folder across the desk toward me.

“This is not a disciplinary meeting.”

I stared at the folder. I didn’t touch it.

“Then what is it.”

“Open it.”

I flipped the cover back.

My transcripts. Page after page of them. Grades. Credits. AP exam scores from tests I had sat for alone in a freezing library annex because no one had wanted to proctor for a girl from my side of pack territory. Highlighted rows in yellow.

“I don’t understand.”

“You have enough credits,” Brooks said, “to graduate. Today, if you want. Technically, you graduated early. We just didn’t process it.”

My head snapped up. “What.”

“You’ve accumulated enough AP credit to satisfy every requirement the state has for a high school diploma. Several times over, actually.” He folded his hands on the desk. “You’re done, Elena. You don’t have to come back tomorrow if you don’t want to.”

My mouth was open. I closed it.

“No.”

Brooks tilted his head. “No?”

“No. Why now.” I leaned forward. “Why today. Why this morning.”

“Because it was brought to my attention—”

“By who.”

He hesitated for the first time.

There it was.

“Was it him.” My voice dropped. “Was it Alpha Marcus.”

“Elena—”

“He’s been shadowing me everywhere. And suddenly, today, I get yanked out of school permanently. Don’t tell me that’s a coincidence, Brooks. I was not born yesterday.”

Brooks met my eyes and held them.

“This is not the Alpha’s doing. I reviewed the transcripts myself. You earned this. Every credit. Every point.” He tapped the folder. “I will write you the strongest college recommendation letter that has ever come out of this office. Any school you want to apply to. Any program. You have my word.”

I stared at him.

He did not blink.

I wanted to believe him. I wanted it so badly my chest hurt.

I took the folder.

“Thank you, Brooks.”

“Go see your mother,” he said quietly. “I heard.”

I was out of the chair before he finished the sentence.

The private wing still felt like a mistake when the elevator doors opened. Carpet. Soft light. A nurse in pressed scrubs standing outside my mother’s door, arms crossed, looking like she was trying very hard not to laugh.

“—like a prisoner! Do you understand me? A prisoner! I have rent to pay, girl, I have shifts to cover—”

“Ma’am, the doctor hasn’t seen you yet this morning—”

“Then fetch him! Fetch him now!”

I walked in.

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