Council to review the paperwork tomorrow. I’m sure with the correct paternity information and Jonah’s write-up, they will have no qualms about you leaving Greystone.” She gives me a smile. “What will you do?”
Honestly, I just want to go to Jonah’s house for a good, solid month and acquaint myself with my wolf, my mate, and my new family. We might have to do that while Jonah goes through his territorial state, but then, I don’t know. I guess I can do whatever I want. “I’m not sure, but I love that I actually have a choice.” I approach her desk, letting my fingertips skate along the edge. “What do you really think about Greystone Academy, Ms. Ebon?”
It’s my advisor’s turn to look as if she’s trying to skirt around the truth. Her brow furrows, and her lips thin. “Miss Walker, I’m in the business of returning mates to each other. It seems barbaric, but when societal norms can’t be dismantled, we all have to do the best we can.”
My heart clenches. The shifters at Greystone Academy are lucky to have someone like her because every single person here doesn’t deserve it. What happened to free will? What happened to fate? “I wish I could do something about that,” I muse.
“We all find our role in things,” Ms. Ebon states. “When you’re ready, you’ll find yours.” She nods toward the door. “Now, you better get to your room before your mate destroys it.”
My mouth drops, and then a slow smile curves my lips as she winks at me. I reach the door and stop with my hand on the knob before turning around. “Thank you, Ms. Ebon. I may think this place is a bunch of bullshit, but you helped bring Jonah and me together, and I’ll never forget that.” Her eyes glass over again, and she nods. I start to leave but remember one more thing. “My friend from Daybreak? Mia? She could really use some help with her mate. He’s a bit of an asshole.”
She frets over her lip. “I’m aware of her situation. She’s one of our students who’s been here the longest.”
My heart pangs painfully. “She’s a good person. I hate to leave her. It’s not right that she can’t get out of here because he’s wrapped up in someone else.”
She glances at me apologetically. “Our society demands—”
“I know, I know.”
“Maybe you’ve found your calling after all, Kinsey. Why don’t you use your newfound power to try to make a difference?”
I rub the back of my neck with my free hand. I’d love to use this Greystone DNA to change things, but unfortunately, I’ve muzzled myself for the foreseeable future. No one will listen to me as Kinsey Walker, and I can’t come out as a relation to the alpha’s bloodline because that will out my mother. “Maybe one day,” I tell her, wishing it could be now, half cursing myself that I entered into that agreement in the first place. But when I close my eyes and see how my parents hugged while we were standing in the house, I know I did the right thing.
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” Ms. Ebon hedges. “Goodbye, Kinsey. I’ll make sure you’re the first to know as soon as you’re able to leave.”
“Bye, Ms. Ebon.”
Finally, I tug the heavy door open and slip out into the hallway. My mind is freer than when I first found myself here. I had my misgivings about Ms. Ebon, but she’s actually one of the good ones.
I take the stone steps up to the Daybreak and Lunar floor two at a time. When I come around the corner, Mia pushes off the wall, staring at me in wonder. “There’s a very naked mate in your room.”
I laugh at her grimaced expression, walking up to her and throwing my arms around her shoulders, squeezing. At nineteen years old, she was my first friend, and she’s a damn good one, too. “Thank you for being so nice to me.”
She sighs. “I guess this means you’re leaving, huh? There were a bunch of rumors about why Lydia Greystone showed up at the academy yesterday.”
I pull away from her, shaking my head. “Shit got scary for a bit.”
“But you’re okay now? Do you need chocolate?”
I grin. “I’m okay now. I’ll be leaving as soon as my Pack Council meets and allows me to.”
She glances toward my door. “And your mate is in your room because?”
I stifle a laugh. “Because he’s full-blown territorial right now.”
“So, that’s