Page 263 of Ruthless Knot

Waiting for my reaction.

Waiting to see what I'll do.

Sage nods first—that small, encouraging gesture that saysyes, this is real, take it, you deserve this. Blaze follows, grinning so wide it looks like his face might split. Jett's nod is subtle, almost imperceptible, but there.

And Kai...

Kai rises from his seat.

The motion is deliberate—powerful—the movement of someone who's about to make an official declaration.

"The Lawson pack approves," he says, voice carrying through the empty theater. "Miss Eastman has our full support in accepting this scholarship and transferring immediately."

Approves.

Full support.

Immediately.

Martinez nods, satisfaction evident in her expression.

"Excellent. We'll complete the paperwork tomorrow morning. Meet me at the administrative offices at nine a.m. to sign the final documents." She gathers her tablet, her notes, the tools of her authority. "Congratulations, Miss Eastman. You've earned this."

She turns and walks away.

The other judges follow—a procession of official robes and measured steps, filing out through a side exit that leads somewhere I've never been.

Somewhere I'll never need to go now.

Because I'm leaving.

Tomorrow.

I'm actually LEAVING.

I wait until they're gone.

Until the door closes behind them.

Until I'm alone with my pack in an empty theater that suddenly feels like the most beautiful place in the world.

Then I open my mouth to celebrate?—

"Heated signature detected. Fifty meters."

Ro's voice cuts through the moment.

Sharp.

Urgent.

Wrong.

I'm already moving before my brain finishes processing.

Drop.

Roll.