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Elara reaches over to hang up before she drives off, finding herself smiling. Today is shaping up to be exactly what she needed.
No werewolf business. No imminent war.
No Kade…
The moment the thought appears, a strange tug pulls at her gut. In fact, her smile dims. The first two felt like good news, but the third… Elara shakes her head with a huff. She really needs to get a grip. There’s no place that Kade can fit into this new normal she’s trying to forge for herself. Even if her heart rebels at the thought, it’s just not possible.
Elara makes it to campus and finds Kira and Jordyn sipping lattes on the campus lawn. Laith shows up shortly thereafter, and although he presses a quick kiss on Kira’s cheek, she doesn’t seem to make eye contact with him. Elara looks away, pretending not to notice as she hopes this has nothing to do with her. She and Laith are clearly nothing but friends now.
And packmates.
Forever connected in ways Kira can’t imagine.
Shoot, this is complicated.
"So you're really back with us?" Jordyn asks, hugging Elara.
"Yep. I’m feeling much better.” Finding normal, she tells herself. “Besides, I can't stand any more of my mother hovering. I love her absolutely, and I'm lucky that she's around and cares, but it's getting a little smothering."
Jordyn laughs at that, and Kira gives a look of disgust that makes Elara giggle. Kira of all people can't stand to feel controlled or judged. She's far too free for that.
They spend the morning on the lawn, soaking up the sun and joking. Even though Elara can smell every perfume or cologne that wanders past, can tell who brushed their teeth and who’s had a coffee, can hear whispered conversations about who’s sleeping with whom, she enjoys herself. The only time she frowns is when she finds her mind wandering, imagining what it would be like if Kade was also here, sitting with them.
They all head to her dorm after that, packing in like sardines to help her get her stuff put back away. Even Kira seems to completely relax around Laith, occasionally glancing at him when he’s not looking. The sense that some level of normality is returning only grows as they joke and jostle. Part of Elara was afraid that now that she was different, it wouldn't feel the same. But it's almost like old times.
Finally, the afternoon comes, and they make their way to the lecture together. Excitement tingles up Elara’s spine as they pass under the banner that announces Professor Guy Blanchard is today’s speaker. Professor Blanchard is from a prestigious medical research school. The big city kind.
Elara forgets all about the stress of the day as soon as she sees him walk to the front of the room and go to the podium. Tall and lean with feathers of gray at his temples, she can't believe it's actually him whom the college got to lecture. His teams lead cutting-edge biological research, especially when it comes to diseases and genetics. Geeking out over it all, Elara practically squirms in her seat as he begins to speak.
Professor Blanchard immediately launches into talking about how DNA replication was discovered and sequenced, then how they use that to find genetic flaws. It’s all stuff Elara knows, but she still soaks it up. She’s always been fascinated by the idea that flawed genes could be able to be fixed. People with even the rarest of genetic diseases could be cured.
When Professor Blanchard begins to engage the small room of college students by asking questions, Elara shifts in her seat again. She knows the answers, but does she put her hand up? She’s not usually one to bring attention to herself.
"So, how does DNA manipulation even help us? " Professor Blanchard asks, his keen eyes scanning the lecture hall.
Laith gives Elara a little nudge and a nod of his head. It's all the encouragement she needs.
She raises her hand high in the air and is both terrified and awed when she gets called upon. She gulps but makes sure she projects her voice. “Gene therapy has the potential to do a lot of things. It could fix a genetic alteration underlying a disorder, so the gene can function properly. It could turn on a gene to help fight a disease or turn off a gene that is functioning improperly. It could even remove a piece of DNA that is impairing gene function and causing disease.”
Professor Blanchard smiles. "Correct. So, DNA can be manipulated to intervene in this broken or diseased mechanism and then repair it using experimental tools. Researchers like the ones we have back at the university are working all around the world to create new experimental tools so that eventually, the goal is to fix all of these genetic issues."
Elara finds herself nodding vigorously. There are lots of debates about this type of science, but she can't deny how great it would be for people to not have to worry about genetic disorders any longer. How much suffering would end thanks to this science?
"Now, all of this gene editing has some moral components. Can anyone tell me about those?" the professor asks.
She raises her hand again, and when he calls her, he asks for her name this time.
“Elara,” she says, smiling widely. Talking about this stuff always gets her excited. “And part of the moral problem is in what’s been labeled designer babies. The fear is that, since much of medical treatment is driven by money in this country, there will be children who are born to affluent families who can access the technology and be rid of these genetic diseases. Plus, where does it stop? Will society use these advances to discriminate or even cull those people, just because they don't have the funds to get better? The other issue is that someone can use this science for other purposes rather than medical necessity.”
Professor Blanchard nods along. "Very good, Elara. I'm impressed. You've definitely done your research. When you graduate, come see me. There might be an internship waiting for you." He winks, and Elara practically melts into her seat. Did he just say that?
Jordyn reaches over and squeezes Elara's hand with a smile. She knows how important that statement was.
After the hour-and-a-half-long lecture, Elara goes with all of her friends to the campus cafe to order their favorite food and shakes. "That was pretty cool," Kira says, clinking her chocolate shake glass against Elara’s vanilla one. "How does it feel to know you pretty much have your life figured out after this?" she teases with a big smile on her face.
Elara beams, and for the first time in a while, she can see a future she’s looking forward to. Despite everything that's happened, perhaps she really can live a fulfilling life, wolf or not.
A few gasps echo around the cafe, catching Elara’s attention. She glances over her shoulder, noting that her friends have also picked up on the unusual occurrence. The TV on the wall on the other side of the room is filled with the image of a somber-looking news anchor. A yellow banner at the bottom has Breaking News flashing across it.
