Unique talent.
An honor.
My heart is racing.
Pounding against my ribs like it's trying to escape.
"I've been following your journey here at Ruthless for years," Martinez continues, and there's something almostwarmin her voice now. "Waiting to be able to grant you a full scholarship to Juilliard."
Juilliard.
JUILLIARD.
The word echoes in my skull, bouncing off memories of childhood dreams and adult disappointments.
"But due to the rules," she adds, and my stomach drops, "I couldn't forgo you not having a pack. Juilliard Omegas thrive on having pack accompaniment in a competitive field that also comes with its set of challenges—challenges that mimic what you've experienced here at Ruthless."
The rules.
Always the rules.
Always the barriers between me and what I want.
But then she smiles.
Actually smiles.
And the expression transforms her face from intimidating to almost maternal.
"However," she says, and the word is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard, "you now have a pack. Which means there is nothing preventing me from extending the offer I've been waiting to make."
She straightens.
Formal.
Official.
"Seraphine Eastman, on behalf of the International Alliance of Contemporary Dance Excellence, I am pleased to offer you a full scholarship to the Juilliard School, effective immediately. Upon approval of your pack, you may transfer as early as tomorrow, leaving Ruthless Academy behind."
Tomorrow.
TOMORROW.
I could be free TOMORROW.
My jaw drops.
Actually drops.
The kind of open-mouthed shock that would be embarrassing if I had the capacity to feel embarrassment right now.
I look at my pack.
At these four men who still feel like strangers in so many ways, who I've known for less than a week, who somehow managed to ignite this rollercoaster of change that's brought me to this moment.
They're watching me.
All of them.
