CHAPTER 167: _ MOON BLESSED, UNITE

Heidi’s wolf growls angrily in her head. "This reeks of interference."

She dares to glance at Master Corvin. He’s standing near the corner and has his arms folded and his usual frown on but his jaw is tight. He’s not looking at her. Not even once.

Her chest constricts. Did he tell them? Did he ruin this for me because of that stupid fight? A fight where he isn’t even sure who the offender is?

She can practically hear the blood rushing in her ears. She’s shaking inside, not out, because she refuses to let it show. The last thing she wants is to look like the bitter friend or the sore loser.

Val turns toward her, eyes wide and apologetic. "Heidi... I didn’t know..."

Heidi cuts her off with a soft, tight smile that costs her everything. "Don’t. You deserve it, Val. You really do."

She steps forward, hugging Val tightly, long enough to make it believable. "Congratulations," she whispers against her friend’s ear.

Her voice doesn’t even crack. She’s proud of that. Then she turns to Andre, who’s still grinning like he just conquered the world, and shakes his hand. "Congrats, Vega."

He laughs, "Didn’t know you were so formal, Castell."

She smirks faintly. "Don’t get used to it."

The crowd claps again, teachers smiling their fake smiles as the winners are handed their sashes. Heidi steps back to her place, her pulse pounding in her throat. She feels like she’s trapped underwater with every sound muffled and every color too sharp.

Halric is talking again, saying something about "leadership," "courage," "exemplary behavior." Heidi barely hears him. The words melt into meaningless noise. She should be listening. She should be smiling for the cameras. Instead, she’s busy replaying that moment in her head, over and over:

Eight to two.

She won and they took it anyway. Why? They wouldn’t even give a reason yet. Fuck. It would have been nice flashing that title on Sierra and her bitches’ faces.

Her wolf breaks the silence at last. "Who needs a school title when you have a god wolf?"

Heidi’s lips twitch into a humorless smile. "What good is a god wolf if he can’t get me a stupid school title?"

There’s a pause, then he chuckles. "Touché."

By the time the ceremony ends, her cheeks ache from keeping her expression neutral. The applause fades, the cameras lower, and everyone starts filing out in small clusters of chatter and laughter.

The Moon Blessed gather near the hall entrance, buzzing with congratulations. Andre slaps Val on the back. "We should celebrate!" he declares, voice loud enough to echo off the walls. "We survived the Labyrinth, Moon Blessed, and we deserve a night off!"

Helena cheers. "Yes! Finally, someone with sense."

Jia pumps her fist in the air. "Party!"

Even the quiet boy from Sector grins shyly. "We could use a break."

The others agree promptly. The boy with the growing leg is surprisingly elated about the thought of celebrating too. Heidi is almost tempted to ask what good celebrating is when he lost a leg or had to go through the pain of having your leg severed by a demon’s claw.

Or the kids who died there or Junie who are still trapped? What good is celebrating? However, seeing the smiles lit up the survivors’ faces after watching them wrinkle over and over in the labyrinth keeps her lips sealed.

Maybe they truly deserve a celebration.

Heidi folds her arms, forcing a small smile. "And how exactly do we throw a party with zero money?"

Andre grins wider, eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, ye of little faith."

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a thick wad of folded notes that freezes everyone.

Val blinks. "Andre... where did you get that?"

Helena leans closer. "Please don’t say what I think you’re about to say."

Andre smirks, voice dropping to a mocking whisper. "Borrowed it."

Heidi narrows her eyes. "Borrowed it? From who?"

He shrugs like it’s nothing. "One of the teachers. They won’t miss it. Think of it as compensation for emotional trauma."

The group collectively gasps. Jia’s mouth falls open. "You stole it?!"

"’Stole’ is such an ugly word," Andre says, tucking the cash back into his pocket. "I prefer ’liberated.’"

Heidi stares at him, half horrified and half-impressed. She had formerly misjudged his character. One look at him and you’d pass him for a principled and cold guy. Upon getting to know him, and the rest of the Moon Blessed better now, Heidi realizes they just might remain the only kind and unbitter souls left in this shitty school.

"Andre, that’s insane. What if you get caught?" Val protests.

He flashes that infuriating grin again. "Then I’ll charm my way out of it. Works every time."

"Until it doesn’t," Heidi mutters.

Her wolf chuckles in her head. "I like this one."

"You would," she mutters under her breath.

Andre spreads his arms dramatically. "Come on, Castell. The school’s not going to throw us a party, so we’ll throw ourselves one. We faced death in that labyrinth. We earned this."

Heidi glances around at the others. They’re all grinning now, nodding, cheering, caught up in the reckless energy of it all. Maybe it’s the high of surviving, or maybe they’re just desperate for a reason to laugh again.

She exhales, feeling the weight in her chest loosen just a little. "Fine," she says finally. "But if we get expelled, I’m haunting you, so I’d watch my back if I were you."

Andre beams. "Wouldn’t have it any other way."

The group bursts into loud and genuine laughter. Heidi laughs too, but it’s softer and quieter.

Inside, her wolf murmurs, "You lost a crown but kept your fire. That’s worth more."

She glances up at the noon sky through the glass-paneled hall doors, the sun glowing faintly over the campus grounds. Her reflection stares back at her, tired eyes and all.

Maybe her wolf’s right. Maybe this isn’t the end. Maybe the real fight is just beginning. And when it comes... she’ll make damn sure no one ever forgets her name again.