CHAPTER 27: CHAPTER 27: EVERYTHING CHANGED

I blinked at William, still a little stunned.

“That’s really generous of you,” I said slowly. “But I... I can’t accept that.”

William’s smile faltered just a little. “It’s not charity. Think of it as an investment. You’re going to do amazing things, Jasmine. I just—” He scratched the back of his neck. “I just want to help you get there.”

I gave a small, grateful smile. “I appreciate it, I really do. But I need to handle it on my own.”

For a second, he looked like he might argue. But then he nodded, a little ruefully, and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Yeah. I figured you’d say that.”

He gave a sheepish grin, then waved. “Good luck tonight. Not that you’ll need it.”

“You too,” I called after him as he made his way toward his seat.

The second he was out of earshot, Mindie leaned in, smirking like the cat that caught the canary. “He totally likes you.”

I rolled my eyes. “He’s just being nice.”

She laughed. “Nice? Girl, he was practically proposing. Are you sure you don’t want to rethink it? Smart, considerate, loaded...”

“Mindie,” I groaned, draping her hand across my shoulders. “Stop.”

“I’m just saying!” she sang, “He’s cute. He’s loyal. And he’s not bad to look at.”

I shook my head, staring down at my hands. “I don’t see him like that. I never have. He’s just not my type.”

Mindie sighed dramatically. “Typical. The good guys never stand a chance with you.”

I snorted. “Yeah, because my track record has been so amazing.”

She elbowed me lightly, and I smiled despite myself. But a little piece of my heart twisted.

William was everything a girl could ask for—kind, honest, and stable.

But when I closed my eyes...

Mindie nudged me. “So... if William’s not your type, what is?”

I opened my mouth, ready to throw out something safe, something easy—but the image that flashed in my mind made the words die on my tongue.

Gareth. It was Gareth’s face I saw.

And that was a problem I didn’t even know how to start fixing.

Tall, broad-shouldered, intense. The way he looked when he drove us to the restaurant. The way he held me so close, like he really wanted me. The way my heart flutters when I think of him.

My cheeks heated so fast I was sure Mindie could see it.

She laughed. “Oh. That bad, huh?”

“Shut up,” I muttered, burying my face in my hands.

Thankfully, the lecturer’s voice boomed over the microphone before she could tease me more.

“Please take your seats! The ceremony will begin shortly.”

I scrambled toward the row where my seat number was printed on the tiny white card. Mindie followed close behind, glancing at her own ticket.

“Looks like I’m right behind you,” she said, giving me a quick thumbs-up.

I smiled weakly and squeezed down the narrow aisle, muttering “sorry” and “excuse me” as I bumped past people’s knees and handbags.

When I finally reached my seat, I froze.

Of course.

Of all the people I could be stuck next to, it had to be Clarissa.

She sat stiffly, arms folded over her glittery dress, glaring at the stage like it personally offended her. She caught sight of me and gave the fakest, tightest smile I’d ever seen. If smiles could kill, hers would’ve stabbed me right between the ribs.

Mindie leaned in. “Good luck,” she muttered like a prayer, before slipping off to her own seat a row behind.

I sighed and tried to ignore Clarissa who was looking so woebegone. What’s wrong with her?

I was still adjusting my skirt to sit down, when I felt it.

A shiver ran down my spine. I turned my head and met Gareth’s eyes. Across the hall, past all the glitter and noise, he was looking straight at me.

Not at the swooning girls by the door. Not at the professors waiting to greet him. Our eyes locked, and for one long, dizzy moment, it was like the whole room went silent. My heart slammed against my ribs.

Panicking, I jerked my gaze away, pretending to adjust my scarf. My hands trembled slightly as I smoothed the fabric.

Get a grip, Jasmine, I scolded myself. You’re imagining things. There’s no way he’s here for you.

I tried to sink deeper into my seat, tossing a quick glance over my shoulder at Mindie. She gave me an encouraging thumbs-up, completely missing the small earthquake happening in my chest.

When I faced forward again, Clarissa still hadn’t moved or spoken. She stared ahead stiffly, ignoring me for once.

Good. I couldn’t handle a fight right now—not with my head still spinning from the way Gareth’s gaze had pinned me to the spot.

I clenched my hands together in my lap and forced myself to breathe.

He’s probably just looking around. Probably wasn’t even focused on me.

It’s not like I mattered. I was just Michelle’s tutor.

Just another face in a sea of many. I shouldn’t read more into the coincidence.

I forced myself to breathe as the dean stepped up to the stage, adjusting his glasses and tapping the microphone.

“Good evening, everyone. Welcome to this year’s Award and Scholarship Ceremony,” he began. “Before we proceed, it’s my honor to introduce a very important guest tonight.”

The room quieted, everyone sitting up straighter.

“Please welcome Gareth Laken, Alpha of Frostfang Pack and our university’s most generous donor. Thanks to his pack’s support, the scholarship many of you are about to receive exists today.”

I blinked, trying to process the dean’s words.

Gareth Laken... top donor? No wonder the place was buzzing. The she-wolves in the audience screamed. Not a polite clap. Not a respectful cheer. Full-on, high-pitched squeals like a rock star had just walked in.

I almost laughed at how ridiculous it was. Almost.

Because honestly, I kinda got it.

Mindie caught my eye from her seat and wiggled her eyebrows like, ‘See? Told you.’

I looked away fast, cheeks burning.

The dean waited for the noise to die down, clearing his throat loudly into the mic.

“Moving on!” he said with a strained smile. “This year’s top scholarship comes with a significant monetary reward, thanks again to the generous sponsorship from Frostfang Pack.”

Murmurs filled the room.

He continued, “Our finalists this year, selected through academic excellence and leadership, are... William Chandler, Clarissa Hale, and Jasmine Lowett.”

There was polite clapping, but it felt distant. My ears were ringing too much.

I felt Gareth’s eyes on me again. Heavy and focused.

My hands went slick with sweat, and I wiped them nervously on my skirt.

He’s not looking at you, I told myself again. He’s just... observing. Like a judge. Like an Alpha.

The dean shuffled some papers, smiling at the crowd. “And after careful consideration and review... we are pleased to announce the winner of the 2025 Frostfang Excellence Scholarship—”

I held my breath.

“Miss Jasmine Lowett!”

There was a loud gasp around the hall. A few claps. A few whispered comments.

I sat frozen for half a second, my heart banging against my ribs, before Mindie shoved me lightly from behind. “Go!” she hissed, grinning.

On wobbly legs, I stood up.

Applause picked up as I made my way to the stage. Every step felt heavy. Every eye felt glued to me.

I dared a glance toward the front—and locked eyes with Gareth again.

He wasn’t clapping. He wasn’t smiling.

But something warm flickered in his grey eyes, something that almost made me stumble.

Was he proud of me?

The thought nearly knocked the air out of my lungs.

I climbed the steps slowly, the lights blinding me. Someone handed me a microphone.

I stared out at the crowd, trying not to shake, trying to remember the little speech I’d rehearsed in case by some miracle this happened.

I swallowed hard and opened my mouth.

But before I could say a single word, a voice rang out across the hall.

“Excuse me!”

I turned toward the voice—and my stomach dropped.

Clarissa had stood up with her hand raised up high, an expression of indignant anger on her face.

“She doesn’t deserve this award!”