Chapter 12

That evening. Aria lay in bed aggressively refreshing job boards and submitting applications to dance companies, her laptop casting a blue glow across her determined face in the darkened bedroom

The application process for elite werewolf dance companies was far more demanding than before. Applications required submission at least three months in advance, followed by a grueling series of auditions and technical assessments spanning weeks.

Only after clearing every hurdle could one secure even the most junior position.

Despite her legs not being fully rehabilitated, Aria began what her mother called her "application blitz." simultaneously developing a punishing practice regimen in the small dance studio they'd installed in the townhouse basement.

Though Lucas's systematic revenge had prevented her from joining any professional companies during those three years, dance had remained her secret sanctuary. During those years, whenever he would disappear for "pack business" (which she now understood were rendezvous with Leila), she would retreat to a small studio she'd rented off-pack. There, alone with just mirrors and music, she'd maintained her technique through endless repetition of fundamentals.

Dance had been her first love-before Lucas, before everything. She had allowed that passion to be overshadowed, but never extinguished.

Three months later, during her final audition for the Northern Alpine Dance Company, Aria performed with a technical precision and emotional depth that left the judging panel visibly moved.

As she completed her variation with a flawless grand jeté into a controlled arabesque, the artistic director exchanged glances with her colleagues-they had found their new soloist.

When the scores were revealed, she had received straight A's across every category-a feat accomplished perhaps once or twice a decade.

During the feedback session, the senior artistic director studied her with professional curiosity. "Ms. Collins, your technical abilities are extraordinary, but there's something puzzling in your performance history.”

your junior year at Silver Crescent Academy, there's a complete absence of

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Chapter 12

be aggressively building

grip tightened momentarily on the microphone, but her face remained composed. When she spoke, her voice carried neither bitterness nor regret, just simple

consumed those years," she said. "Classic story-wrong mate, wrong

offered a serene smile. "But

forward, my career is my only partnership. Dance doesn't lie, manipulate, or betray-it just demands everything,

her technical prowess. She wasn't running from her past-she

of the dance world. As the only auditionee in five years to receive unanimous top marks, she

performance of “Giselle" that prompted the Alpine Times to declare: "Collins doesn't merely dance roles-she

Moonlight Theatre near The Thornwood Pack. Reviewing the performance calendar in her office, the director regarded Aria with obvious

Aria interrupted: "I see that look, Margaret. I'm going. The company

directly on the itinerary. Your former life-the people who

her dancing. "I'll perform wearing the mask and

16:39

Chapter 12

for our modern 'Wolf's

as first soloist. I'll be temporarily mute-doctor's

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