Audrey

As Tina and I stepped out of the cafe and into the chilly morning air, I felt a bit bolstered by our conversation and ready for my first teaching assistant class of the day. So I hadn't lost my virginity to my professor, after all. What a relief!

"By the way," Tina said, stopping on the sidewalk to look at me, "now that you know it wasn't him... You should consider signing up for the fashion show."

I shot my friend a curious look. "Fashion show?" I asked.

"You haven't heard?" she asked, to which I shook my head. "There's going to be a campus fashion competition. The top three winners will receive handsome rewards-with first place receiving an internship at Brooks."

My eyes widened of their own accord. "Seriously? You think I should...?"

"Absolutely!" Tina exclaimed. "Signups are today. You should get your name on the list first."

With my heart already thundering in my chest, I began taking steps backwards, clutching the strap of my satchel with one hand. To intern at Brooks Designs, potentially securing my dream job... Well, it would have fulfilled my lifelong dream.

I could still picture it now: my first fashion magazine subscription had featured a center spread on Brooks Designs.

Ten-year-old me had fallen in love with their unique and over-the-top pieces immediately, absolutely enamored with their signature look. I always loved the dichotomy of soft femininity with something harsher, delicate lace with dark plaid and silver hardware. Brooks had perfectly balanced this look, and I had taken a lot of inspiration from their designs over the years.

And now I had a chance to work for them.

By the time I stepped up to the signup sheet in the lobby of the central hall, there were already a few names on the list. Oh well, I thought to myself as I quickly scrawled my name across the paper. It didn't really matter where or when I signed up-so long as my skills helped me win.

And I was determined to win; I had been hoping for this since I was ten, after all.

Turning away from the bulletin board, my mind was already bustling with ideas for a new dress. I would need to stop at the storeroom to pick up some fabric so I could get started.

to sign up for the fashion

lilting voice, I felt my entire body go rigid. Turning slowly, I saw a familiar head of rich brown hair and

the list, signing her name right below mine. "No. I just

"What's so funny?"

making a fool out of yourself?" she asked. "I mean, thinking that you, a human, could ever win against an entire school full

of my hand. Turning, I began storming down the hall toward the

called out. "I would hate

of the materials storeroom did I finally let out a breath. I shut the door

and I knew that for a fact. Her designs were subpar at best, relying

fabric. Her father was Alpha Wallace from Silverbite Pack, and

not me. She may have picked

high school early with a 4.0 GPA and was accepted into Grayspring with a full scholarship thanks to my admissions project—a massive black funeral gown made entirely with the

I wasn't worried about

stopped in front of a particular bolt of dark red tartan that caught my eye. "This would be perfect," I whispered to myself as I ran my fingers across the rough fabric. Tartan, black lace, giant safety

"There you are!"

was already storming up to me, the door of the storeroom swinging

"Max-"

of fabric behind me when I took a step back. "How

to divulge the fact that he was right. "And besides, I broke up with you so it's none of your business anyway. Or did I not make that clear

turned away as if to leave, but then stopped himself, his hands clenching into fists

matter what you did with him," he growled, turning slowly to fix me with a hard glare, "a lowly human like

at the implication. Edwin, the man I had shared so

my hand at Max dismissively. "As if I wasn't your plaything already," I retorted, sidestepping past him with

would ever

but I said nothing. Instead, I merely hiked the fabric up under

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