The Strategy

CHAPTER 3

I didn't sleep that night.

I sat on the edge of my narrow dorm bed, staring at the clock on the wall as the hours dragged by. 4:12 AM to 5:18 AM. Every time I closed my eyes, I heard the screech of tires again. I could still taste blood in my mouth and feel the crushed metal pinning my legs.

Across the room, Chloe snored softly under her blanket, completely unaware that her roommate had died and come back.

I looked down at my phone. Cassian’s text still glowed on the screen.

"You just made a big mistake of your life."

In my first life, a message like that would have scared me to death. I would have spent the next day trying to find him, trying to apologize, trying to fix things so he wouldn’t come after me. I was so desperate to keep my scholarship and stay invisible.

This time, I didn’t feel scared. I felt cold hate twisting in my stomach.

He thought he could destroy a scholarship girl just because his last name was Vance. But I had already been through the worst he could do. I had already died. You can’t scare someone who has seen their own dead body.

By the time the sun rose over the mountains, my plan was set.

I couldn’t just hide from Cassian. If I tried to avoid him, he would go after my parents again. He would plant stolen artifacts, get my dad fired, and ruin us. I needed real protection. Something even the Alpha heir couldn’t break.

I needed the Principal.

I didn’t know who the tall man in the charcoal suit was last night, but his power was obvious. It had been strong enough to make Cassian back off. If I could get close to that man, or better yet, get a job working directly for the Principal, Cassian wouldn’t be able to touch my family without answering to the top.

"Eva? Why are you already dressed?"

I blinked and looked over. Chloe was sitting up in bed, her curly bronze hair sticking out everywhere as she rubbed her eyes.

"Couldn’t sleep," I said, trying to sound normal while I tied my old sneakers. "I wanted an early start on my work-study."

Chloe groaned and fell back onto her pillow. "You’re crazy. It’s the first day of the semester. Nobody works before coffee." Then she sat up fast, eyes wide. "Wait, holy shit, Eva. Did you really kiss some random rich guy right in front of Cassian last night? The group chats are blowing up."

"He was crowding me," I said, grabbing my backpack. "I needed to make a point."

"A point? Girl, you just lit a match on a Lycan heir’s ego," Chloe whispered, suddenly serious. "Cassian is dangerous. Be careful today, okay? The Vance family basically runs this place. If he wants to make your life hell, he can."

I know, I thought. I know exactly what he can do.

"I’will be fine," I told her with a small smile and headed out the door.

The campus looked beautiful in the early morning fog. Stone towers rose up against the dark pine trees. Rich students in perfect uniforms were starting to walk across the quad in their little groups.

Every one of them stopped and stared as I walked by.

The whispers followed me.

"That’s her..."

"The scholarship girl who rejected Cassian..."

"Did you see his face? She actually said no..."

I kept my head up and walked straight past the academic buildings toward the big administrative tower in the center of campus.

The employment office was on the third floor. In my first life, they put me on kitchen duty, wiping tables and washing dishes. It kept me invisible, which was what I wanted back then.

This time, I pushed open the glass doors and walked right up to the front desk.

Mrs. Gable, the older secretary, looked up and her face tightened when she saw me.

"Evangeline Cross," she said, checking her files. "Your work-study is set. You’re on kitchen duty in the main dining hall."

"I want to request a different assignment," I said.

Mrs. Gable stared at me like I was crazy. "Reassignments aren’t allowed for regular scholarship students. The list is locked."

"I saw there’s an open spot for the Principal’s executive suite," I replied. "The maintenance and assistant role. I want to interview for it."

"That position needs direct approval from the Principal’s office," she said, shaking her head. "And after what happened at the lounge last night, I really don’t think…"

"Let her in."

A deep, rough voice came from the doorway behind the desk.

I turned. Gideon, the Head of Academy Security, stood there. He was built like a wall, tactical gear on, scarred hands behind his back. His sharp eyes looked me over carefully.

"Gideon," Mrs. Gable started. "The Principal is very busy this morning, and she’s just a…"

"The Principal picks his own staff," Gideon cut her off, his voice flat. He gave me a quick, curious look. "Follow me, Ms Cross. He’s actually expecting you."

My heart slammed in my chest. He’s expecting me?

I didn’t hesitate. I followed Gideon down the long carpeted hallway to the private elevator that went straight up to the penthouse tower.

The ride up was silent. The air grew heavier as we rose, full of strong Alpha power that pressed against my skin.

When the doors opened, I stepped into a huge office. Big windows looked out over the foggy campus and the mountains. Dark wood bookshelves lined the walls, and a massive desk sat at the far end.

A man sat behind the desk, reading documents. He had sharp, aristocratic features and wore a perfect charcoal three-piece suit. His dark hair was neatly styled. As he slowly looked up, his piercing golden-amber eyes met mine. Holy shit!!!

Everything stopped.

I couldn’t breathe. The memory of last night hit me all at once, the kiss, the powerful hands on my waist, that dark, commanding scent.

The man from the corridor wasn’t some random aristocrat.

It was Alistair Vance.

The Sovereign Principal of Lunar Ridge Academy.

Cassian’s father.