Raven POV:
After a few minutes, I forced myself out of the library and into the hallway, careful—moving slow like I owned the place even though my trembling legs loudly disagreed. I avoided people's gazes like they were a tribunal waiting to hand down a death sentence. Head down, shoulders tight, steps small and steady. If looks were weapons, I was pretending to be armored in indifference.
A few glances still found me anyway—curiosity, pity, judgment. Probably already the start of another rumor: "Did you hear about the sick Alpha who fainted during laps and then slapped Tyler?" Yeah, that one's going to spread faster than a wildfire. Great. Just great.
"Okay, just get to the room," I muttered under my breath. "Get in, lock the door, and maybe never come out again."
