Rachel had always believed she could read people.
No—not believed.
She knew.
It was a skill she had grown up with, sharpened inside Alpha Darius' pack like a polished blade—watching, studying, learning the subtle ways people hid their intentions. Body language. Eye movement. Breathing patterns. Tone.
Most people exposed themselves without realizing it.
Which was why, when Headmistress Orla dismissed them earlier and the students dispersed, Rachel's mind was far from calm.
She had seen it.
She had seen the way Ivan looked at Mia. Just that this time around, she's not jealous of Mia getting someone's attention, but calculating how she can use that to her advantage.
And it wasn't casual interest.
It wasn't polite friendliness.
It wasn't curiosity.
It was attention—focused, attentive, analyzing, targeted attention.
The kind a wolf gave something he intended to claim.
And Rachel saw it instantly.
