Chapter 65

Aria

I spent most of the next morning in my pajamas, moving from the bed to the couch and back again like a broken record. The coffee table was littered with cold mugs of half-finished tea and stacks of abandoned paperwork that I’d half-heartedly tried to work on before giving up.

My day off wasn’t exactly comforting. It felt more like a punishment than a reprieve.

Around noon, my phone buzzed, breaking me out of a half-awake state on the sofa. I grabbed it and felt a little relieved upon seeing Bella’s name on the screen.

“Hey, Bells.”

“Hey yourself,” Bella replied. I could hear the sounds of dishes clinking and voices in the background; she had likely slipped into the walk-in freezer at her restaurant job just to call me. “How are you holding up?”

I shrugged even though I knew she couldn’t see me. “Fine. Just… you know. Hanging out at home.”

There was a pause, then an exaggerated sigh. “Aria, you can’t just sit around all day moping. You’ll drive yourself insane. Why don’t you get out for a bit?”

“I don’t know, Bella. I’m not exactly in the mood to go sightseeing.”

“I’m not saying you have to go and climb a mountain or anything. Just… get some fresh air,” she argued, sounding exasperated. “Go for a walk, grab a coffee. Anything. You’ll feel better, trust me.”

I stared at the empty mugs and scattered papers around me. Maybe she had a point. I had been in here long enough to feel like the walls were starting to close in. “Fine,” I said, exhaling. “I’ll go get a coffee or something.”

“That’s the spirit!” I could hear the relief in her voice, like she had just convinced me to do something monumental. “I’ll come over once I’m off work. We can order a pizza and I can bitch to you about my coworkers, if you really miss work that badly.”

“That sounds good, actually,” I replied with a snort. “Thanks, Bella. See you later.”

“No problem. Now go get dressed!”

I hung up and tossed the phone aside, letting out a long breath. Bella was right. Maybe I just needed to move, to get out of this cramped apartment and check out the city.

Honestly, I’d been such a workaholic lately that maybe Darren was right when he said I needed a day off. Getting into the nonstop routine of home, work, home every single day was enough to make anyone forget that a whole world existed outside the office.

Not to mention the fact that my coworkers were all werewolves. Sometimes, I almost forgot that humans even existed anymore, that mate bonds and packs weren’t exactly the ‘norm’.

After a quick shower, I pulled on some jeans and a sweater, threw my hair up in a messy ponytail, and headed out.

The coffee shop was just a few blocks away from my apartment, and the brisk spring air felt cool and refreshing as I walked. I ordered a latte, then leaned against the counter as I waited, just listening to the quiet music and voices filling the air.

Once I had my coffee, I started to head back, but as I rounded the corner, I saw a big banner stretched out across the plaza: Career Fair—Today Only! Tables were spread out across the cobblestones with signs for various careers, adults and teens alike wandering around with resumes clutched in their hands.

I took a step closer, but a part of me hesitated. What was the point of going in? I had a job, even if I felt a little… disgruntled about it right now.

And besides, I didn’t have a degree, and most jobs required at least that, if not more. Even if I wanted to look for a new job, I wouldn’t be able to get one.

Still, something tugged at me, maybe a bit of Bella’s voice still lingering in the back of my mind. I’ll just go look around, I told myself. What was the worst that could happen?

So, I took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The plaza was bustling, rows of tables with posters and brochures advertising various fields, from tech to business to environmental work. I weaved through the booths as I sipped my coffee, half-curious and half-cautious.

Eventually, I found myself at a booth for animal sciences: wildlife rehabilitation, specifically. My heart skipped a beat at the sight; it wasn’t the exact field I’d dreamed of working in, but anything to do with animals was enough to pique my interest.

I stepped up to the table, glancing at the brochures and posters.

“Interested in wildlife rehabilitation?” the guy at the booth asked, smiling warmly as he handed me a pamphlet.

“Yeah,” I replied. “I’ve always been interested in animals. I’ve worked with them before, just… not professionally. Not like this, anyway.”

“That’s a great start,” he said. “Do you have a degree in animal sciences or biology?”

My heart sank a little, but I shook my head. “No. Just high school. I wanted to go to college, but… it didn’t work out. Not yet, at least.”

His smile softened, almost sympathetic. “I understand. But unfortunately, in this field, a degree is pretty essential. It’s not just about knowing animals; there’s a lot of science and research involved. Without a degree, it’d be tough to get into the field, even with experience.”

“Right,” I said, swallowing the knot of disappointment forming in my throat. “I figured as much.”

“If it’s something you’re really passionate about, maybe think about going to school. Even just a few courses to start with could make a difference.”

“Yeah. That makes sense,” I murmured, clutching the pamphlet a little tighter. “Thanks. I appreciate the advice.”

I walked away, the hope I’d felt earlier slowly fading. Every booth I stopped by after that had some version of the same response—‘degree required,’ ‘experience required,’ ‘qualifications.’ Even the most entry-level positions, like sitting behind a front desk and smiling at customers, required at least an associate’s degree.

It felt like every door was slamming shut, one by one, until I was left standing in an empty hallway.

By the time I made it back to my apartment, I felt even worse than I had that morning. I collapsed onto the couch, letting the pamphlet from the wildlife rehab center fall out of my hand as I stared up at the ceiling.

This was it. This was exactly what everyone had been hinting at all along. Without a degree, I was stuck. And no amount of wishful thinking was going to change that.

But then, a different thought slipped into my mind.

So what if I didn’t have a degree? I could still get one.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I grabbed my laptop and started searching for night classes. Local colleges, online programs, anything that could get me started. I didn’t need to dive into a full program right away—I just needed a foot in the door, that was all.

After hours of searching, I finally found a night program that offered introductory courses in zoology, and without thinking twice, I signed up. A thrill ran through me as I closed the laptop, now just having to wait for a response to my application.

No more wallowing. I was going to take life by the horns and get shit done, even if it took me years just to get a basic degree.

The next morning, I walked into work with a renewed sense of energy.

I kept my new plans to myself—except for Bella, who was ecstatic when I told her over greasy pizza and cheap wine last night—but knowing that I was taking steps toward my goal felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

As I passed by the breakroom, a glance at the employee points board caught my eye. It was still up, the names and point tallies still listed in their neat columns.

But something was different. Something was… missing.

I took a step forward, and my stomach dropped.

Lily’s name wasn’t there. All of her points, everything she had earned, had been erased.