CHAPTER 38 – The Girl They Never Noticed

The sun was already stretching across the sky when Aira stepped out of the house, the light washing over her as if trying to cleanse away yesterday's shadows.

Her boots crunched against the gravel, and that's when she saw it.

An Aston Martin.

Sleek. Expensive. Bold.

Her steps slowed.

"Isn't that… Asher's car?" she muttered under her breath, eyebrows knitting.

And there they were—Asher and Jack, standing beside the vehicle, mid-conversation. Jack looked tense, arms crossed, brows furrowed. Asher's expression was unreadable.

For a second, Aira debated turning around.

But then she remembered.

This was her life too. She had just as much right to walk this road.

So, she kept walking.

But before she could pass them, both voices called out simultaneously—

"Aira."

She turned slowly.Her eyes met theirs—expression unreadable, walls built high.

There was no warmth in her gaze, only quiet strength.

"Yes, Alpha Asher, Beta Jack?" she said politely, her tone flat and formal. "Is there anything you needed?"

That formality hit them like a slap.

Jack opened his mouth, stunned. Asher blinked, as if she'd spoken in another language.

"I—Where are you going?" Asher asked.

She tilted her head slightly, tone still icy."To school."

"You should be resting," Jack said, softer now, worry lining his voice.

Aira offered a stiff smile. "Thank you for the concern, Beta Jack. But I'm alright."

Asher took a hesitant step forward. "I… I could drop you."

Her heart stuttered for half a beat.

Did he just say he'd drop her? In his car? The car no one ever touched, let alone sat inside?

Her eyes flicked to the gleaming Aston Martin, but all she could see was the memory of that stage. The pain. The humiliation.

"No thank you, Alpha," she said, voice calm.

And before they could utter another word, she turned and walked away.

At the bus stop, her phone buzzed. Lila.

"Come over," the text read. "Now."

Five minutes later, Aira stood outside Lila's mansion. The guards nodded and let her in like she belonged there. And maybe, for the first time in a long time, she did feel like she belonged somewhere.

Inside, Lila's mother greeted her with a warm smile, and her little brother waved from the couch with a juice box. No judgment. Just acceptance.

Lila practically dragged her up the stairs to her giant pink room—walk-in closet, fairy lights, a bathtub that looked like it belonged in a spa.

Aira stood frozen.

Her own room back home hadn't changed since she was eight.Tiny bed. Peeling wallpaper. A closet too small for her books, let alone clothes.Because no one had cared enough to change it.

But here, Lila was already tossing clothes onto the bed.

"Sit. Tell me everything," she demanded.

So Aira did.

From the awkward car scene to the way Jack called her Apple, to Asher offering a ride.

Lila's mouth dropped open. "That jerk. Ugh, now he wants to act like Prince Charming?"

Before Aira could respond, a ping echoed.

A message from the Silverstone Pack.Training at 11 AM.

Aira blinked. "It's 10:50."

"Okay, no time," Lila said, already opening her drawers. "Wear this."

She tossed her a pink sports bra, black leggings, and matching trainers.

Aira hesitated. "Lila… this is kinda… revealing."

Lila smirked. "You look hot. Trust me. Why have you been hiding this figure under hoodies all your life?"

Aira turned toward the mirror.

And paused.

She did look good. Strong. Confident. Like someone who wasn't invisible anymore.

"You're gonna cause a riot today," Lila said, grinning as she grabbed her own gear.

And for once… Aira didn't feel like fading into the background.