Chapter 48 His Mate

• Annabel sat at her desk in the back corner of the classroom, staring blankly at her notes. The words on the page blurred together as her mind wandered, consumed by thoughts of Oliver. She hadn’t seen or heard from him since his birthday celebration, and the tension gnawed at her. Was he okay? Had the tests begun? The questions plagued her, but she couldn’t allow herself to reach out. Her father’s expectations and Bernard’s constant presence weighed heavily on her.
• Across the room, Bernard’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Annabel,” he called softly, leaning closer. “You’ve been quiet all day. Are you feeling alright?”
• She forced a polite smile, nodding. “I’m fine. Just tired.”