Page 47 of The Wolf Prince

“Bye.”

He disappears into the woods. I keep waving. Then realize what I'm doing. I lower my hand.

“Wolves don't wave, Aggie.”

I grab my bag.

“Also, you just spent five minutes telling one about your week.”

I hurry toward the Academy.

“We're going to unpack that later.”

Later turns out to be during my break. But all I do is confuse myself further.

Go figure.

By the time I leave the Academy, it's late enough that the parking lot is mostly empty. Which is fine.

Normally.

Tonight, though, the sun is already dipping behind the trees, my feet hurt, I have three quizzes to grade, and the blouse I'm wearing has several coffee stains down the front.

All in all? It's been a day.

I hitch my tote higher on my shoulder and head toward my car.

“Hey, Maggie May.”

And apparently, it's not over yet.

I close my eyes. Just for a second.

Maybe if I don't turn around, he'll think I'm someone else.

Someone actually named Maggie.

Sadly, Coach Williams has never been particularly receptive to subtlety. His footsteps crunch over the gravel behind me.

“Didn't you hear me?”

I paste on a smile before turning.

It's automatic. The smile. The everything's fine face.

The one I've been perfecting since I was old enough to understand that life is easier when everybody gets along.

“Hi, Coach.”

“Working late?”

“A little.”

He falls into step beside me. Wonderful.

“I'll walk you to your car.”

“Oh, you don't have to.”