132 | ACCEPTANCE LETTERS

We get back into a sort of routine. The paranoia that a Revenant will attack at any given moment hasn’t fully ebbed, but Blue was right: we can’t let that threat ruin our lives. Sleeping isn’t any easier - or doing anything that makes me fully lower my guard, but I do reluctantly allow Blue to stay in his own territory longer. As Alpha of such a large and well-established Pack, there’s a larger need for him to handle any issues that arise himself.

The Azures have had a few hiccups in the last few days, tensions within the Pack growing once more as we get closer to the end of the school year. The air of uncertainty seems to flow though Blue’s side of the bond ever so often. It’s something Blue and I need to address as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the apocalypse takes precedence.

The vampires from the Coven keep funneling me new reports, which I’ve gotten back into thoroughly reading and sorting through. Everything is as expected: chaotic, but stable. Craven’s ever-cryptic communications keep coming in via voice message as he’s been check out the areas deeper into the West. And, though most of them are sporadic, he constantly reminds me that - should something happen to him - Paris should know immediately. It’s not that reassuring, but the reminder gives me a modicum of peace from time to time.

I’m sitting back in my chair after reading the latest report from the outer edges of the Texas-Colorado area and stretch. Things with the witches still seem a bit wobbly out there, but the few scouts we’ve sent out that way have returned in a timely manner - via plane - and were uninjured. The supernaturals - mostly witches - in the area, however, are incredibly secretive and close-lipped about the things going on in their territories. But on the surface, things are calm.

Just as I start fixing the messy stacks of reports, I hear something out of the normal sounds on my land. A grumble of an engine steadily coming closer. The underlying sounds of jostling and metal groaning accompany the sound, painting a picture in my mind as I finally recognize the sound. It’s a mail truck. For a moment, paranoia creeps along my spine and I rise to my feet quickly, wondering if this is some sort of Revenant trick.

But the moment that thought is actually solid in my head, I roll my eyes at myself. No way a Revenant could operate a mail truck. They wouldn’t have that kind of dexterity or patience. I relax a degree and shuffle over tot he front door, pausing as I hear the truck stop outside my house. There’s that telltale sound of metal-on metal as the mailbox at the end of my property is opened and closed. Then the engine sounds start back up again, followed by the sounds of tires on the pavement.

I open the door, feeling awkward as I slowly leave the confines of my house and wander down the drive to the mailbox. The red lever is turned up, signaling what I’d already guessed at: I’ve got mail.

When I reach the white-painted box on it’s stand, I open it and pull out a large, cardboard envelope. Like the half-animal I am, I take a cautious sniff at the edges of the flat package and feel my frown deepen. It’s got the lingering scent of gasoline, stale coffee, and salt clinging to it. Before I flip it over to look at the return address, I can’t help the quizzical glance I cast towards retreating mail truck.

Mail. I stare at the boxy truck as it putters along the street. I can’t remember the last time I actually got mail. It’s not something I’ve given much thought over since moving here. The house was pretty much set up through my bank account, all fees and payments getting auto-drafted through there rather than me getting physical notices. And I don’t have a big enough paper trail to entice the humans to send me junk mail. Most of my transactions are through cash. I stare at the envelope all the way back to the house, a little dazed by it’s sudden appearance.

Once I’m back inside, I go to the kitchen and sit in my usual spot before tearing open the seam. As I pull out the singular paper from within, I’m struck by the sight of a familiar logo. The paper is thicker than the normal kind I’ve seen, the embossed crest sunken half way into the thick page…making it feel like something set in stone and final. Fingers trembling, I start reading the letter, my breath caught in my chest while my stomach does continuos somersaults- and then I see it.

***‘We are pleased to inform you that you have been admitted’***

I let out a whoop of triumph and jump out of my chair and spin around, laughing with delight as a weight lifts from my chest…and another settles in. My little happy-dance is short lived as something registers in the back of my mind. I hear the back door open and close, my back to it and letter thrust high in the air. Familiar footsteps come closer to me from behind and I freeze as strong arms wrap around my waist.

“You’re home early,” I comment a little breathlessly as tingles of awareness shiver through me. Blue hums his agreement into my neck, his solid body engulfing mine like a warm blanket. I can’t help but melt into him, my hands lowering as he lifts something to my eye level. I stare at the folded up paper in his hands. The too-crisp sheet is rebelling from the haphazard folding and is in the form of a partially dented triangle. “What’s that?” I ask, my heart lurching in my throat as my imagination start spinning out of control because…I recognize this type of paper. I’ve got my own still firmly clutched in one hand.

“Read it,” Blue murmurs in my ear, his hot breath fanning out across my skin and eliciting a real shiver from me as electricity zips through me. The heat of it conflicts with the roiling fear burning a whole in my stomach as I reach out and take the thick paper from him. My breath stills in my chest as I unfold the page- the words ***‘pleased to inform you that you have been admitted’*** catching my eyes almost immediately.

I stare for a minute, terror streaking through me - because I know, without looking, that Blue’s been set on one college…and it’s not the one I’ve just gotten accepted into.

With a weary sigh, Blue pulls the sheet from my hands and finishes unfolding the thick paper- and I can’t help but gasp as I see the logo embossed into the top of the page. I blink several times, squinting my eyes and shaking my head- as if that’ll make sense of what I’m seeing. And then, realization floods me as I turn to stare into Blue’s silvery-grey eyes.

“You applied,” I breathe in surprise- and a little awe. Blue’s tender expression brightens a little with his growing grin.

“‘Course I applied,” He replies back as my surprise turns to relief. “You said you liked NMC better than SVLC, so…” He shrugs. “Figured I’d apply too, though I’m surprised they got back to us so quickly.” I let out a little chuckle of agreement and bewilderment, unable to really say anything at the moment.

It’s really only Blue’s strong arms around me that are keeping me up at this point as I sag back against him. I look to the papers in my hands and hold them up side by side, the nearly identical pages looking back at us and making every darker feeling in me a few degrees lighter.

We both just got our acceptance letters to the same college. I suck in a deep breath, wondering if I’m dreaming right now. *Am I in some elaborate dream? Did I fall asleep in class again and am about to wake up to find that things are still up in the air?*

“It’s real, Red.” Blue murmurs, turning me to face him. Another set of shivers streak up and down my spine as he reaches up to cup my cheek. “You’re not dreaming.” He adds, leaning forward to press our foreheads together. The solid contact isn’t the kind I want right now as desire starts its lascivious dance in my lower stomach. I can feel the resounding echo of my own desire from Blue’s side of the connection and wonder if this is it, this is the moment when we- “What would you like for dinner?”

Blue releases me suddenly, his voice ragged and rough- and just a bit too forcefully bright. I stare at his retreating back with my mouth agape. I’m about to say ‘*you*’ when I hesitate, rethinking that response and knowing what his would be. I don’t want to fight, even though there’s nothing more I’d like right now that for the two of us to head to bed early. We have something, a real ‘something’ between us that transcends the physical need… I can wait just a little longer. I can sense how thin his resolve is already and know that it’s just a matter of time before Blue pulls his head from his ass and agrees we complete the mating. Until then… I bite my tongue and grit my teeth as I off-handily reply with the name of a dish.