Chapter 194: Graduation
**Avery**
The graduation ceremony, held on the sprawling green lawn behind the main school building, felt like a surreal dream. A sea of proud parents, excited students in caps and gowns, and the relentless flash of cameras blurred before my eyes. The air hummed with a mixture of nervous energy and triumphant relief. For me, it was more than just a milestone; it was a final, definitive step away from the shadows of my past, a stride into a future brighter than I could have ever imagined.
My heart swelled with a quiet pride as I looked at my mates. Conner, Clint, and Cassius sat beside me in the rows of graduating seniors, their imposing figures somehow managing to look both elegant and slightly out of place in the flimsy caps and gowns. Even in academic attire, their raw power was undeniable. Donn, James, and Vincent were seated in the front row of the audience, their gazes locked on me, radiating a palpable sense of pride and possession. Their presence, a silent, powerful anchor, made the surreal moment feel utterly real.
The past few weeks had been a blur of final exams, wedding preparations, and the ever-present hum of anticipation for the changes within my body. The wedding, now only a week away, filled me with a dizzying mix of excitement and nerves. But today, it was about this moment, about closing one chapter before daring to open another.
"And now," the principal's voice boomed over the loudspeakers, pulling me back to the present, "I'd like to invite our valedictorian, Avery, to the podium."
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, followed by polite applause. My stomach plummeted. Valedictorian. Right. I’d almost forgotten. My grades had always been good, a quiet refuge from the chaos of my early life, but after discovering my dragon heritage and finding all of my mates, my studies had become almost secondary. Yet, here I was.
I felt Cassius’s hand brush mine, a silent squeeze of encouragement. Clint offered a wink, and Conner gave a rare, almost imperceptible nod. Taking a deep breath, I stood, my legs feeling strangely wobbly beneath my gown. As I made my way to the podium, the cap felt heavy, the tassel swinging with each step.
The microphone loomed, cold and metallic. I adjusted it, my eyes scanning the sea of faces. I saw Alden, his ancient eyes twinkling, a proud smile on his lips. My foster parents, surprisingly, were there too, looking a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of powerful shifters and dragons in the audience (Donn, James, and Vincent had made sure to sit strategically to project a certain… aura). And then, my gaze landed on a face I hadn’t expected to see.
Liam.
He was sitting a few rows back, a sneer twisting his lips, his eyes fixed on me with an unsettling intensity. My breath hitched. Liam Miller. The backup quarterback, the wannabe king of the school, and one of my tormentors after the Trio discovered I was their mate. He'd been one of the ones who'd mock me in the halls, trip me in the cafeteria, or 'accidentally' knock my books out of my hands. He even tried to assault me. He'd called me "orphan girl" and "charity case" with a casual cruelty that used to sting deep. Now, he just looked pathetic, clinging to a past that no longer existed. A cold shiver ran down my spine, but I quickly pushed it away. He was nothing. I was more than I had been then.
I cleared my throat, forcing myself to focus. "Good afternoon, faculty, parents, and fellow graduates," I began, my voice surprisingly steady. "It feels like just yesterday we were stepping through these doors, eager and perhaps a little terrified, of what the future held…"
I spoke about growth, about overcoming challenges, about finding your true self. I spoke about the unexpected turns life could take and how important it was to embrace them. As I spoke, I felt a surge of confidence. This was my story, and I was owning it.
Just as I reached the crescendo of my speech, a sudden, piercing shriek cut through the air. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. My head snapped towards the sound.
Liam stood up, not far from where my mates were seated, his face contorted with rage. In his hand, he held a small, dark vial. "You think you're so special, Avery?" he snarled, his voice carrying surprising volume. "You think you can just stand up there and pretend you're better than everyone?"
A low growl rumbled from the front row. James, Donn, and Vincent were on their feet in an instant, their eyes blazing. The Trio tensed, ready to move. The entire atmosphere of the ceremony shifted, from celebratory to dangerously tense.
"You were nothing but a pathetic charity case!" Liam screamed, his gaze now fixed on me, venom dripping from every word. "And now you've got these freaks wrapped around your finger? You don't deserve any of this!"
My jaw tightened. His words, once capable of causing me pain, now just sparked a cold fury. He was still the same small, cruel bully, but I was no longer the same helpless girl.
Liam, clearly unhinged and fueled by some toxic mix of jealousy and insecurity, ignored the rising tension. He uncorked the vial, and a sickeningly sweet, acrid scent immediately filled the air. My nose twitched. It was wolfsbane, but mixed with something else, something darker, more potent – a vile concoction designed to harm shifters, perhaps even dragons if potent enough. My dragon instincts screamed danger.
"This is for your precious little queen!" he shrieked, and with a wild, desperate cry, he hurled the vial directly at me.
Time seemed to slow. The vial spun through the air, glinting in the afternoon sun. I saw James launch forward, a blur of motion. I saw Vincent raise a hand, a ripple of dark energy shimmering around him. But I was closer. My instincts, honed by battles and fueled by the fierce protectiveness of my growing eggs, took over.
I didn't think. I acted.
My dragon senses flared, a fiery wave washing over me. I pivoted, my cap flying off, my gown swirling around me. Instead of dodging, I moved towards the vial, extending my hand. A faint, silvery shield, barely visible, shimmered around my palm. The vial struck it with a soft thwack, shattering against the invisible barrier. The dark, oily liquid splashed harmlessly against the shield, sizzling for a moment before evaporating into thin air, leaving no trace.
A collective gasp, louder this time, swept through the crowd.
I stood there, my arm still outstretched, my chest heaving. My heart hammered against my ribs, but it wasn't fear. It was a fierce, exhilarating surge of power. I hadn't shifted, hadn't unleashed my full dragon, but I had protected myself, and by extension, my eggs.
Liam stood frozen, his eyes wide with terror, utterly dumbfounded by what he had just witnessed. His bravado had evaporated, replaced by a primal fear.
Before anyone else could move, Cassius, Clint, and Conner were at the podium, flanking me protectively. James, Donn, and Vincent were already on Liam, their movements swift and brutal. There was no shouting, no prolonged fight. Just a few sharp, decisive blows, and Liam was on the ground, unconscious, the vial’s residue still clinging to the air around him.
Silence descended, thick and heavy, broken only by the distant chirping of birds. Everyone was staring at me, at the mates, at the crumpled form of Liam.
I looked at my mates. Cassius’s hand found my waist, pulling me close. Clint’s arm draped over my shoulder, a silent promise of retribution. Conner’s gaze, usually cool, held a burning intensity as he stared at Liam.
Then, James, his voice echoing with authority, addressed the stunned crowd. "This interruption has been dealt with. The ceremony will continue." His eyes, however, were fixed on me, a mixture of fury and fierce pride.
The principal, pale but composed, quickly regained his composure. He cleared his throat, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before turning back to his notes. "Right. Well. Ahem. As I was saying… Avery, our valedictorian."
I picked up my cap, placing it back on my head. My legs felt steady now, powered by adrenaline and a renewed sense of purpose. I adjusted the microphone again, a small, defiant smile touching my lips.
"As I was saying," I repeated, my voice clear and strong, "life is full of unexpected challenges. But it is how we face them, how we grow from them, that truly defines us." I looked pointedly at the spot where Liam lay, then back at the crowd, my gaze sweeping over my mates. "It is in these moments that we discover our true strength, and the unwavering support of those who stand by us."
I finished my speech, and the applause that followed was a roaring validation, not just of my words, but of my resilience. As I walked back to my seat, my mates’ hands found mine, a silent, powerful connection. The drama had been unexpected, terrifying, but it had also been a testament to how far I’d come. I was no longer a victim. I was a queen, and I was ready for whatever came next. Even if it was just receiving my diploma.
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