Born One Minute Too Late, But I Was the True Alpha Chapter 08

Born One Minute Too Late, But I Was the True Alpha Chapter 08

### Arden

North Coast Academy was four hundred miles from Greyhaven.

It felt farther.

No one called me Declan’s sister.

No one removed my name from the rankings.

My room belonged only to me.

The first night, I slept on the floor because the empty bed felt too soft to trust.

By the fifth night, I could close my eyes without expecting Lenora to throw open the door.

I rented a small storefront near campus.

The new Nightglass Tattoo had one chair, one desk, and a heater that worked.

It was enough.

Father called while I was unpacking ink.

I watched his name fill the screen.

Part of me still wanted to answer.

That was the worst thing about loving people who had never loved me properly.

The feeling did not disappear just because I understood it.

I ignored the first two calls.

On the third, I answered.

“Arden.”

Father sounded older.

“What happened?”

“Declan was injured.”

My hand tightened around the phone.

He explained the silver traps, the kidney damage, and the need for a related donor.

He never asked how I was

“Gume home,” he said.

“Did Brielle test?”

Silence.

“She refused.’

I looked around my new shop.

“When did you notice I was gone?”

“Arden, this isn’t the time.”

“Was it before or after Declan was hurt?”

“Your brother may die.”

“Answer me.”

His breathing changed.

That was answer enough.

“If Declan had not been injured, when would you have noticed I left?”

Father said nothing.

“There are donor registries,” I said. “Use them.”.

“You are his twin.”

“And you are his father.”

I ended the call.

Father and Lenora arrived at North Coast the next afternoon.

They found me in the academy gym.

I had just defeated the student ranked first in the senior class.

This time, my name appeared on the screen.

ARDEN VALE – FIRST.

Father stared at it.

Lenora stared at the students cheering for me

For once, neither of them could erase what they saw.

“Pack your things,” Lenora said when we were alone.

“No.”

“You have made your point.”

“I wasn’t making a point.”

“Then stop this performance and come home.”

“You are not my mother.”

Her face hardened.

“I raised you.”

“You used me.”

Father stepped between us.

“Declan needs you.”

“He needs a donor.”

“You are the safest match.”

“Safest for whom?”

He looked away.

“The hospital can test you,” I said.

Lenora reacted before he did.

“Grant is the Alpha. Surgery could weaken him.”

I laughed.

It came out cold.

“There it is.”

“Arden,” Father warned.

“My body can be cut open because I am the child you can afford to damage.”

“That is not what we mean.”

Then prove it. Get tested.”

Father’s shoulders lowered.

For the first time in my life, he had no Alpha command left to use against me.

He agreed.

The results came back that evening.

Grant Vale was a match.