I looked up at him, trying to analyze his face.


    "Why the sudden surprises?" I asked him. "Why now?"


    He studied me for a moment.


    "I realized what I almost lost." I blinked at him as he reached his hand out to touch mine, his fingers brushing across mine. "I''m not going to make that mistake again. I promise."


    Ignoring the flutter in my heart, I fixed my attention on my food. We ate mostly silently; he kept stealing nces at me, and I kept suppressing my smile. I was still upset with him for his behavior at the Redcliff pack, and a few sweet words along with dinner weren''t going to change that right now. But I did appreciate the sentiment.


    When we finished, the waiter returned and brought us dessert, my favorite chocte mousse. I looked up at Gavin, who was grinning at me as he grabbed


    his spoon.


    "My favorite dessert, too?" I asked him, narrowing my eyes. "You really do pay attention."


    He shrugged.


    "Actually, it''s my favorite too," he admitted. "This was just a lucky shot."


    We ate, and by the time we finished, the waiter returned to collect our things. Everything was already paid for, so there was no bill at the end of the meal. Gavin stood and took hold of my hand, pulling me to my feet.


    "Come with me," he said softly, tugging me along with him. I followed him without hesitation; honestly, I''d probably follow him to the end of the earth. My wolf was practically purring in contentment, and it made me smile knowing that she was happy in our current situation.


    We got into the back of Erik''s car and we drove for a bit; I had no idea where we were going, but I was excited to see what the next surprise was. I mentioned when we reached the academy that I had graduated a few weeks ago. I looked at Gavin, who was only grinning; he looked rxed, and my heart fluttered at the sight of him.


    Erik stopped outside the school entrance, right where they typically dropped me off and picked me up.


    I was surprised to see that Beta Taylor was waiting there, and in his hands was a graduation gown, along with a hat. My heart stopped beating for a moment.


    "W...what is this?" I asked, my voiceing out breathy.


    "I messed up," Gavin told me. "I wasn''t there when you needed me. You graduated from the academy, and I wasn''t there to support you. Instead, I was with someone else. And even though it wasn''t as it seemed, I still wasn''t where I should have been. I can''t exactly rewind time, but I can make things right. I can make new memories, and I want to make these memories with you, Judy."


    Before I could reply, Taylor opened the car door and smiled down at me. He looked tired, so I knew he had been going through a lottely, probably more than


    I couldprehend. But the fact that he was here, helping his best friend and Alpha, meant the world to me.


    "Hey," I said to him as I stepped out of the car.


    "Hey, yourself,” he replied, putting the robe around my body and cing the hat


    on my head, making meugh.


    "This is crazy," I said, turning to Gavin. "You don''t have to have a pretend graduation for me."


    He winked as he took my hand again.


    "Who said anything about pretend?" He asked, guiding me through the school entrance. The second I


    stepped through, my entire bod


    froze. My jaw cked and my eyes grew wide as I saw the smiling faces of not only my friends and family,


    but my entire graduating ss,


    along with their families, and all our professors and Dean Rivers.


    The vast space of the student quad was set up exactly like the graduation ceremony, and


    everybody was seated in their seats like they were the first time. The dean was standing on stage her smiling face shining down on me.


    "And here is our guest of honor. I hope you can remember your speech, Judy,"


    she said, speaking through the microphone.


    My eyes immediately found my


    parents, who were smiling at me, tears brimming in their eyes. Thend


    Qu


    saw my best friend with her graduation gown and cap as well. She quickly stood and rushed towards me, her arms outstretched. Cóntent


    "Judy!" She squealed, wrapping me in her arms.


    I was speechless.


    "I don''t understand what''s happening," I whispered.


    "What''s happening is Alpha Gavin is making things right," she told me, pulling back slightly. "And giving you what you deserved all along."


    My eyes scanned the crowd, and then I spotted Irene and Matt seated towards


    the front row, both of whom were grinning at me, and my heart swelled to not only see them both here, but to see them together.


    I turned to look at Gavin.


    "You did all this for me?" I whispered, my voiceing out hoarse.


    He stepped closer, cupping my face in his hands.


    "I''d do anything for you, Judy," he told me. "And I''m prepared to spend the rest of


    my life proving that to you. Because the truth of the matter is... I love you."