Chapter 283: I Plan to Leave

Benjamin’s POV:

Seeing the joy in Hayley’s eyes made my heart soar. I was certain she loved me. Even my wolf was beginning to sense her more strongly now. I walked toward her and said, “I got home a little while ago.”

I glanced at their notes and said, “I heard you’re about to have finals. Does that mean you’ll have a break? Any plans?”

Looking at them, Hayley smiled. “I plan to go home for the holidays and spend time with my grandparents. I’ll come back when school starts again.”

“No way, Boss! You promised you’d play games with me once I made it into the top three. If you go to that remote Shadow Pack, the internet there won’t be able to keep up,” Henry quickly chimed in.

Hayley replied, “It’s not like that. The internet back home is good, so there won’t be any issues. Besides, if you make it onto the President’s List again, I’ll even use my data to play with you.”

Henry chuckled. “Now that’s more like it.”

I felt a pang of sadness when I saw how happy they were. If Hayley went home, wouldn’t that mean I wouldn’t see her for a long time? The thought filled me with a deep sense of reluctance. I almost wished I could go home with her.

As that thought crossed my mind, I quickly came up with a plan. I turned to them and said, “You all stay busy. I’m going upstairs.”

With that, I left, heading upstairs to make a call to Tyrone.

Hayley’s POV:

The night before the exam, Henry studied late into the night, while I kept to my usual routine and went to bed early. The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed. As I ate breakfast, I caught up on the news on France.

“Good morning, Boss,” Henry greeted me. I was surprised by how energetic he looked, then remembered he was a Beta, so his physical endurance was strong.

I teased him. “Did you take some kind of stimulant? You look too awake for someone who studied all night.”

Henry gave a mysterious smile. “Boss, no stimulants. But would you like a cup of fresh, brewed coffee?”

I nodded, and Lista quickly brought over the coffee. “Ms. Carson, this coffee is freshly brewed. You should try it.”

“Thanks, Lista. I haven’t had such rich coffee in a long time,” I said, taking a sip. The warm, full-bodied flavor filled my mouth, and I savored the taste completely.

“Boss, I’m done eating. I’m heading to school now,” Henry said as he stood up and rushed off.

Even Lista couldn’t help but praise him. “Mr. Henry’s been working so hard lately. After school, he either trains in combat or studies cultural knowledge. It’s surprising to see such a change in him. It’s something he’s never done before.”

I felt proud. It seemed that Henry had real perseverance. He’d surely be a remarkable person in the future.

“Lista, I’m done. I’m heading to school now.”

Just as I was about to leave, I ran into Benjamin coming downstairs. “I’ll take you to school,” he said.

Benjamin hadn’t eaten breakfast yet, but he insisted on driving me to school. Before I left the car, I reminded him, “Breakfast is important. Make sure you eat on time.”

Benjamin smiled and nodded. “I know. Go ahead and take your exam.”

I waved at him as I headed toward school.

Benjamin’s POV:

I hadn’t planned on having breakfast, but after Hayley’s reminder, I ended up going to a restaurant and ordering a meal. Looking at the delicious food in front of me, my mood lifted, and even my usual commanding alpha aura seemed to soften.

Madeline’s POV:

I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I saw Alpha Benjamin. Since I’d been used as a pawn in an arranged marriage, I no longer had the right to get close to him. But I still heard bits and pieces about him from others. I always knew that, even though I had become someone else’s mate, the one person I truly loved was Benjamin.

And I never expected that a simple trip out for breakfast would lead me to run into him. He looked like he was in a good mood, even smiling at the meal in front of him. I swore, after knowing Benjamin for so many years, I had never seen him smile so warmly before. He had always been the heir to the Midnight Pack, with a powerful aura and a stern, unapproachable expression. Never did I imagine I’d one day see such a warm smile on his face.

Excited, I walked toward him. “Ben, long time no see!”

Benjamin looked up at me, and his smile immediately disappeared, replaced by the cold indifference I was used to. His aura shifted back to that of the powerful, untouchable alpha.

“Ms. Kilmer, I don’t think we’re that familiar. Please address me as Alpha,” he growled, his voice commanding.