Chapter 23: Episode 23: "Final Exams and Last-Minute Chaos"

Episode 23: "Final Exams and Last-Minute Chaos"

(Briar’s POV)

Final exams. The two words every student dreads. The past week had been nothing but coffee-fueled study sessions, late-night panic, and Tara dramatically declaring that she was “too pretty for this level of stress.”

And yet, despite all the suffering, I still felt completely unprepared.

My desk was an absolute disaster zone—papers were scattered everywhere, my laptop had three different study guides open, and my coffee cup was already empty even though it was only 7:30 AM. Olivia had watched me stress for the past few days, and I could tell she was worried, but she gave me space to handle it my way.

The sound of my bedroom door opening made me groan. “Unless you have the answers to today’s test, go away.”

Ethan and Tara ignored me, walking in looking just as stressed as I felt.

Ethan flopped onto my bed, dramatically throwing his arms over his face. “Briar, I swear to the Moon Goddess, if I have to solve another algebra problem, I might shift and run into the woods forever.”

Tara sat on the edge of my desk, sipping a giant iced coffee. “Same. At this point, I’d rather fight a rogue than take these exams.”

I sighed. “Honestly? Same.”

Ethan groaned. “Why do we even need school? I should’ve just dropped out and become a full-time pack warrior.”

Tara snorted. “Please, Ethan. You can barely fight sleep, let alone an actual rogue.”

Ethan gasped. “Rude. I’ll have you know I’m an amazing fighter.”

I smirked. “Sure, that’s why Olivia had to personally train you last week.”

Ethan scowled. “That was just a misunderstanding! I didn’t see the rogue coming because—”

“Because you were too busy flirting with that omega?” Tara cut in, her voice suddenly sharp.

Ethan froze. “…Uh.”

I bit my lip, trying not to laugh.

Tara crossed her arms. “What was her name again? Leah?”

Ethan looked between me and Tara, panic flashing in his eyes. “Tara, come on, it wasn’t like that—”

“Oh, really?” Tara’s voice was sweet, but her glare was anything but.

Ethan rubbed the back of his neck. “I was just being friendly?”

Tara raised an eyebrow. “Friendly? Ethan, she giggled at everything you said. Even when you asked her to pass you a water bottle.”

Ethan winced. “Okay, but it’s not like I flirted back!”

Tara let out a sarcastic laugh. “Right. Because calling her cute and saying you liked her laugh wasn’t flirting?”

Ethan groaned. “Tara, you know you’re my mate. You’re the only one I want.”

Tara’s jaw tightened. “You better remember that, Matthews.”

Ethan stepped closer, lowering his voice. “I do. And I love when you get jealous.”

Tara glared. “Oh, shut up and focus on studying.”

Ethan grinned, but I could tell he knew not to push his luck.

I shook my head. “Alright, idiots, can we please focus? We have an hour before we need to leave.”

Tara sighed but finally sat down, and Ethan—thankfully—kept his mouth shut.

We went over last-minute notes, but the nerves were real.

---

By the time we went downstairs, Olivia was already at the dining table with a newspaper and a cup of coffee. She looked up and immediately narrowed her eyes at us.

“You all look like you haven’t slept in a week,” Olivia commented, setting her mug down.

Ethan groaned, flopping into a chair. “Because we haven’t, Alpha.”

Tara stole a piece of toast from Olivia’s plate. “I think my brain melted last night.”

Olivia rolled her eyes and pulled out a plate of scrambled eggs and toast. “Eat. Your brains won’t function if you pass out halfway through the exam.”

I sat beside her, feeling a bit better just being near her. “You sound way too calm about all this.”

Olivia smirked. “That’s because I graduated years ago, and watching you all suffer is amusing.”

I scowled. “Evil.”

She kissed my temple. “You’ll survive.”

Tara gagged. “Ugh, can you two not be cute right now?”

Ethan nodded. “Yeah, some of us are dying here.”

Olivia ignored them and turned back to me. “You’ll do great, Briar. I have no doubt.”

Her words warmed something in my chest, and I smiled. “Thanks, Liv.”

Tara and Ethan fake-gagged again. “Disgusting.”

Olivia smirked. “Shut up and eat.”

---

The drive to school was full of last-minute cramming, and Ethan kept making dumb jokes to keep us from completely losing our minds.

By the time we arrived, students were already heading into the exam hall. The nerves in my stomach twisted into a tight knot.

Tara patted my shoulder. “We’ve got this.”

Ethan nodded. “And if we fail, we blame the system.”

I laughed. “Let’s just pass first, okay?”

We walked inside, ready to face whatever was coming next.

---

(Olivia’s POV – That Evening)

By the time Briar, Tara, and Ethan returned, they looked like zombies.

I leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed. “Well?”

Briar dropped her backpack onto the floor and flopped onto the couch. “I think I’m dead.”

Tara groaned. “My brain has officially quit.”

Ethan face-planted onto the carpet. “Bury me with my textbooks.”

I chuckled. “That bad?”

Briar sighed, rolling onto her back. “I think I passed. But I also think I forgot how to function as a human.”

I walked over and sat beside her, pulling her against my chest. “I’m proud of you.”

She buried her face in my shoulder. “I need sleep. Forever.”

Tara mumbled from the other side of the couch. “Same.”

Ethan groaned. “Wake me up in a year.”

I laughed softly, brushing my fingers through Briar’s hair. “Alright, you three deserve a break. Tomorrow, we celebrate surviving finals.”

Briar hummed sleepily. “Best. Mate. Ever.”

I smirked. “I know.”

As the three of them slowly drifted off into much-needed naps, I sat there, holding Briar close, knowing she had worked hard for this.

And no matter the results, I was proud of her.

---

Suggest me same idea's for new episodes i am out of idea's now. I also give you credit's for idea on Episode.