Her quinceañera was only a week away, and her mother was in full celebration mode, determined to turn her into the perfect young lady before the big day. Alex, of course, had no interest in that. She had spent most of the day avoiding dance rehearsals, etiquette lessons, and any mention of “responsibility.” Instead, she had escaped to her room, flopping onto her bed with a sigh of relief. That’s when she noticed it. A small, wrapped box sat neatly on her pillow, tied with a silver ribbon. Alex frowned. She hadn’t heard anyone come in. Had Harper left it? No, her best friend would’ve made a big show of it. Maybe Justin? Unlikely—he was too busy being the golden child to bother with surprise gifts. Curious, she sat up and pulled the box into her lap. It was surprisingly heavy for its size. No note. No sign of where it came from. Just a perfectly wrapped, mysterious present. She grinned. “Ooh, secret admirer? Don’t mind if I do.” Tearing off the ribbon, she flipped open the lid and pulled away the tissue paper. Inside, resting against a bed of black velvet, was a collar. It was sleek, made of dark leather with silver studs running along its length. A polished metal ring gleamed at the front, cool under her fingertips as she lifted it from the box. Alex tilted her head. “Okay… weird.” It looked expensive. Not the kind of thing her family would buy her—not for a formal event, anyway. She twirled it in her hands, feeling the craftsmanship. The leather was soft, the metal cold and smooth. There was a weight to it, something solid, something… final. A whisper of magic brushed against her skin. Not aggressive. Not threatening. Just… present. She should’ve been suspicious. She should’ve set it down, cast a spell, checked for enchantments. But Alex wasn’t like her brother, Justin, with his obsessive caution. She lived by impulse, by curiosity. And right now, the only thing on her mind was one simple question. Who sent it? And why did it feel like it was meant for her?