Chapter 3

As I was hauling my suitcase out of the dorm, a few girls who were close with Vivian started pointing and whispering about me.

"Well, if it isn't Flora. Slinking off all by yourself?"

"Who'd even talk to that liar? The minute she started telling people Vivian was only adopted later, Xavier and the guys stepped up and set the record straight."

"She just wants to hog the spot next to Xavier and the guys. Who doesn't know those three are the top wolves on campus?"

I tried to ignore them, but they wouldn't let it go. They grabbed hold of me.

They were all werewolves, and they were strong. For a moment, I couldn't break free.

Just as they shoved me to the ground, I saw Xavier and the other two walk out of the dorm with Vivian tucked in between them.

Caspian and Silas were carrying her luggage. Xavier had her bag slung over his shoulder and his arm around her as they walked.

They all saw me. But none of them came over. Only Xavier frowned, and in the end, even he didn't say a word.

Once, a girl had spread a rumor behind my back that I was involved with all three of them. She'd called me a slut and a disgrace to our kind.

The moment the three of them found out, they made her apologize to me in front of everyone. They made sure not one ugly rumor ever reached me.

The boys who used to protect me had become nothing more than a memory, buried in the past.

As I scrambled to my feet, Vivian walked over with her arm looped through Xavier's, looking surprised.

"Flora, are you okay?"

Xavier smiled.

"What's a little fall going to do to a werewolf?"

Petra Holt, the girl who'd shoved me, poured a whole bottle of water over my head. She sounded like she had every right. "That's what she gets for spreading lies about you. She deserves it!"

Xavier frowned and glanced at Vivian. In the end, he didn't speak up for me. He just handed me a tissue and kept his voice low. "Here. Dry off.

"Just put up with it for now. Don't blow this open, or people will start talking about where Vivian came from again."

Vivian stepped forward and grabbed my hand, her eyes full of tears.

"I'm so sorry, Flora. I had no idea they'd treat you like this."

I didn't want to talk to her. I pulled my hand away without a word.

But the next second, she fell to the ground.

Caspian and Silas rushed over to help her up, asking if she was all right, worry written all over their faces.

Xavier glared at me, furious.

"Flora, are you out of your mind? How could you push Vivian!"

I was stunned for a second before I found myself explaining, "It wasn't me. She fell on her own."

But Xavier wasn't having it.

"You think I'm going to believe that?!"

He didn't believe me. Nobody believed me. No matter how many times I explained it, it wouldn't make a difference.

"Say I did push her. Just now, when I got shoved down and soaked because of her, why didn't any of you step in?"

Xavier didn't even stop to think.

"She's always been frail. She's not like you!

"A little fall, a little water. Is that going to make you sick?"

I wanted so badly to ask him. Would one little fall really make Vivian sick?

However frail she was, she was still a werewolf.

But in the end, I didn't ask.

"You're right. It won't.

"I'm going to go. You should take her to the hospital."