Chapter 1: Who are they?

Kila – POV

My eyes flew open.

A sharp pain surged through my veins like fire.

“Shit,” I hissed, clutching my arms to my chest, trying not to scream.

I bit down on my lip, forcing myself to stay quiet. The last thing I wanted was to wake Jake. He’d only complain, or worse.

Twisting to check the time, I grabbed my phone from the floor.

2:03 AM.

“What the actual hell,” I muttered under my breath.

My eyes landed on my arm—and I froze.

A mark. A glowing, angry mark of a howling werewolf.

I hadn’t drawn anything on myself before bed. There was no henna, no pen marks, nothing like this. And yet, here it was. Burned into my skin like a curse.

The pain came in waves, sharp and relentless. I grabbed my pillow and bit down on it, hard.

I needed my mom. God, I missed her.

It had been almost ten years since she left me all alone—left me with Jake, her new husband. A man who treated me like nothing more than an inconvenience. A burden. A tool to make money and clean his damn house.

He never once looked at me like I was his daughter. Not even close.

That’s why I made a decision. I was going to college. I was going to escape this place, this life.

I’d get my degree, find my own path, and be done with his cruel world.

“I just want this to stop,” I whispered, a tear slipping down my cheek.

---

Later that Morning

“Morning, Jake,” I said, keeping my tone neutral as I passed him. He sat in his usual chair, newspaper in hand like always, acting like I didn’t exist.

I grabbed my jacket, ready to leave for my shift, when he spoke up.

“A letter came for you.”

I spun around.

My heart skipped. Could it be?

For weeks I’d been waiting—hoping—for that acceptance letter.

“Where is it?” I asked quickly, trying to mask my excitement.

“Dining table,” he muttered without looking up.

I didn’t wait. I rushed to the table and snatched up the envelope, hope bubbling in my chest.

Today might finally be the day my life begins.

My fingers trembled as I held the envelope on my hand

It was thicker than I expected—more like parchment than paper. Heavy. Fancy, almost... too fancy for a community college acceptance letter. My name was written in looping gold script across the front, no return address, no logo. Just my name.

Kila Monroe.

I hesitated. Something about it felt... off.

Still, I tore it open, heart pounding like crazy.

Inside was a single folded sheet. Cream-colored. Smooth. The ink shimmered faintly, like it was alive.

> You have been selected.

Alpha Academy awaits.

Orientation begins tonight. Full moon. Midnight.

We know what you are, Kila.

I blinked, rereading the words.

"What...?"

My stomach twisted and churned. This had to be a joke. Some weird prank. Alpha Academy? I’d never even applied to anything called that. And we know what you are? What was that supposed to mean?

I glanced at the mark on my arm, now faint but still there, like a shadow burned into my skin.

Suddenly, I didn’t feel so grounded anymore. The room tilted slightly, my heartbeat louder than before. I clutched the back of a chair to steady myself.

Jake didn’t even glance my way. Just sipped his coffee and flipped another page like the universe wasn’t flipping upside down.

“Jake,” I said, voice shaky. “Did you see who dropped this off?”

He grunted. “Mail came late. Some guy in a black car. Didn’t say a word. Just handed it over and left.”

My throat tightened.

Something was happening.

And for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t sure if I was ready for it.

****

I stood outside in the night , jacket zipped to my chin, the letter folded in my pocket like a secret no one else could see.

The moon hung heavy and round above me. Too bright. Too full.

The street was quiet, unnaturally still. I should’ve gone to bed. I should’ve ignored it. But my feet wouldn’t listen.

Then, I heard it.

The rumble of tires on gravel.

A sleek, black SUV rolled to a stop in front of the house. The windows were tinted, but the passenger door clicked open on its own.

Waiting.

My heart thundered. Every instinct told me to turn around. Run.

Instead, I stepped forward. I held the envelope tight in my arm.

The SUV jeep pulled over. An handsome young man at his middle 30's, on sweatshirt and plain black pants came down from the car.

I looked into his green eye, that made me almost gasped out. His handsomeness was too charming to ignore.

"Kila Monroe?"

I nodded.

"Your letter." Without hesitation I passed it to him.

He looked at me, a glance that sent shivers down my spine.

He held my arm, dragging me until his vehicle. I wanted to say No, I wanted to jerk my hands off, but staying with Jake has been nothing more than a nightmare.

I sat front of the SUV.

"You should sleep, we have a long time ahead."

I heard sounds from behind the car. My stomach churned harder. My heart almost sinking into my stomach.

I slowly turned around—four men, huge physic, was sitting there.

"Who are they?" I murmured.