3. The System

Macie Hale stood at the entrance of the dorm, with her perfectly styled curls, and her designer luggage beside her.

Our eyes met and she gave a cheeky smile as she walked towards me.

I decided to ignore her and walk away but she stopped in front of me blocking my path.

“Look who is here, our country bumpkin” my grip on my suitcase handle tightened hearing the smugness in her tone.

I was about to walk around her but she noticed and blocked my path once again.

Her eyes swept over me, “How did your family afford this place” she sneered. “Or did you finally find someone rich to pay your way in”

I rolled my eyes “You really think too highly of yourself if you believe I would need to explain anything to you”

Macie's smile faltered for a split second before she crossed her hand. “Don’t act like you are above anyone here, because you are not. Everyone knows why you are really here” her tone becoming more venomous, “you think following Theo here to Silvervale will make him love you again”

“I am not here because of him” I responded.

She chuckled “Theo was right you won't admit it but you are still head over heels for him and you want him to take you back”

I turned to face her fully this time, my tone calm but cutting “You can keep that coward for yourself I am done with leftovers”

Her jaw dropped and for the first time, she did not have a quick comeback. “How dare you. You were just a charity case, that Theo decided to help”

“Don’t make me laugh, talking from experience I see” I raised one of my brows

She was already irked “I don’t know which rich guy decided to pay for you to get accepted in this academy, but trust me you won’t last long here”

“If you are that obsessed with me, I will recommend you try to keep up” I taunted her.

I could see the veins in her neck, she tried to act calm and flicked her hair. “Don’t flatter yourself, Theo is with me now, even if you followed him here, he will never take you back”

I was about to respond to her but the dorm announcement chime rang out calling all students to the welcome ceremony.

"Looks like we will have to continue this later,” she said about leaving but I stopped her.

“Just so we are clear, Macie, I did not come here for him, I came here for me” I ended as I brushed past her with Ivy following beside me.

“What was that about?” Ivy asked, trying to keep up with me.

“An Ex situationship” I responded

“Your ex cheated on you,” Ivy asked, understanding what was happening immediately.

“With her?” she added

I nodded, “Yeah I saw them, and to think I had once considered a future with him”

“His loss” she stated “He is a loser if he left you for her” Then she added “And besides he got a downgrade” She laughed

“What do you mean?” I chuckled.

“You can tell she is a wanna be who has an inferiority complex” Ivy answered.

“I guess so”

“Try me, if there is anyone that would not last here, she is definitely the one” she intoned “And besides he is a douche bag who doesn't deserve you” I was beginning to like her.

After we got settled in, we went to the auditorium with other students who were also heading in the same direction for the welcome ceremony.

At the entrance of the hall, we were given small golden badges embossed with the Silvervale crest.

Ivy and I entered the hall and were stunned by how beautiful it was.

Chairs were arranged neatly, and crystal chandeliers shimmered above, with lights illuminating everywhere with silver drapes.

The black and gold decor was like the theme of the school as the academy crest hung proudly on the wall above the stage.

Ivy and I went to sit in the two empty chairs in the fifth row.

When the crowd became quiet and everyone was seated, a tall woman with silver streaked hair walked onto the podium.

“Welcome to Silvervale Academy” she announced, her voice echoing through the hall. “My name is Principal Rowan Cornell, and I will be the one addressing you today” She was poised and looked sophisticated.

“For generations, this Academy has been the pride of the werewolf elites and has trained the finest Alphas, Lunas, heirs, and leaders across the world. But this year marks a new beginning” Everyone listened as she spoke.

“We've opened our doors to a few scholarship students who were chosen for talent not bloodline” she then added “And since we now have both Alphas and non Alphas students we will be reintroducing the Alpha matchmaking program for this year”

There were murmurs around the hall.

I frowned “Matchmaking”

I thought everyone would be confused like me but the murmurs were happy.

She held up her hand and everywhere became quiet, silencing the murmurs.

“Now I will be calling out the prominent Alphas that will be joining us in this academy”

As the names were called, applause filled the hall until the next one.

“Theo Langford”

My stomach clenched as Theo strode confidently onto the stage wearing his trademark smirk that I badly wanted to claw from his face.

Macie seated two rows ahead squealed "That's my man”

I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

The principal turned the page on her clipboard. “This year” she announced “we also have a special newcomer….” She paused, scanning the room.

There was silence for a brief moment then with a loud bang, the doors to the hall suddenly flew open, grabbing everyone’s attention.

Everyone's head turned in unison towards the entrance and standing at the doorway was a tall broad shouldered man.

The light from the chandeliers glinted off his dark hair. His presence alone seemed to drain the air from the room.

He commanded attention without even trying and his aura screamed only one thing.

Danger.