You should have died along with your friend. Because even if you live, you will never belong anywhere." Zach’s words were cold and final. Bernice gritted her teeth. "You're wrong! I survived because I was meant to! And I will keep surviving!" * On prom night, Bernice and her best friend were attacked by a savage beast. Her friend didn’t make it. Bernice did. But something changed. Her senses sharpened, her strength grew, and an unfamiliar instinct awakened within her. She wasn’t just recovering—she was transforming. Into a werewolf. Then came Zachary, the enigmatic new transfer student who seemed to know more than he let on. He pulled Bernice into a hidden world she never knew existed—the world of werewolves. But there was no place for her there. She wasn’t pureblood, nor was she hybrid. Bernice was an unknown. At the werewolf academy, Bernice was outcast, unwelcome. But she refused to bow, determined to uncover the truth and avenge Sara, the friend she lost. Yet, being divergent made her something else—something dangerous. It drew the attention of three powerful Alpha heirs: the cold and calculating Zach, the fierce and loyal Genesis, and the charming yet ruthless Jasher. They were bound to her, unable to resist the pull. But as Bernice faces their relentless pursuit, an even darker truth emerges—the wolf that turned her wasn’t just any wolf. It was an ancient, deadly Alpha. And it was watching and waiting. With three Alphas ready to fight for her, will Bernice be strong enough to take down the monster that started it all? And when the time comes to be crowned Luna, who will she choose?
View More"You forgot your inhaler!"
Mom's panicked shout from the window made me freeze. I swallowed hard. Why did she have to do that? Now, all the East Bridge High students walking past me were giggling and whispering.
This is me—Bernice Jennings, a senior known as the "unknown object. "People call me the Krank Girl, the Asthmatic, sometimes just "Hey You" or "Her." I wish these labels would disappear from my life, but what can I do?
And tonight, for once, I just wanted to make a sweet memory for my future. But before it even began, Mom tore that dream down.
It's not that I hate Mom's attention. In fact, I'm grateful to have been born from her womb. She's smart, she's kind, she's principled.
Mom's concern has never waned, even now that I am seventeen. Since her divorce from Dad last year, she's become even more protective.
I walked over, grabbed the inhaler from her hand, and shoved it into my purse. Ew... the thing was too big, making one side of my clutch bulge awkwardly.
"Why are you using that clutch, Bern? You've got other bags big enough to hold your meds—I mean, your stuff," Mom said, puzzled.
"Mom, it's prom night. Did you expect me to bring a backpack?"
"Oh... you're right! Okay! I hope you have a great night! You look beautiful!" Mom looked nervous but proud, maybe because I looked different than usual. "I'll pick you up at ten?"
"Yes, Mom. Thanks."
A limousine rolled up, grabbing my attention. It stopped right in front of Mom's old car. The driver opened the door, and a couple of couples got out.
I took a deep breath and saw real beauty and charm; cheerleaders, beauty pageant hopefuls, and their hot dates from the hockey and basketball teams.
I knew I'd never be part of that "shining, shimmering, splendid" circle. Just watching them made me feel tiny, like stardust in a galaxy.
"Sweetie pie? Are you okay? Are you sure you want to go to the prom?" Mom's voice snapped me out of my daydream.
Shrinking back into myself, I shook my head quickly. "Oh, I'm fine!" I flashed a big, fake smile. "See you, Mom!"
"Call me if you need anything, feel anything, and—"
"Bye, Mom!" I pushed my glasses up on the bridge of my nose.
I walked quickly toward the school's back hall. I couldn't run, or Mom would scold me again. My body had always been weak, treated like delicate glass—Bernice, the breakable girl.
Someone waved at me at the entrance. I puffed out my cheeks as I approached Sara, my best friend. She's the only one who acknowledges my existence. Maybe because she also feels like an alien at East Bridge High.
Sara looked gorgeous in a soft blue dress that flared at the knees. Her dark hair was styled like a fairy princess' updo.
"You look beautiful," I told her sincerely.
Sara scoffed. "Like an upside-down tulip."
Truth be told, she looked much better than me.
What's it like to wear a long-sleeved, straight-cut medieval dress? My thin, light brown hair was braided like a zebra's tail. My pale skin clashed with the deep red of my dress, and my heavy glasses made me feel even more out of place. I looked like a grumpy, fragile European queen.
"Come on, let's go inside!" Sara sounded excited.
The hall had been transformed into a fairy tale theme, which was amazing. The DJ's music made my heart race. This was my first time out at night, and I was experiencing what prom was all about.
We stood on the sidelines and watched everyone mingle. They all looked so beautiful and confident, making me feel more insecure. How could I even think of mingling? No one knew me except Sara.
Why is this happening to me? I sighed.
Just as we reached for our drinks, someone bumped me hard from behind. I almost fell, but Sara caught my arm. The guy didn't even stop—he just glanced at me and kept walking.
Cold. That's the word.
My eyes followed him. Who didn't know the mysterious new guy, Zach?
Zachary Archer was a sensation at East Bridge High because of his cold, mysterious vibe—almost antisocial. But with that handsome face and tall frame, Zach was the exception. His aloofness had become a trend.
"Is it really that hard to say sorry?" Sara muttered.
"Maybe he's in a hurry."
"This isn't a train station, Bern."
I studied the tall guy with slightly long dark brown hair and piercing eyes. Zach had sharp features—a strong jawline, thin lips, and a perfectly sculpted nose. There were muscles under his shirt, visible on his arms.
Compared to me—small, skinny, practically light enough to be blown away—I had zero chance of being noticed by Zach.
"He smells expensive. How many bottles of cologne has he sprayed?" Sara tried to be sarcastic but didn't stop staring.
"At least he doesn't smell like a corpse. I feel like I'm dying."
"What? Don't say that! You'll be fine, Bern!"
"Probably..."
I didn't have many dreams, but tonight was one of them. Just a little happiness at the prom. The real joy? That was reserved for the stars of the school.
Suddenly, my chest tightened. Sadness hit me hard. Why did I feel this way on prom night? Ugh, this sucks!
"Hey, you!"
The call made both Sara and I look up. I pointed at myself—was she really calling me? It was Maggie, the head cheerleader. She nodded and motioned for me to come over.
Was this a dream? Had I just been noticed?
"W-what is it?" I asked nervously.
"Can you get me some tampons? I think my period just started. This can't happen tonight!" Maggie looked distressed.
I blinked. "Tampons?"
"Yes!" She leaned closer and whispered, "And a couple cans of beer. Meet me in the woods behind the hall. You'll help me, right?"
She shoved a pile of cash into my hands before I could say anything. Beer? Wasn't that against the rules? I didn't want to get in trouble.
"But..."
"Keep the change!"
As Maggie strutted off, Sara ran over.
"She asked me to buy tampons," I explained before she could ask.
"Give the money back! You're not Maggie's runner!"
But how could I say no to Maggie? Ugh, this was a mess.
"I can take a shortcut through the woods," I said.
"Don't be stupid!"
"When else is the cheer captain going to talk to us? Come on, Sara!"
Sara wasn't happy, but she followed me out. We walked along the dimly lit path leading to a woods trail.
"Are you sure about this?" Sara swallowed.
"There's nothing out here! Come on!"
Something inside me sparked courage as we turned on our cell phone flashlights. Yes, it was kind of stupid to cut through the woods. My gut was asking, "Why are you doing this?"
Yet there was this strange excitement. Maggie asked me for help. After almost three years at the same school, she finally noticed me. Maybe tomorrow, she'd say hello again. Perhaps we'd be best friends before graduation.
Okay, that was just a delusion. But who wouldn't want to be part of the popular crowd?
The half-mile walk through the woods went well. We bought the tampons and a few cans of beer. Everything seemed okay on the way back. Sara also relaxed a bit.
These woods weren't scary. They bordered the school and were often used by the kindergartners for nature activities. Practically safe.
"Are you cold?" Sara looked over at me.
I knew she was worried. I was starting to wheeze, and my cheeks must have been flushed.
"Do you have your inhaler?"
"In my purse." I showed her the clutch. "Relax, I'm fine."
Sara just nodded and said nothing else. We kept walking. The beer cans clinked in the plastic bag, leaves crunched under our feet.
Then we heard it. A twig snapping—not far off.
Sara and I froze, eyes wide open.
"You heard that?" she whispered.
"Probably a skunk."
Another snap. Louder. Then again. Sara flicked her phone's light around nervously.
"You think it's a skunk, Bern?"
"I don't..."
Then something slammed into Sara. It was huge. Dark. Her scream pierced the air.
"Sara!! Sara!!" My voice felt like it was disappearing.
I heard ripping. Snarling. Growling. The thing crouched over her limp body. Oh, God! Sara!
"No... no..." My voice broke.
The growl made my blood freeze. I couldn't move. I couldn't scream. Its glowing red eyes locked onto mine, starving.
"Please... please..." I choked out.
It lunged, slashing across my chest and tearing into my skin. I hit the ground, pain exploding through my body. I gasped for breath as the creature loomed over me.
A monster. With a snout. Sharp, blood-soaked teeth.
"Mom..." Tears streamed down my face.
The pain was unbearable. This was it. My last night alive.
In the distance, I heard a howl. The beast turned and ran, disappearing into the woods.
I could smell my own blood pooling on the ground.
"Mom... help... Mom..."
My vision blurred. I knew I was dying. One last figure approached—was it Zach?
Then everything went dark.
"You bastard!" I screamed in rage.Something surged inside me, filling my entire body with energy. Then, I felt my bones cracking, my vision sharpening, and all the pain vanishing. I felt powerful. So powerful."Your end is here!" My voice merged with Beorn’s.My body moved effortlessly as Beorn took control of me. Suddenly, a knife flew toward me as I lunged at the king.Crash!I froze as Zach pulled me into his arms. He released me, stepped back, and blinked at me."Bern..." he whispered.Then I saw it—blood soaking through Zach’s shirt. He groaned and dropped to his knees."Zach! No! Zach!" I held him tightly as tears streamed down my face.It hurt so badly. I could feel his pain as if it were my own."Run, Bern..." Zach cupped my cheek. "Run...and live."Then, his body collapsed, soaked in blood.Suddenly, memories flooded my mind. The first time I met Zach was at school. Our conversation on prom night
After looking at Aggy’s sketch, we searched online and narrowed it down to an old, abandoned castle. According to Genesis, it was probably King Max's old palace.The trip took nearly two days. Zach brought a car he had secretly taken from his family estate, so our journey was comfortable. We didn’t have to deal with buses or transfers.We pulled up in front of a small-town diner around 7 p.m. The place was empty when we walked in.The diner owner greeted us with a slight nod and said, “Hello.”We headed straight for a booth in the corner. Genesis buried her head in the menu while Shirley remained glued to her phone."There's no map to that castle ruin. Should we just ask the owner?” Shirley asked.Zach nodded. "Yeah, sure."The diner owner walked over with a small notepad in hand."What can I get you folks?" he asked.“Sir, do you know the way to the old castle ruins?” Shirley jumped in right away
I nodded politely at the two Alphas as they approached me."Thank goodness you're all right," said Alpha Hartwin, clearly relieved."Thank you for your concern, Alpha," I replied weakly.Alpha Gibson looked at me with sad eyes. "If it weren't for you, Genesis might've died. I owe you my deepest thanks for saving my son, Bernice.”Actually, though, it was all thanks to Aggy’s carelessness in hiding the antidote from King Max, who had apparently planned to poison half the academy with wolfsbane.That made me even more anxious about Aggy.What if King Max found out that his massacre had failed because of her mistake?“It wasn’t me, Alpha Gibson. It was Aggy who hid the antidote in the dorm,” I corrected him."Still, if it weren't for you, I'd have lost Genesis."I simply nodded and didn’t push the conversation further. My thoughts were too messy; I needed to figure out where King Max was hiding.“We’ll go check on the others in the infirmary,” Zach said.Suddenly, he reached out and took
I leaned against the balcony railing and stared at the vast, dark forest behind the academy. Hours had passed since King Max revealed himself, and I had no idea what would happen next. I felt like darkness was creeping in, ready to swallow me whole.King Max had targeted me.Out of all the werewolves in the world, why me?Why had I, once just a human, been dragged into something this massive? Good grief.'He’s not immortal.'Beorn’s deep voice echoed in my head."Isn't that true for all of us?" I replied weakly.'Max can be defeated.'“Wait, why did you become my wolf in the first place? You were supposed to stay with King Max, not suddenly attach yourself to me like some clingy ghost.”Beorn burst out laughing, his voice booming in my head. I waited until he calmed down. Somehow, it felt like he wasn’t taking any of this seriously.'Do you know why you survived and became a werewolf?'I shrugged. “Dunno.”'Because I was so sad seeing you on the brink of death. You were supposed to li
I kept my eyes on Axel, who was sitting alone and seemingly enjoying his dinner. His eerie calm sent chills down my spine. All day, I had only heard from Genesis and Jasher, and neither of them had mentioned anything suspicious about Axel.When I mentioned Aggy, they were just as confused. How could Aggy be close to Axel without any of us knowing? It didn't make sense.“Bern, are you not going to finish your food?” Aggy’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.I turned to her and glanced at her plate. "You're not eating either. Are you feeling sick?”“No, I’m just not in the mood to eat.” She shrugged. "I want to go on a diet."Even her excuse sounded off.Genesis and Jasher, who were sitting with me, exchanged suspicious looks. I could tell they were beginning to realize that something was wrong with Aggy, too.Piper and Paige, who were sitting across from us, suddenly started coughing softly at the same tim
Healer Theresa entered the infirmary with Genesis. Her face tight with irritation, she looked at Jasher."Did you apologize to Bernice?" she asked.Jasher nodded. "I did, Healer.""Well, I don't know if this will be reported to the dorm head or your homeroom teacher. But for me, the important thing is that you regret your actions and don't repeat them.""I understand, Healer.""Not everything can be solved with anger, Jasher."Jasher let out a quiet sigh. "Yes, Healer. I regret it.""Go back to your dorm with Genesis," said Healer Theresa, then turning to Shirley. "You too, Shirley."I cleared my throat softly. "I'm fine now. Can I go back to the dorm, too?"Healer Theresa looked at me with surprise but simply raised both hands and nodded.We all left the infirmary together and walked side by side back to the dorm hallway."We have to expose Axel," Genesis murmured. "Who is he, really? Could he be a spy from the Alpha Council?""A spy for whom?" Shirley asked skeptically."Bernice, ob
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