"No!"
I shouted at the same time as Jasher and Zach. They looked at me, and we exchanged glances.
"Listen, Jasher! That girl could threaten your life in the future!" Alpha Marcus snapped.
Dad nodded. "You should think the same, Genesis!" What if Bernice's power becomes uncontrollable? Do you really think you could handle her?"
I saw Alpha Hartwin raise his palm, signaling for everyone to stay calm. But, truthfully, no one here was calm.
"We can't rush into killing Bernice. We're civilized, not rogues!" Alpha Hartwin said firmly.
"Are you going to take responsibility for Bernice's actions?" Dad's eyes blazed. "You can't keep protecting her, Alpha!"
"Bernice has been my responsibility from the start. Besides, we don't know what's influencing her yet. She hasn't shown any clear signs of being controlled by King Max. What if Bernice is actually the key to defeating him? Has that ever crossed your mind?" Alpha Hartwin countered.
No
Who is that guy? Why is he giving Bernice a rose? What a joke!I was furious the second Bernice accepted the flower, looking confused. Who wouldn't feel flattered to be handed a rose like that? That long-haired punk was clearly taking advantage of the situation!I impulsively made my way toward the spectator podium, but someone grabbed my shoulder from behind."Where are you going?" Zach looked at me coldly."Don't touch me!" I shoved Zach's hand off. "That guy is trying to steal my Bernice!""Just stop it, Jasher! Calm down!""I'll show you what 'calm down' really means!"Like lightning, I sprinted toward him. His horse reared up in shock at my sudden approach and nearly threw him off. He hit the ground and looked up at me, still wearing that friendly expression. Disgusting!I couldn't hold back my rage this time. The shove came hard and fast."What the hell is wrong with you?" I barked, pushing him. "Stay away from Ber
My match ended in the quarterfinals because my opponents were too strong. However, that was okay because I had done it all on my own. There was no creepy whisper boosting me this time. Just me.On day two of the competition, my whole body ached and throbbed. The bruises were more visible, but I knew they would fade by tomorrow or the day after. Still, I felt like someone who had just come back from war.I slumped onto the front bleachers with the other participants. Thanks to Aggy's persistence in saving us a spot, we got the best seats. Today, I was there to watch the jousting match being held outside the academy.Everyone had gathered around the large, rectangular arena with a wide track. A few horses and lances were being prepped. What kind of match was this, exactly?I saw Jasher and Zach enter the arena and get ready. My heart dropped the moment I saw Zach. Aggy said Zach was only participating in the STEM events. Why was he here? I thought only Jash
My heart pounded uncontrollably when I saw the competition schedule. My combat match was scheduled at the same time as the STEM competition, which Aggy and Zach were participating in. There was no way I could watch Aggy or Zach compete.A tap on my shoulder made me jump and spin around."Hey, Bernice!" Axel stood behind me.I tried to smile, but it came out more like a grimace. "Hey.""Are you joining the combat match?" Axel asked."Well, yeah, sort of."Axel chuckled. "No offense, but I thought you'd be in the STEM competition. Because, ahem, well, you know..." His eyes gestured toward the girls entering the combat match.Gulp. Their bodies were tall and athletic. I'd be eliminated in the first round by one of them."I'm not aiming to win," I said."Don't say that. Having a smaller body could actually be an advantage. They've probably already sized you up and decided you're the weaker one. But you know?" Axel looked me
After dinner, we were supposed to return to our rooms and rest, as the competition was scheduled to start at 7:00 a.m. However, most students lingered in the dining hall, mingling and getting to know each other, though many already seemed familiar.As I followed my friends out of the dining hall, someone suddenly grabbed my arm from behind. I turned around and saw that it was Zach holding my wrist.'Are you mad at me? Why are you acting like this?'I shook my head and pulled my arm away. Wanting to avoid him, I pushed through the crowd, heading for the exit, until my foot caught something.I stumbled forward and fell right into someone.He caught me by the waist, steadying me in an instant."Gotcha!" he said.He helped me stand, and we faced each other. It was the first time I had seen someone with a ponytail, and he looked incredibly cool."You okay?" he asked.I nodded. "Sorry, I ran into you. That was an accident."
The academy was just as magnificent as Evercrest, perched on a hill and surrounded by a dense forest.Graycrown Academy.They say it's the best academy in the world—well, in the werewolf world, that is.The car passed through a tightly guarded gate and parked in the massive front courtyard. I could see a crowd of students in various uniforms scattered around in groups. Seeing so many potential competitors made me extremely nervous.Luna Dawn and Alpha Jace stepped out first, followed by the other selected students and me."I must be dreaming to be at Graycrown," Aggy muttered, gripping my hand. She was clearly excited.The rest of us held hands and trailed behind Alpha Jace and Luna Dawn as we made our way into the main academy building. Shirley, as usual, walked behind Luna Dawn by herself.I wasn't sure how we'd manage to work together if she continued to show open hostility.We waited while Luna Dawn and Alpha Jace fin
I couldn't sleep at all. I kept thinking about Zach's first love. It shouldn't have bothered me, but I couldn't stop thinking about it. How do I put this behind me?I used to live such a simple, uneventful life. But ever since I became a half-werewolf and started facing problem after problem, even the smallest things have felt massive.Sometimes, I miss my old life.Again, a mindlink push came through—one I couldn't ignore this time.'Bernice?? Are you asleep?"It was Zach. Oh God, what does he want now?'How can I sleep with you pestering me like this?' I grumbled in annoyance."I want to talk to you."'No. I don't want to hear about your past. Stop bothering me.''Then what if we talk about the future?'Ugh—smooth talker. He seriously pissed me off, but I couldn't deny that my heart fluttered a little.'NO!' I snapped.'Please.. I need to see you tonight. It's really important, Bernice.''No, thank you, Zach.'I shut off the mindlink immediately. I didn't care that he kept trying to