Alpha’s Deception

When I heard the truth, my wolf roared within me.

For an entire month, my childhood friend—Lucien Julian, the illegitimate son of the Silvercrest Pack’s Alpha—had been telling me the same story—

how the other students at Central Wolf Academy mocked him, cornered him, and humiliated him for one simple reason—at eighteen, his wolf still had not awakened.

In our world, that made him an anomaly.

I believed every word.

I took hits meant for him, both physical and verbal, knowing full well I couldn’t block everything, but refusing to step aside anyway.

When the pressure finally crushed him, I was the one who suggested the unthinkable.

“Transfer schools,Start over somewhere new.”

That day, he stood drenched beneath a bucket of ice water someone had dumped over him during training. His hands shook when he reached for mine.

“I can’t face another academy alone,” he said hoarsely.

We had grown up side by side, and I had long carried a quiet, unspoken affection for him in my heart.

So I didn’t hesitate when I answered.

“Don’t worry, Lucien,” I promised softly. “If you leave, I’ll leave too.”

Now I understood—it had all been a trap, a game he had carefully orchestrated to deceive me.

One of his friends laughed openly. “You pretended your wolf hadn’t awakened just to trick her into transferring with you.”

“She’s practically devoted to you. Aren’t you worried she might meet someone else once she’s out there?”

Lucien’s reply came without hesitation, dripping with confidence.

“Her? Don’t be ridiculous. She’s loyal enough to take a beating for me and never complain. You really think she’d ever stop caring about me?”

Someone muttered uncertainly, “Still… she doesn’t seem like the type you should underestimate.”

Lucien scoffed, clearly entertained. “Our academy is full of heirs and Alphas. Has she ever even glanced at any of them? She’s always orbiting me.”

His tone shifted then, edged with unmistakable irritation. “Honestly, she’s suffocating. Always there. Always watching. It’s annoying.”

A voice scoffed.

“She’s been by your side forever. Don’t tell me you never noticed how attached she is. If you’re done with her, why drag it out?”

Lucien’s reply came slower this time—fatigue.

“She’s always there. Always watching. Always expecting something from me.”

Another breath.

“I don’t want that kind of weight anymore.”

Then he paused—

“Besides, Olivia can’t stand seeing her around,” he said casually. “She only relaxes when I’m with her. I’m doing this for Olivia. Vivienne will just have to endure it for a while.”

The pieces fell into place with brutal clarity.

Lucien started pretending that his wolf still hadn’t awakened about half a month after Olivia Miller transferred into our academy—right around a month ago, when his awakening should have happened but didn’t, and that was when the bullying began.

Someone laughed again, the sound sharp with amusement.

“Damn, Lucien. Took you no time at all, did it? New girl barely settles in and you’re already her whole world.”

Another voice followed, openly derisive.

“She’s got that soft, fragile vibe. The kind that makes a guy feel like a hero just for standing next to her.”

Then, with a sneer, “Not like Vivienne. She’s always so composed, so untouchable. Too sharp, too proud. Sure, she’s beautiful—but she never makes anyone feel needed.”

They laughed louder, emboldened.

Lucien didn’t stop them.

Instead, there was a faint satisfaction in his expression, as though being admired—no, pursued—by a promising young she-wolf heir was something worth savoring.

For one reckless heartbeat, I almost shoved the door open, ready to confront him, ready to demand answers I already knew would break me.

Why would you do this to me?

Did you feel even a trace of guilt, watching me bleed quietly for you while you stood untouched?

Then I remembered what my mother had told me.

“Stop. The moment someone makes you question your value, they’ve already lost the right to your pain.”

I realized then that demanding answers would not heal me—it would only give him one last victory.

So I swallowed every question.

And I turned away, leaving him exactly where he belonged: behind me.