Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1 — The Transfer Student

Juvenile Academy was the kind of place where people whispered before they spoke.

Everyone had their place. The Alphas at the top of the food chain, the Betas blending in, and the Omegas pretending they didn’t exist.

The college hallways buzzed as students drifted in small groups, laughter mixing with the scent of rosy pheromones that clung faintly to the air.

"Did you hear about the transfer student?"

The voice came from a girl in a pleated skirt, popping a bubble gum as she chuckled. She leaned toward her group, lowering her tone like it was classified information.

"I heard the Principal telling Mrs. Adams that it was a Beta, from another district, transferred in the middle of the semester."

Her friend scoffed. "A Beta? Who even transfers here mid year? Unless they’re trying to die early."

Laughter rippled through the small circle.

They weren't lying, they were being honest. Juvenile wasn’t a place for the weak, not when guys like him ruled the school halls. And by him, everyone meant Miguel, the school owner’s son. His father was incredibly wealthy, making Miguel the top tier one Alpha everyone had a big crush on. His name carried a weight even when whispered, students straighten their backs and drop eye contact.

He was leaning against the hallways wall, half listening to the gossip and already bored. Everyone bowed their head refusing eye contact when he looked their way.

Everyone except the person walking through the gates right now.

He was tall, lean but balanced, shoulders squared with an expression unreadable. He was dressed in a simple black hoodie.

"That should be him." A girl whispered again, tugging her friend’s arm as they all scurried to the hallways.

Miguel followed their line of sight lazily, his eyes narrowing as the transfer student stepped further onto campus.

"Heard his name is Caius." Some other students whispered still taking the turn to the hallways.

Caius. That was one hell of a magnetic bossy name.

He moved differently from everyone else. He didn’t look nervous like the rest of the students. He walked with a composure that even an Alpha wouldn't believe belonged to a Beta.

Miguel tilted his head slightly, trying to read him. Every one had a whiff of pheromones scent, but Caius’ vibe was unpredictable.

Miguel didn't like that. Everyone had a place, even Omegas did.

Beside him, one of his friends, Dax, gave a low whistle. "Guess that’s the new kid, he doesn’t look like much."

Another smirked. "Give him a week. He’ll be begging for space when Miguel’s done with him."

Miguel didn’t respond, he was still watching the new transfer student.

Caius stopped by the notice board, scanned the papers briefly, and then as though he knew he was being watched, he lifted his head to meet Miguel's gaze. Their eyes met.

It wasn’t long, maybe three seconds, but it was long enough to see the uninterested gaze in Caius' eyes. Miguel expected him to glance away, that was what Betas did when an Alpha with his status looked at them directly.

But the new student didn’t. He held Miguel’s gaze without flinching, unreadable, quiet… and then turned his back, walking away toward the main building like nothing happened.

A sharp laugh escaped one of Miguel’s friends.

"Yo, did you see that? He didn’t even blink. Guess the Beta’s got no survival instinct."

Miguel’s jaw flexed, but his expression stayed composed. "Maybe he doesn’t know who I am."

"Then remind him," Dax said, grinning.

Miguel didn’t answer right away. He was still staring at the empty space Caius had left behind.

"Yeah," he muttered at last, a slow smirk curving his mouth. "I will."

Later, Inside the Lecture Hall. Mummurs filled the room as students shuffled into seats. Miguel sat near the back, spinning a pen in between his fingers. He didn’t care about the lectures.

Sure enough, the door opened midway through roll call. Caius stepped in, his presence instantly silencing the chatters. Every head turned to him, some students whispered about his appearance, some giggling at him.

Even the lecturer paused. "You must be the transfer student Miss Adams talked about." Caius nodded at him with an expressionless face. "Caius, is it?"

"Yes, sir." His tone was low, even polite but dominant.

He scanned the hall a bit and then started walking, heading for an empty seat near the window, right beside Miguel. The Alpha smirked, stretching out his leg casually into the aisle. It was a test Miguel performed on every new student.

Most Betas would step around, apologize and avoid conflict with the guy whose family owned the school. But Caius didn’t even slow down. He glanced down, then up at Miguel’s face, his expression unreadable.

"You should move your leg," he said quietly, but his voice carried an edge that made a few nearby students stiffen.

Miguel arched a brow. "Or what?"

The silence that followed was calm, but it felt heavy. Caius wasn’t use to raising his voice, he didn't need to, his stare was already enough to carry out the voice in his head, cutting through Miguel’s smirk like a blade.

After a long second, Miguel chuckled under his breath, pulling his leg back. "Relax, Beta."

Caius slid past and took his seat without another word. Miguel leaned back in his chair angry at how he gave in easily.

The lecture ended, but Miguel hadn’t heard a single word. He sat still, his eyes darting towards the side of Caius’ face as students packed their stuffs and hurried out of the hall.

Caius, of course, didn’t rush. He slid a novel book he had been reading into his little shoulder bag, zipped it with calmly and stood composedly.

Every movement screamed unbothered, and in Juvenile it irritated Alphas like Miguel and his friends who thrived on dominance.

Miguel’s fingers tapped against his desk once.

“You’re not from here, are you?”

Caius didn’t raise his face up. “Obviously not,” he said, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

Miguel smirked. “Yeah. You look like a foreign Kid. You should know your place as a Beta.”

That made Caius pause. He turned slightly, his brows furrowed but then his eyes remained still unreadable. “And you should know when to stop talking.”

A low whistle escaped Dax from behind. “Damn, the Beta’s got a wolf teeth.”

Caius didn’t even acknowledge him. He walked past, brushing the edge of Miguel’s desk unintentionally, but close enough to make Miguel’s muscles tighten.

Miguel’s instincts prickled. “Hey,” he called, pushing off the chair.

Caius turned halfway down the aisle. “What?”

Miguel stepped forward slowly in a predator’s pace, "Since you are new, I'll let you know that I don't like challenges."

Caius’ head tilted a little. “Then don’t start one.”

The few students left in the classroom froze, their eyes darting between them. Miguel’s smirk faltered just for a second, replaced by something else—shock.