Chapter 3

The moment the van door slid open, a rush of cool air hit my face, carrying with it the faint scent of pine and polished marble. I blinked against the sunlight, clutching my leather bag like it contained the last pieces of my sanity.

Chloe was already smiling—no, ‘beaming’—at the man standing outside. Her entire posture shifted into what Mistress Gwen would call “proper posture” and what I would call “trying too hard.”

The man was tall, broad-shouldered, and looked like he’d been carved out of the academy’s front gate. His face was all sharp lines and a colder-than-ice expression. 

He didn’t smile, but somehow, that made him more intimidating.

“Miss Olivia Quinn, I presume?” His voice was deep and clipped, the kind that didn’t invite small talk.

I gave a small nod, trying not to trip as I stepped out of the van. I was still trying to process everything Chloe just dumped on my head. 

“Yes, sir,” I managed. My voice came out steadier than I felt, which was a miracle in itself.

He gave me a once-over, his gaze lingering briefly on my uniform before shifting back to Chloe.

“I'm Alexander. I’m here to escort Miss Quinn to the administration block. Headmistress Adelaide is expecting her.”

Of course, she was. Headmistress Adelaide, the woman Mistress Gwen described as “as gentle as a thunderstorm and twice as patient.” I had no idea whether to be relieved or terrified. Truthfully, I just wanted to flee.

“Thank you,” Chloe said sweetly.

“Please make sure she doesn’t wander off. She has a tendency to…” She paused, tapping her chin, “…get distracted.”

I shot her a glare. 

“Once,” I muttered. “I got lost once.”

The man didn’t react, but I could’ve sworn his lips twitched, almost like he was fighting a smile.

We began walking, and I took in my surroundings: the sprawling courtyard, the towering grey buildings gleaming under the sunlight, and the statues of wolves that lined the path. 

Each one seemed to watch us as we passed, their eyes carved with such precision they almost looked alive.

It was all so…overwhelming. Beautiful, yes, but in a suffocating way. Everything screamed perfection, and I suddenly felt like a cracked cup in a room full of crystal.

Students were scattered across the courtyard, most of them turning to look at me as we walked by. Some whispered behind manicured hands; others just stared openly, their expressions a mix of curiosity and disdain.

I could hear their whispers even without my wolf; it was as if they were standing next to me. 

“Isn't that the girl without a wolf?” A voice said.

“She’s from the Central Plains, right? Poor thing, it must have cost a fortune to get that uniform,” another voice echoed, obviously filled with fake concern. I fought the urge to glare at her. 

“The Southern Alpha’s temporary bride? Seriously? I think she's just some charity case to Alpha Nikolas,” another voice said with disdain. 

Great! I’d barely been here five minutes, and I was already the academy’s newest gossip headline. Did they think I willingly chose this?

“Try not to mind the stares,” Alexander said suddenly, his tone casual but firm.

I looked up, surprised he’d even spoken.

“I’m not,” I lied smoothly.

He glanced at me. “You’re gripping your bag so tightly it might disintegrate.”

“Oh,” I said, forcing myself to loosen my hold. “Right. My bad. It’s… just new surroundings.” 

‘And finding out I've been lied to… Again,’ I didn't say that one out loud.

“Mm,” was all he said.

We continued in silence until we reached the main building—a towering structure with massive glass windows and elegant stone pillars.

The words “Celestial Moon Academy” were etched in gold above the entrance, as if mocking me with their perfection.

The man stopped before the door and turned to me.

“Headmistress Adelaide will explain your schedule and accommodations. I’ll leave you here.”

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

He nodded once and walked away, disappearing as quickly as he’d appeared.

Inside, the building was even grander. The floor gleamed like it had never been stepped on, and the scent of lavender hung faintly in the air. Portraits of powerful Alphas lined the hallway walls, their eyes sharp, their expressions solemn.

A woman stood at the far end of the corridor, speaking to a secretary, I presume. Her presence was commanding—tall, with hair so white it looked silver under the light, and eyes the color of steel.

Headmistress Adelaide.

She turned when she heard our footsteps, and the faint smile on her lips didn’t reach her eyes. 

“Miss Quinn,” she said, her tone calm but piercing. “Welcome to Celestial Moon Academy.”

“Thank you, Headmistress,” I replied, dipping my head slightly the way Mistress Gwen had drilled into me.

Her gaze swept over me, assessing, weighing. “You are the Central Plains’ representative. A surprising choice, but perhaps surprises are not always bad.”

I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or a warning, so I smiled politely and said nothing. I didn't even trust my words right now.

“You’ll find that this academy values strength—in spirit, in discipline, and in character. Being wolfless will not exempt you from expectations.”

Of course not. Why make things easy when they could be painfully complicated?

“Yes, Headmistress,” I said softly.

She nodded. “Your assistant will take you to your dorm. As the temporary bride of the Southern Alpha and a Luna candidate, you'll have a room to yourself, only sharing with your assistant. The opening ceremony will be held tomorrow morning.”

As Chloe reappeared at my side, I couldn’t help but mutter under my breath, “Perfect. Just enough time to panic and question my life choices.”

“Did you say something, Miss Quinn?” Headmistress Adelaide asked, one brow arching ever so slightly.

I smiled tightly. “No, Headmistress. Just… expressing gratitude.”

“Good. Gratitude is a virtue. See that you keep it.”

I nodded again, resisting the urge to groan out loud.

As Chloe and I walked away, she leaned closer and whispered, “Well, that wasn’t so bad.”

“Sure,” I murmured. “If being dissected by someone’s gaze counts as ‘not bad.’”

Chloe chuckled softly. “You’ll get used to it. Everyone does.”

I wasn’t so sure. But as we turned a corner and the view opened up to a courtyard filled with students training—wolves sparring, claws flashing, laughter echoing—something inside me stirred.

Maybe it was fear.

Maybe it was defiance.

Or maybe, just maybe, it was the faintest spark of something I thought I’d lost.

Hope. 

Maybe I should accept my fate. I have nowhere to escape to after all. 

I’ll embrace my adopted father’s perspective and strategize on how to capture the Southern Alpha’s favor, all the while steering clear of the remaining alphas.

After all, considering my background, as a candidate from the Central Plains, I doubt they see me as anything more than a charity case.

"Let's head over to our room then. I've been given directions," Chloe said, breaking me out of my train of thought. 

I nodded, welcoming the idea of disappearing from the prying eyes. 

~~~~~ 

I barely made it through the grand halls, silently praying I could slip into my room without anyone noticing me. My heart was still unsettled from everything that had happened so far. Words were echoing in my head like a curse. 

I needed a moment alone—just one moment to breathe.

But the universe clearly had other plans. The strap of my leather bag gave a sharp snap. 

“Oh, come on—” I groaned as it crashed against the marble floor, scattering my belongings like broken pieces of my dignity. Books clattered and slid across the tiles, and my silver pendant spun away, catching the light before rolling out of reach. 

Really, Olivia? Was I gripping it that tightly? 

I knelt quickly, trying to gather my things before anyone could see, but I could still feel their judgemental stares. My little notebook had skidded to a stop against a pair of dark boots. 

My breath caught. 

Slowly—too slowly—I lifted my gaze. My eyes trailed up from the boots to the powerful legs above them, to the lean, athletic frame, and finally to a face that looked as though it had been carved from rebellion itself. 

Forest-green eyes met mine—cool, sharp, and so intense I forgot how to breathe. 

Alpha Nikolas. 

The Southern Alpha. The man I’d been deceived into believing I had come here to marry. The one whose temper was as infamous as his strength. 

And here he was, standing in front of me while my life lay scattered across the floor. 

Perfect. 

“Chloe,” I hissed under my breath, glancing around for my assistant, who, of course, had vanished into thin air. Coward. 

“How fake! Her items fall just when Alpha Nikolas appears!” 

“Does she think he wouldn't see through her tricks?” 

“Alpha Nikolas is going to give her a piece of his mind.”

I didn't know what I was expecting after hearing the whispers, but it certainly wasn't what happened next. 

Nikolas crouched down in front of me, his golden-brown hair catching the sunlight as he picked up my notebook. My pulse jumped as he flipped it open before I could stop him. 

His brows lifted slightly as his eyes scanned the messy page filled with my nervous scribblings. 

“Don’t cause trouble. Don’t be noticed. Smile if necessary.” 

Mortification burned through me. 

“You’re already failing that, little wolf, because I've noticed,” he murmured, his voice a velvet blade that sliced right through my composure. 

He handed me the notebook with a faint grin, and I forced myself to meet his gaze, even though my fingers trembled as I took it. 

“I—I didn't,” I stammered, wishing the floor would just swallow me whole. 

I reached out to retrieve my silver pendant, but he extended his hand at the same time, causing our hands to brush. 

Suddenly, he hissed and pulled back as if I had burned him. 

 “S–sorry, Alpha,” I blurted, not knowing what to say to his intense reaction. 

He tilted his head slightly, studying me with an unreadable expression—something caught between amusement and danger. 

“Don’t apologize,” he said softly, catching me off guard, his voice dropping to a low purr that brushed over my skin like heat. 

“Didn’t you feel that?” He asks, and I look at him with startled eyes. 

“W-what?” 

“Forget I asked,” he says. 

“I prefer when someone surprises me. Feels like fate.” 

Fate. The word lingered in the air, heavy and impossible to ignore. My heart stuttered, beating far too fast, betraying me completely. I shouldn’t react like this—not to him. Not to the man who wasn’t supposed to matter. 

I dropped my gaze, trying to compose myself, but I could still feel his stare—warm, heavy, magnetic. It lingered, seeping beneath my skin until I was sure he could hear how fast my heart was racing. 

“Welcome to Celestial Moon Academy, little wolf,” he whispered, his words a mix of tease and promise. 

Then he turned and walked away, but not before his wolf let out a low, possessive growl that rolled through the air and made every nerve in my body stand at attention. 

For a long moment, I just stood there, notebook clutched to my chest, trying to steady my breathing. 

I didn't know why, but something told me that single, clumsy accident had just painted a target on my back… And the way his gaze had softened when he looked at me terrified me more than his temper ever could.