One

Raven

The moment I returned to StoneCrest High School after a year of rehab, I knew I'd made a terrible mistake. 

My heart banged with agonizing sadness, feeling like it was getting stabbed with sharpened metal sticks.

To others, StoneCrest was everything it should be, an upper-class school reserved for the wealthy, well-equipped with qualified teachers, and recognized on the national level as the best high school. It was so famous that they rejected applicants once they passed the number of required students needed per session.

To me, it was a shit hole and I didn't want to be here. 

I turned away from the six-story brick building. The school housed so many horrible teenagers and teachers who were supposed to do better.

 Unfortunately, all our parents cared about was to brag about their children attending the best school on the South Coast. 

Take, for instance, my dad, the Lycan King, who proudly boasted that his two daughters were students of StoneCrest. 

 At the parking lot, he placed his hand on my shoulder, snapping me out of my thoughts and pulling me into a hug. 

"You look like you've seen a ghost. Breathe, honey. You're in Senior Year already and soon, you'll be out of here. Just make sure to avoid scandals like the plague and I'm sure you'll be fine."

I pulled away from my dad's hug, scratching the back of my neck. "That's the problem, Dad. I don't want to be here. I don't mind attending a lesser quality school or getting home-schooled."

His smile vanished and a dark scowl played on his face, tightening around the corners of his eyes.

"What the hell is the problem here? That idiot teacher is rotting away in the pack's dungeon. Last I visited, they flogged him brutally and left his back a dripping ruin. All I want for you is to acquire a degree here and move on to greater things."

Rooted to the spot, I winced at my dad's cold tone and sweat sticking to my armpits.

My stepmother, Clarissa, breathtakingly beautiful, looked a decade younger than thirty-nine. She stepped out of the car, her diamond earrings glistening under the bright sunlight.

 Clarissa was a thousand times better than my biological mother. She owned a huge tech company and despite being a billionaire's daughter, she remained humble, a far cry from my mum who was married to a douchebag, had no job, and didn't give two fucks about me. If she cared about me, she'd have been here today.

 After some seconds of awkward silence and the pitiful looks she threw at me, she turned to whisper something in my dad's ear.

"No," he stepped back and gazed pointedly at me. "She needs to stop making excuses and chin up. It's time to move on."

Bubbles of anger inside me threatened to explode. But I had to hold it in. Arguing with my dad was such a waste of time. He was a stubborn mule and never listened.

Everyone assumed I seduced a teacher because who in their right senses sneaks out to the staff quarters as late as eight thirty pm to see a male teacher?

If I wasn't the victim, I would have believed them. To make matters worse, my fair-weather friends all left me after my suspension. 

After my dad sent me to a rehabilitation center for a session, I returned to face hundreds of spoiled, insensitive brats.

Three vibrant flags flapped above me. Blue for werewolves, Green for Lycans, and the latest addition, Red for vampires. 

Vampires… 

The thought of having vampire classmates made my stomach churn. It still baffled me that their king, Vladislav had a strong hold on my dad.

"Dad, please, I hate it here. It doesn't even make sense that you're not listening to me."

My dad helped bring out my suitcase from the spacious boot of his jeep before turning around to fix me with a stern look, the one that meant his message was final and he wouldn't tolerate any argument. 

 "Raven, Principal John's giving you another chance. Don't abuse it. Your sister is here as well and will support you when you need her."

Yeah right… a sister who was ashamed of me and would rather poke her finger in her eye than defend me? 

Nova was my dad's legitimate daughter and the school's sweetheart, while I was a backyard baby with a tarnished reputation. 

My shoulders slumped when the security guards bowed respectfully to my dad and helped with my suitcase.  

Inside the hall, the air held a different air, having an unmistakable scent of vampires, ancient spices, and another strange mixture that made my skin prickle with disgust. 

Principal John, an oaf who looked like he cried whenever he orgasmed, hated that I was back and that I accused his staff of harassment.

He wore an obvious fake smile and I could tell he was only putting on this act because of my dad's influence.

"Thank you for allowing her back, John," my dad shook the principal's hand and Principal John smiled as though he'd won the lottery, lifting the rim of his glasses.

 "My pleasure. I must say her transcript from rehab is very commendable. A 4.4 GPA, assuming it wasn't forged. She'll blend in properly."

"Keep an eye on her," my dad warned, giving him a stern look. "Especially now that we have vampires here. I don't want any of them ogling my daughter."

"Of course. And I trust you've informed her to stay away from the vampires?" Principal John asked, giving me a lopsided grin. "Having any sexual relationship with them is..."

"I don't care about the vampires," I snapped. Principal John's smile disappeared, and he nodded.

Dad and Clarissa said their goodbyes after Dad made me promise to behave.

The principal's harsh scowl returned, and all I could focus on was the dimple on his forehead. 

 "If you've got any plans to cause more trouble, you better rethink them," he warned and pulled out my student file, scribbling something on a piece of paper.

"I wonder why you can't be more like your sister," he mumbled loud enough for me to hear and handed me the paper.

"Take that to the secretary. She'll tell you what to do," he ordered.

Caging my frustration, I stepped out of the principal's office. His secretary handed me an official reinstatement letter, confirming my permission to return to class.

Then she handed me a booklet. "School policy. Get used to them and don't break any rules. Come back later for your class schedule and access the online student portal for your documentation."

Lowering my hoodie to cover half of my face, I walked down the hallway, my heart beating like a drum in my chest. 

Senior year was notorious for being the most brutal and I was dreading this moment. I took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to enter my homeroom.

The room was divided into two sections, one with fluorescent lights for the Lycans and a darker part of the class with closed blinds for the Vampires.

I stepped inside. Gasps of surprise echoed through the room from the Lycans and curious stares from the Vampires.

"Cocksucker is back, y'all!" Troy, one of the Lycan airheads, rushed to the front and stripped his pants down, holding out his cock, a limp thing with dangling balls. 

Biting back the urge to gag, I stared at the ceiling, wishing the ground would open and swallow me.

"Get on your knees, ho," he ordered with a smugness stretched over his ugly face. "Come suck Daddy and swallow all my semen. Trust me, it tastes like chocolate and vanilla, better than Mr. Aiden's."

The Lycans burst out into roaring laughter while others snickered and whispered amongst themselves. 

The vampires gasped in horror, wondering who I was and making my face on fire with shame.

 When I caught a glimpse of my sister, Nova, she looked away immediately, pretending to be busy with her books.

So much for a supportive sister, huh?

Lifting my gaze, I saw someone rush towards Troy. He was tall with dark, shiny hair. I didn't see his face but without needing anyone to tell me, I knew he was a vampire. 

 His fist connected with Troy's face and before Troy could regain his bearings, the vampire gripped his collar.

Why was a bloodsucker fighting for me?

"You and your carrot-sized cock should be ashamed of yourselves," he spat and laughter erupted across the room, followed by more jeering and snickers. 

"Stay away from our business, bloodsucker!" Troy spat. "I wasn't messing around with your kind, was I?"

"That's no reason to be stupid or assault us with your ugly-looking cock."

 Troy raised his hand to hit him when three other male vampires backed their friend up.

My sister, Nova, walked with graceful strides to us, showing her long, elegant legs with her mini skirt.

Without acknowledging my presence, she held the vampire's arm, smiling flirtatiously at him. I noticed how tense his shoulder became after Nova touched him. 

"Come on, Vlad. It's not that serious. It's just an in-joke among us. Don't forget we're used to being naked," she winked at him, trying to play it cool.

Vlad… 

The vampire who defended me turned around and the sight of his face made me gasp.

He was breathtaking with a handsome face to match his physique. No, scratch that. He was beautiful.

My heart raced like a bird set free from his cage. Why the hell do vampires have to look so good? 

This one was so perfect that he could have been a painting that came to life with lips that looked so red and unreal. 

His frown dissolved and he locked his dark gaze on mine. It felt as if time had stopped and I was scared at the rate my heart thrashed against my chest. 

 "That's a tasteless joke," he said, backing Nova and not taking his eyes off me. "I'll make sure it never happens again." 

Nova huffed and stared after Vlad. Our class teacher walked in right on time and everyone scurried to their seats. 

I couldn't concentrate during reciting the pledge of allegiance, nor could I dare sneak in the vampire's direction.

His face kept creeping into my thoughts and I struggled to get rid of the unholy things that filled my head and the heat in my body.

"You're a fool, Raven," my subconscious mocked me. "A damn fool. You should be avoiding scandal, but look what you got yourself involved with this time. Shame on you."