Chapter 1

The dormitory entrance downstairs was completely blocked off.

The he-wolves from the neighboring physical training camp crowded at the very front, whistling and pointing at me.

"See that? That's the Luminian vixen."

"She's the legendary notch-collector and will let any Alpha have her."

I kept my head down as I tried to push through the wall of people.

As the only Luminian human exchange student here, my very presence felt like a mistake.

"Hey, Luminian doll!"

Bart Harding, an Alpha, deliberately bumped into me. He then leaned close to my neck and sniffed audibly.

"Tsk. That cheap perfume can't even cover up the stench on you."

A wave of crude laughter erupted around us.

I clenched my fists so hard that my nails dug into my palms.

My older brother, Gerard Newman, had warned me not to reveal my identity. Thus, I had no choice but to endure it all.

I shoved Bart aside and rushed into the dormitory building.

Behind me, Jessica's sharp, mocking laughter rang out.

"Why are you running? Don't forget to leave your door unlocked for me tonight—my dog happens to be in heat."

Gritting my teeth, I sprinted all the way up to the third floor in one breath.

But when I came to a stop in front of my dormitory room, my heart sank. The lock had been violently broken. Deep bite marks were gouged into the cylinder, causing its edges to curl.

I pushed the door open, and a nauseating stench hit me.

The bed was piled high with rotting, blackened meat, dripping entrails, and several gutted rats. Apart from that, a yellow fluid had also soaked through the bedding.

The walls were also covered in bright red lipstick scrawls—"Harlot", "Tart", "Free Breeding Center". And next to the words were a few crude drawings.

My roommate had already moved out, leaving only a note on her empty bed.

"Stay away from me. Don't spread your STDs to me, you filthy half-breed."

Applause echoed from the doorway.

Jessica leaned against the doorframe, her phone camera pointed directly at my trashed bed.

"Look, everyone—this is the doghouse of the Luminian half-breed." She laughed gleefully into the screen. "See that? She loves sleeping in a garbage dump. This is exactly where she belongs."

"Get out!" I rushed over to slam the door shut.

But Jessica only smirked disdainfully and pressed a hand firmly against the door, rendering it immobile.

"Oh, save it," she sneered and shoved her phone right in my face. "Mindy Newman, I'm warning you—stay away from Bart. What makes you think a lowly human like you is worthy of seducing a noble werewolf warrior? You'd better not sleep too deeply tonight."

Her voice dropped low, her eyes venomous. "Because a he-wolf in heat has a very keen sense of smell."

With that, she turned and strutted away, her followers trailing behind her.

I slumped weakly to the floor.

My phone vibrated with a message from Gerard.

"Location shows you're in the slums? That area is full of uncivilized strays. Come home now, or I'll come get you myself."

Staring at the words on the screen, I wanted to tell him that I was at an academy known as the "Cradle of Nobility" and that I was being bullied by the real "strays" here.

But in the end, I only replied, "I'm only experiencing life. It's fine."

I turned off my phone and, fighting back nausea, found a black trash bag. Then, I stuffed the rotting meat, dead rats, and the silk bedding inside.

Dry heaves shook me as I cleaned.

Deep into the night, the dormitory was dead silent.

I curled up on the bare bed frame with a fruit knife clutched in my hand.

Scratching from sharp claws sounded outside the door, followed by heavy breathing seeping in through the gap beneath it. The doorknob started rattling violently, and the broken lock was slowly being forced open.