The girl without a name

Seraphina POV

By the third morning, I could barely feel my feet because, I had spent two nights sleeping under trees, eating whatever food I could afford, and running whenever I heard wolves nearby.

The Alliance Academy was supposed to be a sanctuary but right now, it felt like a place I might never reach.

My stomach growled loudly, I stopped walking and leaned against a tree.

"Please," I whispered, closing my eyes. "Just a little farther."

I reached into my bag and there was nothing left, the last piece of bread had been gone since yesterday.

I almost laughed because the daughter of an Alpha was starving in the middle of nowhere.

If my father could see me now, he'd probably tell me this was proof that I couldn't survive without him.

I pushed away from the tree. "I can do this."

A few hours later, I finally saw the Alliance City with massive stone walls surrounding it and guards stationed at every entrance.

Beyond the gates, I could see towers rising above the buildings and at the very center stood the Academy.

The largest structure I had ever seen, I reached into my bag and pulled out the Academy letter.

My fingers tightened around it, I could finally become who I wanted to be.

I walked toward the gates and a guard stepped in front of me. "Stop."

I stopped. "Name?"

My throat tightened, I almost said it. Seraphina Vale then I remembered the witch. "Selene."

The guard looked at me. "Last name?"

I hesitated. "Arden."

He held out his hand. "Identification."

My stomach dropped. "I don't have any."

His expression hardened. "Then leave."

"I have an Academy letter."

I quickly pulled it out and he read it. "This is an invitation."

"Yes."

"You're late."

"I know."

He looked me up and down. "You traveled here alone?"

"Yes."

He laughed. "You're either very brave or very stupid."

"Probably both."

The guard almost smiled then he handed the letter back. "Academy entrance is through the eastern gate, follow the road."

I nodded. "Thank you."

I hurried away before he could change his mind and the moment I entered the city, I stopped.

Werewolves were everywhere and for the first time, I was surrounded by people who didn't know my family.

I smiled maybe this was what freedom felt like then someone crashed into me and my bag fell to the ground. "Watch where you're going."

I looked up, a tall male stood in front of me and he wore the dark-blue uniform of the Alliance Academy, two other students stood behind him.

The male glanced at my clothes then at my old boots and his mouth twisted. "New student?"

"Yes."

He laughed. "That's unfortunate."

I frowned. "What?"

He bent down and picked up my bag then opened it and my heart jumped. "Give that back."

He ignored me as he pulled out my mother's knife and his eyes lit up. "Nice."

I reached for it but he held it above my head, "Give it to me."

"Make me."

My anger flared but before I could think, I grabbed his wrist and he laughed then his expression changed because I twisted hard.

He dropped the knife and I caught it.

The other two students went silent as the male stared at me. "You little...."

He swung but I ducked, his fist missed my face by an inch and I drove my shoulder into his stomach.

He stumbled backward and people started gathering around us. "Fight!"

Someone shouted as my heart raced, the boy charged again but this time i didn't wait, I kicked his knee and he dropped then I grabbed his collar and slammed him against the stone wall, the crowd erupted. "Enough!"

A voice thundered across the street and everyone froze.

A group of Academy instructors marched toward us and the boy immediately straightened. "She attacked me."

I stared at him. "You stole my knife."

He pointed at me. "She's lying."

One of the instructors looked between us then his eyes settled on me. "What's your name?"

"Selene Arden."

"First-year?"

"Yes."

He looked at the other boy. "Name?"

"Marcus."

The instructor's expression hardened. "Marcus, this isn't your first incident."

Marcus lowered his head. "Yes, sir."

The instructor looked at me again. "You'll both report to the disciplinary hall."

My heart sank. "But....."

"No arguments."

He turned and I picked up my bag.

As I walked, I could feel everyone staring and whispers followed us. "She's new."

"She fought Marcus."

"She's crazy."

I ignored them but deep down, I was smiling because I had been at the Academy for less than an hour and I had already gotten into a fight.

The Academy was even more intimidating from inside, the disciplinary hall was packed and Marcus stood beside me, he kept glaring.

The instructor entered then the entire room went silent. A man walked in behind him and every student immediately lowered their head.

"Alpha Kael."

My breath caught as the instructor bowed. "Prince Kael."

My heart skipped, the Alpha King's son.

Kael Draven.

I'd heard stories about him, his the strongest young Alpha in the kingdom.

His gaze moved through the room then stopped on me and I suddenly felt exposed. His eyes narrowed as he took few steps toward me and I forced myself not to move.

He stopped directly in front of me. "What happened?"

Marcus immediately spoke. "She attacked me."

Kael looked at him. "Why?"

Marcus hesitated. "I...."

Kael's gaze hardened. "Answer me."

"He took my knife," I said and Kael looked at me.

"Why did you let him take it?"

I blinked. "What?"

"If someone takes something from you, why did you let him?"

"I didn't."

A faint smile touched his mouth. "You got it back."

I nodded and he looked at Marcus. "Then why are you still standing?"

The room went silent as Marcus swallowed.

Kael turned toward the instructor. "Dismissed."

Everyone stared as the instructor nodded immediately. "Yes, Prince Kael."

As students began leaving, I remained where I was and soon Kael's eyes returned to me.

"You're new."

"Yes."

"Where are you from?"

My stomach tightened. "North."

"Which Pack?"

I hesitated. "None."

His eyes narrowed, everyone belonged to a Pack.

"You don't have a Pack?"

"Not anymore."

He studied me then he stepped closer and I could feel his Alpha presence.

My wolf immediately reacted. " He is Your Mate."

Absolutely not, I stepped backward and Kael's eyebrows lifted.

"Are you afraid of me?"

"No."

"Then why did you move?"

"Because you were standing too close."

For a moment, neither of us spoke then, unexpectedly, he smiled. "Interesting."

He turned away. "Report to the first-year training grounds at dawn."

I frowned. "Why?"

He looked over his shoulder. "Because if you're going to fight people in the streets, I'd like to see whether you can actually fight."

Then he walked away and I stared after him.

I had barely been at the Academy for one day but somehow, I had already attracted the attention of the Alpha King's son.