The first day

Lily Pendleton

Breakfast was chaos.

The cafeteria was massive—wooden tables, stone pillars, the smell of bacon and eggs and something that made my wolf senses (if I had any) go haywire. Students packed the place, laughing, shoving, the hierarchy on full display.

The Alphas sat at the center tables. The Betas circled the edges. And the Omegas? They served the food.

I was none of the above. I was just a girl who didn't belong.

Kael walked me to an empty table near the window. "Sit here," he said. "I'll grab you food. You like pancakes?"

I nodded, still stunned that the untouchable playboy was fetching me breakfast.

He returned with a plate piled high—pancakes, bacon, fruit. "Eat," he said. "You look like a stiff wind could knock you over."

I wrote on my notepad: You don't have to do this.

"Yeah, I do," he said, sitting across from me. "You're new. You're scared. And I'm a nice guy when I want to be."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Okay," he laughed, "I'm a decent guy. Sometimes. When it matters."

I took a bite. The pancakes were perfect—fluffy, warm, drenched in syrup. I hadn't had a meal like this in years. Claudia's idea of feeding me was leftover scraps.

My eyes started to water. I blinked hard.

Kael noticed. He didn't say anything. He just slid a napkin across the table.

I wrote: Thank you.

He read it and smiled. "Anytime, mute girl."

Then Damon appeared.

He looked at Kael, then at me, then back at Kael. His expression was unreadable.

"Kael," he said. "What are you doing?"

"Eating breakfast with your sister," Kael said smoothly. "What does it look like?"

Damon sat down next to me, putting himself between us. "It looks like you're breaking the rule."

"The rule says I can't touch her," Kael said. "I'm not touching her. I'm being friendly. Is that a crime?"

Damon's jaw tightened. "You know what I meant."

Kael held up his hands. "Relax, Alpha. I'm just making sure she doesn't get eaten alive on her first day."

I watched them, my heart pounding. These two—best friends, brothers in all but blood—were circling each other like wolves.

And I was the bone between them.

Damon turned to me. "Lily, if anyone gives you trouble, you come to me. Understand? Don't talk to strangers. Don't trust anyone."

I wrote: Even Kael?

Damon's eyes flickered. "Especially Kael."

Kael laughed, but it sounded forced. "Wow. Hurtful."

A girl approached the table. Blonde, perfect smile, a body that looked like it belonged on a magazine cover. She draped herself over Kael's shoulders.

"Kael, baby," she cooed. "You disappeared last night. I was lonely."

Kael's expression went cold. "Not now, Chloe."

"But we had plans—"

"I said not now."

Chloe's smile faltered. She looked at me—really looked—and her eyes narrowed.

"Who's the charity case?" she asked, her voice dripping venom.

Kael stood up, his body blocking mine. "She's a friend. Walk away, Chloe."

Chloe's face went red. She stormed off, and I could feel the stares of everyone in the cafeteria.

I wrote: You didn't have to do that.

"Yes, I did," he said. "She's a bitch."

I choked on my pancake. Did he just say that?

Kael grinned. "What? I'm honest."

Damon sighed, rubbing his temples. "Lily, I have class in ten minutes. Will you be okay?"

I nodded. I had to be.

Damon shot Kael one last warning look. "Behave." Then he left.

And I was alone with the playboy.

---

Kael walked me to my first class—Intro to Pack Dynamics. It was a joke. I had no pack. I had no dynamics. I was just a guest.

But he stayed with me until the door. "You'll be fine," he said. "If anyone gives you shit, send me a text. I'll come crush them."

I wrote: You don't have my number.

He pulled out his phone. "Give it to me."

I hesitated. But my fingers moved before my brain could stop them—scribbling my number on his palm.

He looked at it like it was gold. "Perfect," he said. "Now I'm officially your emergency contact."

He left, and I walked into class feeling like I'd just survived a hurricane.

---

The class was as bad as I expected.

The professor—a stern older wolf with grey-streaked hair—droned on about Alpha dominance and pack hierarchy. I sat in the back, trying to be invisible.

But Vivian was in the front row.

She turned around, spotted me, and her eyes lit up with cruel delight.

"Professor," she said sweetly, "can you explain why a human is allowed in this class? It's for wolves. She can't even shift."

The room went quiet. Every pair of eyes turned to me.

I wanted to sink into my chair.

The professor looked at me, frowning. "Miss Pendleton, is there a reason you're here?"

I couldn't speak. I couldn't write. My hands were shaking.

"I think she's lost," Vivian said, smirking. "Maybe she should go to the human studies room. Or—oh wait—they don't have one for animals."

A few students snickered.

Then the door opened.

Kael stood there, leaning against the frame. "Professor," he said smoothly, "I'm here to borrow Lily. Damon needs her for something. You know—Alpha business."

The professor's frown deepened, but he nodded. "Fine. Miss Pendleton, you're excused."

I grabbed my bag and fled.

Outside, Kael pulled me aside. "You okay?"

I shook my head. Then I wrote: How did you know?

"I have my ways," he said. "Vivian's a bitch. Everyone knows it. But you can't let her win."

She's not just a bitch, I wrote. She's my stepsister. She lives to make me miserable.

Kael read that, and his expression darkened. "Then we'll make her miserable instead."

I stared at him. Why do you care?

He looked at me—really looked. His silver eyes softened.

"Because you're different," he said. "And I don't know why, but I can't stop thinking about you."

My heart stopped.

And then—without thinking—I wrote: I can't stop thinking about you either.

He read it. His breath caught.

"Lily," he whispered. "This is dangerous."

I nodded. I knew.

But I didn't care.

---

He walked me back to my dorm. We stood at the door, silence stretching between us.

"I should go," he said. But he didn't move.

I wrote: Thank you. For saving me. Twice.

"Don't thank me," he said. "I'm not a hero. I'm just... drawn to you."

He reached out—hovered his hand near my cheek—but didn't touch.

"Family is off-limits," he said, echoing Damon's words. "But I'm starting to think some rules are meant to be broken."

My breath hitched.

He turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, trembling.

I closed my dorm door, leaned against it, and let out a shaky exhale.

What is happening to me?