Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Chloe's POV

The car came to a stop in front of tall iron gates. My heart pounded as I stared up at the massive banner overhead.

Nightshade Academy.

The driver opened the trunk and handed me my suitcase without a word. His cold expression said enough.

"Enjoy your stay. We’ll... pick you up during breaks. Maybe."

Maybe.

That was my dad’s way of saying: Don’t come back until you’re someone worth being proud of. It has been two months since everything happened, and now I'd be resuming in the school I have never thought of attending.

I nodded silently and dragged my suitcase up the stone path.

The place looked like something out of a dark fairytale. Gothic towers, endless forests behind the fences, magic in the air that made my skin prickle.

The academy was located in the central according to people. Children from different Alpha's, Beta and Omega's all attended this school. Most of the children.

It screamed power! Some were here to impress their parents just like me too. Their performance here was going to determine if they were qualified to rule over their parent's pack or not.

The most loved Omega might end up working for those future Alphas and Luna later on.

It looked exactly like the schools I used to read about in books.

This was it. A school full of werewolves, witches, and powerful creatures. I didn’t plan to stay more than six months. Just enough time to prove myself—or die trying. Rumors said Nightshade wasn’t just elite... it was dangerous.

My father had hidden my identity from the school. Not surprising. An Alpha who’s ashamed of his own daughter and wouldn’t want anyone to know she’s here.

An Alpha child who can't even transform yet, born with a weak wolf. Yeah. That’s the kind of daughter I was.

I showed my ID—with a fake surname and everything—to the guard. Just another nobody. Just an omega to them.

No expectations. No pity.

Just me.

---

I stood in front of my assigned dorm, staring at the door.

It looked plain. Scratched wood. Faded numbers. Not what I’d imagined. Definitely not what my sister had. She was known to be the daughter of an Alpha, so she got a better room.

I reached for the handle when the door swung open.

A girl stood in the doorway. Black skin. Sharp eyes. Short locs. Beautiful. I had never come across someone so pretty.

She blinked, confused.

"This is my room. Or you’re my roommate?" I said with a polite smile.

Her gaze scanned me coldly. No smile. No answer. She stepped past me like I wasn’t even there.

Well. So much for a warm welcome.

I wheeled my bag inside.

The room was small but clean. Two beds. Two desks. No posters. The other side was already filled with her stuff, so I took the other side, which was also closer to the window.

Perfect.

I’d barely unpacked when I heard her voice for the first time.

"Ena," she muttered, pulling on her uniform shirt. That was her name. Then, without looking at me: "Let’s not interfere in each other’s lives. Thanks."

Ena. My roommate.

Maybe I didn’t need friends. Maybe I just needed to survive. But still. There was no way I'd be in the same room with someone, and we wouldn't even communicate well.

---

The Next Day

My first class. Ever.

I stood by the doorway, adjusting my skirt and scanning the room. Every seat seemed full of confidence—laughing, chatting, owning the space like they belonged.

The fact that phones weren't allowed for some people in the school was definitely going to make us creative with a few things.

Ena was at the back, earbuds in, scribbling in a notebook. Still pretending I didn’t exist.

I took a breath and moved toward her. She had warned me not to interfere, but I wasn’t the kind of person who gave up easily. Once I could try several times and realize she hasn't budge, I guess there was no other choice for me then.

Then a voice cut through the room like a knife.

"Ena! Where are you?"

Everyone froze.

A young lady entered. Two girls who looked like her clones followed behind. Her hair was white as snow. I wasn’t sure if it was natural or not.

Gasps fluttered. Murmurs filled the air.

"She’s in trouble again..." "Why can’t she just listen for once?"

I barely processed the words before Ena stood up, face tight. Her hand clenched the hem of her skirt. She was really scared. I could see it from my face, the way she lowered her head when she stood up.

"I’m here."

The woman marched over and slapped her. Hard.

The sound cracked through the room.

Laughter and whispers followed. Like it was normal. Like she deserved it.

I couldn’t believe it.

Ena crumpled, one hand to her face, tears dripping onto the floor.

And no one moved.

I did.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I shouted, stepping forward.

Silence.

Everyone turned.

I crouched, reaching for Ena. Her hands swatted mine away.

"Did I ask for your help?" she snapped, voice trembling.

Still, I saw it. The shame. The pain. The broken pieces she didn’t want anyone to see. She stood up on her own, leaving me crouched on the floor.

The white-haired student turned to me slowly.

"Excuse you?" She scoffed, lowering her eyes brows. " And who do you think you are?"

I stood. "Chloe. And I don’t care who you are—you don’t get to put your hands on her. She's a student just like you and hitting someone this hard isn't right."

"Ouuu! Look who we have here everyone. An advocate." She mocked.

The laughter got louder as she slowly walked towards me.

"New girl," she said, brushing invisible dust off my shoulder. "You don’t know the rules. That’s why I’ll forgive you... this once. I think someone needed to make the rules clear to you."

Then her hand shot out—and slapped me.

My head snapped to the side, a sharp sting blooming across my cheek. I stumbled and hit the floor.

Suddenly, a wave of heat exploded through me. I didn’t know where it came from—but it felt familiar.

The copper taste filled my mouth. Blood.

Gasps again. This time at me.

She tilted her head. "You don’t want to make me your enemy, Chloe."

I stood slowly, hand on my cheek. Eyes locked on hers.

"Bitch," I said.

More gasps.

She raised her hand again. she was about to slap me again, but I caught her hand mid air before she could get to do anything.

"Enough!" a man’s voice boomed from the doorway.

A tall man in a gray coat stepped in. The teacher.

"Everyone to your seats. Now."

She ripped her hand from mine and turned away with a glare. Ena wouldn’t meet my eyes.

I stormed out of the room, my feet pounding the floor.

---

I didn’t go back to class.

I found an empty room and collapsed on a bench in the back, heart still racing. My cheek throbbed.

Why was I here?

Why was this place worse than home? I’d rather go on dangerous missions than deal with this crap.

Footsteps approached outside the room. I didn’t move.

"I kinda liked her. She stood up to Anne."

"She’s done for," another voice said. "Anne’s going to make her life hell."

I froze. They were talking about me. They must’ve seen everything.

"Not just Anne. If she’s on Anne’s bad side, she’s on the triplets’ bad side too."

Triplets?

My blood went cold. I’d heard stories—legends—from my sister. The most powerful werewolves at Nightshade. Sons of the Supreme Alpha. Untouchable.

I've heard how powerful they were and that was it. How the hell finger involved in their mess?

"She might end up like Astrid."

Silence.

"What did you say?" a voice hissed.

"Don’t be stupid. You know what happened to her. They say it was suicide, but—"

"Shut up! Someone could be listening!"

Their footsteps disappeared down the hall.

I sat frozen, my mind went spiral trying to wrap my head around what they had just stated.

Astrid.

My sister. She didn’t commit suicide. The school covered it up. My father was right all along.

I stood up slowly, vision blurry with tears.

She was killed.

I ran out into the hallway, searching for the boys. I had to know more. I needed to know the full details about my sister.

But then, everything stopped.

A familiar scent brushed past my nose. That oakwood smell with a little bit of spice.

The scent I’d smelled the night my jade ring vanished. The person who had stolen my jade ring

The night I felt him. The last time I smelled him.

My mate.

He was here. He was sound this place currently.