Prof

The drive was quiet after that.

Too quiet.

The kind of silence that presses against your ears and makes your thoughts louder than they should be. I leaned my forehead against the cold window, watching the world blur past, trees and buildings melting into one another as my mind replayed everything that had happened since we arrived at the pack.

The Alpha’s voice.

The way the air had bent to his will.

The way my stepbrother’s presence lingered even when he wasn’t there.

I told myself this was just another school.

Another place I’d pass through.

Another phase I’d survive.

Still, my chest felt tight.

And we arrived.

Wow, the college was so magnificent.

Magnificent didn’t even begin to cover it. The buildings towered into the sky like something out of a dream—polished stone, wide staircases, glass windows catching the sunlight like jewels. Everything about the place screamed power, wealth, prestige.

I stepped out and mined everywhere.

I turned to ask the driver a question, but he drove away.

For a moment, I just stood there, my bag hanging off my shoulder, watching the car disappear. A knot tightened in my stomach. I wasn’t abandoned—I knew that—but the feeling was close enough to taste.

Jerk, I called after him.

Only a fool would say he wasn't scared back then.

I was scared.

Terrified, actually.

But fear had never been allowed to show on my face. Not after everything we’d been through. Not after everything my father had taught me.

He wasn't scared back then.

I was, but I'll never bow to anyone.

That's what my father always taught me.

My father’s voice echoed in my mind as clearly as if he were standing beside me.

He always asked, who are you?

I'm Aria Ravenwood of the Sky Park.

Good, always remember that.

I smiled, remembering when he usually said that to me.

That smile didn’t last long. Memories had a way of cutting deeper than knives when you held onto them too tightly.

Actually, I didn't blame the driver.

Not after I disrespected their alpha.

Disrespect didn’t go unnoticed in pack territory. I knew that much. Wolves never forgot slights—especially Alphas.

I swallowed the bubble gum with my tongue.

Alright, Alpha College, here I come.

Time to go back to the nerdy girl I used to be.

This was survival mode. The version of me that kept her head down, her grades high, and her emotions buried.

I put on my glasses and walked in.

The moment I crossed the gates, the noise swallowed me whole—voices overlapping, laughter, footsteps echoing against marble floors.

Hello, do you know where the VRS office is?

Oh, they are behind your glasses.

Some girl was insulted.

I felt it immediately—the judgment. The scanning eyes. The unspoken hierarchy that existed even here.

I said nothing.

Walking ahead, that's when I noticed someone familiar.

My mouth opened in surprise.

I recognized him.

He was one of those guys I saw yesterday.

His purple hair was glowing.

He had the aura of an alpha.

Even here, surrounded by wolves alike, that presence didn’t fade. It clung to him like a second skin.

He walked up to me and did the most shocking thing anyone has ever done.

So sweet, he smiled.

My brain lagged behind reality. No one smiled like that without expecting something in return.

I touched the side his lips had.

He had run his tongue over.

Everyone checked him.

The girl was looking at me.

Whispers rippled outward like waves. Eyes narrowed. Judgments were made in seconds.

Before he could leave, I held his hand.

Could you show me the VRS office?

My pleasure, he replied, escorting me out.

Just like that, the dynamic flipped.

Woah, man, that's actually Ethan Runes, escorting someone.

This is new.

Seems Ethan found another play toy.

Another nerdy bitch in this school again.

Guess she bought her way or she's under scholarship.

Poor werewolves.

The words hit, but they didn’t break me. I’d heard worse. I’d survived worse.

I heard them said, whatever, let them go.

See, that's what they always do.

Despite myself, curiosity stirred.

Are you a student here?

I asked.

Yes.

His thick voice swept around my eardrum, refusing to fade away.

It lingered. Warm. Smooth. Dangerous.

They felt like melody.

He smiled as he saw my reaction.

That was actually my wolf talking.

Lily stirred softly, alert, interested.

His voice lighter now.

Oh, I muttered.

I needed space. Distance. Control.

We got to the office.

I thanked him and head inside before he could say anything.

Paperwork. Forms. Side glances. Quiet assumptions.

Few minutes later, I was seated in the hall, precisely the lecture room for my course.

Everyone was well.

The lecture hall was massive—tiered seating, sleek desks, screens lining the walls.

I could tell that this was a very big rich school because the lecture hall was like I was in heaven.

Laughter echoed. Makeup mirrors snapped shut. Perfume lingered in the air.

Back then, at the VRS office, he scrutinized me with his glasses, muttering about buying their way with money into schools.

No matter where I went, assumptions followed.

Now inside the hall, everywhere was noisy, as they all gossip about their professor this year, some girls putting on their makeup.

Oh, my gosh.

Prof. Caleb is deadly handsome.

Did you see Prof. James?

Oh, you guys haven't fucking heard about Prof. Kane, the alpha son.

My grip tightened on my book.

Whatever gibberish.

I put on my earpiece, trying to open my textbook and study for this morning .

Music flooded my ears, drowning out the world.

I didn't notice the air around me had changed.

Something was wrong.

Someone behind me tapped.

I raised my head up and was shocked to see someone standing there.

He was staring straight at me, his eyes locked on mine.

I froze, the earpiece in my ear.

I didn't hear any of the song playing again.

It felt as if it was only the two of us in the lecture room.