CHAPTER TWO

The journey there felt longer than it should have. The road stretched endlessly, trees growing thicker on both sides, and the weather became cooler and heavier. The road was so narrow that I questioned whether the vehicle would be able to fit in. The journey was exhausting; I took two naps before we got there.

By the time we arrived, the school stood too still behind large gates, surrounded by forest, its tall dark walls rising as if it were hiding something inside. It didn’t look welcoming like my old schools—no noise, no laughter, just a strange quiet that pressed against my chest. The buildings were older, sharper, surrounded by thick trees that made the place feel cut off from the world.

And as I moved closer, something felt off… like I wasn’t supposed to be there, but it had been expecting me anyway. 

“Are you sure this is a school?” I muttered.

My mom smiled faintly."You'll be fine.” 

I stepped out of the car slowly. The moment my feet touched the ground… something shifted; I froze. “What was that?” I whispered. 

“What?”

I hesitated.” Nothing.” It felt like the air was watching me, like my footsteps were trailed. 

“Nira, this is a new beginning for you; it might be overwhelming, but just make sure you overcome the challenges and be the leader that you are.” Mother said, tears rolling down her cheeks.

The last moment felt so heavy on my mother; all that came to my head was tears of joy, and my mother was just being too emotional at the moment. I never knew those challenges were true. In order to become a normal student in GRIMHALDEN ACADEMY, I must overcome these challenges.

Now inside the school, students moved in groups, their voices low, their eyes pierced through my skin. Their gaze was not descriptive- not curious, not friendly, just…watching. I felt so strange once again, which, okay, I'm used to.

“New girl.”

I turned. A tall boy leaned against the wall, arms crossed, eyes locked on me. He was handsome—but not in a clean, put-together way. More like something wild that refused to be tamed. His shirt hung loosely on him, the top buttons undone like he didn’t care who noticed, the collar slightly crooked. His sleeves were rolled unevenly, like he’d done it without thinking.

His trousers were neat—pressed- but somehow still looked wrong on him, like they didn’t match the rest of his careless appearance. And his shoes… no socks. Just bare ankles showing, like rules didn’t apply to him.

Yet somehow, it worked. There was something in the way he stood, in the quiet confidence he carried, that made the mess look intentional. Like he knew exactly how he looked… and simply didn’t care.

“You look lost,” he said.

“I just got here.” 

He smirked slightly."Of course, it is written all over your face.”

I felt irritated by that. “What does that mean?”

“Move towards the right corner.” his gaze lingered on me. “You'll figure it out.”

“Figure out what?”

But he had already turned away. What a weird guy, very weird.

His direction was actually useful, and I was able to get registered into my dorm. The dorm looked interesting, unlike the main entrance. I could hear different voices from other rooms, but I was the only one in my room. I was happy, but at the same time felt segregated. 

The day passed strangely, the rooms became quiet one after the other, and everything felt normal, but not really. I was thinking of how I will fix my stuff into the small shelf beside the bed that covers half of the room. 

By night, I was exhausted. I was the best janitor at that moment, cause I really gave the room a furnished look. I had just settled into my room when a loud sound echoed through the building. A bell rang deep and sharp through my body.

“What now?” I muttered. 

Voices filled the hallway. 

“Bow night!” 

“Come on, hurry!”

I stepped outside, confused.

“Hey,” I stopped a girl. “What's going on?” She looked at me like I was stupid.

“Seriously?” 

“I'm sorry, I just got here.”

She sighed. “It's the choosing.”

“Choosing? What?”

“The leader.” 

Before I could ask anymore, she pulled away. I went swiftly to lock my room and followed her. If I didn't know any ethics for a school like this, I learnt I must always lock my door. Thanks to my mother.

We were led outside to a large open space. The air felt colder, and I felt like an outcast because my outfit was really different. They all mastered the weather before now. Students stood in lines and segments, quiet and serious. At the front, a group of older students stood tall. Like they were the school prefects. Authority shows in their appearance. Everywhere became intense. You could feel it. Even if you didn't understand it. My heart beats faster. Why do I feel like this? 

“Get ready,” someone whispered beside me. 

“For what?” 

But no one answered.

A boy stood forward. Tall and broad, his presence filled the space. It took some minutes for me to realize he was the same boy from earlier. The one who spoke to me, but he looked…different now. His outfit is more detailed, dangerous, and commanding. 

“Tonight,” someone announced, “ we choose who leads.” 

The air tightened.

“Bow!!” 

And suddenly—Everyone dropped. Like something forced them down. The sight was interesting; it felt like they rehearsed for it. Gasps. Knees hitting the ground. Immediately, shock ran through my body, I felt the pressure, like something pushing me down. But—I didn’t move.

I looked around. “WHY AM I STILL STANDING?”

Everyone was on their knees. Everyone, except me.

The boy in front snapped at me.

“Bow,” he said.

His voice was low and powerful at the same time. The force I felt from that tone should have made me move. But it didn't.

“What the hell is going on here?” I said, leaving my line. “Can anyone tell me what's going on? I just got to this academy, and I just feel outdated. Why bow? I can't even bow; I don't know how to.” 

“I…” I frowned. “ I can't.”

The silence that followed was terrifying.

“You can't?" someone whispered. 

“What is she doing?”

“Why isn't she down?” 

My heart started racing. “I'm trying,” I said quickly. “I just can't.”

I felt wronged; I knew I was doing the wrong thing. But it's not me; my body refused, not like I was fighting it. It just… didn't happen.

The boy’s gaze darkened. “Bow,” he repeated. 

I shook my head slightly. “I don't understand.”

And that was how my night in Grimhalen became a horror movie; it became a night full of regrets. I sincerely wanted my mother’s hug and her comforting words.

“Bring her.” 

And that was when everything changed. Hands grabbed me, rough, firm. My head began to wave like the ocean. 

“What are you doing?” I struggled. “Let go!” 

No one answered. They dragged me away as whispers followed.

“That's not normal.” 

“She didn't submit.”

“Who is she?” 

My chest tightened. “What is wrong with this place?!” I couldn't even fathom what was happening. “Am I going to be killed? Will I be expelled?” This thought never stopped in my head.

I was thrown into a dark room. With a lamb on the table. It was so cold and empty. 

“State your name,” a voice said.

That was when I realized we were actually four in this pit hole called a room. They just stood there watching and judging.

“Nira.” 

“Do you understand what you did tonight?”

“No!”

“Everyone bows,” another said sharply.

“I tried!”

“Did you know?”

“Yes!”

“Then why didn’t you?”

“I don’t know!”

Silence.

Then one of them leaned forward. Staring like he was sculpting a mansion in my eyes, dangerous.

“Because,” he said slowly, “you’re not like them.”

My breath caught.What does that mean?”

They exchanged looks.

“You are in a werewolf academy.”

Everything inside me went still.

“…what?”

“You heard me.”

I laughed nervously. “That’s not funny.”

“No one is joking.”

My chest tightened.

“No… that’s not possible.”

“It is.”

“I’m human.”

“Are you?”

Silence took over. I could hear my heart pounding loud, fast, confused.

“I…” My voice shook. “My mother—”

“Your mother knows.”

That hit harder than anything else. My legs began to tremble. It felt like I was running in a spot.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No, she would have told me!”

“Clearly, she didn’t.”

My hands clenched. My mind raced. Nothing made sense. Nothing.

“You didn’t bow,” the first one said again.

“Yeah, I noticed!”

“That shouldn’t be possible.”

“Well, it happened!”

They stared at me for a long time, like it was something they couldn't understand. And for the first time…I felt it too. That same question, the same fear. What is wrong with me? in a place where everyone bends…I didn’t. And I didn’t even know why.