CHAPTER 2 — THE ACADEMY

I am the last to leave the house, but my legs walk faster than they can carry, hoping to get to school just in time to escape the crowd. 

I don't. 

Immediately I enter the hallway I am hit with a crowd of students scattered all over the space all bubbling about the news of the Alpha heirs coming into our pack.

“Keep your head down.” I say to myself as I try to weave through the crowd. “Be invisible. Don't let them see you”

I clutch my old bag tight till my fingers ache, because I don't want it's contents pouring all over the floor since the students hit me constantly while passing like I am invisible. 

My head aches with each step I take, my arm still throbs from the burn but my eyes remain glued to the ground till I hit something. 

I slowly raise my head up. 

“I’m sure you’ve heard of the three Alpha heirs? They're coming today.” Lila says. Her small gang all stand behind her like bodyguards. “What are your expectations?”

Of course it's the Alpha heirs. That's all everyone has ever talked about all morning. 

“Do you even think you stand a chance?” a guy chips in from behind her. Others laughs.

“Who would even look at a poor pathetic loser like you,” Avery says and more laughter follows. 

I duck my head lower. “Let me through. I have no expectations.”

It is true — almost.

“Oh, suddenly her tongue is loose.” Lila says sharply in a voice that screams amusement. Like she didn't even know I could talk. “You think I don't know? That you're expecting them to be a hero.”

“Please let me through.” I say, clearly not in the mood for a fight. But they don't listen. They never do. 

Henry kicks me to the ground and I fall on my buttocks.

“Please, let me be.” I plead. But only more kicks and blows just come raining down on me while I trash helplessly. 

“Let's make her hideous so that when the alphas come, they won't even look at her.”

“Yes… let's do that.”

The boys hold me down while Lila and Avery exit and return with dirty water from only God knows where. 

I hold my breath as the water soaks me from the inside out, even to my bag. Students point fingers at me and laugh as they pass by. I do nothing but wallow in humiliation. 

“Stay calm. Stay quiet. It will all be over.” I tell myself as I drag my body up and head to my locker to get a new change of clothes. 

Years in this academy have taught me that I can never go wrong with spare clothes. 

Even from my locker, I can hear the excitement in their voices as they talk in low voices and hushed tones about the interpack integration program that is bringing the alpha heirs to my school while I am not allowed to be excited or even hope to have any sort of connection with the Alpha heirs. They won’t look at someone like me. 

I am just about to go and change in the restroom when Nova makes a loud entry, announcing her presence. The hallway doors that were locked open up with a loud thud and she shows up looking all pink and glamorous in her pink dress and perfect hair. 

Everyone stops talking immediately and turns to look at her. Yeah… that is so her. 

I roll my eyes. She loves drama and attention so much that she tends to overdo it sometimes. 

I tiptoe to the restroom while the students flock to her. I don't need to stay to know that they are all worshipping her, and trying to be in her good books. 

“Tell me about the alpha heir,” one shouts from the back. 

“Is he going to be staying at your place?”

“Are we going to be invited to the inter-pack summit?”

I shut the washroom door tight behind me to avoid hearing one more word.

Slowly, I slide to the ground. 

“All I need to do is to survive school today. Survive it.” I tell myself. My heart is beating fast — too fast. If only it was that easy. 

My head is still banging and the bandage on my arm is ruined. Thank God I brought extra.

I force myself up and run cold water on my face. My eyes close automatically as the cold hits my skin and slowly, I begin to wash my face. Relief comes almost immediately but goes quickly.. 

I take off the bandage and wear new ones. Then change into dry and clean clothes. I consider staying in that restroom for the rest of the day, but I have to study. That is the only thing I am allowed to have.

I check my time. 

Shit. 

It's ten minutes to the next class and I have to grab my books so I can get to class early.

I speed out of the restroom and find myself back in the hallway, in front of my locker. 

Nova is still talking to the students around her in a voice so loud and clear that I can hear her smoothly. 

“Do you think any of the alpha's would take interest in me?” She asks sweetly. 

“Of course,” Martha replied fast. Too fast. “I think you are the perfect candidate. Who wouldn't love you?”

Nova laughs loudly. “You are right. Anyone would love me. Unlike my sister.” She gestures toward me. The students turn, laughing loudly.

“She doesn't stand a chance.” Lila says. 

“Oh yes, she doesn't.”

“They are all yours.”

“Of course, they are.” Nova replies. Swelling from their praise and support like it's the air she breaths. “Poor Ayla.”

Their laughter becomes louder. 

“I have an announcement.” She pause and the hallway goes quiet.

I am still frantically searching for my notes on pack laws, land and history to escape but they choose to hide today of all days. 

“I will make the Alpha's mine.” She declares. “They are mine. And mine alone.”

Her words settle on the hallway and te silence that follows turns cold. Nobody dares to make an improper sound until she walks past them triumphantly and walks towards me. 

“Do you hear that Ayla?” She whispers in my ears. “They're mine. If any of them sniff towards you, you're gone.”

Her threat is real, I know it. She means every word of it. 

“I under—” I don't get to finish my sentence when the atmosphere in the hallway changes. 

“What is it again,” I scream in my head. 

The students immediately start murmuring and numbing. Nova looks up immediately. 

“Oh my god, the heirs are here.” 

My book falls from my hand.

Nova swiftly walks out of my side and towards the alphas. That's when I turn.

They walk in the same steps and grace. With the aura of alpha authority that doesn't need words to be announced. 

The students freeze mid-talk as they stand in the front of the hallway, assessing the place.

They stand for only a minute. Then walks further. 

Students don't need to be told to create space for them. That is exactly how overwhelming their presence is. 

Nova rushes towards them. “Hi, I'm Nova. The—”

They move past her without listening. Nova chases after them. “I just want to tell you that my father is hosting the summit, if you need anything—"

They keep walking like she is part of the building. Her smile holds for exactly two seconds after they pass. Then something flickers in it. Small. Fast. Gone before anyone else sees it. But I do. 

I look back toward the three of them who are already halfway down the corridor, past the crowd, and past me.

The third one stops— like something just caught his attention and turns. 

Slowly, his eyes find mine.

I should look away like I always do, but i don't. He holds my gaze for two beats longer than he should then turns and walks away.

My heart suddenly begins to beat too fast. My whole being reacting to that one look. My hand releases the book it is holding. 

Nova somewhere behind me goes very still. One different from her usual stillness.

'Stop it,' I tell myself. 'Stop it right now. You shouldn't react to them this much.’'

I push off the locker and go back to class refusing to look back. 

But even as I leave, I can feel something jump wildly inside me the whole way to the classroom. And no matter how hard I press it down, it refuses to stay quiet.