Envelope Exchange

Adira(Flynn)

Cinderella’s life changed in a night and mine was a reflection of her’s. The only difference?— She became an overnight princess and I am now Alpha Flynn—Heir to the throne of the Beastly Shadow Pack. 

Ironic, right?

A day hadn’t passed without me snorting at the sudden reality of my life. A number of times, it felt like a fever dream but the moment, I was being conformed into the late Flynn’s image. 

Flynn was a vegetarian and while the table that stretched to the end was lined with delicacies filled with meat, mine was filled with leafy greens because his life was now mine. Worse, his favorite was broccoli! 

I hated the slightly bitter taste that melted inside my mouth. Doubts that this charade would ever last persisted because how could I ever live on eating that vegetable every morning like Flynn did?

I followed his routines—incorporated it—Alpha Harlan had specifically trained me before dawn because he didn’t want to arouse any form of suspicion from those who had trained Flynn. Despite all the week’s training, everything felt foreign to me. 

Like an imposter trying to fit into a role.

Maybe that was what I was.

An imposter.

How was I supposed to cope at the academy where I would be judged for my wolf’s strength and physical prowess?

Alpha Harlan and Rolana didn’t seem to care about any of that because they had the belief that since I hadn’t reached my 20’s yet, I would gain my wolf before then. So, they had already planned excuses to make for me at the Beastly Shadow Academy, plus Flynn’s mysterious sickness was going to aid the lies that were being put in place. 

For instance, the disappearance of the star was dismissed as a natural occurrence putting an end to the rumors of it having to do with the loss of anyone.

Despite the dread that lodged at the base of my throat, eagerness made my stomach churn as I turned to the assistant my new parents assigned to stick by my side at all times. The only one who knew that I wasn’t Flynn but Adira. 

“Are we not near the academy, yet?” I offered him a smile that he returned. The car drove deeper into the woods, the rocky mountain and pine trees flanking us in a blur. 

Carl poked his head outside before fixing his eyes back on me. “We’ve arrived at the school”

My fingers tightened around my knees, fear curdling in my stomach as the sound of a huge rusty gate creaking open echoed through the forest, returning chills back into my ear. Even from where I sat, I caught a whiff of the Alphas aura that permeated the air, descending into my bones and knocking my knees in place. 

I turned to the window, my mouth dropping in shock because of the scene that unfolded before me. Crestfall academy was carved from basalt stone, shaped like a sphere that shot to the sky, the clouds hovering around the ends of it. 

Before it was a fountain, a magnificent throne made with throne with a sceptre placed on it. As the chauffeur opened the door, I came out of the car, gaping around in wonder while Carl and the chauffeur helped in carrying our luggage. 

This place was stunning and at the same time eerie with the scent of blood that stuck to the air like sludge. 

I sucked in a deep breath, enough to muster the courage inside of me while glancing at Carl who seemed to be struggling with the suitcases. 

I rushed to him immediately, offering to help. “Let me help, Carl”

His eyes widened in shock and he shook his head immediately. “You are now Alpha Flynn. Alpha Flynn would never help with the suitcases. Plus, remember to put the voice change to practice. You sounded so feminine now” 

True. 

I smiled between a sigh, turning to him while adjusting the oversized blazer over my small frame—Alpha Flynn’s clothes made it seem like a strand of pasta thrown into a sack. 

However, it all fit with the narrative that he had lost a lot of weight because of his six months sickness. My new parents made sure I always wore gloves to hide my delicate fingers and most importantly, huge platform shoes to make me taller. 

While I was 5’8 in ft, Alpha Flynn was like 6’2. 

I mastered the way I was told Alpha Flynn walked, glancing subtly at the werewolf statues that lined the entrance before mounting the small steps. I sucked in a deep breath, enough to calm the nerves swilling in my stomach. 

The moment I was sure that my heart palpitations were now normal, I opened the door but the echoes from the young Alphas that scattered around the lobby died. Terror replaced the expression on their faces when their eyes settled on me and that took me aback for a second? 

While I walked past them, they lowered their gazes, leaving me in confusion. Were they shocked to see me since Flynn hadn’t been in school for months or what was with the air? 

Could that be the reason my parents told me to come with snacks to offer to them. Was it to make them comfortable around me?

That had to be it. 

I rushed to the chauffeur, snatching the suitcase filled with snacks from him. “Prince Flynn, you…”

I cut in. “Shh! My parents told me to share”

I reached for the plastic bags filled with snacks of different varieties, rushing towards the Alphas but the moment I got closer, they stepped back. The expression on their face was weird but irrespective of that, I forced the popcorn into their hands. 

“This is a return gift. Eat it so you could have stamina” I made sure my voice sounded masculine as ever, the same way I had practiced with Alpha Harlan. 

They exchanged fleeting glances with themselves, lowered their heads in reverence for me but the moment I walked past them, their whispers filled my head. 

“The sickness must have gotten to him,”

“How are we sure that this isn’t poisoned?”

“He feels weird,”

Anyways, I forced the gifts into the Alpha’s hand, ranging from sealed cupcakes, nuts and pretzels. Done with sharing the gifts just like my parents instructed, a satisfied smile pulled at the corners of my mouth as I leaned against the locker. 

Something in the air shifted and as I swung my head to the left, my heart skittered to a stop and warmth scattered its wings on my chest, butterflies floating in my stomach when I spotted someone. 

His dominance could be felt from the way he walked, his light hazel eyes were like the mist—dangerous yet enchanting and worse, too hard to look away from. His black hair flopped into his eyes, his jaw-line refined like it was carved from darkness itself. 

He looked like fire— something I wanted to burn in. 

Who was this Alpha that looked like mine?

My thigh clenched at his sight but the moment he was about to veer left and take the stairs, he stopped, darting his eyes to me. My heart slammed against my ribcage, my insides roaring out of victory. 

He was looking at me, staring at me with dark amusement in his eyes. 

Was he openly flirting with me? Did he want the cupcake as well?

I smirked, tilting my head to the side and if it weren’t for my hair that was chopped off, I would have twirled with the ends. 

Then he stalked towards me in slow predatory steps as my heart pounded fast in my chest. “Flynn Hitchcock…”He trailed, the name rolling off his tongue and it made me wonder what Adira would sound like from his mouth. 

“You came back alive…” His eyes traveled down my body before a low scoffing laughter left his mouth. “That taunting smile on your face, are you trying to remind me that you know my secret?” his eyes turned dark, almost closing the space between us as his breath was warm against my face. 

What was he talking about? How could he confuse that smile for pure admiration as taunt?

Maybe he was hungry? 

I cleared my throat, slowly pushing him back. “Do you want a cupcake?” I stretched it towards him. 

He scoffed but before I could process things, his hand caught my throat and he pushed me back with so much force that my back slammed against the locker. 

Oh, he liked it rough. His kink— choking.

His hand held mine to the air as a low growl rumbled from his throat and slowly, he raised his already darkened eyes, the butterflies floating in my stomach vanished. “Why are you not fighting back, Flynn Hitchcock. Try to assert your dominance and see if I wouldn’t wring your neck here, you bastard”

My voice was barely a whisper. “Is it about the cake? You can have it to yourself”

His head dipped against mine slightly, lips inches from mine, his breath warm against my skin. “I can’t believe this bastard!” He cussed. 

His grip left my neck and he stepped back, glancing at the cake before he stretched my hand towards him. “The cake” He glanced back and forth between my face and the cake. 

“Yes, it is all yours”

The only thing I could remember was the eerie smile on his before he slammed the cake against my face. 

While he walked away, my mouth parted in shock, the cake frost melting in a slide down my face as Carl rushed towards me immediately. “What are you doing, Alpha Flynn? That is Alpha Miguel Fangion”

“Who is he?”

“He is the next-in-line to be the Alpha at the Black Moon Pack and worse, he and Alpha Flynn are enemies. They are always on each other’s throat,”

“I am going to be honest with you, Alpha Flynn doesn’t have the best reputation here. He is a tyrant alongside Miguel but Flynn takes the crown. During the last training, Alpha Flynn had used wolfsbane on Alpha Miguel to weaken his wolf and hold the sceptre temporarily,”

“I can’t even count the number of things Alpha Flynn and Miguel have done to each other. Just stay away from him”

As soon as he said those words, the reaction from everyone started to make sense and my face flushed in embarrassment because of what had happened between Miguel and I earlier. 

Carl was right. 

I had to avoid Miguel at all costs. 

Because of that, when we were asked to pick the envelopes that contained where our dormitory was, I had exchanged Carl’s and I’s envelopes numerous times, anxious with the fact that I might end up sharing the same room with Miguel. 

But, Carl said Flynn and Miguel being in the same dorm had never happened before. Plus, I was sure that fate wouldn’t be that cruel with me. 

However, the moment I opened the door to the room and came eyeball to eyeball with Miguel who slowly unbuttoned his shirt, I knew it was over for me. 

I should have never exchanged those envelopes with Carl. How could Miguel be my roommate?