Chapter 2

Aliyah

Glendale University.

It’s Monday morning, and I’m currently walking around the university. I usually do this, especially since the place is new to me. I guess it's also part of my cautious nature, which started when I was a child.

I walked with many other students and noticed that most of them seemed to know each other and were happy to see their friends. I wish I could say the same, but my friend chose to study at another school because her crush is there.

"Yay!" I flinched when I heard a familiar voice from behind, so I quickly turned around. My eyes widened when I realized I had heard correctly because I saw my best friend running toward me, even though I thought she was at a different school.

"You witch! What are you doing here?" I asked as she finally reached me, and I’m sure disbelief was still all over my face.

"I can’t let you have all the fun by yourself!" Janice said, laughing, which made me laugh, too. I consider her my best friend because she treats me like I'm not a princess. Even though she knows my true identity, I feel ordinary when I’m with her. Her dad, Uncle Joric, is very close to our family.

"Your dad let you attend here?" I asked curiously. She’s an alpha daughter, so technically, she should be in the university provided by the palace near my grandfather’s mansion, a little away from here.

"Of course! I told him you’d be attending here, so he agreed." Her father is the Alpha of the Midnight Pack, my mother’s adoptive pack, and my grandparents' home, who were both pack warriors when Janice’s grandfather was still the Alpha there.

Janice is smart, something Uncle Joric often brags about, saying she got it from him. In reality, she inherited it from her mother, who used to be an omega at the palace. We’re both freshmen, but she’s only 17 years old.

"Where are you staying now? Don’t tell me you’re going home every day?" I asked curiously. Midnight Pack isn’t too far from here, but going home every day would still be a hassle.

"Where else, dorm." I looked at her, about to ask her to live with me, but she didn’t let me. "No, I’m not staying at your place."

"But—"

"No more buts." She insisted, so I just let her be. I didn’t push it anymore because I knew I wouldn’t win.

"I assume you’re in Business Administration," I said, and she nodded in agreement.

"I’m going to manage your boutique." I laughed because she always says that to me. "We’re going to make your brand the most famous clothing line in the world," she added, as if she were dreaming.

"We have different classes; when does your first class start?"

"Hmm, 9." She replied, which surprised me.

"Then why are you already here?"

"I knew you’d be here this early, too. You know, you have this habit of familiarizing yourself with a new place." She answered, and I smiled. She really knows me well and understands some of my habits.

We continued walking around together, but before 9 o’clock, we parted ways so she could go to her first class while I sat on a bench near the oval since my class wouldn’t start until 10:30.

I don’t know why, but I felt like someone was watching me, so I looked behind me. However, I only saw a few students walking and chatting with others.

I thought I might be overthinking, so I shrugged it off and continued watching the students on the oval having fun. I think they came early to catch up with their friends before class.

After a few minutes, I got bored, so I decided to walk around again. The good thing about this university is that it’s close to the woods, which gives wolf students a chance to shift.

I kept walking until I got there. I figured it would be safe since it’s close to the university. The air was fresh, and the surroundings were clean, so I was sure the university’s maintenance had reached this area. I sat on a tree stump and closed my eyes.

I started thinking about how I could ask for help with my abilities. Should I tell Aunt Avery? I shook my head, knowing she would tell Mom and Dad for sure.

I suddenly opened my eyes when I heard a rustling sound. I looked around, and my eyes widened when I saw a rogue. It looked at me with such hunger, drooling as if it wanted to eat me.

I tried to calm myself and slowly backed away, but it growled when it saw that, so I froze. I saw it slowly move towards me. I was about to try and read its mind, but it suddenly jumped. I thought that was the end for me, but then someone’s hands grabbed me while a wolf leaped at the rogue.

I had been training, but I realized my idea was wrong in that situation. I should have defended myself first instead of trying to read its mind. Also, it was a reckless move because I knew what would happen if I tried to do that.

"Are you okay?" asked the man who saved me. I nodded before looking at the huge black—was that a Lycan?

It disappeared from my sight, but after a few moments, while the man who grabbed me was talking to me, another man appeared, wearing only cargo shorts and no shirt.

“Alpha,” the guy beside me said.

“Is he the one that—?” I asked, and the guy nodded as I looked again at the black Lycan from earlier.

“Why are you here alone? Don’t you know it’s dangerous for someone like you in this area?” asked the Alpha angrily. I couldn’t speak because I was mesmerized by his voice and looks. He was so handsome, and his body was amazing.

“Don’t scare her, Alpha,” said the guy beside me.

“Shut up, Adrian!” He was really mad.

“I’m sorry, please don’t be mad at him,” I said. It was embarrassing that the guy was getting involved in the Alpha’s anger at me. “I just didn’t expect there to be rogues here. Since the university is nearby, I thought this place would be safe.”

“Adrian, take the rogue.”

“Yes, Alpha.” Adrian, the guy who helped me, had no choice. Well, there were actually two of them since this Alpha was the one who took down the rogue.

“Ahm, Adrian,” I called out, making him look back at me. “Thank you again.”

“You’re welcome—” he said.

“Aliyah,” I said, making him smile at me before replying.

“You’re welcome, Aliyah.” Then he turned and followed his Alpha, whom I was now watching.

“Thank you, A-Alpha—” Since I was a princess, it was difficult for me to bow to him, but I had to do it if I didn’t want him to find out who I was.

“Xavier, I’m Alpha Xavier Bloodworth.” I nodded before repeating his name. Then he held out his hand, and I hesitantly took it.

I quickly pulled my hand away when I felt a kind of electric shock run through me from him, and my eyes widened as I looked at him.

“What was that?” I asked in surprise.

“In the future, don’t go to places like this, especially alone. It’s not safe for a human like you to wander around.”

I couldn’t say anything, so I nodded as he walked away. I didn’t notice that his beta, Adrian, had also left, along with the rogue who was ready to attack me earlier.

I returned to school, but my mind was still on that Alpha. I’ve never been attracted to the opposite sex, but why did I feel differently about Xavier? Why did I feel something when we shook hands?