Lupinemere Academy.

Chapter 1.

Camryn.

It had been two weeks since the incident.

Since that night.

My parents hadn’t looked at me the same since. There was fear in their eyes now, like they didn’t recognize me. Like I had become something dangerous.

Maybe I had.

Nothing made sense anymore. One moment I was normal… the next, I was a monster who had killed a man.

And now, they were shipping me off to a school in the middle of nowhere.

The drive was long and quiet. Awkward. Tense.

We passed trees, just trees. Miles and miles of thick woods. I wasn’t even sure we were still on a real road.

"Look, honey…" my mom finally said, breaking the silence. “I know you don’t want this. But it’s for the best. They can help you here.”

I didn’t respond. I just gave her a weak smile and stared out the window.

We pulled up to a large iron gate. There was no sign, no name. Just the thick wall of trees behind it.

A moment later, the gates creaked open like they had been waiting for me.

The car rolled forward, and suddenly a massive building came into view. The school. It looked old, gothic but still grand.

I stepped out of the car and grabbed the two boxes that held everything I owned now. My parents walked behind me, quiet and unsure, as we entered the building and followed the signs to the principal’s office.

Inside, it was warm. Surprisingly modern. A tall woman stood behind a wooden desk.

She had long white hair and skin so fair it almost glowed. She looked young.

“Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Hart,” she said with a gentle smile. “I’m Elaine Parker. The principal here at Lupinemere Academy.”

She looked at me then, her gaze lingering for a moment longer than it should have. “You must be Camryn.”

There was something strange in the way she said my name. Like she already knew me.

“Welcome,” she said softly.

My parents sat across from her as she continued. “I know this is hard but I want you to know, Camryn will be safe here. We’ll help her learn to control her gift.”

Gift. That’s what they were calling it now.

My mom wiped her eyes as they stood. My dad hugged me, stiff and awkward. My mom clung to me a little longer.

“I love you, baby,” she whispered. “Please… be careful.”

Then they left.

I didn’t watch them go. I couldn’t.

Before I could fall apart, the door opened, and a girl stepped in. She looked about my age, maybe a little older. She had curly black hair pulled into a ponytail and curious green eyes.

“Camryn, this is Heather,” Principal Parker said. “She’ll take you to your room and help you get settled.”

Heather smiled and waved. “Hey, come on. I’ll show you around.”

I nodded, picked up my box, and followed her out the door.

As soon as we stepped out of the principal’s office, I could feel the shift in Heather’s attitude.

She didn’t smile. She didn’t try to make conversation. She just walked ahead like I was some burden she was forced to deal with.

After a few seconds of awkward silence, she finally spoke.

“Look, I’m kind of the queen around here,” she said flatly, her tone cold. “I’m only doing this because the principal asked me to. So, here’s my advice, stay in your lane, and we won’t have a problem.”

I blinked, stunned by her sudden hostility. “Was that a threat?”

Heather turned to me with a sweet, fake smile. “No, sweetie. Just a helpful warning.”

Before I could respond, footsteps echoed through the hallway.

I turned and I saw them.

Four tall, striking guys walking toward us. Each of them moved with confidence, like they owned the place. There was something different about them… something powerful.

The guy leading the group stopped in front of Heather and leaned in, kissing her on the cheek.

"Jax," Heather said as she hugged him.

He had sharp cheekbones, a strong jawline, and piercing blue eyes. His dark brown hair was neatly styled and there was something in the way he stood, calm and in control. Like he was used to being followed..

Then, one of the others stepped forward and looked me up and down with a smirk.

He had messy dark hair, tan skin and sharp playful green eyes. He wore his uniform slightly undone, the tie loose, sleeves rolled up and the jacket tossed over his shoulder. There was a scar across his knuckle and his grin was both cocky and charming.

“H, you liar,” he said to Heather, still looking at me. “You said she wasn’t pretty.”

He winked. “I’m Aiden.”

“Ew, Aiden,” Heather snapped, rolling her eyes. “You’d flirt with anything in a skirt.”

“You’re wearing a skirt, but you don’t see me following you,” Aiden shot back.

Heather glared at me like it was my fault and Jax stepped in.

“Don’t talk to her like that,” he said to Aiden.

Before it could turn into something bigger, another guy stepped forward.

He was smiling and the tension immediately lightened.

He had soft brown curls, warm brown eyes and the kind of face that made you instantly feel safe. He looked like someone who always knew the right thing to say. His uniform was perfectly in place. He gave off warmth and kindness.

“Ignore them,” he said cheerfully. “They’re always like this.”

He extended a hand toward me. “I’m Isaac.”

His voice was smooth and his smile so genuine I found myself relaxing for the first time all day.

“I’m Camryn,” I replied, shaking his hand.

And then… I saw him.

The last one.

He hadn’t said a word. He stood slightly behind the others, tall and still. His black hair fell into his grey eyes and his arms were crossed. There was something dark in his gaze, quiet and watchful. Like he was always calculating, always thinking. His eyes locked on mine for a moment and I couldn’t look away.

There was something about him that made my pulse quicken.

He didn’t speak.

He didn’t have to.

“Okay, that’s enough,” Heather suddenly snapped. “Can you guys stop crowding her? She just got here.”

The boys exchanged glances but didn’t argue.

One by one, they walked off, though Aiden gave me one last smirk before disappearing around the corner.

I stood there for a second, still trying to process what just happened.

Heather turned to me with a tight smile. “That was Jax, Aiden, Isaac and Kian, the four alphas. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, they run this school.”

“I kinda got that,” I muttered.

“I’d advise you to stay away from them,” she added, her tone a little too sharp to be casual. “They don’t do well with… distractions.”

It sounded more like a warning than advice.

I nodded, even though I wasn’t sure I believed her.

“And we’re here,” she said, stopping in front of a tall wooden door. “This is your room. And unfortunately for both of us, we’re roommates.”

Of course we were.

I stepped inside, dropping my boxes by the bed.

I’d only been here ten minutes, and I already hated it.

But then there were the four alphas.

There was something about them, something I couldn’t explain. A strange pull, deep in my chest, like they were calling to a part of me I didn’t know existed.

And I couldn’t just ignore it.