Chapter 3

Liora

The moment she said, “Yes, I am,” the crowd cheered—everyone except me.

“Oh my goddess, I knew it! Look at her noble aura—only royal blood could raise a girl like that!”

“Holy… I’m actually seeing the reclusive Female Alpha with my own eyes…”

“Even Callum, who never spares a glance at girls, is treating her gently… Unbelievable. As expected of the Female Alpha!”

Stunned.

I stared at Bianca for moment longer—then laughed.

This is even more absurd than I imagined. Someone dares to impersonate me right to my face—what a rare experience.

She was lying.

But, I held my tongue. Living without titled at this school was an opportunity I fought hard for—I wasn’t about to expose her just yet. In fact… I’m curious to see how far this charade will go.

The absence of my cheering didn’t go unnoticed. Several students exchanged glances, clearly unsettled. They turned to glare at me angrily, including Jessica.

“You’re still here? I already warned you! Seriously have you no manors? How dare you wolfless act this way in front of Her Highness Bianca...! Do you know who she is?!”

Before I could respond, Bianca, to my surprise, step forward.

She folded her hands delicately in front of her, voice soft and condescending. “I understand,” she said with a pitying tilt of her head, “you’re jealous. Not everyone is lucky enough to become a female alpha. But… I truly am.”

Her hypocrisy made my stomach turned.

Callum, effortlessly composed, stepped forward and took her designer bag like a proper gentleman. He believed her act. Or at least, he accepted her without question.

He hadn’t looked at me since.

My fists tightened at my sides as he stepped past. “...Do you only offer flowers to those you think have the right status?” I said, loud enough for only him to hear. “Is that what makes someone worthy to you, just a title? Because she says she’s the female alpha?”

His gaze flicked to me, only briefly, like I was an interruption.

Jessica didn’t miss her cue, having barely caught my words. “How dare you speak to them like that! To the female alpha, you barehide!” she spat, her voice practically shaking with indignation. “How many times do I have to say it! Know your place! Ugh! Who even are you!?”

Bianca gave her a gracious, almost saintly laugh. “It’s fine,” she said. “I forgive her.”

Forgive me?

Jessica clung to her side like a loyal puppy as they walked. “You’re so kind, Bianca. Can I be your friend? What’s it like, being royalty? Do you live in a castle? Do your guards wear silver? I can’t believe you’re actually here! No one has seen you in years! Ah! This is so exciting!...”

Others swarmed, eager to please, practically orbiting Bianca like she was the Moon Goddess herself. And under her watchful, smug direction, they all ignored me. One by one, they brushed past, some bumping me deliberately. Their sneers echoed the same word:

“Wolfless.”

Many of these students will serve under me in the future—yet here they are, revealing nothing but their brutish stupidity right before my eyes.

I rested my chin on my hand, quietly smiling. This campus life...just got interesting.

Later that morning, when I introduced myself to the class, the atmosphere had already soured.

Whispers followed me like a scent trail. Their eyes were sharp, judgmental. When I said the word “wolfless,” the room exhaled in collective disdain.

I sat alone. No one offered to change that.

After class, Jessica cornered me again, this time with even less subtlety.

“So, Liora, huh? Liora Belrose.”

My mother’s surname. Can’t risk using my father’s here.

Jessica scoffed. “You must be some loser if even I’ve never heard of you. I don’t care who you think you are,” she hissed, stepping in too close. “If you try to make Bianca look bad again, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

I raised an eyebrow. “That supposed to scare me? Do you always throw your weight around like this?”

“Ah!” Jessica bristled. “Oh my gods! My weight?! Oh, you’re so dead!”

I could’ve flattened her. Easily. Honestly, after the day I had, a fight wouldn’t be the worst.

But before I could answer with anything more physical, a small voice interrupted from behind me, freezing me.

“...J-Jessica. A teacher needs to see you!”

It came from a girl barely tall enough to reach my shoulder. Glasses too large for her face. Short, black hair covered what her glasses weren’t on her face. Her Arms hugging her books like a shield.

I could smell it from here.

A wolfless. Quiet. Afraid.

Jessica peered around me, like this girl would even dare speak to

her.

“Mia?” She scoffed, “What did you just say?”

“I-It’s urgent,” Mia stammered. Her hands were shaking. But she didn’t move.

Jessica’s lip curled, and for a second, I saw her claws twitch beneath her pink manicure. She raised a hand like she might actually strike her.

I moved fast.

My hand caught her wrist before it reached Mia’s face.

Jessica’s eyes widened. “Don’t you dare touch me!”

“Then don’t touch her,” I said coolly.

I didn’t raise my voice. I didn’t need to.

She yanked her hand back, clearly startled by my strength. “You’ll regret this,” she snapped, but her voice cracked. “Freak! Wolfless, barehide, losers!”

She fled after that, muttering curses as she went.

Mia looked up at me with wide, grateful eyes. “Thank you.”

I nodded once. “You okay?”

“I… think so.” Mia answered softly.

We looked at each other for a moment, then both smiled.

The class had broken for lunch, and as I sat, fully expecting to eat alone. I was taken aback when Mia sat with me. Or rather, she sat near me, nervously picking at her food.

“You’re… surprisingly strong,” Mia said softly next to me, causing me to flinch. “But… I’m not. Not really.”

This… seemed to come from out of nowhere. Being a wolfless, I’m sure she’s been bullied to no end.

“You’re stronger than you think,” I replied, giving her a poised smile. “You stood up when it mattered. That’s more than most.”

Mia still looked uneasy as she said, “There’s something you might not know... Our school’s a little different. Maybe I should fill you in.”

I gave her a smiled node, pushing my sandwich into my mouth.

“Well,” she continued. “The strongest team in school is probably at the top, an elite combat group made up of future alphas from the top packs. They’re respected, feared, untouchable. I won’t go into details but there’s Zane, Drake...but the one at the head of them all is the student council president.”

Mia paused, “Callum, the largest pack heir. Everyone knows him—wants to be him, or be with him.”

“Wait,” I said startled. “The heir of the most powerful pack?”

How could this...?

I knew my political marriage was to the heir of the strongest pack in the country... but I never realized we weren’t just engaged—we’re fated mates?!

And yet… the same one who had handed my roses to someone else.

Did he just… not want me? Feel anything?

Bianca hadn’t just stolen my title, also my fiance. She’d stepped into my life without hesitation.

I rubbed my forehead, I rubbed my forehead, tracing through my mindink to contract my servant.

Her voice, my handmaid with the silver hair replied almost instantly. “Your Highness…?”

I replied, “It’s me. Investigate a transfer student—Bianca, who just enrolled. I need her background checked.”

“Yes, my lady.” She promptly acknowledged, her soul to leaving my ears.

Mia, having finished clearing her table, tilted her head at me in confusion. “Um… Liora? Lunch is… over. I think we’re supposed to be in combat class now.”

Before I could decide what to do about Callum, a knock came at the classroom door.

A student council rep, or what I assumed was one from the pin on his shirt, stood there, looking slightly intimidated.

“Liora,” he said, voice tight. “Callum wants to speak with you.”