Chapter 3. Welcome to hell

Raven’s POV

When I opened my eyes, everything was dark. A single light flickered weakly in the corner, shadows crawling across the stone walls. My heart jumped, and I bolted upright on the bed.

Where was I?

The last thing I remembered was the blinding flash, the pain splitting through my head, and then collapsing outside the academy gates.

Now… this.

A sound came from the far corner of the room. My eyes darted there, and I spotted a figure standing in the dark, holding something. My chest tightened until he moved closer.

It wasn’t a man. It was a boy. He looked no older than sixteen, tall for his age, with sharp features and a book in his hand. His eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, almost regal.

“Who are you?” I asked, my voice shaking.

He stopped right beside my bed, calm and collected. “I’m Ace. Nice to have you here in Rivaldrelle. You slumped outside. I had you brought into one of my rooms.”

“Oh… I—I’m sorry,” I stammered.

Up close, he looked like royalty. His clothes were finer, his posture perfect, and the way he held himself screamed high rank. I quickly climbed down from the bed, lowering my head.

“You don’t have to be sorry.” His voice was smooth, almost kind. “Relax until you get better.”

I frowned. Wasn’t he supposed to treat me like trash? Low ranks like me were dirt to royals like him. Why was he being nice?

“I’m fine,” I said quickly. “Do you know where the low rank species rooms are? I need to get settled and start with my day.”

He studied me for a moment, then nodded. “Follow me.”

“Are you sure?” I asked, suspicious.

Another nod. His face gave nothing away.

I hesitated, then followed him out. We walked down stone stairs, the air cold and damp. The corridors stretched forever, lined with torches that flickered against the walls.

Along the way, we crossed paths with several high ranks. They looked at me the way people look at garbage left on their doorstep. One wrinkled her nose in disgust. Another whispered something cruel to her friend, their laughter echoing. My cheeks burned.

But when their eyes slid to Ace, their smirks vanished. Some even looked away under his burning gaze. I blinked, confused. Who was this boy? And why was he helping me?

Finally, we stopped in front of a long row of doors at the bottom level. The air here smelled like mildew, the walls cracked. The rooms looked small, tight, and uncomfortable.

“Here,” Ace said simply.

I sighed and pushed one of the doors open. Inside was a cramped space with a thin bed and broken shelves. It was worse than my old pack house.

I stepped inside, but Ace followed. His presence filled the tiny room, making it even smaller.

“Thanks for helping me, um…” I trailed off, not sure how to address him.

“Ace,” he said again. “Ace is my name. Don’t worry about it.”

He left before I could reply, silent like an unknown.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the empty doorway, then dropped my bag onto the bed with a sigh.

“You must be new here,” a voice said.

I spun around fast. A girl about my age leaned against the wall, arms crossed. She looked worn out, dark circles under her eyes, clothes too big for her frame. But her stare was sharp.

“Yes,” I admitted. “I’m new. Raven.”

Her lips curled into a bitter smile. “Welcome to hell.”

“Thanks for the warning,” I muttered, turning back to arrange my bag.

She stepped inside and sat on the edge of my bed like she owned it. “There are rules here,” she said flatly. “You’d better learn them fast if you want to survive.”

I paused and looked at her. “Rules?”

“One, never lock eyes with the royals. Two, you can never trust them. And three, give them whatever they want. Even if it’s your body.”

I froze. “What?”

Her expression didn’t change. “We have no power here. We’re basically slaves. If a royal wants you, you give yourself to them. That’s the only way to avoid punishment.”

My stomach dropped. My chest tightened. “Give them… my body?” I repeated slowly.

She nodded. No hesitation.

“No way in hell,” I whispered, shaking my head. My fists clenched.

The girl leaned back, watching me. “Suit yourself. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Then she tilted her head curiously. “Who was that royal that escorted you here? He looked important.”

“I have no idea,” I answered honestly. “He said his name was Ace.”

Her eyes widened. She sat straighter. “Ace?”

“Yes,” I said. “Why?”

“Be careful.” Her voice dropped lower. “Very careful. He’s not someone you want to cross.”

A shiver crawled down my spine.

“Which pack did you come from?” she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied me. “You smell of wolf and fae.”

“From the Blue Pack,” I answered. “And yes… I’m a hybrid.”

Her lips curved into a knowing smile. “It must have been hell for you, I guess. Wolves don’t like hybrids.”

I shrugged, trying to play it off, but inside, her words hit me deep. She had no idea. No idea what it meant to live half of one world and half of another, never belonging to either.

Hell was too soft a word for it.

Especially when you’ve been rejected by your mate.

My chest tightened at the thought. The memory was still raw, like a wound that refused to heal.

I looked away, hiding the storm inside me, and forced a small, hollow smile.

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “More than hell.”

She stood. “Come on. I’ll show you around.”

I hesitated. “You’re… offering to help me?”

“Better me than you wandering around alone,” she said. “You won’t last a day by yourself here.”

I left my bags and followed her out. The corridors twisted like a maze, voices echoing from every direction. My heart beat faster with each step. My mind repeated her words over and over.

Give them whatever they want. Even your body.

I clenched my jaw.

No. Not me. Not ever.

If this academy wanted to break me, they’d have to kill me first.