Chapter 1 A Promise to Myself

I arrived at the school gate of Shadow High School ten minutes early, but I chose not to walk inside yet. I hid behind a large oak tree, hoping to shield myself from the judgmental eyes of other students.

School had become my least favorite place, a constant reminder of my differences and the painful truth I discovered when I was thirteen—

I couldn't shift like other werewolves because I was wolfless.

That revelation turned my life upside down in ways I never could have imagined.

I became the different one.

The wolfless are born with bad luck, they said. And it did feel like a curse.

Since then, I could no longer catch up with my peers who had already shifted in terms of physical strength.

Werewolves, especially teenagers in school, valued athletic abilities. Slowly but surely, my friends distanced themselves from me, and I became an outsider amongst my kind.

I spent a long time getting used to my “difference”, and I realized I should not let my circumstances define me.

I channeled my energy into improving my intelligence. If I couldn't rely on physical strength, then I would build up my mental power through dedication and hard work.

Books became my refuge, my source of knowledge and empowerment. I studied relentlessly, sacrificing the lively and brave girl I once was for the pursuit of knowledge.

As a result, my naturally tanned skin grew pale, and the fire in my spirit dwindled. Thick glasses became a constant companion, a testament to the countless hours I spent buried in books.

I stood out like a sore thumb among my peers, but I knew I was just on a different track.

What I didn’t expect is now as a transfer student, it got worse.

I started to get bullied in the new school.

A loud bell rang, signaling the start of the school day.

A wave of dread coursed through my veins as I hurried inside, heading to my first class.

The whole morning was the werewolf combat training session—the one I feared the most. I knew I couldn't measure up to my classmates in a place where strength was highly valued.

After changing into my gym clothes, I joined the huddled circle of my classmates. Resigned to my usual role on the sidelines, I prepared to fade into the background with my books.

But just as I was about to retreat into the safety of pages, our coach's voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Everyone split up into partners and try to include everyone this time," Coach called out, his words carrying a tinge of emphasis on inclusivity.

"Shana, be my partner." It was Jessica. She said it with a smile on her pretty face, but her voice betrayed her true intentions. Ever since I started here, her teasing and jeering never stopped.

“I’d never let a wolfless girl drill by herself,” Jessica continued.

Laughter erupted from the entire class. I felt blood rush to my cheeks.

“Alright. Don’t use your wolf with Shana,” Coach warned Jessica before blowing his whistle.

“Of course, Coach! I’ll go easy on her,” Jessica promised, but it was clearly a lie.

She stood across from me, cracking her neck from side to side. In comparison to my fragile body, Jessica was curvy but muscular, with powerful arms and legs.

I clenched my fists.

Jessica wasted no time in demonstrating her strength, knocking me off balance effortlessly. I struggled to keep up, feeling the stark difference in our physical abilities.

Her teasing and taunting only served to highlight my perceived weaknesses.

"That's the best you've got?" Jessica sneered; her fists raised in challenge.

Gritting my teeth, I mustered all the strength I could, attempting to knock her off her feet.

But predictably, Jessica was faster and more skilled, effortlessly dodging my attempts. She threw her weight into my shoulder, causing me to stumble back.

I only had a moment to regain my balance before she shoved me again.

The class snickered around us, cheering for Jessica as she stalked forward, her eyes shining with amusement.

I always wondered why they had treated me so horribly, only because I was different. “Why the long face, Shana?” Jessica taunted. “Aren’t you going to try to hit me back? I’ve hardly got a scratch!”

A scratch? Boy, did I want to give her a scratch right across that smug smile on her face…

Anger bubbled beneath the surface of my skin, and I charged for Jessica. She seemed surprised by my outburst, but it wasn’t enough to stop her.

In a deliberate move, she knocked my glasses off my face, leaving me disoriented and vulnerable on the ground.

To add insult to injury, a shove from behind sent me sprawling, humiliated, as the surrounding students reveled in the spectacle.

"That was too easy! How can we practice with Shana when her lack of strength affects our training? She's not as good as us," Jessica argued with the coach, shooting me a venomous glare.

The coach, left with little choice, instructed me to take a rest, effectively excusing me from the remainder of the training session. Jessica and her friends high-fived each other, pleased with themselves for exiling me.

Frustration welled up inside me as I watched my classmates continue their training, once again sidelined due to my perceived weakness.

The tears welled up in my eyes, a mix of anger, and deep sadness. The weight of their jeers and my own inadequacy threatened to crush me.

You’re not weak, Shana, just different. Don’t let them make you feel this way.

With trembling hands, I picked myself up from the ground and dusted off my clothes. My eyes became watery, but I refused to let any tears fall.

As I turned away from their laughter, I made a silent promise to myself— to fight not with fists or claws, but with resilience, intelligence, and unwavering self-belief.

They wouldn’t see me cry.

Not today.

Not ever.

Unable to bear the humiliation any longer. I sought refuge in the ice hockey stadium, escaping the scorching heat of the day.

The frigid air provided some solace as I settled down on the bleachers, pulling out my diary. It was my trusted confidant, the place where I poured my heart out, chronicling the relentless bullying I endured at school.

I must’ve sat there for longer than I imagined, lost in my thoughts, because I failed to notice the arrival of the ice hockey team until they surrounded me.

My heart quickened its pace as I hastily closed my diary, assessing the players who stood before me. Our school’s mascot was a dragon, and that was reflected in the players uniforms.

They were sleek, colored with shades of forest green and smokey black.

The players radiated confidence and camaraderie and exuded a different energy than the rest of the school.

They seemed untouchable, powerful.

"What are you doing here?" A guy with black hair asked, his gaze fixed on me.

Startled, I stumbled over my words. "I—I was just leaving."

But before I could make my escape, another guy with tanned skin spoke. "You're the new transfer student, the wolfless girl, aren't you?"

Speechless, I nodded, feeling my mouth go dry.

"You're a bad luck charm," the tan boy snapped. "You need to leave. You're going to rub off on the rest of our team."

“Yeah, we don’t need you and your kind here,” the dark-haired boy said.

Suddenly, all of them were throwing insults at me, seeming to get closer and closer.

Just then, the doors to the stadium swung open, and a tall figure with ruffled dark hair and piercing blue eyes stepped inside.

His presence alone shut everyone up as all attention shifted towards him, including mine.

Even though I had only been here for two months, I had heard of him countless times.

It was Lucas, one of the few Alphas in our school. The captain of the ice hockey team and the notorious playboy of the school.

My heart stilled as I watched him.

He was an enigma to me. Everything I heard about him involved trouble, particularly regarding his reputation as a heartbreaker.

But I’d also heard his smile was devastating, his mouth always coming up with quick wit or flirty banter.

And looking at him now, I couldn’t really blame anyone for getting their heartbroken by him. He was a welcomed kind of trouble.

"What are you guys doing?" Lucas's deep, commanding voice echoed through the stadium walls. His eyes fell to my panicked face briefly before returning to his teammates. "Our next game is this Saturday. Quit wasting time and get your asses ready for training."

The players around me paused, momentarily taken aback by Lucas's authoritative presence.

"Well?" Lucas continued, his gaze piercing. "What are you all waiting for? Go!"

As if snapped out of a trance, the boys swiftly moved past me, their heads bowed as they passed their team captain.

Lucas’s jaw was set as he glared at his teammates. I had never been around Lucas before, but his no-nonsense demeanor took me by surprise.

He wasn't the flirty, carefree guy I had imagined him to be. There was a harsh severity in his gaze that sent a shiver down my spine.

However, when his gaze returned to me, I was surprised that I didn’t feel as nervous as I expected.

Instead, I couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity when our eyes locked.