Chapter 4 Unlucky Colors

Audrey

As Tina and I stepped out of the cafe and into the chilly morning air, I felt a bit bolstered by our conversation and ready for my first teaching assistant class of the day. So I hadn’t lost my virginity to my professor, after all. What a relief!

“By the way,” Tina said, stopping on the sidewalk to look at me, “now that you know it wasn’t him… You should consider signing up for the fashion show.”

I shot my friend a curious look. “Fashion show?” I asked.

“You haven’t heard?” she asked, to which I shook my head. “There’s going to be a campus fashion competition. The top three winners will receive handsome rewards—with first place receiving an internship at Brooks.”

My eyes widened of their own accord. “Seriously? You think I should…?”

“Absolutely!” Tina exclaimed. “Signups are today. You should get your name on the list first.”

With my heart already thundering in my chest, I began taking steps backwards, clutching the strap of my satchel with one hand. To intern at Brooks Designs, potentially securing my dream job… Well, it would have fulfilled my lifelong dream.

I could still picture it now: my first fashion magazine subscription had featured a center spread on Brooks Designs.

Ten-year-old me had fallen in love with their unique and over-the-top pieces immediately, absolutely enamored with their signature look. I always loved the dichotomy of soft femininity with something harsher, delicate lace with dark plaid and silver hardware. Brooks had perfectly balanced this look, and I had taken a lot of inspiration from their designs over the years.

And now I had a chance to work for them.

…

By the time I stepped up to the signup sheet in the lobby of the central hall, there were already a few names on the list. Oh well, I thought to myself as I quickly scrawled my name across the paper. It didn’t really matter where or when I signed up—so long as my skills helped me win.

And I was determined to win; I had been hoping for this since I was ten, after all.

Turning away from the bulletin board, my mind was already bustling with ideas for a new dress. I would need to stop at the storeroom to pick up some fabric so I could get started.

“Bit presumptuous for a human to sign up for the fashion show, no?”

As soon as I heard that lilting voice, I felt my entire body go rigid. Turning slowly, I saw a familiar head of rich brown hair and matching brown eyes that appeared almost black in the dim light.

“Linda,” I said, sticking my chin out. “Do you need something?”

Linda shrugged and sauntered over to the list, signing her name right below mine. “No. I just think it’s funny, that’s all.”

“What’s so funny?”

She smirked and placed a hand on her hip. “You don’t think that you’re just making a fool out of yourself?” she asked. “I mean, thinking that you, a human, could ever win against an entire school full of werewolves…”

“Get lost, Linda,” I said with a wave of my hand. Turning, I began storming down the hall toward the storeroom so I could get started.

Linda’s voice followed me: “I’m just trying to help you, Audrey!” she called out. “I would hate to see you embarrass yourself even more than you already have!”

Only once I was in the quietude of the materials storeroom did I finally let out a breath. I shut the door behind me and leaned against it for a moment, inhaling deeply; the scent of fabric filled my nostrils, instantly giving me relief.

Linda was just trying to get under my skin, and I knew that for a fact. Her designs were subpar at best, relying too heavily on basics and often stealing work from smaller designers. And her sewing skills were downright shoddy.

Everyone knew that Linda was just here because of her daddy, I mused to myself as I began wandering the rows of fabric. Her father was Alpha Wallace from Silverbite Pack, and his status had gotten her into Grayspring Academy. Everyone was intimidated by her because of this.

But not me. She may have picked on me relentlessly, but I didn’t care.

I, unlike Linda, had worked damn hard to get here. I had graduated high school early with a 4.0 GPA and was accepted into Grayspring with a full scholarship thanks to my admissions project—a massive black funeral gown made entirely with the scraps of discarded wedding gowns from divorcees. It had made quite the statement, and I was admitted to Grayspring without having to pay a dime.

Linda, on the other hand… Well, I wasn’t worried about her. Not really.

Finally, I stopped in front of a particular bolt of dark red tartan that caught my eye. “This would be perfect,” I whispered to myself as I ran my fingers across the rough fabric. Tartan, black lace, giant safety pins… I could already picture the outfit now. Perhaps a vest and matching trousers, with—

“There you are!”

The sudden sound of Max’s voice made me whirl around. He was already storming up to me, the door of the storeroom swinging shut behind him.

“Max—”

“Don’t act so surprised,” he said, coming so close that I felt my back press into the bolts of fabric behind me when I took a step back. “How can you live with yourself after what you did last night? Sleeping with him?”

My mouth worked uselessly for a moment before I regained my bearings and pulled my shoulders back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied, not exactly willing to divulge the fact that he was right. “And besides, I broke up with you so it’s none of your business anyway. Or did I not make that clear enough last night?”

Max bristled at my response. He turned away as if to leave, but then stopped himself, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.

“No matter what you did with him,” he growled, turning slowly to fix me with a hard glare, “a lowly human like you could never become a pack’s Luna. Have your fun with him, but you’re nothing but a plaything for him.”

My mouth hung open at the implication. Edwin, the man I had shared so much passion with last night… was an Alpha?

Even though my stomach was twisting into knots, I simply waved my hand at Max dismissively. “As if I wasn’t your plaything already,” I retorted, sidestepping past him with the bolt of fabric now tucked under my arm. “I heard everything about how you were only dating me on a dare. Let’s not forget that.”

Max scoffed. “As if anyone would ever date you otherwise,” he growled.

I felt my heart clench at his words, but I said nothing. Instead, I merely hiked the fabric up under my arm and continued walking. I swung the storeroom door open, and…

“Well, well. Flirting in the storeroom?”

Linda’s mocking voice met my ears first, followed by the sight of her fox-like face appearing in the doorway. I frowned, taking a step to the side.

“Excuse me,” I said.

Linda scoffed and didn’t move. From behind me, I heard Max call out, “She was trying to kiss me, Linda. I told her I’m not interested, but—”

“That’s not true!” I cried out, dropping the fabric and whirling around to see his self-satisfied smirk. “You liar—”

“Oh, don’t be such a bore,” Linda cooed. I turned to face her slowly, my mouth parted to bite out some retort.

But before I could, Linda suddenly lurched forward. The small ink bottle in her hand was already uncapped, and…

Thick, black ink spilled right across my red sweater. The one that I had spent months making.

“Hey!” I cried out, stumbling back as I stared down at the mess. “You’ll pay for this—”

“Why?” Linda purred, taking a step closer. “I was just trying to dye your hair for you. Your silver roots are showing… How unlucky.” She then paused, holding out her hand toward Max. I felt my stomach drop as I saw him place a pair of scissors into her hand.

“What are you—”

“Perhaps it’s easier to just cut it off,” Linda said, advancing on me so that I was once again pressed between the rows of fabric. “Here. I’ll do it for you.”

A blistering scream burned at the back of my throat as Linda’s hand grabbed a section of my hair, the scissors inching closer. Max’s arm looped itself around my shoulders, holding me still. I opened my mouth to shout for help, but was abruptly cut off by the sound of a male voice from the doorway.

“What are you three doing?”