Chapter 3 Two

CHAPTER TWO

The moment the crowd thinned out, I realized something harsh and undeniable: I was on my own here. No friends. No allies. Just another scholarship kid in a sea of wolves who’d probably decided from the start that I was nothing but entertainment. The kind of person they could mock whenever boredom struck.

The thought made me want to slam my head against the nearest wall. Grey’s face flashed in my mind, sharp and unreadable. There was something about him that screamed danger. Maybe I should’ve listened to my instincts and stayed as far away from him as possible.

But that was easier said than done.

My plan had been simple: get in, keep my head down, study harder than everyone else, and graduate with grades so flawless that no one could deny me a future. A good job. A way out.

That was all I wanted.

People like me didn’t dream about glory, power, or destiny. That was for the heirs of Alphas, the chosen Lunas, and the bloodlines of Lycans. My life has always been… smaller. But smaller didn’t mean worthless.

I clutched my bag tighter and forced a steady breath before stepping into the school building. It was massive, sprawling in ways that made me feel even smaller, like a speck swallowed by its endless halls. By the time I found my first class, my palms were damp with sweat.

Of course, when I finally opened the door, the teacher was already mid-lecture.

Every head turned.

My heart lurched into my throat as I froze under their stares, my legs threatening to give way. I had rushed here without a thought, and now it looked like I was barging in on purpose.

The teacher’s face soured instantly. His glare was sharp enough to cut.

“Who are you? And why are you interrupting my class?” His voice was flat, dismissive, as though I’d already failed him.

“I… I’m Iria Bridges. The new student,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Recognition flickered in his eyes, followed by a sneer. “Ah. The scholarship student.” He said the word like it left a bad taste in his mouth. “I’d been told we’d be getting one of you. Didn’t realize it would be today. Let me make this clear: I don’t care how things worked in your previous school. In my class, you follow the rules. You’re late again, and you can forget about passing.”

My throat tightened. “But I sir, I wasn’t late on purpose. I couldn’t find the class, it’s my first day ”

“I’m not interested in excuses,” he cut in coldly. “Last warning.”

Heat rushed to my face as I bowed my head. It was pointless to argue. No one here wanted to hear my side of anything.

“What are you waiting for? Sit down,” he snapped.

I hurried inside, trying not to shrink beneath the weight of dozens of stares. My chest hammered like a war drum. Maybe I wasn’t cut out for this. Maybe they’d chew me alive before I even had a chance to fight back.

The only open seat was next to a girl with a half-smile plastered on her face, the kind of smile that made you wonder if she knew a secret you didn’t.

I slid into the chair quickly, desperate to disappear.

“You’re actually going to sit there?” she asked, one brow arched.

I turned to her, my patience thinning. “Yes. Is there a problem?”

For a second, I thought she’d tell me to move. But instead she chuckled lightly and shook her head. “No problem. If you’re comfortable, then welcome.”

I frowned, pulling out my notebook. Whatever game she was playing, I wasn’t about to get distracted. I was here for one reason only: to study.

“Clara,” she said after a moment, stretching her hand toward me. “Clara from the New Moon Pack.”

I hesitated before shaking her hand. “Iria. From Blood Moon.”

Her eyes lit with interest. “Blood Moon? I’ve heard about your pack. My father says it’s one of the most prosperous.”

A bitter smile tugged at my lips, though I didn’t say more. Prosperous or not, my life back there had been suffocating. This scholarship was my escape hatch, my one chance to rewrite my future. I wasn’t about to unpack that story for a stranger.

Lunchtime was worse.

The cafeteria buzzed with chatter and laughter, groups clustered tightly together like the bonds had been formed years ago. I searched for someone who looked as lost as me, but there were no misfits, no strays. Everyone already belonged somewhere.

Everyone except me.

I grabbed a tray, forced a smile at the lunch lady, and headed for the most isolated table I could find. Maybe invisibility could be my weapon here.

I’d only managed a few bites when a shadow fell over me.

My stomach dropped.

Grey.

The same Lycan from earlier, the one whose presence alone made my knees want to buckle. I had stood up to him once, but sitting here under his gaze was different. My body trembled against my will.

“What… what do you want?” My voice shook despite my best effort.

He didn’t bother answering. Instead, he kicked the table with a sharp movement. My tray rattled, food spilling across the surface.

Gasps echoed around us, but when I looked, no one moved. The room was full of eyes, yet empty of help. They saw. They just didn’t care.

Grey leaned in, his sneer curling cruelly. “Still waiting for someone to come to your rescue? Think again.”

I swallowed hard. “I don’t know what your problem is, but I’m trying to eat. Just… leave me alone.”

He laughed, low and mocking. “Leave you alone? Sorry, little hero, that’s not how this works. You should’ve thought twice before standing in my way earlier.”

I pushed back my chair, deciding it wasn’t worth the fight. Survival meant walking away.

But before I could, his hand clamped around my arm, yanking me back.

“What are you doing? Let go!” I snapped.