Life at school returned to normal after Laura and Gurda's triumph. The duo had formed an unbreakable bond with Aurelio and Dominic, and together, they were inseparable. However, Gurda started to notice a peculiar trend - every werewolf in school greeted her with the same phrase: "Hello, Blood Alpharetta."
At first, Gurda brushed it off as a mere coincidence, but as the days passed, the repetition became unsettling. Even Laura began to notice the strange greetings, her curiosity piqued.
"Gurda, what's going on?" Laura asked, her voice laced with concern. "Why do they keep calling you that?"
Gurda's expression turned thoughtful. "I have no idea. It's like they're acknowledging something, but I don't know what."
As they walked through the school corridors, the greetings continued. "Hello, Blood Alpharetta." The words echoed in Gurda's mind, stirring a sense of unease.
Gurda's hand suddenly clenched into a fist, her face contorting in agony. "M-my arm... I-i-it hurts," she stammered, her voice trembling. "It feels like it's on fire."
Laura's concern turned to alarm as she rushed to her friend's side. "Gurda, what's wrong?!" she exclaimed, inspecting Gurda's arm.
As she touched Gurda's skin, Laura sensed an unfamiliar aura - one that eerily resembled Dominic's. Her eyes narrowed.
"Gurda, we need to get out of here," Laura said firmly, guiding her friend towards their room.
Once inside, Laura swiftly removed Gurda's school jacket, revealing the Blood Alpha symbol seared into her arm. The mark was identical to Dominic's.
Laura's expression darkened. "The big bad wolf has some explaining to do," she growled, her voice low and menacing.
Laura and Gurda stormed into the cafeteria, scanning the room for Dominic. They found him scolding a werewolf underling while devouring a massive turkey leg.
Laura's eyes blazed red as she marched up to Dominic, her voice commanding attention. "What. Is. This?" she demanded, shoving Gurda's arm forward, displaying the Blood Alpha symbol.
Dominic's eyes narrowed, but Laura's fierce gaze kept him in check. "Try to run, and I'll drag your tail off," she warned.
Dominic's expression turned submissive, his ears folding back. "I... I didn't mean to," he began, his voice laced with regret. "In the arena, I couldn't help but feel emotionally and sexually attracted to Gurda. When I was sniffing, my wolf instincts took over, and I accidentally marked her."
Gurda's eyes widened in shock and understanding. "That explains so much," she breathed, her face pale.
"Well, I don't really know that much about werewolves, let alone Blood Alphas." Gurda admitted
Laura's expression turned matter-of-fact. "If my werewolf knowledge is up to date, as the Blood Alpha's mate, you're pretty much the queen of all werewolves - Omegas and Alphas included. They must obey you willingly or unwillingly."
She paused, her gaze sweeping the room.
"The only time your right as the Blood Alpharetta can be taken from you is if another female or male werewolf challenges you for the crown and wins. The winner automatically bears the symbol as the Blood Alpha's mate."
Dominic's eyes widened in shock, his focus locked on Laura. "I didn't know you knew so much about werewolves," he admitted.
Laura's smile hinted at hidden depths. "I know a lot, actually. My big brother made sure I was grounded with all the knowledge I need - whether it be the hero section or the normies section."
Laura turned to Gurda, a reassuring smile on her face. "Well, Gurda, you're alright."
Just then, the school's speaker system crackled to life, and the principal's voice boomed through the cafeteria.
"Everyone, please make your way to the assembly hall for an important announcement," the principal declared, his tone serious.
The room erupted into murmurs and shuffling chairs as students began to file out.
Dominic's eyes locked onto Gurda. "This can't be a coincidence," he whispered, his voice low and urgent.
Laura's gaze narrowed. "Let's go find out what's going on."
Gurda's eyes flicked between Dominic and Laura, her expression uneasy.