"Get moving, Montclair!" a piercing voice yelled behind me. Grasping my books closer to my chest, I staggered forward. I had no idea what the Lunar Heights Academy halls would be like. Towering windows, polished floors, and pupils exuding a sense of affluence and confidence. Then I realized that I never belonged here. I muttered, avoiding eye contact, "Sorry."
More attention was the last thing I needed at this point. It had been a difficult start to the day. I was late for my first class since my alarm went off and my uniform was too tight in the wrong areas. I could feel everyone's gaze on me as I ran along the corridor. Their murmurs were practically audible to me.
"She's the daughter of the babysitter, correct?""
"How did she even get in here?"
"Probably charity work."
My face burned, but I kept moving. One step step after another . That's how I have survived all my life.
The classroom door loomed ahead, but just as I reached it, my foot caught on something—or someone.
"Whoa!"
My books went flying out of my hands as I moved forward. I winced in anticipation of impact, but instead of the cold, hard floor, I landed against something firm and warm.
"Careful there," a deep voice said.
I looked up and froze. Damon Ashford. Even if I hadn't known his name, the piercing gray eyes and dark, tousled hair would've given him away. He was the second son of Pack A's Alpha, the boy everyone whispered about. The one who'd been exiled for ten years.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice softer now.
I nodded, too stunned to speak.
"Damon!" Another voice broke through the moment, sharp and commanding.
Lucas Draven. Unlike Damon, Lucas's charm was polished and practiced. People were drawn to him because of his easy grin and golden hair, but he also had a sharpness that suggested something darker. Lucas responded, his smile falling short of his eyes, "I didn't think I'd see you here." "I guess we both have a lot of surprises," Damon said in a calm voice. You could feel the tension between them. It was a personal rivalry, not only a rivalry. In an attempt to blend in with the background, I stooped to hastily collect my books. Naturally, though, I wasn't lucky. "Who is this? Lucas asked, his gaze sliding to me. "Nobody," I muttered, clutching my books tightly. "She's not nobody," Damon said, surprising me. "She's…" He trailed off, clearly searching for a name. "Ava," I supplied, my voice barely above a whisper. "Well, Ava," Lucas said, his smile turning predatory. "Welcome to Lunar Heights."
Before I could react, the bell clanged, and the hallway cleared. I turned to thank Damon, but he was walking away.
The rest of the day was filled with event I couldn't understand clearly. The classes were harder than I'd anticipated, the students colder. By lunch, I was ready to crawl under a rock and die.
"Hey, Ava!"
I turned to Lila, the only person who'd been even slightly friendly to me since I started. She collapsed down beside me, her tray laden with a mountain of food.
"Tough morning?" she asked, her mouth full.
"You could say that," I said, jabbing at my salad.
"I saw what went on with Damon and Lucas. That was brave".
"Brave?" I snorted. "I fell on my face."
"Anyway," she continued, leaning in. "You got their attention. That isn't something many people can say."
"I don't want it," I insisted.
"Well, too late for that," Lila said, her voice teasing but her eyes serious. "They are now aware of you. And I assure you, that is both a boon and a bane. In search of some tranquility, I headed to the library after lunch. In contrast to the bustle of the day, the tall shelves and low lighting created a sense of refuge. I opened my notepad and located a quiet area, intending to review the teachings from the previous morning. Before I could begin, however, a shadow passed across my table. "Do you mind if I join you?" When I looked up, I saw Damon with an unreadable face. I said in a quivering voice, "Yeah, sure." He sat opposite me, and the impression of his presence was huge. "You're new," he said; no question, just a statement. I said, "Yes," not believing I could say anything more.
"Why are you here?"
It was a question I did not expect. "What do you mean?
"This school isn't exactly known for its open admissions," he said, his eyes boring into me. "You don't exactly seem like the usual type."
I bristled at that. "Maybe I'm not."
To my surprise, he smiled. "Good."
Before I could say anything else, Lucas appeared, his arrival as smooth as ever.
"Am I interrupting something"? he asked, even though he wasn't waiting for an answer.
"What do you want, Lucas?" Damon asked, his voice sharp.
"Just checking on our new friend," Lucas said, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"I don't need checking on," I said, surprising even myself.
Lucas laughed, a rich, mocking sound. "I like her," he said to Damon. "She's got spirit."
"She's not your concern," Damon said, his voice low and dangerous.
"Isn't she?" Lucas replied, his smile widening.
The tension between them became unbearable. I stood up and grabbed my books.
"Thanks for the company," I said, my voice steady despite the storm brewing around me. "But I have to go."
My heart started beating fast as I walked away without looking back. Whatever was going on between Damon and Lucas, one thing was for sure: I was involved in this difficult situation that I cannot get out of.
That night as I laid in bed, I couldn't get my mind off what had happened today. The mocking grin of Lucas, Damon's pointed stare, the whispered rumors that seemed to follow me everywhere like shadows, they were all overwhelming. I was just about to sleep when it was interrupted by a loud noise. My heart racing, I rose to my feet. It had started out at my window. I slipped over and froze as I pulled back the curtain. A pair of sparkling eyes looked up at me from the shadows.