Aurora Hart stood still at the entrance of Wolf-High Academy. Her fingers gripped her old leather bag tightly, turning her knuckles white. The big iron gates, decorated with wolf engravings, felt like a doorway to a different world. Inside, she saw huge stone buildings with ivy climbing their walls. They looked old and powerful. Her heart raced, matching the sound of the gates that creaked open.
She stepped forward, her scuffed shoes crunching on the gravel path. The campus was overwhelming. Students walked confidently past her, their shoes clicking on the cobblestones. Their uniforms were neat as if made for royalty. Laughter echoed around her, mixing with leaves rustling in the crisp autumn air. Aurora felt like a shadow in a bright world.
She touched the hem of her plain dress, feeling out of place. She kept her eyes down, trying to ignore the stares that felt like icy fingers on her skin. A lump rose in her throat, but she pushed it down, wanting to stay strong.
"Overwhelming, isn't it?"
Aurora looked up to see Sofia Martin, her only friend in this strange place. Sofia's uniform was perfect, and her brown hair shined in the sunlight. She smiled warmly, but Aurora could see the tension behind it.
"You made it," Sofia said, quickly hugging her. Her voice was cheerful, but Aurora sensed worry in it.
Aurora managed a weak smile. "Yeah, I guess I did."
Sofia glanced at Aurora's dress and leaned closer. "You need to keep your head down. This place... it's tough, and we're at the bottom."
Aurora felt confused. "What do you mean?"
Sofia sighed and pointed subtly to some students hanging out by a fountain. "Here, it's all about family bloodlines. The Alphas—those from the strongest families—run this school. Betas follow them, trying to be liked. And then there's us: the Patronage kids, here on charity. They see us as nothing. They won't be kind to you."
Aurora's stomach twisted. She knew Wolf-High was fancy, but the harsh truth hurt. She had fought hard to be here, yet standing in the middle, she felt like a fraud.
Before she could answer, a voice yelled. "Watch out!"
Aurora looked up just in time to see a boy on a skateboard zooming towards her. She tripped on the stone steps, arms flailing as she prepared for a fall.
But strong hands caught her waist and steadied her. For a moment, time slowed. She looked up into stormy gray eyes.
"Careful there," he said, his voice smooth. He was tall, with dark hair that looked perfectly messy. His features were striking, but it was his eyes that held her—sharp and knowing.
Aurora gasped, "I—thank you."
He let go, and his touch lingered, sending a shiver through her. Around them, whispers rippled.
"Isn't that Finley Blackthorne?" one girl whispered in awe.
"The Finley Blackthorne?" another voice chimed in. "Why is he helping her?"
Aurora's face burned with embarrassment. Finley, unfazed by the stares, offered her a small smile before stepping back.
"Watch your step next time," he said casually and vanished into the crowd, leaving her reeling.
Before she could catch her breath, another voice sliced through the air.
"Well, isn't this cute?"
Aurora turned and saw Audrey Silvermoon strutting toward her. Audrey had platinum blonde hair and icy blue eyes that fixed onto Aurora like a hawk.
"You think falling into Finley's arms will get you anywhere?" Audrey sneered. "You don't belong here."
Aurora opened her mouth but couldn't find her voice. The humiliation felt heavy, and her hands tensed at her sides.
Before Audrey could continue, another voice cut in with laughter. "Audrey, must you always be so dramatic?"
Aurora saw Stefan Ryan, a Beta known for charming his way out of trouble, leaning against a pillar. His dark eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Jealous, are we?" Stefan teased, looking at Aurora. "Poor Audrey, afraid of someone who doesn't even know your 'rules.'"
Audrey's expression turned dark, her smile fading. "Stay out of this, Stefan."
"Oh, but it's too much fun," he replied, glancing at Aurora. "Don't worry, sweetheart. Audrey's bark is worse than her bite."
Aurora wanted to disappear as both Stefan and Audrey's attention weighed down on her. But Stefan winked and walked away, leaving Audrey glaring at her, a silent threat hanging in the air.
Sofia pulled Aurora aside, whispering urgently. "You need to be careful. If they find out who you are, it's over."
Aurora's heart raced with fear. She nodded, feeling the weight of her secret. She straightened up and took a deep breath. No matter what happened, she had to stand strong. She'd come too far to back down now.
As she entered the grand hall, feeling a thousand eyes on her, she couldn't shake the feeling that being at Wolf-High Academy had set something in motion—something she didn't fully understand.
When the big doors closed behind her, Aurora felt they weren't just shutting her in the academy. They were locking her into a fate she wasn't sure she was ready for.