Aurora slid into her seat at the back corner of the grandiose classroom, the ornate designs on the high ceilings doing little to distract her from her pounding heart. She wished for the thousandth time she could melt into the walls and vanish from the prying eyes. Her secondhand notebook felt like a glaring symbol of her inadequacy amidst the sleek gadgets and monogrammed supplies.
The whispers began almost immediately.
"Did you see her shoes? They're practically falling apart."
"Unbelievable. Letting anyone in these days."
Aurora gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stare at the front of the classroom. She refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing her falter. The teacher, Professor Caldwell, was a stern-looking man with salt-and-pepper hair, currently droning on about pack dynamics and leadership hierarchies. Aurora wanted to focus, but the murmurs around her felt like needles pricking her skin.
Suddenly, a snide voice cut through the hum of the room. "Hey, charity case! Lose your invite on the way in?"
Aurora's heart stopped. Solomon Pierce. His booming voice and easy smirk marked him as one of the untouchables—a privileged Alpha born into unimaginable wealth. He lounged in his seat with the arrogance of someone who knew the world would always bend to his will.
"Bet they found her wandering outside and took pity," Solomon added, his grin widening. The class erupted into laughter, the cruel sound echoing off the polished walls.
Aurora's grip tightened on her notebook, her knuckles turning white. Her pulse roared in her ears, drowning out the laughter. She wanted to yell, to defend herself, but her voice felt trapped in her throat.
"Quiet."
The word wasn't shouted, but the commanding tone sliced through the room like a blade. The laughter died instantly as Gamma Dan Blackwood strode into the classroom, his presence imposing enough to make even Solomon sink into his seat.
Gamma Dan's piercing eyes swept the room before landing on Aurora. For a moment, she felt he could see every insecurity, every secret she carried.
"Ms. Hart," he said, his voice steady but firm. "This is a place of discipline and strength. You'll need both if you want to thrive here. Keep that in mind."
Aurora managed a shaky nod, her cheeks burning. Gamma Dan didn't wait for a response, turning his attention back to the rest of the room.
"As for the rest of you," he continued, his gaze settling on Solomon. "If you have the energy to waste on mockery, I'm sure I can find ways to redirect it. Extra training, perhaps?"
Solomon muttered something unintelligible, but he didn't dare meet Gamma Dan's eyes. Aurora slumped slightly in her seat, grateful for the brief reprieve, though the weight of the Gamma's words lingered in her chest.
By lunchtime, Aurora was ready to retreat into herself. She followed Sofia into the massive dining hall, its grandeur overwhelming with chandeliers sparkling above and long tables arranged with military precision.
"Stick to the edges," Sofia whispered as they entered. "The center's reserved for the Alphas."
Aurora nodded, her eyes flitting to the center of the room, where the Alphas laughed and chatted as if they owned the world. In a way, they did. She spotted Finley Blackthorne sitting among them, his expression unreadable as he half-listened to the conversation around him.
Aurora and Sofia found an unassuming spot in the far corner, away from the noise. As Aurora set her tray down, Sofia leaned in, her voice low and urgent.
"Okay, let me break it down for you," Sofia began. "There are three tiers here. Alphas are at the top—families like the Blackthornes, who've ruled for generations. Then you've got Betas, who support them. And at the bottom…" She gestured between herself and Aurora. "Us. Patronage students. We're here on charity. You can imagine how that goes over."
Aurora nodded, her appetite vanishing.
"And you," Sofia continued, lowering her voice further, "need to stay as far away as possible from Finley, Stefan, and Audrey. Trust me, they're all trouble."
Aurora frowned. "What do you mean?"
Sofia sighed. "Finley's family practically owns the academy. He's untouchable. Stefan… thrives on chaos, and people like you are his favorite targets. As for Audrey…" Sofia glanced over her shoulder, where Audrey sat like a queen, her laugh cold and calculating. "She doesn't take kindly to anyone she sees as competition. And thanks to that little scene earlier, she's already decided you're a threat."
"I'm not trying to compete with anyone," Aurora muttered.
"It doesn't matter. In this place, perception is everything. Just keep your head down."
Aurora nodded, but the pit in her stomach only deepened.
From his vantage point, Finley watched Aurora out of the corner of his eye. She was uncomfortable, her posture stiff as she listened to Sofia. Something about her drew his attention, though he couldn't quite place why.
"Checking out the new girl?" Stefan's voice cut through his thoughts.
Finley didn't respond immediately, his gaze lingering on Aurora for a moment longer before turning to his friend. Stefan's smirk widened.
"Careful," Stefan teased. "Audrey's been sharpening her claws since this morning."
"Let her," Finley muttered, leaning back in his chair.
Stefan raised an eyebrow, but before he could reply, Mark Blackthorne appeared, clapping a hand on Finley's shoulder.
"Don't waste your time," Mark said, his tone dismissive. "She's a nobody. And Father won't be impressed if you let a patronage student distract you from what matters."
Finley didn't reply, but his jaw tightened. Mark, oblivious or uncaring, continued. "You're being groomed for leadership, Finley. Don't let anyone—or anything—get in the way of that."
Mark's words echoed in his mind long after his brother left, but no matter how much he tried, Finley couldn't stop his eyes from drifting back to Aurora.
As the day ended, Aurora walked back to her dorm, Sofia's warnings replaying in her mind. The towering walls of Wolf-High Academy felt more like a prison than a school.
Yet, as much as she wanted to stay invisible, she couldn't ignore the strange sensation that someone was always watching her.
The shadows of the school grew long in the fading light, and Aurora couldn't shake the feeling that her presence at Wolf-High Academy had already set something in motion—something she wasn't ready to face.