My Quarterback Alpha

Aria Langston’s life is turned upside down when the ruthless Ravencrest Pack attacks her home, Silverwood. The younger wolves are taken to Ravencrest High, forced to live among their enemies, while their families remain locked up for refusing to surrender. As an omega, Aria is ignored, making it easier for her to spy and find a way to free her pack. The last person she ever wanted to cross paths with is Kai Blackthorn, the future Alpha of Ravencrest. He’s powerful, arrogant, and completely untouchable. She wants nothing to do with him. But then she’s assigned to be his personal tutor. And fate has other plans. Kai Blackthorn is her mate. Chapter 1 Aria Langston. The screams of my people was what I remembered the most. Piercing, raw and endless. That had cut through the night like a steel blade and they were louder than the roaring flames of our house crashing down and the deafening sounds of wolves fighting just outside the door. It was pure chaos, the kind our parents had told us when we were pups. About bigger packs attacking the smaller ones for power and strength, the forgotten wars and history. But I was living in it now, this was real. This was my pack. Silverwood being attacked by Ravencrest. “Aria!” I heard my mother behind me, trying to pack what little important things we had and stuffing them into a bag as my father pushed the sofa towards the door to avoid the flames from getting to the room we were in. I couldn’t move as I watched what was happening outside, the gut wrenching screen from our neighbor as a big brown wolf burst open through their front door. “Aria Langston!” My mothers voice snapped my head towards her as tears filled my eyes, her hands trembling as they shook my back to her. Her big green eyes were wide with fear as she blinked back the tears threatening to fall past them. “You have to go! You have to escape before Ravencrest wolves catch you!” She shouted through the screams outside and I shook my head in disagreement. “No! No!” I screamed back at her. I planted my feet to the ground, shaking from the fear of it all. Why did this have to happen? Silverwood had always been quiet, calm and peaceful. We never stirred any trouble with other packs. We minded our business and never interfered with the other packs' fight for power. But I guess having no enemies also meant having no allies. “Why are they doing this?” I asked, my voice softening as I allowed tears fall from my eyes as my father came to hold my mother, pushing his glasses up his nose. “I don’t know. The Ravencrest pack have been looking to expand their pack. They are here for power, land or whatever excuse they’ve made up.” My father said and I shook my head again. “But we are not fighters, we would never hurt anyone. But look at what they’ve done to our home.” I explained, as my mother wiped the tears from my eyes before pushing a bag against my chest. “Aria, look at me.” She said softly, placing her palm against my cheeks. “You have to run, yo—” “I can’t,” I cried. “I can’t leave you both. I won’t.” “You will if you want us to survive. They would be here any moment and they would burn down this house to the ground. If you don’t leave now, you will be caught in it.” My father said as a loud bang erupted from outside causing three of us to jump in freight. “I have packed a few things for you. Go to the woods. Don’t stop until you are far from here.” My mother said as she helped me place the bag over my shoulders. “We love you always.” My father said before pulling us into a tight hug. “I don’t want to leave.” I started to sob, suddenly feeling fear settling into my bones as my vision blurred behind my foggy glasses stained with smoke. “You would be safe if you run. Your wolf hasn't fully developed yet so don’t shift or you will be slower.” My mom said as she wiped her tears and gave me a soft kiss on the cheeks. “I—I can’t leave you. Please don’t make me.” I whispered as I cried harder. “Please, mom, dad. I’m scared.” A loud sound filled the air as the door slammed open behind us. I screamed as I saw movements coming towards us. It was a big brown wolf. “Get her out of here!” My father screamed as he shoved us away, his body already beginning to shift, bones breaking as fur sprouted up his arms. My mother didn’t wait as she grabbed me by the wrist and yanked me towards the back door. “I have to go back to your father. I love you Aria. Your father and I do. You have to be strong and live for us.” She said to me softly as she opened the door behind me and pushed me outside and slammed it shut. “No!” I screamed as I pushed myself up the floor and started banging on the door but it wouldn't bulge. “Mom! Dad!” I yelled, tears streaming down my face as I shivered in fear. “Please, I’m scared.” I whispered as I heard a loud scream behind me and I turned around. Outside was pure chaos. Our pack was in shambles. My people were running around in fear, shifting in desperation to attack, some rushing in panic. The Ravencrest wolves were huge, massive as compared to ours. They were ruthless as they tore through our small village, their loud growls and howls filling the air as they attacked without mercy. I watched their jaws snapping the lives of our smaller wolves. I saw a young boy, no older than eight, sprinting barefoot across the clearing, tears streaming down his eyes. He looked like he didn’t even have his wolf yet but they didn’t care. A Ravencrest wolf attacked him, pinning him to the ground and dragging him away. I staggered back in fear. They were ruthless and fear filled every fiber of my being. It was like living in a nightmare. I stepped back again, the air was thick with growls and screams from my people and the metallic smell of blood lingered around me. I was too scared to do anything. I couldn’t fight, I couldn’t even transform yet. I looked at the door again, tears running down my cheeks as I remembered my mothers words. “I love you too.” I said softly as I sprinted into the woods without looking back. My breath came out in ragged gasps as I tried to find my way in the dark woods, branches tore at my dress and my heart pounded in my chest, threatening to burst out. My lungs burned with every breath and my feet hurt. The sound of the attack faded slowly behind me but the thick air and smoke followed me through the woods. I didn’t know how far I had run before I tripped against a branch, falling hard on the forest floor. I screamed in pain as sharp stones pierced through my palm. Then I heard it. A low growl that froze me for a second before I slowly turned in its direction. My breath hitched as I saw the wolf behind me. It was massive as it stepped out of the shadows. Midnight fur surrounded it and I almost missed the streaks of silver that ran along its chest and back. Its eyes glowed under the moonlight, a piercing blue with the same silver sheen as its fur. It was a Ravencrest wolf. I staggered to find my footing again, trying to back away but my legs struggled to hold me as I collapsed to the floor again. The wolf took a step forward and I gasped in fear. It wasn’t just any wolf. This one seemed different from the others, something about it screamed power. I stumbled back as tears filled my eyes again and my body trembled with fear as it drew closer to me. “Pl-please,” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper as my lower tips trembled in fear. But he didn’t listen. He didn’t hesitate to attack me. And in a blur motion, he lunged at me. I screamed as the massive wolf tackled me to the ground, knocking the air out of me. But it didn’t stop as I tried to get away from his heavy force. Pain shot through my shoulder as sharp teeth clamped my shoulder, not enough to break my bones but enough to tear my skin and force me into submission. It was meant to make me submit. And I did. I couldn’t fight anymore. A cry escaped my lips as I felt blood trickle down my shoulders as I laid pinned to the floor. My body went limp as my fear overwhelmed me. Panic surged through me as I realized I couldn’t escape. My vision blurred as I whispered softly. “Why?” The wolf jaws on my shoulder loosened and I prepared for the worst, feeling its heavy breath against my skin before it stepped away. I blinked back my tears in surprise as I dared to look up. It was shifting, the fur melting away and was slowly replaced by skin. My fear spiked as I watched, too terrified to move. I blinked again, suddenly feeling darkness looming over me to claim me. My shoulder was losing a lot of blood and I struggled to see the person who had attacked me. The transformation finished and I caught a small glimpse of the person. It was a man, tall and broad, radiating with so much authority and power. But I couldn’t see his face. I blinked again, my glasses foggy and barely making anything. Suddenly, I felt large hands pick me up carefully from the floor and then the feeling of warm skin against mine. I struggled to look up at his face but I couldn’t stay awake any longer. My vision slowly turned dark but my gaze caught something against his chest. A tattoo over his heart. It was a wolf paw print, simple but very striking against his white skin. It was dark and underneath it, I could make out some initials. N.B. Warmth filled me as the person pressed me against his chest and this time I didn’t fight back the darkness. Exhaustion and pain overtook me as the world around me blurred and everything went black. Chapter 2 Aria. I woke up with a start, my heart hammering in my chest as if I had just been ripped out from a nightmare. Which I had. For a moment, I didn’t know where I was. But I knew I didn’t feel the comfort of home. The room was dim and there were low murmurs of sleep and the faint scent of wolves around the room. The pain in my shoulder brought it all back. The attack, the night everything changed. The midnight black wolf. The fear… I was in Ravencrest. The sting from the bite made me hiss in pain as I shifted in my narrow bunk bed. My fingers carefully touched the bandaged area on my right shoulder where he had bitten me. The wound was only partially healed because my healing process wasn’t as quick as it should be, due to my underdeveloped wolf. It’s been a month since that night, a month since I had seen my parents. A month since my home, my pack had been destroyed and we were dragged here to live under Ravencrest rules. I looked around the room, the sun rising and casting its glow into the huge room they had packed all Silverwood wolves in. While a lot of my people had escaped, many of us were also captured. They had separated us into those above eighteen and those below eighteen. The wolves below eighteen had been given no choice and forced to be integrated into their schools where they would watch us and monitor our movements, forcing us into their pack. The older ones above eighteen had been asked to swear allegiance but what I people lacked in strength, they made up in stubbornness. And they had refused, devoting themselves to our pack. Being loyal. But Ravencrest had been forced to put them into prisons until they changed their minds. Safe to say all the wolves above eighteen were in their dungeons while the rest of us had been packed into this room, monitored and stripped off everything we valued and finally forced to attend their high school. “Another bad dream?” I heard a soft voice as I turned to face my best friend who was climbing to the top of the bunk, my bed. Lila had auburn hair that was pulled into a messy bun and her soft hazel eyes were drowsy from sleep. “Yeah,” I answered softly, bringing my knees to my chest as Lila sat beside me staring at the ceiling. “Me too.” She admitted, tucking her hair behind her ears as she sighed. “I can’t stop thinking about that night.” I watched her look around the room, the other members of our pack were all sleeping, they looked tired. “Everyone looks so tired, so lost and hopeless. Ravencrest has drained the life out of us.” “I miss home.” I whispered, my voice cracking as Lila nodded. “Do you think they found Alec?” She asked. My heart clenched at Lila’s older brother’s name. She had grown up with him when her parents had passed away two years ago in a fire. “I’m sure he’s ok. If anyone would survive, it’s Alec.” Lila smiled softly but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I hope so. It’s just… I don’t know how to stop worrying. Everyday gets harder, the last couple of weeks, we’ve been working on their farms and doing all sorts of menial jobs and now they want us to go to school with them.” Lila scoffed. I exhaled at the thought. The idea of going to school with the same people who had attacked us just a few weeks ago brought knots to my stomach. It was all we had heard about last week. The Ravencrest wolves had made it clear to us during an announcement that their goal was to integrate us into their pack, forcing us to attend their high school as part of their effort to ‘train’ us and ‘give us a better life’. “I don’t want to go. I don’t want to imagine what it’s like to sit in the same class with the people who murdered our friends and destroyed our pack.” I said angrily. “Me neither.” Lila glanced at my shoulder, her expression softening. “Does it still hurt?” She asked. “Just a little.” I lied, the bite wasn’t the worst thing that happened to me that night. It was the humiliation that came with the pain, the submission and the way the wolf, no, the man had forced me to yield and submit to him. That had hurt more than the physical wound he had inflicted on me. And if I found him, I would make him pay. “Do you think we’ll ever go back home?” I asked quickly, trying to change the subject so I didn’t worry Lila about the pain anymore. I didn’t answer because I didn’t know if we would ever go back home and just as Lila was about to say something again, the doors burst open. “Oh moon goddess!” Lila grumbled under her breath as my stomach sank at the familiar sound of the morning bell, loud and shrill making all the others jump. The bright lights flickered on, blinding me for imminent before it illuminated the cramped room. “Wake up Silverwood!” A sharp voice barked, one that I had heard every morning. I turned to the sharp no nonsense Ravencrest member at the door of the room. She was the dorm leader, the one in cheer of making sure we were awake, dressed and shoved to the assembly grounds for our daily duties. But today instead of her usual routine of calling our names and assigning us to our posts, she had with her a big plastic wheel cart that had something that looked like uniforms in them. Her steel gray eyes scanned the room with the same precision as a hawk before they stopped on Lila in my bed. Her eyes narrowed as she walked towards our bunk. “Lila Monroe.” She spat with anger. “If I remember correctly, your sleeping position is right under Aria Langston. What are you doing on her bed?” Lila stiffened beside me as she started to speak. “I was just talking to Aria…” Mrs Holt raised an eyebrow. “About what? Were you both planning an escape?” “No!” “No!” We both said in unison but she only rolled her eyes as she started to walk away. “Lila Monroe, you have dinner duty tonight. Next time you’ll be in bed at lights out.” I watched Lila's shoulders slump as she muttered. “Yes ma’am.” Then she slid back to the bottom bunk without another word. I could only glare hatefully at the back of Mrs Holt’s gray head. “Eyes on me, Silverwood!” She barked again as some others widened their eyes, trying to fight back sleep as they looked up at the woman that terrorized us every morning. She stood in front of the room. “Today is your first day at Ravencrest High. I want you all washed, dressed and ready in an hour. Every single one of twenty of you would be outside and ready to go at eight.” I heard the sound of grumbling as a few of us rolled out from their bunks annoyed. “Does anyone have anything to say to me?!” She barked again as the room fell silent. “I thought so.” She said as she reached for the cart. “You’ve all been assigned uniforms with your name tags on them. You would be wearing them to school everyday, you have two pairs each and one training pair. There are school bags, school shoes of various sizes, notebooks and any stationary you would need in the cart. Pick two each and keep them safe, they would not be replaced if they go missing. Other notebooks and textbooks would be provided in school.” I saw one of my pack members raise her hand. Mary was one of the smartest in our pack and she took her studies very seriously. Her voice filled the room. “We didn’t wear uniforms in our old pack.” She said sternly. Mrs Holt smirked at her. “Does this look like Silverwood to you?” She asked as Mary visibly swallowed. “Answer me!” “No ma’am.” She answered, her jaw ticking in suppressed anger. “Good. Because Ravencrest is nothing like your weak, little pathetic excuse of your pack. We are about six thousand times larger than your pack and over here we have an order of doing things. You would obey them or you would be thrown in prison. Is that understood?” “Yes.” Mary answered again. “Perfect. And anyone who dares ask any stupid questions or who is late to assembly would be given dinner duty along with Lila Monroe. Now get ready and meet me outside for your sandwiches.” She finished before looking around again, finding nothing to complain about, she left us and everyone breathed in relief. “I can’t believe this?” “School with the Ravens?” Ravens, a name we had given to every member of the Ravencrest pack. “Cowards.” Murmurs filled the room as everyone moved to the cart to get their uniforms and other things. A few of the much younger wolves seemed excited while the teens were annoyed. “They are making us go to school after they attacked us?” I asked Lila as we reached for the uniforms and carefully looked through for ours. “It’s their way of making us fall in line. Force us into their world and make us forget ours.” She answered. The uniforms weren’t as flashy as I had expected. Just a plain white button up shirt with a dark blue sweater vest with embroidered Ravencrest High School logo of a raven in front of a wolf shield and a moon above it. Then a dark blue pleated short skirt, a dark silver tie and a pair of dark blue knee length socks. I found mine and the name tag attached to it. “Aria Langston. Status: Omega. Strength: 3/10. Origin: Silverwood Pack.” I scoffed. “Seriously?” “What’s wrong?” Lila asked, looking away from the cart and at my name tag as her eyes widened in disbelief. “They put our status and strength in our tags. As if being here wasn’t humiliating enough.” Lila winced as she quickly found her uniform and frowned in disappointment. “Lila Monroe. Status: Omega. Strength: 2/10. Origin: Silverwood Pack.” For a moment we stood in silence, letting the shame settle in. It wasn’t just embarrassing, it was cruel. Having our status displayed like that for everyone to see felt like a reminder of how insignificant we were. Lila looked around as others grumbled at the sight of their tags. “Well at least we aren’t alone in this. Do you think they all have these too? The Ravens?” “I don’t know. We are going to find out aren’t we? Since we’ll be stuck with them for more than eight hours everyday in school. It’s all about control to remind us that we don’t belong.” “Come on Aria. Let’s get prepared. The last thing you need is being on dinner duty.” “I might as well consider it so I get stuck with you tonight.” I chucked as Lila pulled us towards the bathroom. I sighed, feeling a heavy weight on my injured shoulder. I could feel it, the wolf that bit me attended Ravencrest High. And if today was going to be all about meeting them, I knew I would hate every bit of the minute. Chapter 3 Aria. The air definitely felt heavier in here. Just standing in front of Ravencrest High School, I could feel the heavy weight of something bad settle deep in my stomach. A massive building stood in front of us, bigger and more intimidating than Silverwood High ever was. It was a towering structure with big windows that I could almost feel eyes watching us from them. It had black and silver engravings and the big Raven crest logo hanging from a flag. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I swallowed hard as I felt Lila’s arm grave mine as if nudging me to look at something. I followed her direction to notice some Ravencrest students heading into the school building. They were staring at us, sneering even. All twenty of us stood in front of the school eating what was left of our sandwiches because they hadn’t given us enough time to have them in the dorms. But at the sight of the Ravens, we stopped immediately as they looked down on us. It was clear from their first glance, we didn’t belong here and they didn’t like us. The Ravens as we called them moved in a very quiet arrogance, they held their head high and their sharp eyes were cold and assessing. They wore the same uniform as us but there was a slight difference. Instead of the same sweaters we had on, they had sharp navy blue blazers that had been tailored perfectly for each of them. And their ties were navy blue instead of the silver ones we wore. But apart from the clear distinction in our uniforms another thing that set the Ravencrest and the Silverwoods was the way they held themselves. They looked perfect, poised. Their uniforms were sharp and neat and their postures screamed confidence from every angle. Meanwhile all twenty of us stood awkwardly in front of the school as if we didn’t know what to do, trying to adjust into our new uniforms. Mrs Holt, the dorm leader, had told us to wait here and we would be addressed by the principal of the school. And just immediately, a woman stepped out from the building. She was a tall figure, elegant and had sharp features. She wore a dark green pantsuit and a silver Ravencrest emblem pinned to her chest. I knew she was the principal. I could feel her aura as her eyes swept over us, cold, stern and unreadable. “Welcome to Ravencrest High,” she said, her voice sharp and precise. “I am Principal Regina Hartley. And as you all know, you are here as a part of your pack’s transition into Ravencrest. It is our duty to ensure that you are fully integrated into our pack effectively.” I glanced at Lila who met my gaze with a worried look. They didn’t want to integrate us. They wanted us to submit to their rules. The principal stopped stepping aside as some students came out of the building, about ten of them and they stood beside her. They looked smart and poised too, and like the rest, they watched with curiosity. I also noticed some students had opened their windows and some stood at the balconies looking down at us and some even taking pictures on their phones and laughing. “To ensure your smooth transition into Ravencrest High, two of you would be paired and assigned to a Ravencrest student as your guide. They would introduce you to the school’s structure and system. They would be here to assist you in adapting to our way of life.” “Or keep a tab on us.” I murmured gently to Lila who nodded in agreement. I listened as the Principal called out names and parodying my pack mates with vacuous raven students. One by one, our people stapled forward, stiff and exhausted as they were matched with their guides. And then she called out names. “Aria Langston and Lila Monroe, you will be assigned to Maya Rivera. You are all dismissed. Classes start at fifteen, no late entries.” She finished before disappearing into the building. “What do you think she’s like? Our guide I mean?” Lila asked and I shrugged as a petite girl stepped towards us. She was slightly smaller than the other guides, around our heights. She had a warm olive skin and dark brown wavy hair that reached her shoulders. Her hazel eyes and pointed nose were surrounded with freckles. “Hello, I’m Maya.” She said softly with a genuine smile. “I’ll be your guide this term. And which one of you is Aria?” “I am.” I responded as she smiled wider. “You’re the one who was the captain of the Debates club at your school?” “Yeah?” I raised a brow. “How did you know that?” “Oh we have your files here and we’ve been given some information about you prior to your resumption.” “Are you kidding?” Lila asked as I finally noticed a bunch of files on her arm. “Can we have a look?” “I’m sorry that’s private information. But I’m sure there’s so much more to you than some pieces of paper and I’m looking forward to finding more about you. The good thing is we are in the same grade so we can become good friends.” Maya said cheerfully and Lila and I exchanged wary glances before following her into the school. “Come on. I’ll walk you through everything.” Maya said as we stood behind her taking everything in. Ravencrest was even bigger and more beautiful on the inside. Students filled the hall, some in front of their lockers that lined the side of the wall. I observed the Ravens. They looked so smart and confident as they moved. Some of them sent us glares or scowls but I didn’t mind. As we walked, I noticed the Ravens had a similar name tag to us, pinned to their blazers but something about theirs was different but I couldn’t tell. “Ravencrest High school is home to thousands of students in our pack. And some other pack members have transferred here due to our high quality of education and wolf training.” Maya turned to us and I looked down at her tag. Maya Rivera. Rank 6. Strength: 4/10. My eyes narrowed as I raised a brow. Rank? “What’s the ranking system here?” I suddenly asked, cutting her shirt as she spoke and Lila followed my eyes and spotted her tag. “Oh. It’s our pack hierarchy. Every wolf in Ravencrest is ranked based on your status and their role.” She explained. Rank 6? Did that mean that was low? “Yeah I know, not really impressive.” She chuckled in embarrassment before she started walking and we followed behind. Here at Ravencrest. It is important that everyone knows their place and their importance on the pack. It helps us recognize who is higher than us. It’s simple. Rank 1 is the highest, only the alphas belong in that rank. Rank 2 wolves are betas, second in commands, elders and their children. Rank 3 includes the scout leaders, hunter leaders, and basically and wolf that holds a position of leadership. Rank 4 included the scouts, guards, hunters, fighters, doctors, nurses and medical trainees.” Maya explained easily as we listened closely. “Rank 5 are mostly the caregivers, those who focus on farming, production, maintenance and stuff like that.” “And Rank 6?” Lila asked. Maya gave us a thin smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Those of us who don’t hold any real position. Wolves without no claim to power or leadership. Just ordinary wolves.” I frowned seeing her shoulders slump. She was one of the lowest ranked wolves on Ravencrest. It makes sense why she didn’t look down on us in disgust. Because she wasn’t much different from us. “It’s almost the same as being an omega. But Ravencrest likes to deal with numbers. In the coming months your ranks would be decided in the training you undergo and then the ranking ceremony would take place and your tags would be changed to display your position to everyone. But more information would be given about that in the coming events.” I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as Maya continued down the hall. “The ranking system keeps everything in order. And just so you know everyone here follows it.” “Of course they do.” I said under my breath and didn’t say anything else as she stopped in front of a locker and tapped her fingers against it. “Locker 246. This one is yours Aria.” I stepped forward hesitantly as I looked at the tall lockers, they were bigger than the ones we had back home. I turned to ask Maya something about keeping snacks in them when I noticed her staring at the locker beside mine. Locker 245. I saw something flicker across her eyes that looked like hesitation and a bit of fear? “What’s wrong?” I asked as I exchanged glances with Lila who was frowning at her reaction too. “Nothing.” She answered quickly before handing me a folded piece of paper. This is your timetable. It has your schedule, class times and locations. Inside your locker you would see your textbooks and notebooks inside.” She said before taking Lila’s arm and pulling her further down the hall. I felt a strange feeling in my stomach. She was acting differently. I turned to the locker beside mine. Locker 245. There was nothing special about it so why was she so uncomfortable? “Come on Lila. Let’s find your locker next.” She said quickly as she looked down the hall briefly and Lila shot me a questioning look obviously noticing the tension that had come between us. I shrugged at her. “I’ll see you at lunch in the cafeteria. Everyone has lunch at the same time.” Maya said and Lila waved at me and adjusted her bag strap nervously. “Wait at the entrance, ok?” I told her as she nodded before she pulled Lila hurriedly down the hall and I watched them walk down the hall. What was that about? I eyed her movement for a few seconds but I couldn’t decipher what had her panties in a twist. I shifted my gaze to the locker again. It was normal. But if Maya, a raven who has spent years in the school, felt nervous about some locker. Then maybe I should too. I looked around to see other students walking around the hall, some of them looked at me with disgust and some snickered. I noticed some of their tags with their strength. 5/10, many had 6/10 and some even 7/10. I don’t notice any strength higher than 7. I shivered and opened the locker to find my textbooks and notebooks neatly arranged. I unfolded my timetable and scanned it to find that my first period was Mathematics. I quickly took out my textbook and a notebook. I needed to hurry before the locker beside me magically turned into some monster because I couldn’t understand why Maya had been scared. I sighed, pushing my glasses up my nose and I mentally prepared myself for the first day in Ravencrest High. It was obvious that this wasn’t just a school. It was enemy territory and we were nothing more than unwanted guests. I pushed my textbook to my chest and muttered a small prayer to the moon goddess, inhaling deeply as I tried to prepare myself. I closed my locker and turned only to slam straight into a solid wall of muscle beside me. The impact sent me stumbling backward and my glass slid off the bridge of my nose. I grunted, finding my balance as I quickly used my glasses up my nose and blinked up at the figure towering over me. He was standing way too close. But it wasn’t his height that stopped me in my tracks. My heart leapt into my throat as my gaze found his name tag pinned to his blazer. The bold letters practically glaring at me. Kai Blackthorn. Rank 1. Strength: 10/10. My breath caught. 10/10? My stomach twisted and all I could do was stand there, my pulse hammering in my chest as I suddenly felt a wave of weakness in my bones. And for the first time in Ravencrest territory, I felt truly powerless. Chapter 4 Aria. The hallway blurred around me as my eyes locked on the name tag in front of me. Kai Blackthorn. Rank 1. Strength: 10/10. The numbers on the tag felt like a silent warning to anyone who gazed upon it. I had seen other ravens with 6, 7, but no higher. This was the perfect score, this was the highest score. This person was the strongest wolf in all of Ravencrest High. My pulse quickened as I felt a tingling feeling in my right shoulder where I had been bit. It was sharp and intense, different from the usual pain that dulled it. Instinctively, I took a step back as I gripped my textbook closer to my chest as if to shield me from the overwhelming presence of the person in front of me. But he didn’t move. He stood there, watching me. So I decided to look up, slowly, he was imposingly tall as I took in the sight of his polished shoes, his neatly ironed trousers and his white button up shirt with Ravencrest blazer that fit him perfectly and honed his biceps and stretched over his broad shoulders. His black tie was hung carelessly over his neck and then I came across his face. The first features I noticed about his face were his strong jawline and cheekbones carved like marble. Then he had a sharp nose and I could already feel how attractive he was. And then there were his eyes. Piercing blue like the color of a winter storm, in them there was a sheen of silver that flickered just beneath the surface. He had bright blonde hair that was tousled around his face, it was so annoyingly perfect because he looked like he had run his fingers through them so many times. This man was handsome. He looked like he had stepped out of the pages of a model magazine. I met his eyes again and couldn’t help the way my stomach flipped. Those piercing blue eyes pinned me in place, studying, dissecting and watching me. There was something about him. He was strong. But he was dangerous. And he knew it. He was a predator in human skin. And I was standing right in front of him. A slow smirk curled his perfect lips as he looked down on me, his eyes filled with amusement that sent a wave of fear through me. “You’re blocking my locker, stray.” His voice was low and smooth, but there was a sharpness to it, a low commanding tone that almost made me stay back and give him a bow of apology. But I blinked at the nickname. Stray? “Excuse me?” I said, feeling a bit of anger as I felt my fear start to dissolve. His smile widened as he took a step towards me and I swallowed hard, the fear resurfacing as my heart thumped loudly in my chest. “Isn’t that what you Silverwood wolves are called now? Small, little wolves who we allowed to stay in our pack and be given basic amenities and education that your pack couldn't provide you..” He said so arrogantly, his voice low and taunting as if he was testing my patience. My stomach twisted. Of course they gave us such names. Stray. As if they weren’t the one who attacked us and took us prisoners! It was cruel and my skin itched with irritation as I clenched my jaw. “I have a name.” I said angrily as he took a step back and I noticed his eyes find my tag pinned to my chest. A shudder of embarrassment washed through me as his smirk widened and I felt my fingers tremble slightly around my textbook. “Hmm.” Kai started, “Brave for an omega.” His blue eyes flickered back to mine as I didn’t miss the dangerously smug expression in those ocean eyes. Something in my chest tightened as humiliation filled my cheeks, staining it red. The way he said it was like something disgusting. Like I was disgusting. “I’m not scared of you, Kai Blackthorn.” I spat, feeling the lie at the back of my tongue as he let out a low chuckle, one that sent cold shivers down my spine. “No?” He said and immediately took a step forward, closing the gap between us. The scent of pine and earth filled my senses as I realized how much bigger he was so close to me. My head was barely reaching his chest and I hated how I had to strain my neck to look up at him. I almost flinched as he closed my locker tightly behind me in a loud bang. “Then why do you look like you’re about to run?” He said as he placed his hand against my locker, pinning me in front of him. I felt my glasses graze his chest just a little. Hadn’t he heard of personal space? I felt my grip on my textbook tightened. I hated him. I hated this Kai Blackthorn. I hated the way he made me feel small, the way his presence dominated everything around us without even trying. But most of all, I hated the way my body instinctively reacted to him, almost like it knew something that I didn’t. I blamed it on the wolf genes. All female wolves were attracted to male wolves who had a show of strength and dominance. It was not me, it was simply nature! I forced myself to take a deep slow breath as I looked up at him to see him smirking. “If you’re done trying to intimidate me, which isn’t working by the way, so nice try. I would like to get to class. You know, the whole reason we are here.” I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Kai blinked, and for the briefest moment, I saw something unreadable flash in his gaze. But it was gone just as quickly. “You’re not going to last in Ravencrest, little omega.” He said simply as he smirked and took a step back, his eyes watching me like I was nothing more than an amusement to him. Before I could open my mouth to give a comeback, another figure approached. “Hey Kai. Didn’t think you'd come to class early today.” A tall dark haired guy stood behind Kai. He was almost the same height as him. He had the same lean but muscular build and he wore the same uniform. He was a raven. His tie hung carelessly from his neck just like Kai’s. In his hand was a football jacket and he slung it over his shoulders as he shook hands with Kai and they exchanged brotherly hugs. I sneaked a peak at his tag pinned to his chest. Ryder Hale. Rank 2. Strength: 9/10. I gulped for a second and then his hazel eyes turned sharply to me. My stomach sank at the attention from both boys. My breath almost left me as I noticed how handsome this Ryder person was. Were they all built like models here? “Making new friends?” He asked Kai whose lips curled in a lazy smirk. “Something like that.” He teased and I rolled my eyes at him. Ryder watched me silently, unlike Kai whose expression was arrogant and cocky, his was cold and stern. His eyes caught my tag and then something flickered in his expression. “Come on, man. Let’s go.” He said, tapping Kai on the shoulder. Kai didn’t move at first, his eyes lingered on me for a second longer, studying me as if he was trying to figure something out. I saw his lips open as if to say something but then he smirked and closed his locker beside me before turning to leave. “Why were you talking to the strays?” I heard his friend Ryder ask as Kai shrugged as they walked down the hall and other students stepped away for them to walk through. I raised a brow. “Nothing, she's feisty.” I heard him say as Ryder turned back at me briefly, his cold gaze studying me for a second as they escaped down the hall leaving the weight of their presence behind. I finally exhaled before I looked up to see all eyes on me. Everyone in the hallway had been watching my interaction with Kai and Ryder. I noticed the glare they sent my way as a few whispered amongst each other. Heat burned under my skin. I hated being the center of attraction. I gripped my textbook closer to my chest as I lowered my gaze and started to walk down the hall, my footsteps echoed in the sudden silence. This is bad. This is so bad. It was just my first day at school and I had already drawn the attention of the strongest wolf in Ravencrest High. And even worse? I had talked back at him. His friend seems to hate me. And the whole school was staring at me. Aria! I forced the thought away as I struggled to find my first class. The sooner I could blend into the background of the school, the better for me. If I wanted to survive here, I had to be invisible. But as I moved down the hall, I couldn’t stop the tingling feeling of my right shoulder. Just at the spot of the wolf bite but that wasn’t all. I could feel someone watching me, and not just the glare of the students around me. This was intense and cold. It was waiting. I swallowed hard, suddenly wishing Lila was with me. This was the beginning of my days at Ravencrest High. In enemy territory, a chill ran down the spine of my back. And I had a terrible feeling that Kai Blackthorn wasn’t done with me yet. Chapter 5 Aria. I was late. I was so late. My shoes pounded against the silent hallway as I rushed to my first class, clutching my book to my chest as I ran. I had spent the last fifteen minutes wandering through this moon goddess forsaken school, trying to find Room 105 where my first class was being held. And finally I stood in front of the door, I sucked in a deep breath before I pushed open the door and stepped inside. The moment I did, all eyes turned to me and the room fell silent. Nice entrance, Aria! The room was filled with about twenty students all dressed in their sharp navy blue blazers and dark blue ties, sitting perfectly at their desks. It felt like a cult how orderly they were. I swallowed hard and turned to the teacher who stood in front of the class. A tall woman with a gray fitted dress and hair pulled back in a slick bun and sharp, cold gray eyes that glared at me. “You’re late.” She said flatly and I nodded, chuckling nervously as I pushed my glasses further up my nose. “I’m sorry. I got lost.” I answered softly, my voice barely above a whisper. A few students snickered. The teacher, her name tag read ‘Mrs Alden’, narrowed her eyes slightly. “Lost?” She asked, a faint smile curling her lips as she shook her head. “I guess it’s obvious since Silverwood wolves do lack a sense of proper direction.” The room erupted into laughter and I felt the heat crawl at the back of my neck as I resisted the urge to glare back at her. “Well. Since that can’t be helped, why don’t you go ahead and introduce yourself to the class.” My stomach twisted, I had always hated introductions. “Uhm…my name is Aria Langston. And I’m from the Silverwood pack.” “Now let me guess. You’re an omega aren’t you? You know, one of the weak ones?” A voice interrupted me. I stiffened. A girl sat in the front row, twirling a long strand of platinum blonde hair around her manicured fingers. She wore a different kind of uniform, and it was obvious she was in the cheerleading team. A short skirt and crop top that showed her perfect skin. Her name tag read; Mia Carter. Rank 2 Strength: 6/10 The class erupted into laughter again and I felt my cheek hurt and I glanced at the teacher, expecting her to intervene but she said nothing as another girl joined in. She was seated beside Mia in the same cheerleading uniform. She had short wavy pink hair. I looked down at her name tag and she eyed me carefully. Tasha Greene. Rank 2. Strength: 5/10 They both looked flawless in perfect makeup, and legs crossed and straight posture like they were in a magazine shoot. “Of course Mia. That’s what it says on her name tag. A tiny omega with barely enough strength to move a table.” She spat at me, sending me a sly smirk. I squared my shoulders, my eyes narrowing as I opened my mouth to speak. “Well at least I don’t need a number on my chest to feel important.” The room went silent for a moment and I saw Mia’s smile falter and just as Tasha opened her mouth to retort, the teacher cut in. “Enough! Aria Langston it’s only your first day here and you are already causing trouble. That would be detention for you after school. Take a seat and don’t disturb the class again.” I gave her a soft glare. Of course I was the one causing trouble and not the two perfect demonic Barbies in front of me. I shook my head and started to make my way to the back where one desk and chair sat. As I headed to the back, someone stuck their foot out and I didn’t have enough time to avoid it. I stumbled almost immediately and crashed into the floor. The whole class erupted into laughter, the sound sharp and mocking and I felt tears gather at the end of my eyes. My knees stung immediately but my pride and self confidence burned even more. I blinked back the tears, refusing to let them see me cry. Pushing myself up, I grabbed my books and adjusted my backpack and shuffled to the last desk at the end of the room, a lonely and isolated spot that felt like it had been reserved just for me. The outcast. The stray. As I sat down, I caught Mia’s eye. She smirked at me, her black eyes glittering with malice. “Welcome to Ravencrest, stray. I’m sure you’re going to love it here.” She said, her voice low enough so that Mrs Alden didn’t catch it as she wrote something on the whiteboard. I leaned closer against my desk. “Thanks for the warm welcome. I’ll be sure to return the favor.” Her smirk faltered for a second before she quickly recovered it, flipping her perfectly blonde hair over her shoulder. “We’ll see just how long you last.” Mrs Alden clapped, drawing everyone’s attention back to her. “Now before we continue, I have a very special announcement to make and I would need you all to listen.” She started. “As part of Ravencrest’s effort to integrate the Silverwood wolves into our pack, the board of directors and teachers have introduced a new school contribution program. This program allows the Silverwood wolves to earn privileges, such as their own personal room instead of sharing with their fellow pack members. They can contribute to the school to earn these benefits. This could include tutoring, assisting with any events in the school or any other task that is deemed appropriate by the faculty.” The class erupted into a series of rumors as a few of the students shot me disapproving glances. “Excuse me?” I said as Mrs Alden rolled her eyes at me immediately. “Miss Langston. We don’t speak like that here. We raise her hands first and I would give you permission to speak. I don’t know how asking questions is done at your own school but we do things very differently at Ravencrest. You should find that out soon.” I raised my hand, ignoring the way some students laughed at me and Mrs Alden nodded at me. A sly smirk on her lips. “What kind of tasks are we talking about and who decides what’s appropriate?” “Tasks are assigned based on your skills and the needs of the school. As for who decides, it would be me or the rest of the faculty. But you Miss Langston should be considering tutoring. According to your files, it says you were one of the brightest students back at your old school. I’m sure some Ravencrest students should find that useful. As some of our students mainly focus on physical training and strength based tasks. It would be good if we can balance both their training and their school activities and that’s where you come in. Just food for thought.” She finished, raising her brows as if to ask if I was done. But I was far from finished. “So we teach the Ravens and then we get our own rooms? Even at school we are still at your mercy. Am I right Mrs Alden?” Her face turned red immediately and her eyes glared at me as a few students snickered around me. “Miss Langston, you are more than welcome to decline if you have a problem with the program. That is if you don’t mind sharing your personal space with your friends.” She said and I clenched my jaw but didn’t respond. The rest of my classes passed like a blur, the teachers had been very mean to me and the students weren’t any better. While some of them had been a bit curious about me, the others just didn’t acknowledge my presence. And thankfully, I didn’t see Mia or Tasha in any of my classes again. I had one of my classes with my pack member and though we weren’t close, we managed to say hi and sit together for the session. It didn’t take long for the bell to ring as I had practically zoned out of class during her teachings. If there was something I had realized, it was that Ravencrest syllabus was a few weeks behind ours. So I already knew everything they had been talking about. As the bell rang, I grabbed my bags and books and looked down at my schedule to find out it was time for lunch. I sighed in relief. I couldn’t believe I was only half way through the day. It seemed like I had been here for three days and the time seemed to pass by very slowly. I was finally going to see Lila and Maya. I wondered how her first classes had been. I made a mental note to ask Maya what her attitude had been all about concerning my locker in the hallway. I headed down the hallways, following the other students as they all walked in the same direction that I assumed was the cafeteria. My thoughts went back to the school contribution program. It was a good idea to have my own room but the thought of being a personal tutor to one of the Ravens sent chills down my spine. If they were anything like Mia, Tasha or even Kai Blackthorn that I had met earlier, then I didn’t want to tutor them. Kai Blackthorn. At the thought of his name, I felt my right arm sting in pain where that black wolf had bitten me. I ignored it as I heard loud noises in front of me as I came to the entrance of the cafeteria. It was huge! Students filled the room, there was clattering of trays, loud clatter and occasional bursts of laughter. It was massive with high ceilings and long tables filled with Ravens. The air smelt of spicy food and my stomach grumbled. I scanned at the doors for any sight of Lila and Maya but didn’t see any of them. I leaned against the doors on the end of the entrance so they could easily see me when they arrived. I looked around, spotting a few of my pack members. They looked so out of place, it was obvious that we didn’t fit in. With our separate uniforms and our heads down and our confused faces, it was obvious that we felt like outcasts. My heart ached as I felt tears gather at the end of my eyes at the sight of my people. Wrenched away from our pack and forced to live with the enemy. Was there any fate worse than that? I guess there was because I felt a tap on my shoulder and I turned to face Kai Blackthorn. He was even more intimidating up close, his piercing blue eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath hitch. His blonde hair was slightly messy, like he’d just run his fingers through it, and his blazer hung open, revealing the crisp white shirt underneath. He looked like he’d just stepped out of a magazine, and it was infuriating. “Lost again, little omega?” He asked, his voice low and teasing as he stood in front of some other students who were in similar jerseys as him. I assumed they were all members of the school football or something. I couldn’t figure out what sport it was. “I’m waiting for someone.” I said sharply. “Who? Your little stray friends?” “As a matter of fact. Yes.” I responded as he smirked at me, a sharp ache pulsed through my right shoulder, right where the black wolf had bitten me. I winced, my hand instinctively reaching for the spot. Kai’s eyes flicked to my shoulder, and for a moment, his smirk faded completely. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but before he could, a voice interrupted. “Kai, let’s go. We’ve got practice after lunch.” I turned to see Ryder Hale standing a few feet away, his hazel eyes cold and assessing as they flicked between me and Kai. He looked every bit as dangerous as Kai, but where Kai was all arrogance and charm, Ryder was quiet intensity. Kai glanced at Ryder, then back at me, his smirk returning. “Duty calls,” he said, his tone light but his eyes lingering on me for a moment longer. “Don’t get into too much trouble, little omega.” I glared at him, my shoulder still throbbing. “I’ll try not to.” He chuckled, low and dark, before turning to follow Ryder. The two of them walked away, their presence commanding the room like they owned it. My stomach twisted as they walked into the cafeteria and some students stepped out of the way for him. Something was up with him. He had an aura of power around him and whatever it was, my shoulder seemed to sting whenever he was around me. It felt like I was in a dangerous game. And if I wasn’t careful, I’d get burned. Follow my I. G: @authormiragreen. Chapter 6 Aria. I leaned against the cafeteria wall, my shoulder throbbing faintly as I scanned the hallway for Lila and Maya. I rubbed my shoulder as the pain subsided for a second. I frowned, wondering why it seemed to flare whenever- “Aria!” I turned in the direction of my name and saw Lila and Maya through the crowd, running towards me. I smiled as I saw my best friend and walked towards her. “There you are,” Lila said before pulling me into a quick hug. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you. How’s your first day going?” She asked and I forced a smile as I nodded at Maya who looked around us as if scanning for trouble. “Oh you know. Just a typical day for the new girl. Was bullied by both the teachers and the students and I tripped over someone’s foot in class.” Lila winced. “That’s horrible. My classes were fine, most of them were with Maya so I had good company at all times.” “Lucky you.” I muttered, adjusting the strap of my bag before sighing heavily. “But hey, at least I got detention for standing up to some girls, Mia and Tasha, so I guess silver lining?” Maya's eyes widened at the mention of the nasty cheerleaders. “Mia Carter and Tasha Greene?” She asked and I shrugged. “I don’t quite remember their last names and to be honest I could care very less about that.” “Let me guess, Mia is the one with blonde hair, cheer captain, black eyes and mean smile?” “Yes that one.” “And Tasha is the one with short wavy pink dyed hair and light green eyes. Doesn’t really think for herself and follows after Mia?” “The dumb one. Yes.” I responded as Lila chuckled but Maya didn’t find it funny as she sighed and rubbed her eyes tiredly. “Aria, you’ve got to be careful. You need to stay clear from Mia and Tasha. They are both in Rank 2. They are daughters of the Elders and though they look like weak perfect Barbies, they have claws, painted and manicured but they are not afraid to use them.” “Look Maya. I don’t know how things run around here but I am not afraid to stand up for myself. I can handle them.” I said, rolling my eyes. I didn’t really like Maya and I didn’t like her telling me what I needed to do. But Maya didn’t look convinced as she scanned the cafeteria and I noticed her expression growing serious before she turned back to me. “Listen Aria…I heard something earlier. Did you talk to Kai Blackthorn?” I froze, my stomach twisting at the mention of his name. “Yeah, why?” Maya’s face paled and she grabbed my arm, pulling my closer as Lila and I exchanged confused glances. “Aria. You need to stay away from him. Do you even know who he is?” I frowned, snatching my hand away from hers and brushing my uniform in nervousness. I didn’t miss the scared look on Maya’s hazel eyes. The same fear that had been in her eyes this morning at my locker. “He’s just some arrogant jerk who thinks he’s better than everyone else. Why?” I asked as Lila looked confused at both of us but I just shrugged my shoulders at her. Maya shook her head, her voice dropping to a whisper as she ran her hand through her hair worriedly. “He’s not just some jerk. He’s the future Alpha of the Ravencrest Pack and Quarterback of the football team. Do you know what this means?” I blinked, my heart skipping a beat at the mention of Kai Blackthorn as the future Alpha of the pack. That explained the aura of dominance and superiority around him. But it didn’t explain why he would speak to me. A mere stray. “I don’t understand. So why would he speak to me? Twice.” “Twice?” Maya’s eyes widened in shock as she shivered. She seemed to be panicking and I started to feel scared too as Lila tapped my shoulder in reassurance “Oh moon goddess! Aria, look. I don’t know what Kai wants from you but he is ruthless. He might look like a perfect boy on the surface but don’t let the pretty boy act fool you. He’s dangerous. And if he is talking to you, it’s not because he is interested. He might be testing you. And trust me, you don’t want to be in his radar. I would suggest that you apply for a locker transfer so you are not within his vision.” I swallowed hard, my mind racing a million miles in a few seconds. Kai was the future Alpha? That explained why everyone was watching us when he spoke to me earlier. The way everyone moved aside when he walked and the commanding presence. And yet, there had been something in his eyes when he looked at me. Something I couldn’t quite place. “But.. he didn’t seem that bad,” I said slowly, remembering the smile he gave me before walking away earlier. But as the words left my mouth, I almost didn’t believe them. “Yes, he’s not bad. But he’s terrible. The worst of them all. That’s what he wants you to think. But, trust me Aria. Kai Blackthorn isn’t someone you want to mess with. Stay away from him. For your safety and the sake of your people.” My stomach knotted as I looked at Lila who gave me a worried nod. “Maybe Maya’s right. I don’t know who this Kai is but if he’s the son of the alpha who tore through our pack with no mercy and destroyed our home and forced us to be here, then it’s best if we stay away from his path. For all we know he could be reporting about us to his father.” I nodded, running my hand through my hair. “Great. Just what I needed, another reason to hate this place. No offense Maya.” Maya gave me a small, sympathetic smile. “None taken I would hate it too if I was forced to leave amongst my enemies. Come on, let’s get some food before the line gets too long. We’ll talk more when we are seated.” I nodded, following them as we joined the queue and Lila was talking about her first class and how a Raven girl had spoken to her kindly and wanted to know more about Silverwood. When she finished we, I cut in. “Maya?” I asked as she turned to me for a second before grabbing some food and placing them on her tray. “Earlier we were at my locker and you realized Kai’s was next to mine. You freaked out. Was that because you knew it belonged to him?” “Yes. I’m sorry about that. I didn’t want to scare you but that locker used to belong to a past student who had transferred from Ravencrest last year.” “Why? What happened?” Lila asked as she waited for us to grab our food before we all walked to an empty seat in the filled hall. “There was this guy. He was a Rank 4 or so. He thought it would be funny to mess with Kai’s locker so he broke into his locker and hid his jersey or something. You know, just a stupid prank anyone could play on each other, that kind of thing.” I raised an eyebrow as Maya continued as we took our seat. “When Kai found out, he didn’t just confront him. He challenged him to a fight in front of the whole school. It was brutal. Kai was ten times stronger than he is. He broke both his arms and banished him and his family from Ravencrest.” A chill ran down my spine. “Over a prank?” Lila asked and Maya nodded grimly before she started eating. I gave Lila a worried look and just as I started to eat, someone walked to our table. “Well, well. Look who’s trying to fit in.” My stomach dropped at the sight of Mia and Tasha standing in front of our table. I didn’t miss the way Maya visibly flinched as she nearly choked on her food. Lila stiffened beside me and looked at me in confusion. “Mia and Tasha. What do you guys want?” I asked irritatedly as Lila gasped at the mention of their names. “Nothing. We just want to formally welcome you both and along with your friends to Ravencrest High, that’s all.” Tasha smirked, crossing her arms over her chest. “Get up. Both of you.” Mia ordered immediately and I didn’t miss the group of boys that came to stand behind our chairs and I looked at them worriedly before turning back to Mia. “Why?” I asked, my voice shivering as I tried to keep steady despite my heart racing in my chest. Mia leaned in, her face just a few inches from mine. I could scent her perfume and see her perfect glassy skin. “Because I said so. And because your little stray friends are over there waiting for you.” She said, gesturing to the center of the cafeteria where a group of Silverwood wolves stood huddled together, head bowed and looking scared. “They are waiting for you to join them.” Tasha finished. I looked around the cafeteria that had gone silent, all eyes on us as they all had similar wicked smiles on their faces while the others didn’t even care as they watched. “What is going on?” Lila asked worriedly as she looked at our pack members at the center of the hall. Mia smiled. “Don’t worry, little stray. You’ll see. Now get up. Don’t make me repeat myself.” Maya stood up slowly, her hands shaking as she looked at Mia and Tasha who frowned at her interference. “Uhm, Mia and Tasha. I don’t think—” Before she could finish, Mia’s hand shot up in a blink of an eye and slapped Maya across the face with a loud crack. Both Lila and I jumped at the sound as it echoed through the silent cafeteria and for a moment, everything seemed to stop. My heart pounded in my chest and Maya’s face snapped to the side, her cheeks reddening and her eyes widened in shock. “What gave you the right to speak to me, Rank 6? You don’t think, you obey me.” She said, glaring at Maya before she turned to me, her smirk had vanished and she looked even more scary now. “Now get up, both of you.” Lila was on her feet in an instant and I felt a surge of anger rise in my chest. “How dare you hit your fellow classmate?” I asked angrily. “Fellow classmate?” Tasha laughed, her voice filling the intense air. “That brat is even less important than what I have for breakfast.” But before I could respond Tasha signaled to the guys behind us. And immediately the Ravencrest students stepped forward and grabbed both Lila and I, yanking me to my feet as one of them pressed hard into my shoulder causing me to scream in pain. “Stop this!” I shouted but it fell to deaf ears as they dragged us to the center of the cafeteria where the other Silverwood wolves stood, their faces pale and their eyes widened with fear. I stumbled after them , my heart racing as the entire cafeteria watched in silence. They shoved us amongst the others and I staggered to remain on my feet as I clutched my shoulder, my visit in blurring as I felt warm blood seep through my uniform. Laughter echoed in the distance as I turned to see Mia and Tasha stand in front of us. From the corner of my eyes I could see Maya still standing in shock, not looking at what was happening. But I noticed the tear falling down her cheeks. “Attention everyone! It’s time for our annual tradition. The Stray Welcome!” The room erupted into cheers and laughter and my stomach churned as Lila looked at me fearfully and I gave her a warm smile of reassurance. I glanced around, my chest tightening as I realized what was happening. The Silverwood wolves were completely surrounded by the Ravens, closed in like a pack of wolves circling their prey. “What’s the stray welcome?” I asked softly as Mary, one of our pack members answered under her breath. “I heard amongst the Ravens earlier that it’s a ‘welcome’ for new strays.” She said, her voice low so that only us could hear as I noticed someone wheel in a large table filled with food and I frowned in confusion. “They throw food at us. It’s supposed to be funny.” She finished and my heart sank. Funny? This was humiliation, plain and simple. It was a subtle act of show of power. Display us like outcasts in front of the whole school and throw food at us. “Aww guys don’t look so sad. This is our way of welcoming you to Ravencrest.” Mia laughed before she stopped aside. “And who better to start than our future Alpha.” She said and the whole hall erupted into cheers. “Kai Blackthorn!” She announced cheerfully as everyone clapped and cheered again very loudly. My stomach twisted as I turned to see Kai standing in front of the crowd, his arms crossed across his chest in an arrogant posture. A smug smile on his face. And for a second, his eyes scanned through my people before it landed in me. I imagined I saw something flicker in his gaze, hesitation? No. Because it was gone in a second, replaced by that cold arrogant smirk that I was starting to hate. “Care to do the honors, Kai?” Tasha asked as he stood in front of the table. “Why not?” He said, his voice smooth and casual but filled with a tone of authority and power that sent shivers down my spine. I watched him pick up a tray of spaghetti, his blue eyes locking onto mine as he smirked coldly. “Welcome to Ravencrest, little omega.” Please also follow my I. ,G @authormiragreen.