Chapter 1

AVELORA

Our academy was built to unite the tribes, not to separate us.

Then why are we in ranks? Why am I part of the working population when I'm supposed to be a student like everyone else?

I was supposed to be equal, at least, equal in illusion.

Our hierarchy was so strict that even the cafeteria wasn't exempt.

I balanced the fancy silver food tray that was exclusively prepared for Alpha Khyrix as I stepped into the restricted dining hall.

"I hope he falls on his butt at his coronation tonight," I muttered, staring down at the tray.

As expected, Natalia was wrapped around him like second skin. His beta, Zayn, lounged to his right, with two other guys sitting next to him. I didn't bother to learn their names because they hadn't bothered to learn mine.

Natalia planted her lips on his cheek, then looked up at me as if making a point.

I almost gagged but set the tray on the dining table anyway. Khyrix didn't even glance up. He was totally absorbed in his phone, his body relaxed and his expression unreadable.

Without acknowledging me, his friends began picking at the bread.

I just wanted to leave. It was too early in the morning to deal with overconfident and arrogant wolves, especially an Alpha who needed a personal food delivery but never took a bite of the food and had never bothered to learn the name of the person who had been serving him for two years.

Natalia kept sucking on him like he was her favorite candy. I fixed my gaze on the floor, trying to avoid as much eye contact as I could.

"Uh... What are you still doing here?" Natalia's skanky, high-pitched voice complained.

I cringed.

Finally, Khyrix looked up with that extremely detached look on his face. His eyes skimmed over me, then his gaze dropped back to his phone.

Natalia's attention shifted to me.

"Do you think standing there will make him notice you?"

My eyes snapped up to hers, disbelief clouding my already irritated features. I totally and absolutely despised this.

I didn't react. I shouldn't. She had been picking on me from the moment I walked through the gate of Northshire High.

I was from a lower pack and out of place. She barely let me breathe.

As if what she said was funny, they all started laughing. I almost rolled my eyes.

"Stop."

Khyrix's attention finally shifted from the phone he had been focused on. He looked at me again, like he was just noticing that I was there, then lifted his hand and gestured for me to leave.

Like an animal being controlled, I listened, not daring to look back.

I heaved a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

For people like me, who were at the bottom of the food chain, both in school and in our community, that was the closest I could ever get to the Alpha, and that was the most he was ever going to say to me.

I checked the time as I left the hall. I couldn't make it to practice even if I tried. I had spent too much time in there.

All I had left to do was prepare for Alpha Khyrix's coronation ball, which was tonight. Every werewolf pack would be there.

They were all waiting for him to find a mate.

I was supposed to buy a dress yesterday, but kitchen duty had me trapped.

The only dress I had was the one I brought from my village, the precious knee-length dress my mum had emptied her savings to buy.

I had to serve at the coronation. That was the only way I could make it into the venue without being thrown out.

..........................

By evening, the whole school was already buzzing with energy.

I ran to my spot in the kitchen, carrying one of the trays of snacks that had been made earlier.

I took a deep breath and prayed today would go without any mistakes for anyone to remember me by.

Even though I hated being invisible, I also liked it, if that made any sense.

The first person to spot me coming was Natalia.

Figures. The Moon Goddess had never been kind to me, always playing one joke after the other.

"I knew I smelled something."

Natalia and her crew of three minions covered their noses.

"Who allowed trash in here?"

I stood still, almost as if, if I didn't breathe, she would go away.

No, she didn't. Instead, she collected a drink from one of her minions and emptied it on my dress.

I shut my eyes and bit my lip in frustration. I almost screamed, but I kept my control, forcing myself not to cry in this situation.

She wanted that, but I wasn't going to give her that satisfaction.

At the same time, a deep sound cut through the hall.

"Mate."

The Alpha had finally said the word the elders had been itching for him to say.

Everything stopped.

All our attention turned to him. Every eye trailed after him as he searched for his mate in the crowd.

I didn't care who she was. I just didn't want it to be Natalia.

From the back of the hall, I watched in horror as he moved through the crowd, closer and closer.

It was Natalia the whole time, wasn't it?

She finally got what she wanted. The school was going to be one living hell for me now that she was Khyrix's mate.

"Mate."

He growled again, but instead of going to Natalia, he passed her.

Then he leaned closer.

He inhaled.

The room seemed to tilt.

"Mate," he said, quieter now.

At me.

What?