First Kiss

Shanella Anderson

My whole body went cold. My feet refused to move. No—no, I couldn’t go back. I had to keep running. But my hands shook as I grabbed a low-hanging branch from a tree and climbed up. I had to see what was happening.

From the top, I had a clear view of the garden, where the wedding was taking place. My breath caught in my throat at the horrifying scene below.

Alpha Terence stood in front of everyone, his body trembling with rage. His form shifted violently, bones cracking as his massive wolf took over. Before anyone could stop him, he lunged at Lily.

His sharp teeth sank into her neck.

I covered my mouth to stop the scream threatening to escape.

Lily’s body went limp, falling to the ground in a lifeless heap. Blood stained her white dress.

“This is not Shanella!” Alpha Terence roared, his voice filled with fury.

Alpha Ethan’s face twisted in rage. He turned to Paula, grabbing her by the throat. “Where is my daughter?” he demanded.

Paula’s face was red, struggling for breath, but her eyes burned with defiance. “Let Miss Shanella go,” she choked out. “She deserves to have her own life.”

Alpha Ethan snarled. Without hesitation, he tightened his grip—until Paula’s body went still.

A sharp pain tore through my chest.

No!

Lily and Paula… they were gone. Because of me.

Tears blurred my vision. My hands trembled as I gripped the tree trunk. I wanted to scream. I wanted to run back and fight for them.

But I couldn’t.

I couldn’t let their sacrifice be for nothing.

Swallowing my sobs, I climbed down the tree. My legs felt weak, but I forced them to move. Then, I ran. I ran as fast as I could, away from the place that had never been my home.

I didn’t stop running until I was far beyond the borders of the Red Moon Pack. My lungs burned, and my legs ached, but I didn’t dare slow down. Not until I reached the city.

When I finally arrived, exhaustion hit me like a wave. I found a cheap motel, paid for a room in cash, and locked the door behind me. My hands trembled as I pressed my back against the wall.

What am I going to do now?

I pulled out my phone, staring at it for a moment before ripping out the SIM card and crushing it beneath my heel. No one could track me. No one could call me. I am free.

"You don’t need to be sad," Gigi, my wolf, spoke through our mind link. "You did the right thing."

I clenched my fists. Did I? Lily and Paula were dead because of me.

"But if they hadn’t helped you, you would’ve spent your life miserable. You’re free now, Shanella. It’s time to start over."

I bit my finger, thinking. If I want a new life, I need to become someone else.

"Then why not go to the Alpha Training Academy?" Gigi suggested.

I frowned. What?

"The Westoria Academy. If you want to prove your worth, go there. Train. Become strong. Maybe then Alpha Ethan will regret everything he’s done to you."

A spark of determination lit inside me. I nodded to myself and glanced at my reflection in the motel mirror. My hair, though short, still looked too feminine. I grabbed the scissors and trimmed it even more, the strands falling to the floor.

I needed clothes. Digging into my bag, I counted my money. It was enough.

I went out and bought a jacket, loose pants, rubber shoes, and a cap. After changing, I stood in front of the mirror again.

"That’s better," Gigi said.

I adjusted my cap and took a deep breath. “From now on, I am Shane Bolton.”

With my heart pounding, I left the motel and headed straight to Westoria Academy.

Luckily, the academy staff seemed too busy to pay much attention to me. They only asked me to fill out a form, make my payment, and handed me a room key along with some manuals.

“You’ll start classes tomorrow,” the staff member said, barely glancing at me.

I deepened my voice. “Thank you.”

As I walked down the hallway, anxiety crept in. The academy was filled with men—aspiring Alphas from different packs. I kept my head down, trying not to draw attention.

Suddenly, a group of students ran past, laughing and shoving each other. One of them bumped into me, hard.

I stumbled, trying to regain my balance, but it was too late. I crashed into someone behind me, and we both fell to the ground.

Pain shot through my back, but that wasn’t what made my heart stop.

My lips… were pressed against his.

I froze.

The guy beneath me stiffened.

I had just accidentally kissed a student on my first day at the academy!

Our eyes locked. His were dark, burning with anger, while mine were wide with shock. For a moment, neither of us moved, our lips still pressed together in an accidental, humiliating kiss.

Then, suddenly—

“What the hell?!” he growled, shoving me away so hard I almost fell back.

I stumbled but quickly caught myself, my heart pounding wildly in my chest.

I wiped my lips in a panic, face burning. “I—I’m sorry!”

Then, without thinking, I turned and ran.

My pulse raced, and I didn’t know why. Was it because I had just kissed someone? Because he was unbelievably handsome?

"Or… what if he’s our mate?" Gigi’s voice whispered in my mind.

I skidded to a stop, my breath catching.

Mate?

"You’re eighteen now, Shanella. It’s possible."

I trembled, gripping my jacket. No. No, that couldn’t be. I wasn’t here to find my mate. I was here to train—to hide.

If the students found out I wasn’t a real man, I’d be punished. Worse, if my father or Alpha Terence caught me, they would drag me back and force me into that marriage.

I clenched my fists and pushed the thought away. No distractions. No mates.

After a few minutes of walking through the academy dormitory, I found my assigned room then I froze.

This wasn’t a solo room.

My chest tightened as I slowly opened the door.

Inside were two beds, two desks, and two cabinets. A small couch sat near the window, and there was even a television and air conditioning. The room was clean, modern, and comfortable—for the high tuition fee, at least it made sense.

But my mind wasn’t on the room.

I had a roommate.

Gigi hummed. "Oh no… Who do you think it is?"

Before I could answer, the door behind me swung open.

I turned—and felt my stomach drop.

It was him.

The man I had just kissed.

My whole body went stiff as we locked eyes again.

Gigi let out a dramatic sigh. "Oh my… don’t tell me he’s our roommate?"

The man stared at me, expression unreadable. Then, his eyes narrowed.

My breath caught.

Of all the people in this academy, why did it have to be him?