Chapter 2

　　CRYSTAL POV

　　The iron gates of Alpha Disciplinary College tower ahead of me, standing in front of it, my chest felt tight with emotions I refused to name.

　　Fear, anger, disgust.

　　The massive iron gates stood above me, on it was different magic hang around it, to suppress wolves like me. The walls were high, made with bricks. This wasn't a school, it was a death sentence.

　　Most wolves who entered Alpha Disciplinary College didn't leave the same. Some didn't leave at all.

　　My parents knew that.

　　And they sent me anyway.

　　I hadn't expected love from them, I buried that hope years ago. But this? Being dumped here like a curse they were tired of carrying?

　　Hatred curled low in my stomach as I stared at the gates. This place would either break me…

　　Or finish what they started.

　　And just like that, the memory clawed its way back.

　　Fifteen years ago.

　　I had been running down the corridor, laughing, barefoot against the marble floor. I had been excited. I don't remember why, only that I wanted them. Wanted to show them something.

　　I stopped outside their door when I heard their hush voice.

　　"If we had known…" my father said quietly.

　　There was a pause.

　　"…we should have ended it before she ever drew her first breath."

　　I was the it. My mother didn't argue.

　　The memory faded, leaving behind the same hollow ache it always did whenever I remembered. I exhaled slowly, shove it down, facing the gate.

　　After many more torture from them, and years of being depressed, the only time I find peace and solace is being alone, or whenever I run to my best friend Lydia who was also sent away by her parents to God knows where.

　　Because I learned early that if I didn't harden myself first, the world would do it for me.

　　Alpha Disciplinary College stood unmoved before me.

　　They had sent me here to disappear.

　　I tightened my grip on my bag and stepped forward.

　　I gently press the bell, and immediately a guard opened staring at me. He looked around then nodded his head for me to enter.

　　The moment my foot crossed the invisible boundary, the air shifted.

　　Students stood outside passing me a weird look which I ignored.

　　I waited for the familiar resistance others described whenever they pass through the school gate, the internal scream, the panic, the rage, the suppression magic meant to force wolves into obedience.

　　But I felt nothing, no pain, no struggle, no wolf.

　　The guard frowned, watching me too closely, then waved me through without a word.

　　Students gathered around the courtyard, some talking in low voices, others standing alone with their arms crossed. They passed me a strange look.

　　Eyes followed me.

　　I felt it immediately, they seems uneasy at my presence, wolves stiffened. A girl near the steps pressed a hand to her chest, her brows knitting together.

　　"What's wrong with her?" someone whispered.

　　"I don't know," another replied softly. "My wolf doesn't like her."

　　I kept walking, ignoring them like I always do.

　　A slim boy with bruises all over him stepped into my path by mistake, clearly distracted. He collided with my shoulder and stumbled back, his books slipping from his hands and scattering across the ground.

　　"Oh...sorry," he said quickly, bending down to gather them. His voice shook, like he expected me to explode. I guess he has always been picked on seeing how he shiver.

　　I stared at him for a second longer than necessary.

　　"Watch where you're going," I said flatly.

　　I stepped around him and continued forward.

　　Behind me, I heard someone mutter, "She's cold."

　　Another voice whispered, "Did you see her eyes?"

　　I clenched my jaw, I hadn't hurt him. I hadn't even raised my voice.

　　But to them, I was already a monster.

　　A sharp whistle made me freeze on my spot.

　　"All new arrivals, line up!" The air shifted instantly.

　　Conversations died down immediately at the sound of the voice. Wolves straightened, and standing in attention as a powerful presence settled over them all.

　　I turned slowly.

　　He stood at the center of the courtyard, a short man with a protruding belly, dressed in dark clothes. He seems to be in his fifties. I guess he was the principal.

　　Students rushed into formation, some bowing their heads instinctively. Others avoided his gaze completely.

　　I took my place at the end of the line.

　　His sharp eyes scanned the students one by one, as if he was assessing us all. When he spoke, his voice was calm, but with authority that made weaker wolves flinch.

　　"Name, and pack." He started from the front.

　　"Lena, Silver Crest pack."

　　"Chris, Moonfall pack."

　　Each answer was followed by a nod or a brief dismissal.

　　Then his gaze landed on me, it stayed for a brief moment longer than necessary.

　　"You," he said. "Step forward."

　　My chest tightened, but I did as told.

　　"Name," he said.

　　"Crystal."

　　He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Pack?"

　　I hesitated. "I don't have one."

　　The assembly went into an uncomfortable silence.

　　The principal's gaze hardened instantly. "No pack?" he repeated slowly.

　　I lifted my chin. "None."

　　A murmur rippled through the students behind me.

　　"That's impossible," someone whispered.

　　"Even rogues belong somewhere."

　　The principal took a step closer. "You're packless?" he asked, his tone neutral.

　　"I was born into one," I replied evenly. "I just don't belong to it."

　　His eyes darted briefly to the gates behind me, then back to my face. For the first time since I arrived, something unreadable crossed his expression.

　　"Interesting," he said quietly.

　　That single word made my stomach drop.

　　He straightened and raised his voice. "You will not join the others."

　　A few students glanced at me with something close to relief, some with pity.

　　"You," he continued, pointing directly at me, "will report to the Alpha Office. Immediately." He paused a bit.

　　"For assessment."

　　Assessment.

　　That was never a good word here.

　　"Yes, sir," I replied, keeping my tone flat.

　　As I stepped out of line, A boy near the fountain visibly exhaled when I moved farther away from him.

　　It stung more than I wanted to admit. I wasn't attacking them, I wasn't threatening them.

　　I was just… wrong to their wolves.

　　A guard appeared at my side without a word and gestured for me to follow. We walked past the stone corridors with old pack symbols, deeper into the heart of the school.

　　The closer we got, the heavier the air became.

　　"Alpha Office," he mutters at massive oak door carved with snarling beasts. His Jaw was tight, he knocks: "Packless arrival."

　　"Wait here."

　　He knocked once and pushed the door open.

　　The room felt different, in a odd and powerful way.

　　It felt familiar in a way that made my skin prickle.

　　I stepped inside.

　　The door closed behind me with a heavy thud.

　　At the far end of the room stood a man with his back to me, tall and broad-shouldered, his presence was commanding without effort. The air around him has an Alpha authority.

　　He turned.

　　The moment our eyes met, something twisted inside me.

　　My chest tightened sharply, like my heart had just remembered something my mind hadn't.

　　His eyes darkened, narrowing slightly, he felt it too.

　　"Kneel," he said, his cold voice carrying authority.

　　My knees nearly give out, but from the terrifying truth that some part of me already knew how to obey him.