Chapter 4 The New Me

SORAYA 

THREE DAYS LATER

Packing was hard. Mostly because I packed more for Bianca than I did for myself. She sat cross-legged on her bed pretending to be busy choosing which lingerie sets.

“Aren’t you supposed to be better at organizing?” 

She rolled her eyes without even looking at me. “Then organize faster.”

For the first time in a long time, I had looked in the mirror earlier that morning and actually liked the person staring back at me.  Enough to feel like I belonged in my own skin, enough to feel like I did not have to hide behind oversized sweaters and matted hair.

After that night with the stranger, something had changed.

I washed my hair, cleaned my face and glossed my lips.

Bianca noticed immediately.

“The lipgloss looks ridiculous on you.”

I snickered. “Or you feel intimidated by how glossy my lips are. Maybe the fact that I fixed my face, washed my hair, and stopped looking like I crawled out of a storage closet makes you feel threatened.”

She scoffed, flicking her skirt up like that counted as a counter-argument. 

“As if.”

“Well then,” I said as I pulled on my leather jacket, “stop being a bother about my appearance and finish packing yourself.”

She threw the clothes she had been holding onto the bed and began to walk out. I moved too, relieved to finally leave the room, but Bianca went ahead and blocked the doorway.

"What are you doing?"

She stared hard at me. “Go back and finish helping me pack.”

I crossed my arms. “If I am helping you pack, why are you never nice about it? You have not said please, you have not said thank you. If you want help, then act like you deserve it.”

Bianca snapped, “It is your duty to help me pack.”

“Oh, as your maid, right?” I shot back. “Because you are so used to me bending over for you that you automatically assume you are entitled to my services. As your maid, right?”

Bianca didn't budge.

“I am stronger than you. If you do not go back and pack my suitcase, I will cripple you before we reach the academy.”

I sighed. “Sure. Batter me, beat me. When we get to the academy, I am sure the students would love to hear how their Miss Perfect is so violent.”

Her jaw flexed, but she said nothing more.

Outside, I spotted the academy bus growing near. I tapped my bun in place and straightened my jacket. Wolfrite College was a full boarding academy. Once I stepped on that bus, I would not see home for a long time. 

For the first time in forever, that thought comforted me.

My mother handed Bianca’s suitcase directly to me. As if I was Bianca’s personal butler. I ignored her, stepped aside, and walked toward the opposite entrance of the bus so Bianca would have to carry her own things.

She saw and refused to even touch her suitcase herself. A butler immediately came running to assist her. 

Of course.

×

The bus door slid open and I stepped in. I kept my head down from the watching crowd.

Bianca stepped in immediately after me.

A few voices rose from the crowd.

“Look, it is Bianca Valeo."

“It is really her.”

“She is going to be Luna one day.”

Of course they adored her. Bianca had ruled our high school like a miniature monarchy. And Wolfrite Academy was filled with the elite among young wolves. Naturally she would shine here too.

Kaelon waited at the back like he was holding court. Bianca strolled to him and dropped gracefully onto his lap.

“Hey, babe,” she purred.

I moved quickly to the farthest seat, wanting nothing to do with the show. Some students did not know Bianca had a sister, and those who did kept staring.

One of Kaelon's friends leaned in, smirking. 

“Hey there.”

I ignored him and shifted just enough for the faint bruise on my neck to be visible. 

A hickey. His eyes widened, and so did Kaelon's.

“Hi, Soraya,” Kaelon greeted, surprised.

I stayed silent for the show.

Bianca turned and her gaze went straight to my neck. 

Whispers spread between seats like fire.

"Which Alpha put a hickey on Soraya?"

"Who touched the invisible sister?"

Before anyone could probe further, Bianca clapped loudly.

“I think it is time we introduced ourselves,” she announced. “Some of us are from different packs, and we should get to know each other.”

I rolled my eyes.

Bianca did not care about bonding. She wanted to study the others, to note potential allies and map out the competition.

Not like it was my business anyways.

×××

We pulled up at Wolfrite, and it was every bit the majestic, moody dream I imagined. Gloomy, but not the depressing kind. 

It reminded me of the modern version of Old Answers High, the one that had burned down years ago and had been replaced by a new supermarket. Wolfrite felt like everything Hogwarts would want to compete with.

Immediately the bus doors opened, everyone came out, chattering, tugging suitcases, trying to look braver than they felt. 

Bianca, of course, was still glued to Kaelon's side, and for some reason he kept glancing at me.

Inside, I barely made it three steps before colliding with someone.

Books fell to the ground and one with a particularly heavy edge thumped my face.

Ow.

“Hi,” I murmured, bending to help.

The girl looked up, flustered but smiley. She had silky blonde hair, light green eyes and.... delicate energy. I think. 

“Hi. I am Sarah.”

“Hi Sarah. I'm Soraya. From which pack do you hail?”

“Moon claw. My uncle is from here through,” she said as we gathered her things. 

I could instantly tell that she was an Omega. Maybe with one parent being a descendant of a half-alpha.

“I am sorry. I did not mean to bump into you.”

“No, I bumped into you,” she insisted.

Bianca strutted past us and Sarah stared, starstruck.

“Wait, that is your sister?”

I nodded.

“Oh. You are a Valeo.” Then she whispered, “I thought you were supposed to be the less pretty twin.”

"Uh...."

"Forgive my wording. That is not what I meant. That is what people say. But looking at you now, you look way better than your sister.”

A soft smile stretched my lips. 

"I...thank you, Sarah."

I could tell that I would like this girl. 

I noticed a soft blue tag on Sarah’s wrist and glanced at mine. It was the same color. “Crestwing dormitory?”

She nodded. “Yes. I think we are rooma—”

An announcement from the speakers interrupted her. 

“All new entries, report to the Dean’s office.”

I opened my mouth to ask where that even was, but another voice came through. 

“Soraya Valeo, report to Office Block Three.”

Sarah’s eyes widened. “That is not the Dean’s office.”

“Then whose office is it?”

She leaned closer. 

“The Alpha. Not just any alpha. THE Alpha. The direct great, great, great, great, grandson of the founder of Wolfrite. What did you do to get summoned by him?”

I had no idea. 

Did I...break any rules already?

I practically half ran. This summon could mean expulsion if negative.

I knocked on the door three times and waited, catching my breath and ignoring the passing stares. I couldn't have done anything wrong so quickly. 

The door opened and what made my whole body lose locomotion was the pair of iron-grey eyes. 

The stranger that I had given my virginity to in the backseat of his car... was the Alpha of all Alphas. 

Fuck no.