Chapter 4 One down. Many to go.

Selene walked first while behind her, Kai stood frozen, staring at her retreating back with wide, speechless disbelief. Selene didn’t have to turn around to know it. She could feel Kai’s confusion cling to the air like perfume, thick and undeniable.

It made her lips curl into a slow, deliberate smirk. A smirk she knew would burn itself into Kai’s memory.

As Selene made her way down the long corridor toward her classroom, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the glass wall—her hair neatly arranged, her skirt fitting her perfectly, her eyes sharp and in control. A striking beauty she once never recognized.

Selene Marionette Alvarez. Twenty years old. Third-year college. Former future Luna of the West Pack. 

Former—because she would never choose that fate again.

A soft smile tugged at her lips as she flipped her hair lightly and continued walking.

Minutes later, she stepped inside the classroom with effortless confidence. Conversations halted. Heads turned. Dozens of eyes widened. Whispers exploded instantly.

“What is going on?”

“Did something happen between her and the Alpha?”

“She looks so different today…”

“Look at her posture—she’s like a queen walking in.”

Selene’s smirk deepened. She honestly hadn’t expected this much reaction. Apparently, wearing the uniform she once protested against the Dean for… had more impact than she thought.

“Old Selene out. Hello, new gorgeous Selene…” one classmate whispered. “But wait—does this mean Kai won’t be the muse anymore?”

A few boys whistled at the idea.

Then the door swung open hard enough to shake.

Kai stood there, brows furrowed, lips pressed thin. Her energy was heavy, sharp—jealousy simmering beneath her polished exterior.

“What happened, Kai?” Selene asked sweetly, as if she didn’t already know.

“Nothing,” Kai said quickly, slamming her bag onto her chair before turning her head away.

The entire class stiffened. Her irritation was so obvious it practically pulsed through the air. Selene didn’t need her wolf to tell her Kai was furious—furious enough to crack her pretty mask.

Kai had always loved being the “class muse”—the most beautiful girl in the room.

At least… in her mind.

And now, the attention wasn’t hers. Not even close.

Kai leaned forward slightly, whispering under her breath, but loud enough for Selene—and a few unlucky students—to hear:

“Why do you have to change so suddenly? It’s not like… you have anything to show off anyway.”

The class fell silent.

Selene slowly turned her head toward Kai, her smile sharpened into something soft, lovely… and dangerous.

She didn’t even need to speak yet, and everyone felt the temperature shift.

Selene raised an eyebrow. She leaned slightly forward, just enough for only Kai to hear her.

“Oh? You saying something?” Selene murmured softly, her voice coated with honey and steel.

Kai’s eyes widened for half a second—caught, cornered, exposed.

“Nothing,” Kai replied quickly, her voice tight, almost squeaky.

Selene’s smirk deepened. “That’s what I thought.”

A few students exchanged glances; they’d never seen Kai back down from anyone—especially not from Selene. But today, everything felt upside down.

Kai looked away, flustered, fingers gripping her pen too tightly.

“Why are you acting like this?” she muttered under her breath. “It’s weird.”

Selene pretended not to hear at first, settling gracefully into her seat. Then she tilted her head, her voice soft and deceptively sweet.

“Is it weird?” she asked. “Or are you just not used to me… standing taller than you?”

Kai stiffened. “What? No! I’m not—”

Selene cut her off with a gentle smile that held no warmth.

“It’s fine, Kai. Change can be scary. Especially when you aren’t the one causing it.”

Kai blinked, speechless.

Around them, curious whispers filled the room. Something was different—dangerously different—and everyone felt it.

Selene just crossed her legs, calm, confident, and utterly unbothered.

Inside, her wolf purred.

Kai glared at her notebook, pretending to write, though her hand was trembling slightly. The class kept stealing glances between them, waiting—expecting—the old dynamic to snap back into place.

But it didn’t.

Selene leaned back casually, crossing her arms. Her presence alone pressed against the room like a new gravity. Even the usual chatter died down.

One boy whispered, “Dude… she’s different different.”

Another elbowed him. “Yeah. Kai’s not even talking back. What the hell happened?”

Kai heard it. Her jaw clenched.

“Can you all stop staring?” she snapped, louder than intended.

But Selene just smiled—slowly, lazily—as if Kai’s irritation was a mild amusement at best.

“Aw, don’t mind them,” Selene said softly. “They’re just not used to seeing you… quiet.”

She emphasized the last word like a gentle knife.

A ripple of suppressed laughter moved through the room.

Kai’s cheeks burned. “I’m not quiet. I just—”

She swallowed the rest of her sentence, realizing she had no real excuse.

Selene tilted her head. “Just what?”

Kai looked away. “Just… not in the mood.”

“Mood swings?” Selene said lightly. “Be careful. People might think you’re jealous.”

Kai whipped her head toward Selene, eyes wide. “J–jealous? Of you?”

Selene didn’t raise her voice. She didn’t move aggressively. She simply smiled.

And somehow, that made Kai shrink.

“I mean…” Selene said, tapping her nail lightly on the desk, “…you did look pretty bothered when everyone called me the new muse.”

The classroom went silent.

Kai’s face paled. “That’s not— I’m not—”

Selene leaned in, close enough for only Kai to hear, her voice a whisper dipped in velvet and poison.

“It’s fine, Kai. Not everyone can handle competition.”

Kai’s breath hitched—embarrassment, anger, and confusion swirling in her eyes.

Before she could speak, the teacher entered.

“Good morning! Everyone take your seats.”

He paused. “Selene… you look different today.”

A few students snorted.

Selene offered a polite smile. “Just embracing change, sir.”

And the teacher—like everyone else—couldn’t help but look twice.

As class began, Kai sat stiff and silent, stealing glances at Selene every few minutes… confused, unsettled, and undeniably intimidated.

Selene, meanwhile, calmly opened her notebook, her smirk returning as her wolf whispered in her mind.

One down. Many to go.