THE WOLFLESS QUEEN AND HER FOUR CARDINAL ALPHAS

§∆§LUNARA'S POV§∆§

"Out," my father ordered, not even looking me in the eyes.

I stared at the building through the tinted glass window. Vicjen Royal Academy shone brightly at the top of the skyscraper building. It was blue and gold trim all over the outside. The huge lands looked properly mowed as well.

Show-offs. I hated places like this. I just sat still. I didn't move.

My father, noticing I wasn't moving, finally lifted his eyes from his iPad.

"Lunara."

His voice could freeze hell. It didn't sound like he was talking to me, his daughter. It felt like he was ordering his subjects.

"Get out. Now," he gritted out, finally out of patience.

I turned to look at him. King Aldric of the Notredam, king of all werewolves. My father. The man who was supposed to love me no matter what.

He couldn't even hold my gaze when I looked at him pleading with my eyes.

"Dad, please..."

"Don't." He cut me off. "You've embarrassed this family enough. Just go quietly. That's the least you can do."

My chest hurts. But I didn't let it show on my face. Nineteen years of practice taught me that crying just made things worse.

Behind me, Aurora giggled. Of course she did.

Rora. My perfect twin sister. Sitting there examining her nails like this was boring, as if her wolf didn't just come in last year.

A damn weak wolf. Barely worth mentioning.

But it was enough. Enough to make her matter. Enough to make her the new favorite.

And enough to make me nothing.

"Don't worry, Nara," Aurora cooed, using the nickname that used to sound loving but now just sounded mocking. "I'm sure you'll do fine. Even without a wolf."

I wanted to punch that ugly fake sympathy right off her face. But I didn't. I just grabbed my bag and opened the door.

Cold air whipped at my face. I breathe it in and I can't help but notice how refreshing it is. Everything smelled expensive. Even the damn air.

Students walked past in purple blazers with golden wolf crests. They all looked like they owned the world.

Confident. Beautiful. Powerful and everything I wasn't. I didn't belong anywhere.

"Lunara." My mom's voice made me turn back.

Queen Isolde leaned out the passenger window. Her face was blank. She'd worn this same expression for years without a smile, ever since I turned sixteen and my wolf didn't emerge.

"Your identity stays hidden," she said calmly. "It's for your protection."

Liar. I knew the truth. They weren't protecting me. They were hiding me. Hiding their wolfless daughter because I was an embarrassment to the royal bloodline.

Who would want a future Alpha Queen who couldn't shift?

"I understand."

My voice came out empty as well. I can't remember the last time I smiled at them. I swore to myself that today is the last day I will ever beg my parents for anything.

My mom rolled up the window and the car pulled away.

I stood there watching it disappear down the long driveway. I could still hear Aurora's laugh through the closed windows.

I hated her. I hated them all. I turned and walked toward the entrance.

My footsteps were silent against the stone pathway. I walked calmly even though I was angry inside and wanted to vent or kick something.

They wanted me to disappear? Fine. But someday, someday they will see who I really am. And they were going to regret everything. Every single thing.

The registration office was packed. Werewolves were everywhere. Nobles and Elite families that I recognized. They acted as if they didn't see me, and I did the same.

"Next!"

I walked up to the desk. A woman with glasses sat there barely looking up from her computer screen.

"Name?"

"Lunara... Smith."

The fake last name almost made me gag but I pushed through.

She typed something on her computer. Then she frowned. Her eyes came up and she actually looked at me.

"Are you sure your surname is Smith?" She asked slowly, as if she didn't believe me for a second.

"Yes."

Her frown got deeper but she typed again.

A second later she printed out a card and slid it across the desk.

I picked it up.

Name: Lunara Smith

Status: Human

Rank: Lowest Tier

Dorm: Building C, Room 447

The word "Human" was in bold red letters. I didn't need to be told that being branded as human, I was going to suffer. Even the red on the card already told me.

The woman's expression changed. It got softer and there was so much pity in her eyes that it disgusted me.

No one has the right to pity me, Lunara Throneborn. No one. She should be scared of me, not pitying me.

"You'll need your uniform from the supply room," she said quietly. "And... good luck."

I took the card and left without saying anything, too angry to respond.

Behind me, whispers started.

"Did you see that?"

"A human? Here?"

"Why would they even accept an ordinary human?"

My jaw hurt from clenching it so hard. Keep walking. Just keep walking.

Don't react. Don't give them anything.

As I was walking forward, I didn't see the foot positioned in front of me to trip me.

I was already falling, too caught up in my anger, when I realized what had just happened.

"That's what you deserve for coming here, human!" A slender-looking girl snarled. She looked so angry and self-righteous and that angered me more.

I stood up and dusted the dirt from my body. I was actually looking for someone to transfer my aggression to.

I guess fighting on my first day of school is going to make my parents very proud of me. I always do things that make them proud.

I stood up and slowly walked toward her, making sure each step was loud and deliberate as I held her gaze.

Before she could know what I would do next, I landed the most resounding slap on her face that had her neck snapping to the other side.

Everyone gasped. Some screamed. Others looked horrified. I wasn't done.

I grabbed her hair and tilted her face to my direction and looked her in her eyes.

By now she was shaking and trembling in fear.

"Next time, it won't be just a slap," I growled out. I shoved her hard. She landed on her butt.

I took my belongings from the floor and walked off.