Taros didn't leave right away. He waited, watching Renn, making sure he left first.
He was protecting her.
Angela could barely breathe, let alone speak. But in her heart, she thanked the stars for Kaito. If he hadn't stepped in, she would be dead by now.
No one had told her that the boy she stood up to was Alpha Renn. If she had known, maybe… maybe she would have thought twice.
She didn't like bowing to anyone. But still, she wouldn't have picked a fight with someone that dangerous. Not without knowing what he was capable of.
The way he held her up against the wall, like she weighed nothing proved it. He was no ordinary werewolf. He had power. Maybe.
"I'm sorry for what happened," Stales said gently, handing her another cup of water.
Angel took it. Her hands trembled.
She noticed the boys from the Red House staring. Some of them were smirking. They looked pleased, like watching her get hurt made their day.
It felt like they wished Renn had finished the job.
Was this what boys were like here? Cold. Unbothered. Even when someone was almost killed right in front of them?
She rubbed her neck. The pain was sharp and deep.
"Get well soon," Stales added.
"Thank you," she whispered.
She needed air. She couldn't stay there any longer.
Angela stood and walked out of the dining hall. She moved down the long hallway, past the noise, until she found a quiet spot where no one could see her.
She leaned against the wall.
Her eyes shut tight. But it didn't stop the tears. They slipped out, hot and angry.
It had always been like this. Since forever.
She didn't start the fight. Everyone saw what happened. Renn had walked up to her, said those words, and made her spill the soup.
But now… she was the one getting blamed.
Just like Principal Jane.
They all looked at her like she was the problem for fighting back. For not staying silent.
Angela wanted to scream. To let the pain out.
But she held it in.
She wouldn't give them that. That's what they wanted to see the weak little human cry. To hear her beg.
No.
They didn't break her out there in the real world.
Her mother didn't break her.
And the Alphas here? They wouldn't either.
"Hey," a voice pulled her back.
She didn't look up.
"Are you okay?"
She wiped her tears quickly with the back of her hand. Then she looked up.
And froze.
Wow.
He looked unreal—like one of those Greek gods she'd seen in art books.
His black hair flowed down his back. His eyes were a soft brown, warm but deep.
His jawline was sharp, almost too perfect. Like someone had drawn him with the world's best pencil.
He wore a black suit. Clean. Elegant.
For a second, she thought—Was he another Alpha?
But he didn't feel like one. He didn't have that heavy, proud energy.
He felt calm. Quiet. Safe.
Then again… so did Taros.
And look how that ended.
"Here," he said, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket. "Don't use your hands. Wipe with this."
Angela stared at it.
She didn't move.
She didn't want kindness. Not now. Especially not from someone who looked like him.
The handsome boys she met earlier had already brought her nothing but pain.
"No. Go away," she whispered, sitting back down.
"I won't," he said gently. "Take it. You might need it later."
His smile was soft. Not mocking. Not proud. Just... there.
Angela's chest burned. Her blood boiled.
Did he think she was weak? That she needed help? A stupid handkerchief?
She clenched her fists.
She would not cry again.
"Fine. I'm not going to beg," the handsome guy snapped, a frown on his face. "It's a privilege to get help from me."
"Go away," Angela rolled her eyes. Her voice was tired. "And mind your business."
"Of course," he said with a bitter laugh, stepping back.
Then his eyes fell on the red marks on her neck. His face changed.
"Whoever did this to you… should've done worse," he said coldly. "You deserved it."
That was it.
Angela had tried to stay calm. She'd tried to walk away. But this? This was too much.
She looked around for something to throw anything. But there was nothing.
So she screamed instead. Her voice was sharp, shaking with rage.
"Go away, you son of a bitch!"
His eyes widened. He hadn't expected that. But instead of getting angry, he smiled like he liked the fire in her.
"No problem," he said. "We'll meet again. And when we do, I hope you're ready for what this son of a bitch brings."
He turned and walked away.
Angela stared after him, shocked. He had worn a mask. Calm on the outside—but underneath, he was cruel. He had offered her kindness, and when she didn't take it, he showed who he really was.
A snake.
Still, she was lucky he hadn't attacked her. Not after what Renn did. She couldn't take another blow like that. Not today.
She sat quietly in the corner, hugging her knees.
Minutes passed.
Then Stales appeared. He looked around in relief when he saw her.
"There you are," he said, squatting beside her. "I was worried."
Angela said nothing at first.
"I'm sorry," he added. "I didn't have time to warn you about Renn."
"It's okay," Angela said softly. "I've learned my lesson."
Stales nodded. "Just… avoid the Alphas. No matter what."
"I'll try. But they should avoid me too," she said, looking him in the eye. "I swear, I don't have anything against them."
"I know," Stales said gently. "Now… can we go to the Initiation Ground? If we miss it, our rankings drop. And that'll affect our various houses."
Angela stood up slowly, still sore.
"Let's go," she said.
"I think the principal said something like that during orientation." Angela said as she slowly stood up.
She dusted her pants and followed Stales down the path. Her legs still ached, but she pushed through. If her ranking dropped, she'd be in trouble—especially with Kaito. She didn't want to face him again with another mistake hanging over her.
As they walked, a question escaped her lips.
"Why are the Alphas feared so much?"
Stales looked at her like she was joking. "You don't know?"
She shook her head.
"They have powers," he said simply. "Real powers. Stuff the rest of us don't have. Remember I told you about the dead student in the central house?"
Angela's skin crawled.
"Yes," she whispered, her voice shaky as they got closer to the Initiation Ground. She could hear boys chanting ahead.
"They say humans started the war a long time ago. All the killing, the bloodshed... it was humans. So the Moon Goddess gave special powers to four werewolves. She made them stronger. Deadlier. She made them Alphas."
Angela stayed quiet. Her heart beat faster.
Powers? Kaito had powers?
It sounded unreal. Like something out of a storybook. But everything in this school already felt like a nightmare. Maybe this was real too.
Before she could ask more, they arrived.
The Initiation Ground was wide and open. Sand covered the ground. A big fire burned in the center, and students sat around it, clapping and chanting.
It looked like fun but Angela knew better.
Nothing here was truly fun.
At the front of the fire stood four huge chairs which were like thrones made of dark wood and carved with wolves.
Each seat was filled.
Her eyes landed on the first one which was alpha Kaito.
He sat still with his f0ace cold like stone. He looked like he didn't care about anything around him.
But damn… he was beautiful.
Too beautiful for someone so rude.
His silver eyes glowed from the firelight. A few strands of his hair had fallen over his face. He looked less like a werewolf and more like some kind of god.
Angela quickly looked away.
She had to stop staring.
But then her eyes caught Taros.
Her heart skipped.
His white hair looked perfect in the firelight. He wasn't just handsome, he had a kind soul. He had stood up for her. Helped her.
He wasn't like the others.
To her, he was the best of them all.
Her eyes moved to the next Alpha.
Renn.
The one who almost killed her today.
Just thinking about it made her body tremble. He looked good, yes but to her, he was nothing but a monster. No matter how handsome he was, she would never forgive him. If she got the chance, she'd make him pay.
Her gaze drifted again.
The last seat held someone in a black suit.
Angela blinked and rubbed her eyes. No way.
It was him—the same guy who offered her a handkerchief earlier. The one who made her blood boil and then walked away with that smug smile.
What was he doing sitting with the Alphas?
She leaned closer to Stales and gently nudged him. "Who's the guy in the black suit?"
Stales followed her gaze.
"Him? That's Alpha Hiro," he whispered. "He's the leader of the South Pack. They call him the Lord of Tricks. He's quiet but deadly. Never trust his smile. Never fall for his games."
Angela's mouth dropped open.
Her knees grew weak as she stepped back. No. No. This couldn't be happening.
What kind of bad luck was this?
She had met all four alphas managed to make an enemy of all of them in one day.
Stales turned to her and stared. "Oh no... don't tell me you already met him?"
Angela nodded slowly. "I did. And it didn't go well."
Her hands shook. Her chest felt tight. What now?
Stales placed his palm on his forehead. "If Alpha Kaito doesn't kill you first, I'm pretty sure Hiro will. That guy doesn't forgive."
Angela looked back at Hiro.
He was smiling.
Right at her.
He had noticed her. And now he stood up.
He started walking toward her.
Cold fear rushed through her body.
"The Alpha is coming. This isn't good," Stales said quietly.
Angela's heart sank.
This whole day was a disaster. Running from home, pretending to be a boy, joining an all-male academy, it was all a mistake. A huge one.
The thought of it made her legs feel heavy. Her head spun.
Then everything went dark.
And she fell.