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CHAPTER 3
~Valerie's POV~
After dealing with the three insufferable Alpha Princes, I just wanted to register, get my schedule, and survive the day without more bullshit.
No such luck.
As soon as I entered the principal's office, the principal's secretary hardly glanced up at my arrival, her fingers tapping away at her computer with a look of boredom.
"The principal isn't in today," she said, flicking her gaze over me. "You'll need to come back early tomorrow morning to complete your orientation."
I frowned. "Wait. My uncle was supposed to—" I paused when I realised I said that out loud.
She sighed, already knowing where I was going with this. "I assume your guardian was supposed to call in advance and explain your circumstances?" she asked as though she had heard those excuses before.
Still, I exhaled sharply and nodded. Of course, he forgot,or was this intentional as a way of punishing me?
Tsk… that old man could be a big bully sometimes.
"Right. Well, I was…"
"Sick? That's not my concern," she interrupted briskly.
"No. I was mugged and stabbed on my way here yesterday. Getting to school or in touch with my family wasn't easy after that." Her expression fell completely. She wasn't expecting that, especially when I lifted my shirt to show her the wound.
She gasped.
"So if there are any forms I need to fill, Ms. Heart—" I lifted my eyes from her name tag and smiled expectantly.
"I'm sorry about everything." Her attitude changed immediately. "I just had a rough day. You should also have the doctor check that out, okay?"
I nodded, and she went shuffling through some papers before handing me a neatly stacked pile. "That's it. Here's your timetable and classes, as well as a brochure containing the school rules and a map of the academy."
I took them without a word.
"Your name?"
"Valerie. Valerie Nightshade."
Ms. Heart gave me a once-over, then smirked. "You're a straight-A student, which is the only reason we allowed a senior-year transfer. We don't usually do that, but your dad drove a hard bargain."
She winked at me.
I forced a smile back. Dad?
If my father were alive, I wouldn't be transferring.
If the assassination ten years ago never happened, I wouldn't have to prove myself in this hellhole.
Because just like those spoilt Alpha brats, I was entitled to be here—all Alpha heirs were.
I swallowed the thought and nodded before leaving the office with a thanks.
****************
The rest of the day was thankfully Alpha-free.
I skimmed over my schedule, relieved to find out I had two more classes before the school day was over. Thankfully, none of the alpha heirs were there.
Unfortunately, I wasn't free of Brielle and her cheer minions.
They were in my Economics and Advanced Geography classes, sitting front row, preening like they were the main characters in a shitty high school drama.
I kept my head down, ignoring the glares thrown my way.
But then, as I settled into my seat, a strange feeling washed over me.
A pair of eyes settled on me. I glanced around subtly, but I did not catch the culprit. I didn't need more unwanted attention today.
But something told me this school wouldn't let me stay in the shadows for long, especially those cheer bitches. So, before anyone made a move, I left the class after the lecturer.
****************
By the time I reached the dorms, exhaustion weighed on me. The stares—whispers—Alpha Princes. I just needed a moment to breathe.
A soft chime from my smartwatch lit up the screen.
[Welcome to PSA Student Housing: Room 318]
I found the door, twisted the knob, and stepped inside.
Damn.
I expected a cramped dorm. Instead, I walked into a spacious suite—a vast common area that stretched before me, complete with a sleek sectional couch, a massive flat-screen TV, and a low coffee table.
To the right, an open-concept kitchen gleamed with dark countertops and modern appliances, a dining table with four chairs neatly tucked in the corner.
But what caught my attention the most? Four separate doors—two evenly spaced along the walls and the other two in the opposite wing. Each one had a gold nameplate.
I moved closer, scanning the nameplates. Four names—Emerald Drake, Astraea Kane, Isla Storm and Valerie Nightshade.
I pushed open the door—and stopped.
It was perfect.
The room was exactly as I had requested: deep blues, purples, and blacks. It had a massive bed, a plush comforter, floor-length curtains, and a sleek desk in the corner.
I opened the closet.
Three sets of four uniforms, tailored for each season. Light fabrics for spring and summer and thicker materials for autumn and winter.
On the lower shelf, neatly folded, were a pyjama set and necessities.
"Good. My stolen bag isn't an issue for now."
For the first time since arriving at PSA, I felt a little relief. The rest of this school might be hell. But at least this room was mine.
I dropped onto the bed, exhaling.
Tomorrow, I'd deal with everything.
My dorm room had a view of the dense forest surrounding the academy.
I spent most of the evening settling in, even though my roomies were nowhere to be found. I stepped out later to get something to eat before returning.
Finally, I took my bath, and exhaustion took over. I had barely crashed an hour when my new phone rang out, and I immediately took it from my nightstand.
I answered. "Yeah?"
"Valerie," my uncle's voice came through. "The Blood Moon is tonight. You need to get as far into the forest as possible before it rises."
I stiffened. Shit.
My first transformation was going to be today, once the clock struck midnight.
I had spent years training and preparing, but that didn't change the fact that this would be my first time fully shifting and meeting my wolf.
"You sure I can't just lock myself in here?" I muttered, already knowing the answer.
"You need space. Your wolf will take over, and you won't be able to control her at first." A beat of silence. "Go now."
I sighed. "Fine."
After ending the call, I grabbed a hoodie and slipped out of the dorm, heading toward the school gardens and forest.
It was already late and most of the dorm room lights were turned off. Good. I could sneak out.
The moment I stepped into the cool night air, something inside me stirred. I swallowed, looking up at the full moon.
Without being told, I hurried and headed straight into the forest. The more I ran, the quicker the colour above began to change.
And as soon as the clock struck 12, the moon was completely red.
I made it deep into the forest, my body burning, my bones breaking—shifting. I let out a strangled breath, falling to my knees as the first wave of the transformation hit.
And then—burning heat.
My body snapped, stretched, and reshaped. Pain and power intertwined as my vision blurred, my skin burnt—until suddenly, I wasn't standing on two legs anymore.
I was on four.
My wolf had fully awakened.
The forest around me seemed taller but my senses were razor-sharp. Every scent, every sound, every pulse of life—I could feel it all.
And my reflection in the fountain nearby? A massive silver wolf, streaked with violet and blue along her fur, glowing eyes burning with power.
I took a breath. I was finally complete.
And the whole damn world would know it soon enough.
Just as I was about to howl, a strange, unique voice echoed at the back of my mind. "Hello, Valerie. I am Astra, your wolf."
***************
The Next Day—Principal's Office
I grabbed my schedule and a fresh set of uniforms, feeling a little more put together after dressing up. I didn't bother checking for my roommates either because the time on my watch said 8:20—I was late.
By the time I got to the academy the next morning, I was exhausted but steady. The shift had drained me, but I had managed to regain control.
Until I stepped outside.
And felt it—something was off. Astra, my wolf, was restless.
My muscles tensed and my senses were on high alert. Maybe it was the aftermath of my first shift. Maybe my pheromones were still out of balance.
I pushed forward, shaking off the unease. The principal's office it is. That was my priority.
But then—I reached a T-junction in the hallway, three different corridors ahead of me.
The second I turned down the first—red hair, hazel-green eyes and a cocky stance that made my blood boil, came into view.
My body froze.
Axel.
No. Not now. I could not deal with them.
If this was just my pheromones reacting, then I had to get the hell out of here before this scum-spoilt brat thinks I am seducing him.
Too late because the next second, he lifted his head and his eyes darted in my direction.
I spun, taking the second turn—and this time, I locked eyes with Kai.
His emerald gaze flickered in recognition, his lips parting slightly as if he could sense it, too. And God knew I prayed he did not sense my pheromones.
Panic spiked through me. The more my fear rose, the stronger the pull. Heat surged beneath my skin.
Astra growled in my mind.
No. No. No.
I took the only escape left—the third hallway—and collided with him.
Dristan.
Cold. Unforgiving. The deadliest of them all.
A breath hitched in my throat as his cyan-blue gaze locked onto mine, sharp and calculating.
At the same time, I backed away and as if on cue, they moved in.
Axel, Kai, Dristan. Closing in. Blocking every exit.
I felt it before I saw it.
The shift in the air. The invisible snap between us.
Then, recognition.
Their expressions darkened at the same time mine did, realization slamming into all of us at once.
And then, like a cruel, twisted echo, their wolves roared in unison with mine.
"Mate."
"No. No. No," I screamed internally.
I refused to acknowledge it.
But the second the word left their lips, their scents overwhelmed me. Axel's musky spice, Kai's dark cedar and Dristan's crisp frost and smoke.
It wrapped around me, sinking into my lungs, and clouding my mind. Taking over.
The bond was real.
I took a slow, shaky breath, my entire body thrumming with heat, betrayal, and fury.
Dristan's hand shot out, reaching for me, but I bolted, slipping past them.
I sprinted down the hallway, ignoring the way my entire body burnt, ignoring Astra's furious protests in my head.
I didn't stop.
Not until they were far behind me.
Not until I could breathe again.
Because if I stayed a second longer, I wasn't sure if I'd kiss to claim or kill them.