Chapter 4 First day of school

ALICE

The first light of dawn found me wide awake, a blend of excitement and anticipation coursing through my veins. Today marked the beginning of a new chapter as I prepared for my first day at school in this unfamiliar place. The air hummed with the promise of new faces, lessons, and experiences, setting the tone for a day shrouded in the unknown.

As I stepped out of bed, I noticed Nicole hadn't awakened yet. Respecting her peaceful sleep, I quietly made my way to the bathroom. Refreshed from my bath, I eagerly turned my attention to my closet, pondering the myriad possibilities for my outfit on this significant first day of school. I settled on a white crop top paired with a black blazer and high-waist blue jeans.

Once dressed, I headed to the dressing table to attend to my appearance. I applied a bit of cream to my face, a touch of pink blush to my cheeks, and a red-pink lip tint to my lips. "Hey, Alice, why didn't you wake me?" Nicole's inquiry sliced through the air, and I turned to her with a sheepish smile. "Sorry, I didn't want to disturb your peaceful sleep," I replied.

"Alright, I'll just get ready quickly," she said, springing out of bed and hurrying to the bathroom, the urgency in her movements echoing the hustle and bustle of a morning catching up to her. After she finished, we promptly made our way to the canteen for breakfast.

As we entered the canteen, I couldn't ignore the palpable shift in the room. Some students gazed at me with astonishment, their expressions seemingly stunned by my appearance, while others cast peculiar, almost ashamed looks my way. The weight of their collective attention lingered, leaving me to navigate the unspoken reactions swirling around me.

"Ignore them," Nicole advised, her grip reassuring as we navigated through the curious gazes. "Just focus on walking," she continued, leading the way to the food counter with a sense of purpose that helped divert attention and foster a steadier stride.

With our plates in hand, we quickly found a vacant table and sat down to eat. The first bites marked the beginning of a shared meal, a moment of unfamiliarity amid new faces and curious glances in the bustling canteen. Nicole's reassuring words cut through my unease. "Don't mind them, just focus on your food," she said, offering comforting solace in the moment.

"I'm sorry for my actions," I replied.

"No need to apologize," Nicole reassured, her understanding tone providing comfort as we continued to eat, the shared meal becoming a refuge amidst the transient discomfort of unfamiliar eyes.

After breakfast, we promptly returned to our room. As we settled in, an awkward tension lingered. Sensing my discomfort, Nicole gently pulled me to a seat beside the window, a quiet gesture conveying both understanding and support amid the unfamiliarity.

As we settled into our seats, a wavy-haired girl in front of us confronted us with an assertive tone, claiming ownership of the space. "Hey, how dare you sit in my place?" she brattily declared, her left eyebrow raised in defiance. The unexpected challenge added a new layer to the already tense atmosphere of the room.

"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know it was your seat," I stammered, a hint of embarrassment coloring my response. Slowly standing up, I sought to defuse the unintentional tension, eager to rectify the misunderstanding.

"Sit down, Alice!" Nicole's serious tone cut through the awkward atmosphere as she locked eyes with the assertive girl. "You came late, find another chair, okay?" Nicole asserted, a hint of defiance in her gaze. "How dare you talk to me like that!" the wavy-haired girl retorted angrily, attempting to strike Nicole. Panic surged within me as I intervened, urgently attempting to pull away the girl's hand from gripping Nicole's hair.

"Don't touch me!" the girl snapped, pushing my face. A surge of anger swept over me, and suddenly, I felt heat radiating through my entire body, as if I were on the verge of a transformation. "Stop, both of you!" Mr. Rollen's voice cut through the escalating tension as he hurriedly approached us.

Despite Mr. Rollen's intervention, the altercation continued. Frustrated, he pulled the wavy-haired girl aside, sternly instructing, "Miss Zach, stop!" The firmness in his tone quelled the tension. Fortunately, with Mr. Rollen's timely intervention, the escalating tension subsided, and the potential emergence of my inner wolf was averted.

Mr. Rollen's anger echoed in his voice as he issued a stern command. "All of you, go to the principal's office now!" The weight of his authority compelled us to follow his directive, the consequences of our actions now leading us to a more serious confrontation with the school administration.

"Causing trouble early in the morning?" Mr. Berlin's voice carried a tone of anger as he addressed us standing before him. "She's at fault!" the girl declared, pointing at me with a frown.

"No, she's not! You started the trouble by claiming the seat that wasn't yours!" Nicole interjected, coming to my defense. "It's my seat!" she insisted, attempting to hit Nicole again. Fortunately, Mr. Rollen intervened, holding her arms. "Enough, Miss Zach!" Mr. Berlin ordered, slamming his desk. The air in the room crackled with tension as the situation reached a breaking point.

"I understand, Miss Zach, but Miss Collin is newly transferred here. Be kind to her," Mr. Berlin added. "Never!" Miss Zach vehemently replied, crossing her arms and glaring at me with a frown. The principal's attempt to instill understanding seemed to fall on deaf ears, intensifying the lingering animosity in the room. "If you can't find peace with each other, I will have to impose a punishment!" Mr. Berlin threatened, his tone firm as he sought a resolution to the conflict.

In a sudden turn of events, I abruptly knelt on the floor, acknowledging my fault. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Berlin. I know they caused trouble because of me," I confessed. The room fell into stunned silence as my unexpected act shifted the dynamics of the situation. "Hey! What are you doing?" Nicole whispered to me, attempting to coax me to stand up.

"Oh, look, Mr. Berlin, she's finally admitting her fault," Miss Zach remarked in a satisfied tone. "Go back to your room now!" Mr. Berlin, with a serious tone, ordered. The resolution was met with a mixture of relief and tension, signaling the end of the confrontation for the time being. Returning to our room in the aftermath of the confrontation, a heavy silence hung between us, with Mr. Rollen beginning his lesson.

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At the end of class,

"Prepare yourself; we're going to the Alpha's house now," Mr. Rollen informed me, gathering his belongings from the desk. The unexpected summons added a layer of anticipation, leaving me curious about the reason behind our visit to the Alpha's residence. I nodded at Mr. Rollen, stealing a quick glance at Nicole. "Follow me to my office, okay?" he continued, already on the move.

As I gathered my belongings, Nicole perched on the edge of my desk, her expression a mix of concern and support. "Are you ready to face the Alpha?" she asked softly, her gaze meeting mine.

"Yeah, it's necessary to face him, right?" I replied, my voice betraying a blend of nerves and determination. The prospect of meeting the Alpha stirred a whirlwind of emotions within me, but I knew it was a necessary step in navigating the intricacies of our new school hierarchy.

Nicole nodded solemnly, her eyes reflecting genuine concern. "You must be careful when facing him. He's quite a strict Alpha," she cautioned, her tone laced with sincerity. Her words carried the weight of experience, emphasizing the importance of approaching the Alpha with caution.

"Okay, I'll be careful," I assured her, rising from my seat and adjusting my bag over my shoulder. With a brief but reassuring smile, Nicole offered her parting goodbye, her silent encouragement echoing in the air as I made my way out of the classroom.

Each step toward Mr. Rollen's office felt like a march toward an unknown fate. The corridors seemed to stretch endlessly, the murmur of passing students fading into the background as my thoughts centered on the impending meeting with the Alpha. Despite the uncertainty, a sense of resolve settled within me, bolstered by Nicole's words of caution and support.

As I reached Mr. Rollen's office door, I paused, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves. With a final steeling of my resolve, I pushed open the door and stepped inside, ready to face the stern Alpha and whatever challenges lay ahead.