Chapter 2 TWO

ARIA

FALL OF 8TH GRADE

A blur of movement catches my eye-a brunette sprinting past me, with Lena right behind, struggling to keep pace in heels that look impossible to walk in, let alone chase someone down.

Her skirt's so short it seems like a miracle she hasn't tripped already. Behind them, the other two Barbies glide along, more concerned with looking fierce than fast, teetering on their sky-high shoes.

I don't know what set this off, but ever since those three came back from their summer trip abroad, they've acted like they own the place.

They're convinced they're untouchable, above all the normal rules about respect and kindness. They were never exactly friendly, but at least they didn't go out of their way to make people's lives miserable before.

Being the Beta's daughter means I'm supposed to stand up for everyone in the pack-even when it's against our own kind.

My dad might ignore me or brush me off, and my brother's really the one running the pack, but I don't take my role lightly. From the moment I could understand words, I was told: protect the pack, and never embarrass the Beta. His reputation is everything.

I step in front of Lena, holding my hands up like I'm trying to stop a storm. "What's going on? Why are you chasing her?" I ask, hoping to cool things down.

Lena almost loses her balance but snarls, "She screwed me over. Got me a D on that paper. I trusted her to help me out, and she made me look like a fool in front of the new teacher." She glares at me, as if I'm nothing more than dirt to be wiped off her shoe. "Move, Aria."

I stand firm. "Did you pay her for that help, or did you just pick someone smarter than you and expect free work?"

She scoffs, "Why does that matter? I'm a warrior. She's just an omega-lower than dirt. She should be thanking me for even talking to her."

"That rank won't save you from doing your own work. You're lazy, don't train, and have no business calling yourself a warrior. Stop bothering her.

She didn't volunteer, and you owe her nothing." I block her path every time she tries to sidestep me. Fake confidence, because real courage is still out of reach. I'm short, but I make myself as big as possible. A real warrior wouldn't need to trip over me.

Just then, Raven strides up, sneering as she steps around Lena like she owns the place.

"Watch your tongue, murderer. You're not even fit to breathe the Leoe air as us. Your dad thinks so, your brother thinks so, and honestly? Nobody here wants you around."

Ivy follows, her minion through and through, completing the trio's perfect little power pose. They've clearly watched Mean Girls one too many times.

Raven's voice sharpens. "No one humiliates us and gets away with it."

She brushes past me, heading straight for my brother and his friends. I know they caught every hateful word.

Werewolves have crazy good hearing, and theirs is tuned to superhuman levels. But they don't react. To them, if you crumble under a little heat, you're not strong enough to survive.

Raven's insults sting every time, but this time, I blink back tears that threaten to spill over. Taking a steadying breath, I turn and make my way home.

I hope the girl got away. I hope she's safe from those three.

But deep down, I know this isn't over. This year is going to be brutal.

All I can do is keep my head low, focus on school, and avoid trouble.

Just a few more years. Then I can escape.

FALL OF 9TH GRADE

SLAM.

Well, that stung more than usual. A low groan escapes me before I even register the pain. I don't remember the lockers ever hitting back with such vengeance. My knees buckle, and I slide to the ground, eyes squeezed shut as I cradle the back of my head, waiting for the next strike.

"Happy freakin' Monday," I mutter under my breath.

"You fat cow, stay out of my way," Raven hisses, punctuating her words with a sharp slap. Her hand isn't particularly strong, but those fake nails of hers? Razor sharp.

I feel a sting and the warm trickle of blood slide from the corner of my mouth.

Laughter echoes down the hallway. One of the chuckles has a deeper tone-that explains the throw into the lockers. She got a boy to do it this time.

I don't bother looking around. Raven might skip every combat training session, but she's mastered a different kind of cruelty-and worse, she's got an army of wannabes willing to carry out her dirty work just for a scrap of her approval.

"What was my crime today, your royal nastiness?" I shoot back, just loud enough to keep her attention on me. It's a calculated move. I'm buying time, hoping the kid she'd been shrieking at earlier has the sense to bolt while she's distracted.

Raven doesn't like to dirty her hands anymore. Not when she's figured out that popularity-or just being mean enough-gets others to fight your battles.

Her dad sitting on the school board certainly doesn't hurt either. And with no security footage ever catching her in the act, she stays untouchable.

The only evidence is carved into my skin. She's worked hard to convince everyone I'm just weak. That I bruise easy. That I'm slow to heal.

And people buy it.

They always do.

A few kids have already been suspended because of her lies. One poor guy was bullied so viciously that he switched schools entirely-moved to his grandparents' in another pack.

All because he refused to dump his girlfriend when Raven decided she wanted him. We were ten. Ten. Who even thinks about stuff like that in fifth grade?

But no one talks about it now. The official story? He needed "extra guidance" only the other school could provide. Sure.

"You don't get to stop me from correcting a pup," Raven snaps, flipping her bleached hair over her shoulder like she's the queen of something. "That little rat deliberately ruined my designer shoes-right in front of everyone. She's lucky that's all she got."

Her voice is full of venom, but the truth? The "everyone" she's referring to wasn't the whole school.

It was my brother-the future Beta-and the rest of the ranked boys: the next Alpha twins, the Gamma, and the Delta.

They're practically fused at the hip, those five. Raven had her sights on Jade and Max, our future Alphas, like most of the girls do.

Her cronies-Ivy and Lena-were too busy drooling over the other three to watch where they were going.

Ivy tripped over a fourth grader and spilled her sugar-loaded iced coffee all over Raven's legs. But no, of course Raven won't admit any of that.

The boys? They walked off laughing, totally unaware that Raven's eyes had taken on that faint crimson glow-an early warning sign she was about to explode.

But I don't think she's ever let them see that version of her. She knows better. If she wants to stay in their precious circle, she can't let the mask slip.

They think they rule this school just because their parents rule the pack. They don't have a clue what leadership really means. They just like being looked at like gods.

Acting tough, giving empty speeches about strength and honor. "Lead by example," they always say. Sure-until someone calls them out. Then it's all ego and no follow-through.

Act like the best. Pretend you are. But heaven help you if you're ever challenged-because if you lose?

You're done.