A massive kick to my already crumpled, battered, and bruised body ripped a scream from my throat. I lay there, coughing up mouthfuls of blood. But no, unfortunately for me, it didn't end there. It never did.

More furious blows came, harder and faster, as my mind began to cloud over.

My mouth was bloody, bloodstains all over him.

What on earth was this?

I wanted to give up.

But then I heard a sound.

Had someone come to save me?

I tried to look weakly at the voice. It was strangely masculine and authoritarian.

I was yelling at the people who had hit me. Unfortunately, my mind was already fading, and I only caught a glimpse of contempt in their eyes before I lost consciousness.

—

I felt like my head was going to split open at any moment.

I felt clean, as if I had been washed.

Apparently, he was in a small clinic.

Where was I?

I glanced around quickly, seeing only a pretty nurse bustling about from bed to bed with boundless energy. She noticed I was awake and held my gaze. Suddenly, I felt nervous and had the urge to hide and avoid any contact.

But before I knew it, he was already by my bed.

"Oh, dear," she said, with genuine concern written all over her face. "You were a mess when the student council president brought you here, you little pup."

He probably noticed how confused he was, because his expression was filled with surprise.

—Don't you know the student council president?

"His name is Aldric, little pup, the best werewolf ever born. He's the son of the High Alpha. Do you have any idea of ​​his status?"

The nurse was practically whispering and shouting at the same time.

His eyes were filled with so much love for that particular werewolf that I had to restrain myself from sneering. But apparently, he was the son of a High Alpha of the Royal Sanctum Pack, and that title alone was enough to make me tremble and bow down. It was a terrifying level of status. And not only that. He possessed incredible abilities, not just the protection of his father to emerge unscathed from everything.

The Alpha heir, Alderion Aldric Varyn.

Wait a minute…

If I was just hearing about the Alpha heir…

So…?

I'm in…

The Lycanis Obscura Academy.

Holy Mother of the Wolf.

Suddenly, the door burst open, interrupting the endless adoring speech coming from the lovestruck nurse.

Four captivating men looked at me. One in particular stood out. He had golden hair and eyes that seemed to sparkle mischievously.

I didn't know when the lively nurse crept up behind me, but she seemed to have a morbid obsession with gossip.

"That's Lucas. He's Aldric's half-brother. Rumor has it he hates his brother to death, but you'd never see them argue. The biggest one there, Dereck, does the dirty work. I'd bet all my lycans they'd beat you to death."

What an unlucky wolf you are.

As I swallowed nervously, I cursed the nurse, who seemed completely innocent despite hiding a wicked heart. Who on earth would make such horrible comments to someone like that? Bad luck for me.

He couldn't finish telling me the rest of their names because, just as he said it, they lifted me up by the collar of my shirt as if I weighed nothing.

He was practically hanging in the air.

My stomach churned. My feet kicked uselessly as I dangled, and the blond man leaned back, letting out a small, amused whistle.

"Look at him trembling," Lucas said. "Like a scared rabbit."

I hated that he was right.

I was trembling.

Violently.

The nurse let out a shriek and covered her mouth with her hands, peering through her fingers as if she were watching a tragedy unfold.

"Be careful with him," she said nervously. "Aldric saved him. If you kill him before Aldric allows it, you'll be in trouble."

Lucas raised an eyebrow.

Did Aldric save him?

His eyes scanned my body slowly, too slowly, as if trying to discover which part of me Aldric had deemed worthy of saving. I wanted to shrink away.

"I guess he has a type," Lucas murmured. "Weak and delicate."

The heat rose up my neck. Weak, delicate.

I should have been angry, but all I felt was shame sinking into my skin like poison.

Derek pulled me forward and lifted my chin with the tip of his finger. His smile widened.

"You should feel honored, rogue. The Alpha heir never bothers with trash like you."

Trash.

I knew he meant it literally and not figuratively, but it still pierced my chest like a blow.

"I didn't ask to be saved," I managed to say in a hoarse voice.

Lucas let out a nasal laugh.

"Do you think that matters? If Aldric wants you to stay alive, you stay alive. If he wants you to disappear, you disappear. Simple."

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

Aldric.

That name was beginning to feel like the start of a nightmare.

The nurse patted Lucas's shoulder with unnecessary confidence.

—Don't bother him too much. He's been through enough already.

"Oh, really?" Lucas replied with a smile that didn't match his eyes. "Really?"

He reached out as if to brush my hair away from my face. I shuddered violently, my body reacting before I could think. He stood still for a moment, then burst out laughing.

—He's nervous. How adorable.

Adorable.

I didn't know whether to faint or fight.

None of the options seemed smart.

Dereck pushed me again. I stumbled, barely managing to avoid falling to the ground.

—Move it, rogue.

I tried. I really tried.

But my legs were shaking, my knees were stiff, and my ribs ached. Every step felt like blades tearing at my skin.

Lucas clicked his tongue.

—It walks like a newborn fawn. Gods, Aldric is going to be thrilled when he sees this.

Delighted?

That word scared me even more.

What could possibly excite a man like Aldric?

Can?

Blood?

Subjugate weaker wolves?

A heavy knot settled in my stomach.

As we walked out into the hallway, passing students stared at me like I was some kind of circus attraction. Some whispered. Others laughed openly. A few sniffed the air and grimaced.

"It smells like a rogue," one murmured.

"It smells like trouble," another one added.

I lowered my head.

I wanted to disappear again.

I wished I had never woken up.

The nurse followed behind us, her hands clasped behind her back as if she were watching a parade.

"At least you look better now that you're clean," he crooned. "Aldric wouldn't have liked a bloody, smelly pup."

Aldric again.

I hadn't even really met him, and yet his name already clung to me like an unbreakable chain.

Lucas bowed his head.

"You'd better make a good first impression. The Alpha heir hates the weak."

I already knew that. I had seen that hatred in his eyes before I fainted.

Sharp and cold.

Like a blade ready to strike.

Lucas stopped suddenly. I bumped into his back and froze, bracing for a blow. Instead, he let out a long sigh.

"Enough talk. Take him to the dark room," he said.