A huge kick to my already curled-up, battered, and bruised body ripped a scream from my throat. I lay there coughing up mouthfuls of blood. But no, unfortunately for me, it did not end there. It never did.
There came more furious bouts, harder and faster, my mind beginning to blur.
My mouth was bloodied, blood stains everywhere.
What in the carnation was this?
I wanted to give up.
But then I heard a sound.
Had someone come to save me?
I tried to look around weakly at the sound of the voice. It was oddly male and commanding.
He spoke loudly at the people who had hit me. Unfortunately my mind was already phasing out of existence, and I only caught the trace of disdain filling his eyes before I fell unconscious.
—
My head felt like it would shatter at any moment.
I felt clean, as though I had been washed.
Apparently I was in a little clinic.
Where was I?
I looked around quickly, spotting only a cute female nurse who bubbled from one bed to another. She noticed I was awake and held my stare. Suddenly growing nervous, I felt the instinct to hide away and avoid contact.
But before I knew it, she was already by my bed.
"Oh dear," she said, genuine concern etched onto her features.
"You were a mess when the student council president brought you in, little pup."
She probably noticed how confused I looked, because her face filled with shock.
"You do not know the student council president?"
"His name is Aldric, little pup, the finest werewolf to ever be born. He is the son of the High Alpha. Do you know how much status he holds?"
The nurse was practically whisper-screaming at this point.
Her eyes were filled with so much love for this particular werewolf that I fought the urge to scoff. But apparently he was the son of a High Alpha of the Royal Sanctum Pack, and that title alone was enough to make me shiver and prostrate. That was a scary level of status indeed. And not just that. He had incredible capabilities, not just using his father's coverage to walk away unscathed.
The Alpha heir, Alderion Aldric Varyn.
Wait a minute….
If I was hearing about the Alpha heir…
That means…?
I am at…
The Lycanis Obscura Academy.
Holy mother of Wolf.
Suddenly the door burst open, interrupting the relentless adulatory tirade pouring from the lovestruck nurse.
Four captivating men glanced at me. One particularly stood out. He had gold hair and eyes that seemed to shine with mischief.
I did not know when the perky little nurse had slipped in behind me, but it seemed she had a penchant for gossip.
"That is Lucas. He is the stepbrother of Aldric. Rumours say he hates his brother to death, but you would never catch them in a disagreement. The biggest one there, Dereck, is their dirty work holder. I bet my entire lycan points you are going to be beaten to death.
Sad wolf you are."
While I swallowed nervously, I cursed the nurse who looked utterly innocent yet harboured an evil heart. Who the hell spouted such evil notices at someone like that? Tough luck for me.
She could not get to telling me the rest of their names because, as she said, I was picked up by my collar like I weighed nothing.
I was practically dangling in the air at the moment.
My stomach lurched. My feet kicked uselessly in the air as I dangled, and the gold-haired one leaned back with a little amused whistle.
"Look at him trembling," Lucas said. "Like a frightened rabbit."
I hated that he was right.
I was trembling.
Violently.
The nurse squeaked and covered her mouth with her hands, peeking between her fingers as though she was watching a tragic play unfold.
"Careful with him," she blurted nervously. "Aldric saved him. If you kill him before Aldric says so, you will be in trouble."
Lucas raised a brow. "Aldric saved him?"
His eyes swept over me slowly, too slowly, as if trying to figure out what part of me Aldric saw worth saving. I wanted to shrink until I disappeared.
"I guess he has a type," Lucas muttered. "Weak looking and Soft."
Heat crawled up my neck. Weak, soft.
I should have been angry, but all I felt was embarrassment sinking into my skin like poison.
Dereck dragged me forward and lifted my chin with the tip of his finger. His grin stretched wide. "You should feel honored, rogue. The Alpha heir never bothers with trash like you."
Trash.
I knew he meant it literally and not figuratively, it still punched my chest straight through.
"I did not ask to be saved," I croaked out.
Lucas snorted. "You think that matters? If Aldric wants you alive, you stay alive. If he wants you gone, you vanish. Simple."
A cold shiver ran down my back.
Aldric.
That name was beginning to feel like the beginning of a nightmare.
The nurse tapped Lucas on the shoulder with unnecessary confidence. "Do not tease him too much. He has been through enough."
"Has he?" Lucas replied with a smile that did not match his eyes. "Really?"
His hand reached out as if to brush my hair away from my face. I flinched hard, my body reacting before I could think. He froze, then laughed.
"He is jumpy. Cute."
Cute.
I did not know whether to faint or fight.
Neither option sounded smart.
Dereck shoved me again. I stumbled, barely catching myself before hitting the floor. "Move, rogue."
I tried. I really did.
But my legs were wobbly, my knees stiff, my ribs aching. Every step felt like knives grinding under my skin.
Lucas clicked his tongue. "He walks like a baby deer. Gods, Aldric is going to be so thrilled when he sees this."
Thrilled?
That word scared me even more.
What did a man like Aldric get thrilled over?
Power?
Blood?
Submitting weaker wolves?
A heavy lump settled in my stomach.
As we walked out into the hallway, students passing by stared at me like I was a circus exhibit. Some whispered. Some laughed openly. A few sniffed the air and grimaced.
"Smells like rogue," one muttered.
"Smells like trouble," another added.
I lowered my head.
I wanted to disappear again.
I wished I had not woken up at all.
The nurse trailed behind us, hands clasped behind her back as if she was watching a parade. "At least you look better now that you are cleaned up," she chirped. "Aldric would not have taken kindly to a bloodied, smelly pup."
Aldric again.
I had not even met him properly, yet his name clung to me like a chain I could not shake off.
Lucas tilted his head. "You better pray you make a good first impression. The Alpha heir hates weaklings."
I already knew that. I had seen that hatred in his eyes before I passed out.
Sharp and cold.
Like a blade ready to strike.
Lucas suddenly stopped. I slammed into his back and froze, bracing for a punch. Instead, he exhaled loudly.
"Enough talk. Take him to the dark room," he said.