Chapter 6

You know how it feels like when you put your life, respect into risk just to escape the monster that's coming for you but then you learn that the monster wasn't actually interested in eating you? 

All my efforts went into the drain! 

And there's one guy I want to blame it all for. 

"You!" I snap like a twig. Or maybe a log. Twigs are weak. I'm not.

Tristian raises his scarred eyebrow in confusion.

I failed to notice it before,but how did he get it?  

Argh! 

This guy single handedly ruined my life but he doesn't even know or care. 

And all I can think about is his scarred eyebrow? 

Well,he will care. 

Soon.

"You just ruined my reputation in front my family!" I point at him with my index finger,not caring about my messy hair falling on my face.

"Come on Barbie doll. How can I ruin your reputation if I didn't make you pregnant before marrying you?" Tristian pouts. 

Peter suppresses a chuckle. 

I give him a deadly glare.

"Cinn. Calm down.", Tessa rubs my shoulder as she stands with more confidence beside me.

"You feel joking right now? I made all of these...plans for days...risked getting caught to just run away from you...And...and…" I catch my breath. 

"I'm sorry but I didn't know about Runaway Aurora. How would I know? I guess you could have texted me on Messenger." Tristian mocks. 

I just want to smash his handsome face into some hard rock! 

But he has a point. I can't deny that. He couldn't have known about this. Neither did I. My father just threw the news at me like a cold splash of water.

I was unprepared. I am always unprepared when it comes to his attacks. 

"Argh! Leave it! Tessa! Let's go." I grab Tessa's hand. 

"But, what about our selfie? I also wanted to dance with my mate. Btw, are you on I*******m, Tessa?" Peter asks.

I blink at Peter for a few seconds, deciphering what this social butterfly just said.

"Yeah, give my poor friend here some chance with the beauty. It's only one night. And don't worry,you can dance with me." Tristian winks at me. 

I narrow my eyes on him..

Someone is going to be announced dead in this Academy after a few days. I'll make sure of that. 

I pull Tessa away from those irritating men and walk towards the Academy entrance door. 

"But Cinn. Aren't we going to eat the food? It's quite good." Tessa tells me.

I stop at the tracks and turn at her. 

" And do you want to get stalked by that social butterfly again? Decide." I close my arms over my chest. 

"No." Tessa bites her lips. 

"Good. Because I'll tell Alex to bring the food for us." I say. 

Tessa smiles at me. 

"But where is he?" She asks.

"Probably flirting with some witches in the middle of his search.", I say and enter the academy entrance hall. 

The hall is empty as all the students and staff are outside. 

"What are you two doing here?" The man with a hat catches us inside the hall. 

Damn! 

"Umm...we just needed some air." I say. 

The man scrutinizes me carefully,his large brown hat hiding his features. 

"The Headmaster is going to give a speech. Every student must attend it. Don't stand here! Go and join the students for the speech!" He says, annoyance latched to his tone. 

What's his fucking problem? 

Tessa holds my hands and nods her head gently. 

I sigh and we both walk out of the door. 

"Why does he always keep lecturing?", I grimace. 

"Maybe he's a lecturer at this Academy?" Tessa replies. 

"Hmm. Maybe you're right." I think over it. 

I don't know half of the Proffesors here, except Professor Sheila. 

That brings me to the point…

"What exactly do they teach here?" I ask. 

Tessa shrugs. 

"No idea." 

"The site didn't mention anything?" I ask.

"It's a conspicuous academy,Cinn. Do you think that they'll put their courses free for every human eye to watch and suspect?" Tessa states. 

"Yeah, but they humans don't really believe in this kind of stuff,do they?", 

"Everyone is different. Some might do." Tessa says and I turn towards the crowd of students that was gathering in front of the huge stage placed in the middle of the garden. 

As we walk closer, I feel a pair of baby blue eyes observing my every move. 

If looks could drill your skin, I would have morphed into a SpongeBob by now. 

Don't look at his way. 

Else Sia will start losing it again. 

Hey! You don't like boys doesn't mean I can't enjoy my mate's looks. Just look at him. He's so handsome! 

Shut up and watch your drool! 

I scold my wolf, trying to keep its voice in control. I learned to control my wolf from a very short age and didn't let it talk nonsense about mates and Moon Goddess. 

I only let her out when needed. 

What a greedy owner I have. Shame on you! 

Sia growls. 

I sigh at Sia. 

Tessa and I stand in front of the stage , waiting for the Headmaster to come and give his speech. I wonder who it will be. 

"Hey!" Alex joins us standing behind us.

"Where were you?" Tessa whispers. 

"Uh, I should be asking you that. I searched all the buffet tables,even under the tables. Yet,no sign of you." Alex whispers back. 

Tessa rolls her eyes while I suppress laughter. If someone can lighten my mood,then it's Alex. 

But my mood doesn't stay good for linu ss I feel the powerful aura wrapping around me again. 

Why!!!!

I grit my teeth, trying my best to not turn my head and meet those enchanting eyes. He's standing only a few metres away from me. 

Didn't he get any other place to stand? 

Yes. He should stand closer. Wrapping our bodies together. 

Sia starts again. 

I want to hit my head on one of the tree barks. 

I sense Tessa's tension too as Peter stands beside her, giving his million dollar smile. 

Only if Alex was not here, I would have made these two run far away from us. But I'm stuck. 

Between three boys. Two on the front, one on the back. 

Speech. Focus on the stage. 

I look up at the raised platform, noticing a familiar energy emanating from a figure that's walking up on the platform. 

That weird,dense energy. 

Oh shit! I should have known. 

It's that maroon suit! 

Well , usually my given nickname wouldn't have made sense since people change their clothes. Especially their colours. 

But he didn't. 

The Headmaster stands tall above us, his velvety maroon suit shining under the lights. He holds on to his walking stick like a life support. 

I notice the head sticking to the black road. It's a golden head with its mouth open, revealing two sharp canines. 

Strange. 

"Good evening, students. What a lovely evening it is to find all of you blending with each other." He smiles, the muscles of his cheek folding. 

"Like every great year, I stand in front of you all to welcome the new students. And announce the beginning of the challenges of this year. As per the tradition,with every year the challenges stake higher ,pushing our students forward. So this year,the rules have a moderation. 

Before starting the classes, the students will be placed into ranks depending on their fighting skills. As per the rules,there are five witch coven ranks and three werewolf packs. 

The five witch covens include the Infirmus, the Phassellus, the Medius, the Potentia and finally the Fortissimum. 

The three werewolf packs include : " 

I get more attentive to hear about the packs. As far as I heard, Blood Moon is one of the packs. And the way Jessica told it…

"The White Moon pack, The Half Moon Pack and The Blood Moon pack. As you all know, among these the Blood Moon pack and the Fortissimum are the highest ranks. If the students get to enter in the top ranks ,then you get the benefit of the best classes and extra grades that will set you one step forward in the game for the annual competition selection." The Headmaster joins his hands together, his eyes roaming around the crowd beneath him. 

Until his eyes stop to the right of me. 

I frown and look at my right to witness Tristian looking coldly at the Headmaster. 

The air feels thin with the tension growing between the two. I can feel the waves of their energies clashing. 

It feels like we are a group of penguins standing in the way of the Titans. 

What's happening between these two? Energy war? 

Wait. I shouldn't care! 

Speech. Concentrate on the speech. 

I turn back at the Headmaster, feeling my breath knocking out of my system as the Headmaster's eyes are now at me. And there's a cryptic smile on his face. 

Great! 

Physics feels less confusing than the situation in front of me. 

Fortunately, the Headmaster shifts his stare away from me and back at the crowd. 

"The decision of which new students get what rank depends on the fight between the pack rank students and the new students." 

Ooh. Now this is interesting. I was waiting to get my hands dirty for a long time. 

Maybe punching a few faces will feel great after all that has come upon me.

Especially three faces. 

"This time, the high ranking members get to choose who they will fight. If the chosen new student wins, then they will replace the highest ranked member." 

A gasp passes through the crowd. The high pack members must be worried about their reputation.

From the corner of my eye, I notice Tristian standing calmly, typing something into his phone. 

As if he doesn't care.

Poor fellow. Maybe he has nothing to care about because he isn't a part of the Blood Moon pack. Afterall, a family name doesn't grow your muscles. 

I had to learn to fight by sneaking through the walls of my own home and taking the secret route that I used this time to run away from…

My mother, brother and nanny. 

I sigh, sadness gripping me. 

The rest of the family doesn't matter to me. But these three do. I couldn't even tell them about my decision because they wouldn't have let me. And now I have left their lives under danger just because of something that wasn't even there in the first place. 

Sometimes I feel that my father is right. 

I'm not a great daughter. 

"Remember! If you win the highest rank, you almost win the competition. And everybody knows what the benefits of winning the competition are." The Headmaster's voice returns to my ears, pulling me out of my thoughts.

The competition. Yes! 

I didn't come here for nothing. Winning the competition is the best way to protect my family. 

And that's what I'll do. 

"Now! I would like to call the students of the highest ranks on the stage. Let the students know who they are going to face in the arena." My eyes fall on Jessica who strides up the stage in full blown confidence and pride. The Luna of Blood Moon pack. 

A smirk lifts up the corner of my face. 

I am so into this game. 

This will be fun. 

"Salty sugars! Don't tell me that we'll have to attend our classes with her if we get the Blood Moon pack." Tessa grimaces. 

"She won't." I flash a mischievous smile. 

Tessa gets the clue and returns the smile. 

I'll manipulate Jessica to challenge me. And then I will make her taste some dirt.

I'll be the Luna of the Blood Moon Pack. If I get that position, then maybe I would be able to do something about this Tristian and Peter situation too. 

Bitch!

Sia scowls. 

"Now, it's time to announce the beta and reputed Alpha of the Blood Moon pack. Be prepared, because these will be the toughest to overthrow." The Headmaster warns, while a group of ten students (including Jessica) stand behind him, their heads straight and their eyes challenging. As if they can scare the newbies away just by one glance. 

Time to be surprised, ducks! 

"The beta and Alpha of Blood Moon pack is…" 

I find two familiar figures walking up the stage as the Headmaster announces the names, making the crowd beam into a thunder of applause. 

And my smile drops. 

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