Chapter 2

Being me means surviving one day at a time, hoping today isn’t the one that breaks me. The morning sun filtered through the trees, golden light dappling the forest floor as I stood before Luna Celeste. Her sharp eyes pinned me in place, her smile a thing of venom wrapped in silk.  

"In two days, we’ll have guests. Important ones," she said, her tone dripping with a menace she didn’t bother to hide. "Make sure the packhouse is spotless. Not a speck of dust, Olivia. You know the consequences."  

I clenched my fists to keep them from shaking. "Yes, Luna."  

Her lips curled into a smirk, satisfaction oozing from her perfect features. Without another word, she turned and jogged into the woods, her athletic form disappearing among the towering trees. Only when I was sure she was gone did I let out the breath I’d been holding, my chest heaving as I fought to calm the frantic rhythm of my heart.  

For now, I’d dodged her threats, but the weight of her words pressed heavy on my shoulders. College was my only lifeline—the one thing keeping me tethered to a future beyond this hellhole. If she followed through on her threats to cut off my tuition, I didn’t know what I’d do.  

I retreated to my room—or rather, the closet I called a room. The faint scent of damp wood clung to the air, mingling with the metallic tang of rust from the broken showerhead in the corner. Stripping out of my threadbare clothes, I stepped under the icy stream of water. It shocked my senses, but I welcomed the cold, letting it wash away the grime of the morning and the residue of fear clinging to my skin.  

Dressed in my only clean jeans and a faded hoodie, I slung my battered backpack over one shoulder and slipped out of the pack’s territory. Being an early riser had its perks—like avoiding Sid and his gang of bullies.  

The forest path to school was my sanctuary, a winding trail that cut through dense greenery. The trees whispered secrets to one another, their branches intertwined like a protective canopy. The chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves were a balm to my frayed nerves. Here, I could almost pretend I was free.  

But peace was fleeting, and the sight that greeted me at the school gates yanked me back into reality.  

Luxury cars—sleek, black, and gleaming like polished obsidian—lined the curb. Men in suits stood like statues around them, their sharp gazes sweeping the crowd of students gathering in curious clusters. The air buzzed with whispers, excitement and unease crackling like static.  

I pushed through the throng, drawn by a sharp yell. My stomach dropped when I saw Cole, one of my few friends, suspended mid-air. A massive man had him by the neck, lifting him effortlessly like a ragdoll. Cole’s glasses hung askew, his legs flailing as he clawed at the hand choking him.  

"Let him go!" I shouted, my voice slicing through the noise.  

The man’s cold, steel-gray eyes flicked to me, his expression unreadable but radiating menace. "Speak to the king like that again, and I’ll kill you," he growled, his voice like the rumble of distant thunder.  

My pulse thundered in my ears. "He’s not talking to the king," I said, barely keeping the tremor out of my voice. "Let him go!"  

The man’s grip tightened, and Cole’s face turned an alarming shade of red. Panic surged through me, adrenaline flooding my veins. Without thinking, I swung my backpack with all the strength I could muster. It slammed into his side with a dull thud.  

"Leave him alone!"  

The man barely flinched, his brows furrowing as if I were an annoying fly buzzing around his head. His gaze shifted briefly toward the school building, and instinctively, I followed it.  

The dean’s office. The blinds were drawn, save for a narrow sliver, through which I caught a glimpse of molten gold eyes watching the scene.  

The eyes were locked on me.  

A shiver ran down my spine, my breath hitching as I stared back. The gaze was sharp, predatory, and unnervingly intense. Whoever was watching wasn’t just observing—they were studying me.  

Before I could fully process it, the man released Cole, letting him crumple to the ground. The crowd scattered like leaves in the wind as the man barked a single word, his voice slicing through the chaos like a whip.  

I dropped to my knees beside Cole, helping him sit up. "Are you okay?"  

He nodded weakly, rubbing his neck. "Girl, are you insane?" he rasped. "That was Beta Matt of—"  

"I don’t care who he is," I snapped, shoving his glasses into his hands. "No one messes with my friends."  

But even as I spoke, the prickling sensation of being watched refused to fade. My gaze darted back to the dean’s office, but the blinds were now fully closed.  

"Who are these people, and why are they here?" I murmured, more to myself than Cole.  

He shrugged, still wincing as I helped him to his feet. "Rumors are flying. Some say the Lycan King is donating money to the school. Others think he’s recruiting guards. A few even say he’s here to find his mate."  

I frowned. "Why would the Lycan King come to a public school? This isn’t exactly an elite academy."  

Cole gave a weak chuckle. "Beats me. Maybe he got lost."  

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t a coincidence. The way those golden eyes had locked onto me felt too deliberate, too personal.  

By the time I got Cole to the nurse’s office, my mind was spinning with questions I couldn’t answer.  

Little did I know, the Lycan King wasn’t here for donations or guards. He had come for me.