Someone like me? Those words echoed in my head for the rest of the week. What did he mean by that? The worst part was that I still hadn’t realized I had crossed paths with one of the most popular groups of boys at school. How popular was the band for people to start paying attention to me? And in a negative way, no less…
During classes, paper balls flew in my direction from time to time over the following days. I had to skip my first meeting at the archery club when I noticed some of the band's fans crowding at the entrance.
The following week, things got "better." At least they replaced the silly pranks with more elaborate hazing. Just a few steps from the classroom, I caught a distinct scent of paint in the air, thanks to Lisa's keen sense of smell.
As if such childish tricks would have any effect on you! my wolf chuckled internally.
I gave a faint smile as I noticed the paint bucket above the slightly open door. I glanced at a group in the hallway, chatting casually as if they had nothing to do with it, and imagined an even larger group inside the classroom, probably waiting to laugh and film the scene.
I waited a few moments outside the room, leaning against the wall and listening to music. If the goal was to take revenge for the band, then I would make the band itself stop them. I noticed the impatient look of a girl in the external group but completely ignored her. As soon as I saw Annie approaching, I stepped forward for a candid conversation. This needed to end this situation as soon as possible!
"Good morning!" I greeted her warmly.
"Good morning!" she replied, surprised and a bit shy.
"I've been thinking it over and decided to collaborate with the band. I think it'll be fun!"
"Really?" she asked, flashing an adorable smile.
"Of course! Let's go into the classroom to talk more about it. What do you think?" I pointed ahead, and she took the lead with a radiant expression. Just as she was about to open the door, the girl who had been glaring at me earlier tried to pull her back desperately. No wonder—what would happen to their image in front of the band if the prank targeted the leader’s girlfriend?
"Gotcha!" I grabbed her arm, pulling Annie away from the door, and flipped the prankster over my shoulder, slamming them against the door. She landed on her back on the floor, receiving a shower of paint as some girls inside laughed and film the moment.
"Oops, we got the wrong person!" exclaimed a slim, medium-height girl with long, straight blonde hair and light brown eyes.
"Looks like the prank backfired," I said as I stepped over the girl on the floor and pulled Annie with me.
"What was that?" Annie grumbled as the girl on the floor got up and ran away in tears. "Was that meant for me?"
"What a naive question." Ignoring the irritated stares around me, I had Annie sit across from me. "As if anyone would have the guts to mess with you."
Under normal circumstances, she had a personality that would make her an easy target for bullying, but considering who supposedly claimed to be her destined mate, she would make it through high school unscathed.
"I had to put you in front as a shield because I knew Liam’s crazy fangirls wouldn’t dare touch you, but I never intended for the paint to fall on you. That would’ve been a death sentence for me."
"I think you're exaggerating," she said, a bit confused.
"Me? Exaggerating?" I almost asked if she was blind, but I let it slide when I noticed a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"So the whole thing about helping the band..."
"I can do it, as long as they make sure those lunatics stop harassing me," I said honestly.
"That's great!" she exclaimed excitedly.
"Shhh..." I hushed her as soon as I saw the teacher enter. After he slightly slipped in the paint, he started muttering complaints to the class. No one dared say a word about what had happened. "We'll talk more about this during the break."
She nodded at me with a bright smile and, to my dismay, stayed by my side. It was clear she intended to be my friend, and this time, I did nothing to push her away.
"Guys, Eliza decided to join us!" she announced cheerfully, pulling me toward the table where the band was sitting.
"Correction! I decided to help you so your crazy fans stop harassing me," I stated firmly. Annie sat down, and I took a seat beside her, waiting for a response, whether positive or negative.
"And you think you can handle the job?" Liam questioned me with a serious expression.
"The real question is whether she needs protection," this time it was Maxsuel who spoke, seeming to hold back laughter. "Heard you sent Morgan flying today."
"That stuck-up girl got what she deserved," Jonathan commented.
"As long as you don’t put Annie in danger again, I’ll let this slide," Liam remarked. Now it was clear why he looked so grumpy. "Especially since my Annie seems to like you a lot."
"First of all," I replied firmly, "she was never in danger. I wouldn’t let anything happen to her. Second, as long as the task is limited to writing sheet music, I can handle it."
"Alright!" He handed me a list of about half a dozen songs. "I understand it might take some time, but the sooner you can do it, the better."
Involuntarily, I frowned as I read the song titles—all by the same singer. I felt my wolf laughing inside, making me completely uncomfortable.
"Judging by your face, you can't handle it. Don't know the songs, huh?" Maxsuel teased.
"You guys really intend to play and sing this?" I asked.
"Why?" This time it was Nicolas who spoke. His words came out harsh and impatient. "We're not talking about just any singer. This is Lisa, and in case you didn’t know, her career skyrocketed in just two years since her debut. Right now, she's one of the most listened-to artists among young people. Everyone at school loves her songs. If we're asking someone like you, it's because Lisa’s songs are so recent that they're hard to find online. We don’t have many options."
Someone like me? Again with that nonsense? I shot Nicolas a furious look, which was softened by Annie’s gentle words.
"Sorry for not being that good at this, guys. Eliza, please, I know you can do it! I saw what you're capable of."
I stared into Annie’s pleading eyes, took a deep breath, and nodded.
"Alright! Annie, hand me your sheet music notebook." It wasn’t a request—it was an order.
I stretched out my hand, and Annie pulled a pink notebook covered in floral drawings from her backpack and handed it to me. I took a pen from my pocket and started writing the notes.
"Leave that for later, it'll take a while..." Jonathan trailed off when he saw the speed and skill with which I was writing the melodies. I replayed the songs in my head as I finished the task. The group remained silent until the last note was written, precisely when the bell rang. As I returned the notebook, I noticed their astonished and incredulous expressions, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to get this over with.
As I stood up, I left them with one final remark.
"If you don’t need anything else, my task is complete." I turned specifically to Nicolas before giving my final words. "Be grateful that someone like me did something that someone like you couldn’t. If you were really good, you wouldn’t need sheet music to play."
I tapped my ear—the most powerful weapon of a gifted musician—and walked silently to the next class. This time, he didn’t dare respond.
The night was covered in dense clouds. The sun had yet to rise when I got out of bed and went for a run with my she-wolf, knowing that most of the other clan members would still be asleep at this hour. It was very dark, which forced me to sharpen all my senses—a great training exercise before another boring day of classes with repetitive subjects.I ran swiftly, releasing all my adrenaline while trying to memorize the spots where there were no recent scents of other wolves. It was my first time going out in wolf form since I arrived, and I needed to map out the forested area near my grandmother’s house to know my way around. Now, I would have to resume my solo training to stay in good shape.Alright, Lisa! Time to head back.She was happy, and so was I. Starting tomorrow, we will train together again every day, just like we used to before we got here. We had a deep bond, but above all, I had earned Lisa’s deep respect by showing her that I wouldn’t be a burden but the dominant force.
I avoided the cafeteria for a few days, and to my relief, the girls who had been chasing me stopped bothering me. On top of that, I hadn’t seen my so-called partner again, which forced Lisa to back off, allowing me to focus more on my classes.It was PE class, and after warming up, I took a deep breath, looked up at the cloudy sky, and sat down on the bench. Once again, I was left on the sidelines, not getting into the game. After that, I headed to the archery club for the first time in three weeks, mentally preparing myself to face my classmates.I was disappointed to see that there were more people in the club than I had expected. At Heington, it was one of the least popular clubs, but here, at least a dozen people were gearing up and getting ready to train. I took my time putting on my equipment, letting the others go ahead. No one welcomed me or even acknowledged my presence. Well, maybe that was for the best..."Oh, what a shame! Looks like we’re out of bows!" sneered a skinny bl
For as long as I can remember, my parents signed me up for all sorts of kids' courses—maybe just to keep me busy since they didn’t have much time for me. From an early age, I showed a strong connection to music. By the time I was six, I could play the piano and sing so sweetly that they pulled me out of language classes to have me focus solely on music.A little before that, when I was five, they told me about the clans and my magical heritage. At first, I found it fascinating, but the more I learned about what it meant to be a wolf, the harder reality hit me. By the time I was eight, I had already decided that I wouldn’t let this whole wolf thing define my story. I knew my wolf would be stronger than me and could take over my decisions, so I swore to myself that I would become stronger than her—to have complete control when she finally emerged.I remember relentlessly begging my parents to let me take fighting and self-defense classes until they finally gave in—even though I was just
I had just gotten out of the shower when I received a message from him. The clock read 6:12 PM, and I was supposed to be at the designated address by 7:30. I put on a pair of casual jeans and a white t-shirt, then threw a black jacket over it. Just as I was fixing my hair into a bun, another message came through:Nicolas: Don’t dress like a total nerd. You won’t need it!Eliza: Got it!I let my hair down, ran a brush through my long black locks, and put on some minimal makeup. Ignoring the glasses on the table, I headed downstairs to the kitchen, where I found my grandmother and aunt preparing dinner."I'm heading out," I announced.My aunt was the first to turn around and comment. "Is that really you, Eliza? Fitted clothes, styled hair, and makeup? Are you going out with a boy?""I'm meeting up with a classmate," I admitted. "But it's not what you think.""Eat something before you go," my grandmother said."Thanks, but I'd rather eat when I get back. I don't plan to stay out long. Au
Maxsuel stared at me for a moment, his eyes wide with surprise and his mouth slightly open. His reaction didn’t help my poor heart, already overwhelmed by anxiety.“Eliza? Wow, you look amazing!” he finally exclaimed. I sighed, unsure whether I should feel relieved or not about that kind of comment.“You better not embarrass our guest,” Nicolas shot him a deadly glare before motioning for me to follow him.I took a deep breath and walked after Nicolas. I noticed when he purposely bumped into Maxsuel, who only laughed and started teasing him, as if it were a regular thing between them.“Eliza, what a surprise!” Annie ran up to me and hugged me excitedly. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”“Hey.” Liam greeted, looking equally surprised.“Hello, Eliza!” Jonathan said, leaning on his drum set with a goofy smile. “Are you joining us?”“I’m just here to watch.” I shifted my gaze to Nicolas, waiting for his response. He gave me a calm smile, nodded slightly, then returned to his spot and picke
The sun was rising over the horizon as I ran through the forest, heading back after another intense training session with Lisa. I jumped through my bedroom window and shifted back into my human form. After a quick shower, I opened my closet and immediately felt Lisa grunt when I reached for my usual uniform."Alright!" I muttered in response, grabbing the only set of uniforms I had bought in the right size. I brushed my hair, put on some perfume, and applied light makeup. As I stood up, I grabbed my glasses case and made a final decision—I tossed it into the trash. They had only been a disguise, so I didn’t need them anymore."Looks like someone finally came to their senses," my aunt said when she saw me. She held out a lunchbox, but I turned it down. She had been making them especially for me ever since she found out I was avoiding the school cafeteria."Thanks, Auntie, but I’m going back to eating in the cafeteria. I made some friends." I gave her a gentle smile and grabbed a small
The days started flying by. I began attending some of the band’s rehearsals as a listener and advisor, pointing out mistakes and making suggestions. Nicolas always took my advice, and because of that, even when the others didn’t fully get it, they still went along with it.Even though I had gotten closer to the group, I was still left out of sports activities. Even when I was put on a team, they avoided passing me the ball—not that I cared. Chasing after it was the last thing I wanted to do.The first week of exams had passed, making way for the dreaded group projects. No one besides Annie wanted to team up with me, which was fine—it just meant less work for me!"You’re so smart!" Annie exclaimed, watching in amazement as I quickly researched and typed up our project on the computer."Almost done!" I said as I started working on the conclusion."But it’s not due until next week!""More free time for us!" I grinned at the thought of spending fewer hours at school over the next few days
I released my claws in an incomplete transformation as I swiftly climbed a tree. With a skillful movement, I leaped, using the branch ahead to propel myself toward a thinner tree a few meters away. I slightly transformed my legs into paws, channeling Lisa’s strength into them with the intent of tearing my target apart.I felt the impact more than the tree itself and allowed myself to fully transform to soften the fall. I couldn’t stay on my feet. Shifting slightly back into my human form, I popped my dislocated ankle back into place. Then, I returned to my wolf form to speed up the healing. Even with accelerated recovery, I’d still be limping on my right foot for a few hours."That hurts" Lisa complained. I lay on the ground, staring at the tree, which was still standing but now had a deep crack running through its trunk.I believed that, for most werewolves, the choice was limited to either staying in their human form or fully shifting into their wolf form. Since I had worked hard fr
The real training was about to begin. A fight between two wolves was way more intense—and brutal. I felt awkward as I undressed and slipped on the robe they gave me.“No need to be shy, sweetheart. I’ll help you through it, okay?” said Kate, who was in the room with me, trying to reassure me.I walked barefoot out onto the backyard patio, with Kate right behind me. John and his sons were already there, standing at attention. The way they all stared as I approached made my face burn with embarrassment, and I ended up lowering my gaze.“Well, well… doesn’t look so tough now,” Arthur took the opportunity to tease me.“Since we know you’re a shy little wolf, we figured this was more appropriate,” John said, referring to the fact that his sons weren’t naked—they were wearing men’s robes.Wolves were used to running in packs, so nudity wasn’t a big deal for them. But for a lone wolf like me, it was a bit much. I was genuinely touched that they had considered how I’d feel.John went over a b
I took care of my hygiene before heading to my room and setting my alarm for the next morning. When I woke up, I felt completely refreshed and even helped Kate set the table for breakfast. When Nicolas and Arthur showed up, they looked like a pair of zombies."I'm dead. Do I really have to train today, Dad?" Arthur groaned."More than anyone," John replied. I could feel Arthur shooting daggers at me with his eyes, but I pretended not to notice. "Today and tomorrow, you’ll be doing hand-to-hand combat in human form. Eliza will be your opponent, and I’ll be supervising the whole thing."“I get to fight Eliza? Can’t wait,” Arthur said with a sly grin.“Should I tell him or do you want to?” Nicolas whispered, barely holding back a laugh.“Let the kid enjoy the moment,” I whispered back.“Just go easy on me, okay?” Arthur asked. I gave him a nod as I finished my breakfast.I stopped by my room to grab the training outfit they’d given me, then headed out to the garden. I started warming up
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t gone back to talk to the Phantom Guy. Weeks had passed, and my routine of visiting the waterfall had become solid. Senior graduation was right around the corner—in fact, it was happening next week. Because of that, Beta John decided to run an intensive training program with his sons to get Nicolas ready for the alpha oath.“Phantom Guy, school’s officially over, and I passed with flying colors. I got the highest scores in the whole school, so I’m top of the class. Smart, huh? I even gave myself a little break from the piano lessons I teach Caroline. Some people aren’t on vacation yet, so they’re still going to school for tutoring or makeup classes. Anyone who doesn’t pass the retakes is gonna fail the year—but thankfully, that’s not my problem.” I laughed softly, swinging my feet in the water.“Anyway, I’ve got some news you might not like. Next Thursday is senior graduation, when students take the alpha oath. Then Saturday is the end-of-year dance. I’m
What felt like a long run for the wolves following me—clearly exhausted—had already become routine for me. I hardly noticed time passing anymore when I came here. I stopped in front of the waterfall and let out a howl. This was our final stop. Catching Annie’s attention, I motioned for her to follow me, and we stepped into the tent to change."You okay?" I asked. Her breathing was way too fast."Just a little tired. Try to go easier next time," she said with a gentle smile."Sure!" I was already finishing getting dressed while she was still sprawled out on the ground, catching her breath. "Don’t forget to put your swimsuit on underneath."She nodded slightly, and I stepped out of the tent, zipping it closed behind me. I didn’t see the boys, but I could smell they were nearby. I walked up to the waterfall and stood there for a while, staring at the water."Your wolf is beautiful," Nicolas said, coming up beside me."Thanks," I replied with a smile, then turned my gaze back to the water
John’s request totally caught me off guard. Kate ended up dropping her silverware in surprise, while Arthur was left speechless, totally confused. I looked down and thought about it for a bit. He didn’t pressure me, but I was worried it’d make things awkward if I just said no.“Why did you agree to that?” Nicolas asked once we were alone. He’d taken me to the practice room so we could talk. I sat on the floor, crossed my legs, and looked down.“I just wanted to show you some songs, but your dad answered the door—and he recognized me as the white wolf.” I shrugged, feeling a little discouraged. “So we ended up talking, and I kinda said more than I should’ve. I’m sorry.”Nicolas sat down in front of me on the floor. He didn’t look upset at all.“I’m surprised you opened up like that, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing. Actually, I’m kinda excited. My dad’s good at keeping secrets, so don’t worry. Plus, the training’s on private property outside of town, so no one’s gonna see us.”“I’m n
It hadn’t been easy to focus on studying, and I couldn’t concentrate on the classes I had to teach last week either. I’d spent three days in a row talking to the mysterious ghost, and I already missed being there. It was wildly irrational, but being at the waterfall had somehow become the best part of my day—the moment I looked forward to the most.“Aunt Lisa, is this right?” It was Tuesday’s class. Caroline tugged gently at the hem of my shirt, trying to get my attention.“You’re off on the timing, sweetheart,” I replied patiently.“You seem different. You were like this last class too.”“Like what?” I asked, puzzled.“Smiley! You’re smiling a lot.” I paused for a few seconds and realized she was right—I was smiling. I wouldn’t have noticed if she hadn’t pointed it out.“It’s like the music’s just flowing through my head, like a waterfall,” I said. Since the first time I interacted with Mr. Ghost, I’d written two brand-new songs from scratch and finished four others I’d left incomple
The week started off pretty much like any other—same old routine—but with one big difference that came from inside me. My feelings weren’t all over the place anymore. With my head clear, I started sketching out notes in one of my sheet music books during my free time. Even with exams going on, I managed to juggle studying and composing.I’ve always had a great memory, so one focused read-through was usually all I needed to do well on tests. A lot of the time, while answering questions, I could clearly picture the teacher explaining the material, word for word. Same with the textbooks—I could even recall the chapter and page the info was on.Thursday’s test was in the morning. I took my time turning it in so I could leave with Annie. Morgan quickly caught up to us and walked with us down the hallway. She and Annie were going back and forth about the questions. I could tell Morgan was straight-up complaining, while Annie was kinda defending the test, saying it wasn’t that bad. I stayed
Exactly three days had passed since I last saw him. Lisa’s heart was finally starting to calm down again. It was a Sunday morning, and all I wanted was to finish a song I’d been working on for the past few weeks. I strummed Preciosa, a persistent melody stuck in my head, but the words just wouldn’t come.I decided it was time to be alone for a few hours, to try and reconnect with myself. Leaving Preciosa behind, I walked into the forest and started running in my human form, completely shutting out all thoughts and feelings—including Lisa’s voice. I trained with her every night at dawn, but her constant longing for our mate had been draining my energy and killing my appetite.“I can’t believe this thing’s still here—and untouched,” I said, circling the tent I’d set up near the waterfall. There was no sign it had been used since. I was drenched in sweat after the long run. My eyes locked onto the waterfall, completely mesmerized by the view. It was the first time I’d come here during th
I walked home slowly after school, still drowsy and lost in the sweet memories. Out of nowhere, my phone started ringing, and I grabbed it eagerly. The name “Stupid Heir” flashing on the screen made my heart skip a beat.“Stupid Heir?” An irritated voice came from right behind me.“Oh, I didn’t see you there!” I gave him an innocent look, but he wasn’t fooled. “Well… it’s just funny, that’s all.”I let a mischievous smile slip. I couldn’t exactly change his contact name to boyfriend unless he was ready to own that title publicly.“Let’s go before someone sees us,” he said firmly.I followed him discreetly to his car, which was parked across the street. I’d been so out of it I hadn’t even noticed it. He drove in silence for a while before pulling over on a deserted road.“Did something happen?” I asked as soon as he cut the engine.“I have to head to the border base tomorrow. I’ll be there for intensive training, so we won’t be seeing each other for a while.”“How long?” I asked, worri