Chapter 5

Sophia’s POV

   I could only notice the vivid scent of ink and old books in the library. 

  I could seee shelves as high as they could possibly be above me. They were filled with books as old as the Moon Goddess. I put my hands on the rough surface of the wood, but my head still felt troubled and uncomfortable from all the events that had happened that day.

I won. I proved myself. But still, something dawned on me, it was a whisper, a glimpse of unease, and it just wouldn't leave me alone. It wouldn't let me have the moment. 

Miranda had been expelled, but I knew her too well, well enough to know and understand that this wasn't the end of it; it was far from it, in fact. It was just the beginning 

I tried my best not to think of it. Instead, I focused on my reason for being here.

The dream I had last night still scared me, it still lived in my mind.

It wasn’t just a nightmare, it felt like a vision.

 I saw wolves clashing and fighting in a vicious battle; blood filled most ppartsof the earth.

I had seen Xavier and Alpha Baron in the fray, their skin was as red as crimson, their roars shaking the ground. 

And in the chaos, I had felt something pulling me, something familiar and terrifying at the same time.

I needed answers.

I reached for a thick-volume book; dust covered it like it hadn't been touched in a decade. It was on the top shelf, and the golden letters on it could hardly be seen. It read, **The History of the Lost Alphas**

Maybe it would tell me something about the institution, about my past. About Xavier.

The moment my fingers touched the book slightly, I felt a chill run down my spine.

My inner wolf told me only one thing.

I wasn’t alone.

The library was supposed to be empty at this hour. 

The students had returned to their dorms, and the halls were silent. Yet, I could feel it, the feeling of eyes watching me, I could feel someone, something waiting patiently and watching my every move 

I paused, and my grip on the book tightened. 

Then—

A hand covered my mouth.

I could only feel panic in my whole body 

I fought, my body going rigid as an arm wrapped around me, pulling me backwards. 

My tiny scream was swallowed by the silence of the library.

"You should have stayed quiet, Sophia," a voice whispered in my ear.

My body turned pale.

I continued, I kicked and struggled, but my attacker was strong. Too strong.

I fought against the iron grip, my breath coming in gasps, faint gasps. The scent of stale sweat and something metallic filled my nose.

I twisted my body, trying to see who it was, but all I could see was a figure, his face covered with a hood, as the dim light in the library shined on him.

Was this Miranda’s doing? 

Had she sent someone to hurt me?

I became angry.

I will not be a victim, I refuse to be Miranda’s victim once again.

Desperation fueled me as I flung my head back with all the force I could almost not recognise.

My skull moved closer to my attacker’s nose.

A curse hissed through the air.

 The grip on my mouth loosened for a split second.

I knew this was going to be my only opportunity so it had to be now or never.

I wrenched free and turned around, slamming my knee straight into their stomach.

They stumbled back, a growl escaping their lips.

 But before I could run, before I could even take a breath—

A blur of motion.

A violent snarl ripped through the air.

My attacker was gone in an instant, their body hit the bookshelf so hard that books tumbled to the ground in a manner of paper and dust.

I gasped, moving backwards as a dark, huge figure stood over them

It was Professor Xavier.

His golden eyes burned like fire, his chest rising and falling with slow, lethal control. 

He moved like a predator who had caught his prey. Silent and deadly, his aura suffocating.

I had never seen him like this before.

I could feel the power shine off him, his wolf was barely contained. 

The hooded figure groaned in pain, holding his side tightly.

Xavier crouched low, gripping him by the collar and slamming him into the shelf again. 

"Who sent you?" He asked, his voice was calm, but there was something oddly terrifying about it.

The hooded figure gasped again, struggling to break free.

Xavier’s hold on his collar tightened. "I won't ask you again."

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding. 

The hooded figure finally gasped out, "I... I was just delivering a message!"

Xavier’s expression grew colder. "What message?"

The attacker let out a laugh, a laugh-filled with mockery. "She needs to watch her back."

A cold chill ran down my spine.

Xavier’s expression didn't change. With a single toss, he threw the man to the ground like he weighed nothing.

The attacker scrambled to his feet and ran, disappearing into the shadows 

I stood there, frozen, my breath still coming as gasps. My whole body was shaking.

Professor Xavier turned to me; his golden eyes looked into mine. His expression now unreadable. 

"Are you hurt?" He asked.

I opened my mouth, but the words were stuck in my throat. I couldn't find the right words.

I wanted to say no. I wanted to be strong. But my hands were trembling, my whole body betraying me.

The professor took a step closer. "Sophia."

His voice was softer now but was still filled with the same authority. Like he was someone who expected to be answered. 

I swallowed hard. "I... I'm fine Professor Xavier"

He looked at me for a moment. 

"You're lying. And no one calls me Professor Xavier; just Xavier is fine," he continued.

"You're very observant sir."

His lips curled, but he didn't smile.

Instead, he lifted a hand, slowly and carefully enough not to startle me. He put his fingers against my arm, his touch barely there, but it sent warmth to my skin.

He arched his brows. "You're cold."

"I almost got strangled in a library," I said. "Forgive me if I'm a little shaken."

He laughed loudly, something was in his eyes. Something rather dangerous.

I don't know what came over me, but I stepped closer. "Why did you help me sir?"

His jaw clenched. For the first time, he paused.

A moment of silence stretched between us, it was filled with unspoken words.

Then, finally, he said with a faint smile, "Just Xavier, no sir," he said, looking into my eyes. "I helped you, 'cause it'd affect our reputation here, and lastly, no one touches what's mine."

I paused.

My heart stuttered, my breath caught in my throat.

I didn't know what to say. What to think.

Mine.

What did he mean by mine?

I should have been angry; I should have pushed him away and asked for an explanation. But all I could do was stare, I could hear my own pulse 

Xavier looked at me again, before turning sharply and walled away, leaving me to think of his words.

************

Later That Night.

   I sat alone in my dormitory, my arms wrapped around my knees as I looked out the window. The moon was in the sky, shining his dim light across the courtyard. 

I should have felt safe here.

But I didn't.

Miranda was gone, but her shadows lingered. And now... this.

Someone had attacked me.

Someone had warned me.

I reached for the book I had managed to garb before the attack, I looked through the old pages. My fingers stopped on a page that talked about **Lost Alphas**, wolves who had vanished from history, their names erased. 

Xavier’s name wasn't there.

But my father's name was.

My heart dropped.

What did this mean?

Why did it feel like my life was only just beginning to unravel?

A sharp knock at the door startled me.

I turned, my heartbeat picking up.

"Who's there?" I called, my voice shaking.

But no one answered. It was just silence.

I heard another knock. 

But this time, it was louder.

I hesitated, my hand hovering over the doorknob. 

A cold chill ran down my spine.

Slowly, with so much caution, I opened the door.

The hallway was empty. 

But as I looked down at my feet, I saw a note lying there on t

he floor, written in deep red ink.

My hands shook as I picked it up 

**"You've made an enemy, Sophia. Watch your back."**

I swallowed.

My grip on the note tightened.

The war wasn't over.

It was just the beginning.