This was my second time running away from home, and maybe it would be my last because I might actually like it here.Before entering through the high gate, I glimpsed the structure from a distance. The main building, somewhat gloomy, resembled a reused mansion crafted from ancient stones and red bricks. It stood in the center of the school, housing the administrative building and other facilities.Rubbing my clammy palms on my pants out of habit, I let out a deep breath as I continued to gaze around.Next to the main building was the classroom, which I didn't have time to explore. It was sizable and towering, leaving me curious about the total number of rooms it housed.It looked like a regular boarding school.Maybe it was because it didn't feel like how a regular juvenile detention center should feel. The headmaster, Mr. Kendrick, assured me I would fit in just right. I needed to hold onto his word.Contrary to my initial expectations, the school felt inviting on the inside. It was
KELANI POV"You should totally skip orientation," groaned Riley, helping me arrange my clothes in the wardrobe she made available.An hour had passed since I stepped into the room, and we were unpacking my things. Riley volunteered to help, but she also took the opportunity to talk my ears off.I guess I should be grateful; at least, she shared some information about the school's traditions and off-limits areas, although not in much detail.Unlike Lia, who might smother me with a pillow while I slept, I was lucky to have Riley as a roommate.The room Riley and I shared was more spacious than the one back home. Combining my room with the one my dad shared with my stepmother would barely match it.On the wall near Riley's bed hung a painting of a starry night, featuring a woman holding a torch with a wreath around her neck and a crescent moon-shaped crown on her hair.My side of the room was devoid of paintings; maybe Riley left it that way- she might have assumed I would flip if she to
KELANI POVToday was my official class day. After the cafeteria incident yesterday, Riley took me on a tour of the school.Despite her promise to continue over the weekend, I doubted it would happen, given my busy weekends filled with activities. However, I thought I could learn about the school surroundings on my own while going about my day.But then, that would only be possible if I didn't get lost on my first trial.Headmaster Kendrick had taken it upon himself to tutor me in things I needed to know. The first time I received my schedule, my weekends were free, but he sent me a revised one this morning. He also referred to himself as my tutor, a role I didn't mind.Among all the staff present, he was the only familiar face I recognized, even though we had only met for two days.Entering my locker code, I opened it, putting some textbooks I had gotten earlier from the bookstore inside my crossbody bag that had been in the locker. I found the crossbody bag there, it was a gift to ev
KELANI POVI stood at the front of the class for a few more seconds, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on me. I didn't mind the attention, but being stared at wasn't exactly my favorite.Making eye contact with a few classmates, I then turned toward the teacher, who was busy scribbling on the board."I'm Chase Westerfield," he introduced himself. "I'll be teaching Werewolf 101, an introductory class covering fundamental aspects of being a werewolf. This includes basic anatomy, heightened senses, and the importance of pack dynamics."He paused briefly before continuing, his gaze briefly meeting mine. "But before we dive into that, let's get to know each other a bit better. We also have a new student joining us."He nodded towards me, and I reciprocated. "I'm Kelani Redwood, and I'm eager to learn a lot here. I hope you all treat me well," I said."Of course, you're in the right school," Chase replied, adding, "Make yourself comfortable."Glancing around, I struggled to find an avai
KELANI POVThe murmur of voices snapped me back to reality. My eyes stung as I struggled to open them, and my head throbbed. They felt heavy, as though I was lugging around an extra head. My hands were unresponsive; I couldn't budge them. I wondered if they were frozen in place or if it was me struggling to move them.I was in the infirmary, no doubt about that. I didn't need to see it to confirm it. The scent of antiseptic and bleach hung in the air, mingling with the hum of machines."Will she be okay?" Riley voiced out. She was here.My eyes snapped open, only to quickly shut again due to the harsh lighting. Wincing, I shielded them with one hand as I used the other to prop myself up."Kelani," Riley murmured, hurrying to my side.Frowning, I looked at her. Mascara streaked down her face, and dried tears still marked her cheeks. Her nose was somewhat puffy, making me wonder how long she had been crying for."Were you crying?" I asked.Riley shook her head. "I was just upset.""You
KELANI POVI had flat feet, and while that might not be a valid excuse to avoid PE, I secretly wished I could skip it because of that. Unlike my previous school, where I had the freedom to choose, here it felt like an obligation. Doubt lingered in my mind, questioning if half the students truly wanted to run around the track or play handball."Does everyone do this?" I asked Riley as we approached the expansive gymnasium a short distance from the main school building.The gymnasium, the largest on campus, housed various sports facilities, including the basketball and handball courts, even futsal."Split into two teams," instructed the coach, a brunette with her hair pulled back in an elastic band. Before I could react, everyone hurriedly formed teams. By the time I looked around, Riley's team was full, leaving me no choice but to join the other team.Unfortunately, Lia led the team I found myself in. She scowled, arms crossed, and approached me with disdain. "We don't want a scrawny-l
KELANI POVYesterday, I had a close call – nearly knocked out by a 16-ounce handball and narrowly avoiding a mauling by Williams. Today, things seemed promising. After stowing the remaining books in my handbag, I slung it over my shoulder.Glancing at Riley's bed, I shook my head; she was nowhere in sight since I woke up.Not usually a deep sleeper, but yesterday's events and Dr. Kaden's examination left me drained. He discharged me, advising a return only if I felt dizzy or had a headache.After a final check to ensure I hadn't forgotten anything, I headed to the door, closing it behind me."Hey, Roomie."I spun around, eyes widening. "Oh my fucking goodness, Riley! You scared the fuck out of me!""You never struck me as a girl who curses. I like your potty mouth," she giggled, then frowned. "Where are you headed?""To class, obviously," I replied, wondering if it wasn't clear enough. I noticed she wasn't in uniform, not even dressed for class. Denim shorts, a pink sports bra, and run
VESPER POVHockey meant everything to me, and I'd go to any length to come out on top. At least, that was what I kept telling myself. However, it didn't seem like things were going well.Don't get me wrong; I was still the star player at Mystic Height Academy, something I was grateful for. However, failing classes could soon jeopardize that position.To stay at the pinnacle and maintain my spot on the ice rink, excelling academically was crucial.I couldn't fathom why grades mattered when I could just focus on playing Hockey, racking awards – something I excelled at – and forget about subjects like arithmetic and chemistry, which happened to be my weakest."You need to put in more effort. Or maybe I should talk to Coach Jensen about benching you more so you can take this as seriously as I do," remarked Headmaster Kendrick."What's the point?" I shrugged, glancing around the office, a large space with bland wallpaper and a floating bookshelf near the entrance. The headmaster sat behind
KELANI POVOh goodness, what does he want now? I mused, straightening as I saw Vesper coming towards me.I had woken early to come to the ice cream shop in search of my phone before leaving for school. At least, if it were going to be here, I'd be the first person to see it since not many students were here after the event of yesterday.I was here because Riley had put a call through to Zain, and he said he hadn't seen any phone. He even said he didn't notice any with me but promised to help me search.I didn't want to let him go through all that trouble for my phone. Hence, I had come here before he would.I turned away as soon as Vesper reached me. He stayed for a while without saying a word to me, but I could feel his eyes on me."Kelani," he eventually said.I ignored him and continued looking under the seat, which I had been doing since I arrived. The phone wasn't even microscopic and could be seen easily, even from afar.Also, it would really stand out if it was here since the b
KELANI POV"What happened, and who's she?" I asked as soon as Zain returned. Vesper had left with the girl immediately. The ambulance came, and the activity that was taking place continued as if nothing had happened.I tried not to think about who the girl was with Vesper, but I couldn't help it. As far as I was concerned, he had no relatives from here.Riley, who was a big mouth herself, hadn't mentioned that Vesper had any relatives. Riley would have said one or two things about the Vesper family. Now, it left me confused."Are you worried that he's seeing someone else?" Zain asked me.I snorted, rolling my eyes. "Why should I be?"Zain narrowed his eyes at me, "Do you love Vesper?""That's not the point. I am just worried about the girl. I haven't seen her from around here before. You know this is the start of the session; what if we are getting attacked again?" I couldn't stop thinking about what had happened to Mary.What if there was an enemy lurking around the school area, targ
KELANI POVI stared at Jake for a long time before shaking my head."You don't have to give me answers right away; I can wait," He said."I can't... You know what? I need to speak with Chase, and I'll give you a response soon," I said."Great," Jake grinned. "I should leave this with you." he handed me the book and began to walk away."Um..." I trailed off, grimacing as I stared at his retreating form. "I guess you're stuck with me." I stared at the book again before stuffing it inside my bag.I walked to the fountain near the huge gate, then back to the gym's entrance.Now that I thought of it, I didn't have anything else to do besides practice, but I had blown that by going to meet Vesper.I thought it was a reasonable thing to do. Now, I believe I was stupid to have thought that.I could return to practice and ignore the scorn looks and snide remarks from Lia, but I was too prideful to do so. I had told her off and admitted I wasn't interested in the practice, so it was best to st
KELANI POVLia blew the whistle around her neck, signaling the start of practice. We gathered in the newly renovated gymnasium. Gone were the peeling paints I remembered from the last session. Fresh coats of white paint and Mystic's signature navy blue accents now adorned the walls, revitalizing the space. The polished hardwood court shimmered, the school's logo emblazoned at center court. Once a pale blue, the bleachers now boasted a deeper hue, sectioned off with crisp white railings.Despite the renovations, the gym still felt cozy and familiar. It still felt like the first time I was here, where I was whacked in the head."Alright, Fawns! Let's get warmed up," Lia called, her voice echoing off the gym's walls."Thirty minutes," Lia announced.Although I didn't know what I would be doing the whole thirty minutes, I was sure it wasn't warm-up alone.My thoughts wandered back to what happened at the cafeteria. After the announcement was made, Vesper had excused himself. Headmaster Ke
KELANI POVIt was recess, which I was grateful for. The lecture was annoyingly long, and Chase didn't even make it easy. I didn't understand why he was hellbent on trying to make us bring out our wolves.If one had a wolf they could communicate with, it was fine, right? But he had tried to make me switch to Kelly, which I had been unable to.I had gotten my ass whooped three times today, and I was glad to be in the cafeteria to mull over my inability to bring out my wolf rather than do so in the classroom where he could watch me."All I see is back, sexy, well-accentuated backside in that leather pant, and oh, how perfect his legs look," Riley groaned.I thought all that she was saying was from the book she was reading as it was on the table, but from the hushed silence in the room, I didn't think it was.I turned to where students were lined in front of the food table to see Jake. He stood in the room's center, and all eyes were on him. When I said all eyes, I meant all the eyes in t
KELANI POV A MONTH AFTER "And it's called black magic, black magic, yeah!" I groaned, grasping the pillow and using it to cover my ears, but it was barely doing its work. Riley's voice could pierce through even the hardest stone; sometimes, I wonder how she did it. It wasn't because she was singing while I was trying my best to sleep, it was due to the fact that the song had been on repeat for about three hours now. I wondered if she had just come across Little Mix. Hence, she decided to stream all the musics they had, or maybe she was just doing it to annoy me. "You sound like a broken record, Riley. I am trying to sleep," my voice was muffled by the pillow. "Wake up, Lani! It's a new session, the start of a beautiful morning, and I can see the sun peaking out from the sky. Oh, do you know we are going to know who gets shortlisted today in the battle of the strongest? I can't wait to find out who the alpha of the academy will be!" Well, I wasn't looking forward to it. I had ha
KELANI POVRiley and I stayed in the position much longer before Zain cleared his throat, breaking us apart.He was standing by the door with his hands tucked inside his pocket."I'm genuinely surprised at your quick recovery," He said, nodding towards Riley. "Now, I presumed help isn't much needed, is it?"Riley shrugged, "I'm a witch, and just like you werewolves heal after an injury, we do too.""Never knew that," It was Zain's turn to shrug.He probably knew but didn't care for much details."Now you do," Riley said, then added, "When you said help, who is coming? The police or staff from the infirmary?" She asked.Now, thinking about it, I hadn't asked him who the 'Helps' exactly were.I doubted it was any of the staff from the infirmary. It was possibly the police he had called. And to be honest, there wasn't much any of them would have done in this situation."Mrs Periwinkle and Coach Jensen," Zain said, "They should be arriving anytime soon.""They responded?!" Riley question.
KELANI POVOh, My Goodness."Somebody, anybody, help me!" I cried again, for the second time, my eyes moving around the room to see no one had made a move."I did this, I did this," I chanted over again, my hands trembling as I held her closer. I hurt Riley. I had hurt the only person who cared about me.But then again, I was only trying to defend myself. I wondered if that counted.Biting my lower lip as it trembled, I sniffled and then blinked back, the tears brewing in my eyes away. But the more I blinked, the more tears that gathered."Kelani," I felt a pull on my shoulder, but I didn't let Riley go. I couldn't let her go.She was bleeding, and by the look of things, if no one came to save her soon, she was going to die."Kelani," I heard Vesper's voice again.I turned to stare at him and saw his brows were creased with worries. Shaking my head, I let out a throaty sob."I need help!" I snapped, swiping at the tears pouring down my cheeks. "Why are you people doing nothing? Riley
KELANI POV My wolf. Kelly. I had a wolf, just like everyone else. I had a freaking wolf. Excitement unfurled inside of me at the thought. I had thought I was wolfless. A werewolf wouldn't be one without its werewolf identity. I had assumed I was different because I could barely channel any real powers within me. Now, I felt it. With Kelly prowling inside of me, I felt her energy surging inside of me as well. "I'll help you defeat her," Kelly said. "No," I whispered, shaking my head as I approached Riley. She had slammed Lia into a box several times, almost making her go unconscious. But then Lia was as resilient as Riley. They both had strength and great stamina. They could endure a lot of things that many werewolves wouldn't be able to endure. Well, the weaker werewolves, though. Riley tossed her head back and cackled, the air cackling with energy as she did. The wind drifted into the room from nowhere. I couldn't see any windows in sight nor cracks in the wall to indicate