Entering Hell!

“You’re going to Ironfang Academy.” 

Liora’s voice was like nails on a chalkboard. Cold. Sharp. Cutting through the silence of the dining room as she stared at me from across the table. 

I stayed silent, my eyes fixed on the chipped edge of the plate in front of me. What was the point of arguing? I didn’t have any power here. Liora had seen to that. Ever since my father was paralyzed in that fight, she’d taken over the pack, taken over everything. She was Luna now, and I was just a problem she hadn’t quite solved yet.

She continued, letting out a dramatic sigh. “I’ve had enough of the complaints. Do you really enjoy seducing Alphas like your mother? Is that why you cause so much trouble at school?”

My blood ran cold at the mention of my mother. My chest tightened with anger, but I kept quiet. Liora had been waiting for this. She wanted me out of the way so her own daughter could take over when the time came. But she couldn’t do that while I was still here—the real daughter of the Alpha. The reminder that her power was temporary.

What happened at school wasn’t my fault. I didn’t mean to go into heat—how could I have known? No one ever taught me about it. My mother was gone before she could explain what to expect. And Liora? She couldn’t care less about preparing me for something like that. She’d handed me those pills without warning, telling me to take them without explaining what they were. And they’d made me sick—so sick I couldn’t even stand.

But that didn’t matter to my step mother. She only saw an opportunity to get rid of me.

“I didn’t—” I started, but she cut me off.

“Save it, Elowen,” she snapped, her voice dripping with disgust. “You’re just like your whore of a mother.”

That was it. I snapped. I slammed my hand down on the table, finally meeting her eyes with all the anger I’d been holding in. “Don’t you dare talk about her like that. You seduced my father. You took her place. You’re the one who’s a slut.”

The slap came faster than I expected, the sting spreading across my cheek, burning hot. I stumbled back, but I didn’t let her see the pain. I just glared at her.

“Pack your things! You’ll leave for Ironfang tomorrow. Only there will you learn to repent for your mistakes.”

“Any place will be better than this hell,” I yelled back, storming out of the room before I said something worse. I went to my room, slamming the door behind me, my hands shaking from the adrenaline.

Ironfang Academy. I’d heard stories about it—stories about Alphas who ruled the place like it was their personal hunting ground. And me? A girl with no wolf, no status, nothing to protect me. But even then, I’d rather face that than stay here, under Liora’s thumb, watching her parade around like she owned everything that should have been my mother’s.

The next morning came too quickly. I barely slept, and by the time the sun rose, I had my bag packed and ready. Gareth, the butler, waited by the car, his old face full of that same pity he always had when he looked at me. He’d been with my father for years, long before Liora showed up, and I knew he hated the way things had changed, but there was nothing he could do.

“Miss Elowen,” he said softly as I climbed into the back seat, his voice full of caution. “Please…you need to be careful at the academy. The Alphas there…they’re not like the ones here. They’re—”

“Dangerous. I know,” I muttered, cutting him off. 

I’d heard it all before. Alphas at Ironfang were ruthless and aggressive. A place where the strong thrived and the weak were trampled. He didn’t need to remind me of how vulnerable I’d be.

He nodded, though his eyes were still worried. “Just keep your scent covered, always. Don’t let anyone get close enough to scent you. And don’t—”

I sighed and shoved my earphones in before he could finish, tuning him out. The last thing I needed was another lecture about how I had to be careful, how I had to behave, how I had to hide who I was. I already knew all that. And honestly, I didn’t care. 

The car rolled through the dense forest, the trees whipping by in a blur of green and shadow as we headed toward Ironfang. The weight of everything pressed down on me, but I shoved it aside. I’d deal with whatever came next when I got there. 

For now, I was leaving the nightmare I called home behind.

The principal’s office smelled like leather and smoke. He sat behind his desk, a tall, gaunt man with sunken eyes and a smirk that made my skin crawl. His fingers tapped against the wood, eyes glinting with amusement as he looked me up and down, like I was some kind of joke.

“So, this is the famous Elowen,” he drawled, leaning back in his chair. “I’ve heard quite a bit about you from your mother.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. Liora wasn’t my mother, but I wasn’t going to correct him. It wouldn’t matter anyway.

“She’s concerned,” he continued, voice dripping with condescension, “that you might repeat some of your…unfortunate behaviors from your last school.” His lips curled. “Try to keep your heat under control this time. No one here wants to clean up after another one of your messes.”

I fought the urge to roll my eyes, but it took everything in me to keep quiet. Impotent. Weak. That’s what they all thought of me. It wasn’t like I wanted any of this, like I had asked to go into heat without even knowing what was happening to my own body. They all made it sound like I was at fault, like I’d purposely caused it.

“Here’s the key to your dorm,” he said, tossing a small metal key onto the desk in front of me. I grabbed it without a word, my fingers itching to get out of this office. His smirk widened as I stood up to leave. “Welcome to Ironfang Academy. Try not to embarrass yourself.”

I hated him already. The way his eyes lingered on me like I was beneath him. I didn’t need this place, and I definitely didn’t need him watching over me. 

As soon as I stepped out of the office, I took a breath, but it wasn’t much better outside. The school was massive, bigger than I’d imagined. Towering stone buildings, thick ivy crawling up their sides, and wide courtyards full of students walking around in packs. Everything here felt cold and imposing, like I’d stepped into a fortress instead of a school.

The students were just as intimidating. Even the girls looked powerful, their tall frames and sharp eyes reminding me I didn’t belong here. They all moved with confidence, their heads held high as if they owned the place. I kept my head down, trying to stay unnoticed as I made my way toward the dorm.

I entered the dorm and saw someone. A girl, taller than me with bright blonde hair and a big grin plastered across her face. 

“Hey! You must be new!” she chirped, her voice too chipper for a place like this.

“Elowen,” I muttered, trying to keep my voice low. I kept my luggage and sat on my bed to get some rest. 

“I’m Lisa!” she announced, as if I’d asked. “Oh, this is great! I’ve been dying to meet someone new. Most of these people are just…” She waved her hand dismissively. “Well, you’ll see. Anyway, come on! I’ll show you around. You’re lucky we don’t have classes for the next two days. We can chill, eat, and I’ll give you the grand tour after lunch!”

I blinked, trying to process her endless energy, but before I could say anything, she was already walking ahead, and I had no choice but to follow. Lisa talked the entire way, about the school, the students, the drama, the boys. I barely listened, my head already throbbing from her chatter. 

I’d never had friends. Liora made sure of that, always warning me that getting close to anyone would only invite trouble for the pack. And trouble was the last thing I needed.

We finally made it to the cafeteria, and Lisa grabbed enough snacks to feed an army. “You haven’t found your mate yet, right?” she asked suddenly, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.

I shook my head. “No,” I answered, my voice tight. I didn’t want to talk about it, but I could feel her watching me, waiting for more. “I turned eighteen six months ago, but…nothing.” 

No mate. No wolf. Nothing but disappointment. Not that I wanted a mate. After everything I saw with my parents, why would I? My father had betrayed my mother, and I had no desire to be bound to someone who might one day turn on me.

We were halfway back to the dorm when a commotion broke out in the hallway. Students gathered, whispering and squealing. Lisa stopped, her eyes wide with excitement as she turned to me, bouncing on her toes. 

“Oh my God, look! It’s him!”

I turned, following her gaze, and saw him. The guy who walked through the centre of the crowd like he owned the world. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with messy black hair that fell just above his eyes. His shirt was halfway unbuttoned, revealing a well-defined chest, and a silver chain glinted against his skin. Tattoos wound up his arms, intricate designs that somehow made him even more dangerous-looking. He had a dashing smirk, the kind that made girls around him melt, and a cocky stride to match.

Behind him followed a small group of boys and girls, all equally striking, but it was clear who the centre of attention was.

“That’s Ronan,” Lisa whispered dreamily, nudging me. “Hottie No. 3 of Ironfang. The youngest of the Triplet gang.”

I didn’t even know what that meant, and honestly, I didn’t care. Yeah, he was good-looking, but was it really necessary for everyone to be so dramatic about it? I rolled my eyes internally, preparing to move on, when his scent hit me. 

It was like a wave, crashing over me, freezing me in place. My hands went numb, and the snacks I’d been holding slipped from my fingers, scattering across the floor.

A shock coursed through my body, like electricity sparking under my skin. My heart pounded in my chest, and before I could even process what was happening, he stopped. His whole body stiffened, and for a moment, no one moved.

Then, slowly, he turned, his dark eyes locking onto mine. There was something in his gaze, something fierce and…hateful. His jaw clenched, and I could see the tension in his frame, like he was fighting against something.

For a long moment, neither of us moved. My breath caught in my throat, and then, all at once, a voice I’d never heard before screamed in my head. My wolf. 

Mate.

No. No, no, no.

I stared at him, feeling my wolf for the first time as she surged forward inside me. My legs wobbled beneath me, and I could feel the world closing in. His eyes flashed with something dark, and then, just as quickly, they were filled with rage. 

He looked at me like I was poison. Like I was the last person in the world he ever wanted to see.

And in that moment, I couldn’t breathe.