I Met A Bitch On The First Day

Amaryllis 

I’m stepping out of the administration office, my fingers gripping the thick envelope that holds all my documents. The door closes behind me with a soft click, and the afternoon sunlight hits my face as I step onto the stone path outside. The warmth should be comforting, but it isn’t. My heart is pounding, and my thoughts are racing. 

I’m really here. I’m really doing this.

Solstice University. The place I’ve heard about since I was a child. The university for the elite of werewolf society. A place where I don’t belong. Yet here I am, standing on the grounds of a world I’ve only ever seen from the outside.

I glance down at the map they’ve given me, tracing the paths to the East Hall where my dorm room is. The directions are clear, but my mind is clouded with the weight of my past. Stay focused, I remind myself. But it’s hard to ignore the memories creeping in, harder still to pretend like I’m just another student when the truth is far darker.

For years, I’ve been running, always looking over my shoulder, always hiding. Ever since that night when everything changed.

I was six when I watched them die. My parents, murdered right in front of me by a group of people in red robes, their faces hidden behind masks. They came at night, their voices chanting something low and terrible. I was frozen with fear, too young to understand why this was happening, but old enough to feel the sharp sting of loss.

My mother screamed, my father fought, but in the end, they were no match for the cult. I can still hear the echo of my mother’s last words, telling me to run, to hide. But I didn’t move fast enough. I watched, helpless, as they were cut down. My body shakes just thinking about it now. I swallow hard and take a deep breath.

I didn’t escape that night because of luck. I escaped because of Aden, my mother’s closest friend. He found me hiding in a cupboard, dragged me out of the house before the cult could take me too. For years, we moved from Pack to Pack, never staying in one place too long, because no matter how far we ran, they always found us. The people in red. Always watching, always waiting. 

Aden did his best to protect me, but we could never outrun the fear. Eventually, he met his mate in the Redmond Pack, and for a little while, I thought maybe we could settle down, have something like a normal life. But happiness doesn’t last long for people like me. Aden died not long after that. His mate turned on me, treating me like a servant, and her daughter, Ymir, was no better.

Ymir loved making my life hell. But I endured it, planning my escape, waiting for the right moment. And when that letter of acceptance came—addressed to Ymir, but based on my merit—I saw my chance. I took her place, took her name, and now I’m here. Solstice University thinks I’m Ymir Tendon. But I’m not.

My name is Amaryllis Nightshade. And I’m running from a past that will never stop chasing me.

I shove the memories down and focus on my surroundings. Solstice University is beautiful, no doubt about it. The campus is a blend of modern design and ancient architecture, with towering stone buildings draped in ivy and pathways lined with trees that are just starting to shed their autumn leaves. Students are everywhere, laughing, chatting, some hurrying to their next class. They’re all part of this world—this prestigious, powerful world that I’ve managed to sneak into.

I take a deep breath, pulling my backpack higher on my shoulders. My body is tense, like it’s waiting for something to go wrong. After years of running, it’s hard to shake the feeling that danger is lurking around every corner. My wolf, Di’ja, stirs restlessly inside me, sensing my unease. She’s always alert, always ready to defend me, but I keep her in check. We need to blend in. Not stand out.

As I walk, I pass a group of girls lounging near a fountain, their laughter loud and sharp. The girl in the center, clearly their leader, locks eyes with me as I approach. She has platinum blonde hair streaked with highlights, and her posture screams arrogance.

I try to walk past them, but she steps into my path. “Well, well, what do we have here?” she says, her voice dripping with mockery.

I stop, my grip on my bag tightening. “Excuse me,” I say, keeping my tone neutral. I don’t want trouble. Not on my first day.

The girl smirks, and her friends giggle behind her. “You’re new, aren’t you? Haven’t seen you around before. What Pack are you from?” Her eyes narrow. “Or are you just some rogue trying to slum it with the rest of us?”

Her words hit me like a slap, but I keep my expression calm. Don’t react. I’ve dealt with worse than this.

“I’m just trying to get to my dorm,” I reply, my voice steady. “So, if you’ll excuse me—”

“Oh, I’m sure you’ll fit right in,” she says, cutting me off with a nasty grin. “Solstice University is really good at taking in strays.”

I feel the anger rising, but I push it down. I can’t afford to let her get to me. I’m about to walk away when a voice cuts through the tension.

“Rita, don’t you have anything better to do?”

A guy steps forward from behind the group of girls, tall and blonde, his gray eyes glinting with amusement. His smile is lazy, but there’s something sharp in his gaze.

“Tannian,” Rita huffs, rolling her eyes. “Stay out of it.”

He shrugs, still grinning. “Come on, Rita. Don’t you have better hobbies than picking on new students? It’s getting old.”

Rita glares at him but doesn’t say anything, her face twisted in annoyance. With a final glare in my direction, she turns and walks away, her entourage following close behind.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

“Don’t mind her,” Tannian says, turning his attention to me. “Rita’s just... well, Rita.”

I nod, unsure of what to say. “Thanks,” I mutter, feeling awkward. I’m not used to people standing up for me.

He flashes a smile. “You’re new, right? I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”

“Yeah, I just transferred,” I say, clutching my map. “I’m still trying to find my way around.”

“Which dorm?”

“East Hall,” I reply, glancing down at the crumpled paper in my hand.

Tannian’s eyes light up. “Nice. Quiet dorm, not too far from classes. You’ll like it there. I’m Tannian, by the way. What’s your name?”

I hesitate for a second, the name Amaryllis on the tip of my tongue. But I stop myself just in time. “Ymir,” I say, forcing a smile. “Ymir Tendon.”

“Ymir,” he repeats, giving me a curious look but doesn’t question it. “Well, Ymir, if you need any help getting around, just ask. I’m usually around somewhere. See you in class?”

“Business studies, right?” I ask, trying to sound casual.

“Yup, we’ll be seeing a lot of each other then,” he says, flashing me another grin before heading off with a casual wave.

I watch him leave, still feeling the tension in my chest. Tannian seems nice enough, but I can’t let my guard down. Not with anyone.

A few minutes pass before I finally reach East Hall and find my dorm room. The number “215” is engraved on a brass plate beside the door, and I breathe a small sigh of relief. I made it. This is the start of my new life. I reach into my pocket for the key, but something feels off.

My hand brushes against my neck, and I freeze.

The necklace.

It’s gone.

My fingers search frantically for the chain, but it’s not there. The necklace—my mother’s necklace, the one thing I have left of my parents—is missing. My heart pounds in my ears as I frantically try to remember when I last had it. I was wearing it when I left the office. When I passed the girls…

Rita.

She must have taken it when she got close. Anger surges through me, hot and sharp. It’s not just a piece of jewelry. It’s the last link I have to my parents, the last thing I have of them.

I clench my fists, my wolf stirring angrily inside me.

I’ll get it back.