"Still walking on two legs, defective?"

The metal locker door slammed shut, inches from my nose. The noise echoed down the empty corridor of Moonlight Academy.

I kept my gaze fixed on the scuffed linoleum floor. "Move, Kael."

"Or what?" He stepped into my space. The overwhelming scent of pine and alpha dominance rolled off him. "You going to bare your teeth at me? Oh, wait. You don't have any."

Rhea stepped up beside him, crossing her arms. "Give her a break, Kael. It must be hard knowing you're essentially a pet. A weak, hairless little pet."

I tightened my grip on my textbook. "Back off."

"Make me." Kael shoved my shoulder. "Shift, Elowen. Show me your wolf. Just once."

"You know I don't have one."

"Then you don't belong here." Rhea yanked my backpack strap.

I stumbled backward, my spine hitting the cold brick wall. The impact knocked the wind out of me.

"Watch your hands," I warned.

"Or what?" Rhea sneered. "You're a disgrace to the pack. You're eighteen. You're just a pathetic human."

Anger, hot and sharp, flared in my chest. I didn't think. I just reacted.

I swung my arm and slapped Rhea hard across the cheek.

The crack rang out like a gunshot.

Rhea gasped, clutching her face. Her eyes flashed amber. A low growl ripped from her throat.

Before she could lunge, Kael grabbed my neck. He slammed me back against the wall, his fingers digging into my windpipe.

"Big mistake." His canines elongated, pressing against his bottom lip.

I clawed at his wrist. "Get off me."

"You think you can hit my mate and walk away?"

"I'm already walking away." I kicked at his shin. "Today is my last day. You win, Kael."

He paused. His grip loosened just a fraction. "Gone where?"

"Human high school. Where I belong."

Kael laughed. The sound was harsh, scraping against my ears. He released my throat but planted his hands on the wall on either side of my head, trapping me.

"You think running saves you?" He leaned closer. "You carry the pack scent, defective or not. I will find you, Elowen. And when I do, I'll make you beg to come back to us."

I ducked under his arm and sprinted toward the exit. I didn't look back.

***

"Did he hurt you?"

My mother gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles stark white against the dark leather.

"I'm fine." I rubbed the red marks already forming on my neck.

My father sat in the passenger seat, staring straight ahead at the road. "This is exactly why we're pulling you out. The school board won't intervene, and Kael is getting out of control."

"I hit Rhea," I confessed to the rearview mirror.

My mother slammed her foot on the brakes. The tires screeched as we stopped at a red light. She whipped her head around to face me. "You did what?"

"She grabbed my bag. I panicked."

"Panicked?" My father turned fully in his seat. "You struck the future Beta female. Do you have any idea what Kael will do to our family if he decides to press the issue with the Alpha?"

"He already threatened me," I admitted. "He pinned me to the lockers."

My mother covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh, Elowen."

"Elowen, you must stop doing that," my father said, his voice hardening. "Starting tomorrow, you are human. Do you understand me? You don't fight back. You don't show strength. You blend in."

"I know."

"No, listen to me." He pointed a stern finger at me. "If the humans find out what you are, they will lock you in a lab. If Kael finds out where you are, he will drag you back just to torture you. You have to be completely invisible. No standing out. No making enemies. No making friends either, if you can help it."

"I just want to be normal," I whispered.

"Then act like it." The light turned green. She hit the gas, putting distance between us and the only world I had ever known.

***

Crestview High smelled like old paper, floor wax, and cheap body spray.

No wet dog smell. No overpowering pheromones. No tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

I stood in the main office, clutching my freshly printed class schedule.

"Elowen Thorne?" the secretary asked. She peered over the rim of her reading glasses.

"That's me."

"Locker 402. Second floor. Have a good first day, dear."

"Thank you."

I pushed through the office doors and stepped into the crowded hallway. Humans rushed past me in every direction. They bumped into each other, laughed loudly, and slammed locker doors.

Nobody sniffed the air when I walked by. Nobody challenged my gaze. Nobody cared that I existed.

A girl with bright pink streaks in her hair collided with my shoulder. "Oh, sorry!" She dropped a heavy textbook.

I bent down and scooped it up for her. "It's okay."

She smiled, took the book, and hurried away.

No claws. No growls. Just a simple apology.

I exhaled a long, shaky breath. The knot in my stomach finally unraveled. For the first time in my life, I felt entirely safe.

I found locker 402 and spun the dial. The metal door popped open. I tossed my bag inside and grabbed my history textbook.

"Hey, new girl."

I froze. The voice came from right behind me.

I turned around slowly, bracing myself for a confrontation.

A tall boy leaned against the lockers next to mine. He had messy brown hair, a crooked smile, and absolutely no wolf scent. Human.

"I'm Liam." He held out a hand. "You look a little lost."

I stared at his hand for a second before shaking it. His grip was soft. Normal. "I'm Elowen. And I'm not lost. Just figuring out the layout."

"Well, Elowen. Welcome to Crestview. If you need a tour guide, I accept payment in cafeteria cookies."

I forced a genuine smile. "I'll keep that in mind."

The warning bell rang, a shrill, electronic sound that made my sensitive ears ring.

"See you around." Liam waved and disappeared into the sea of students.

I walked into my first period history class and took a seat in the back row.

A boy with glasses turned around. "You're taking Mr. Harrison's class? Good luck. He assigns a paper every week."

"I think I'll survive."

"I'm Ben, by the way."

"Elowen."

Ben turned back around as the teacher started talking.

That was it. No sizing me up. No sniffing to check my rank. Just a warning about homework.

At lunch, I sat alone at a small table near the window. At Moonlight Academy, sitting alone meant you were prey. It meant an Alpha could come take your food, or worse, drag you out of your chair for entertainment. I kept my eyes on my tray, waiting for the inevitable shove or insult.

It never came.

Here, a group of girls at the next table talked loudly about a weekend party. Two boys argued over a video game. The noise was chaotic, disorganized, and entirely lacking in predatory intent.

Liam walked past my table and dropped a chocolate chip cookie on my tray.

"Advance payment." He winked. "For the tour you're definitely going to ask me for later."

"I didn't ask for a tour yet."

"You will!" he yelled back.

"What makes you so sure?" I called after him.

He spun around, walking backward. "Because the school is a maze and you look like someone who appreciates a good guide."

I picked up the cookie. A real laugh escaped my lips.

"Careful," a voice said from across the table.

I jumped. A girl with dark, curly hair set her tray down across from me.

"Liam is harmless, but he talks enough for three people," she said, taking a bite of her apple. "I'm Maya."

"Elowen."

"Cool name. You transferring in as a senior?"

"Yeah. Family moved."

"Tough break. But Crestview is alright. Just avoid the mystery meat on Thursdays."

"Noted."

I took a bite of the cookie. It tasted like freedom.

By the time the final bell rang, I felt lighter. I walked out the front doors, letting the afternoon sun warm my face.

My mother's car idled by the curb. I climbed into the passenger seat and tossed my bag into the back.

"How was it?" she asked, studying my expression.

"Perfect," I said. "Boring. Quiet. Perfect."

She smiled, pulling away from the curb. "Good. We made the right choice."

I stared out the window, watching the human teens laugh and joke as they walked home. I was finally free. The nightmare was over.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled it out. An unknown number flashed on the screen.

I swiped to open the text message.

*Did you really think a human school would hide your scent? See you soon, defective.*

I stared at the glowing screen of my phone.

*Did you really think a human school would hide your scent? See you soon, defective.*

My thumb hovered over the block button. I tapped it, deleted the thread, and shoved the device deep into my pocket.

"Earth to Elowen." Liam waved a hand in front of my face.

I blinked, pulling my focus back to the crowded cafeteria. "Sorry. What did you say?"

"I asked if you were coming to the pep rally tomorrow," Liam repeated. He stole a fry from my tray. "Jasper just announced a surprise exhibition game for Friday night."

"A game against who?"

"Some elite private academy. The Iron Hounds."

I dropped my fork. It clattered loudly against the plastic tray. "Where is Jasper right now?"

"Weight room. But you can't go in there—"

I pushed away from the table, ignoring the rest of his sentence, and sprinted down the hallway.

The gym smelled of stale sweat and floor cleaner. Jasper Miller, the team captain, stood by a bench press, racking a heavy barbell. Sweat stained the collar of his grey t-shirt.

"Jasper."

He turned, wiping his forehead with a towel. "Hey. Elowen, right? Maya's friend."

"You have to cancel the game on Friday."

He chuckled, tossing the towel onto a nearby bench. "Nice to see you too. And no, I don't think I will."

"I'm serious." I stepped closer, keeping my voice low so his teammates wouldn't hear. "You don't know who you're playing."

"I know they're undefeated in their district." Jasper picked up a water bottle. "I know they challenged us. That's all I need."

"They will destroy you."

Jasper's smile vanished. He stood up straight, towering over me. "We won state last year. We don't get destroyed."

"They aren't normal." I grasped for a human excuse, my nails biting into my palms. "They're huge. They play dirty. They'll put half your roster in the hospital."

"Are you a scout for them or something?"

"I know them. Their captain, Kael. He's dangerous."

"Kael is the one who called Coach this morning." Jasper crossed his massive arms. "Said he wanted to test his defensive line against the best. We accepted."

*He called this morning.*

The reality hit me like a physical blow. Kael didn't just stumble upon Crestview High. My parents had scrubbed my records. They paid in cash for our new house.

He used his family's money.

I backed out of the weight room and pulled my phone back out, dialing my father's number. He answered on the second ring.

"Dad, he found me."

"Are you sure?" My father's voice crackled through the speaker.

"He hired a private investigator," I said, pacing the empty stairwell. "That is the only way he found my enrollment records so fast. He set up an exhibition game with the Crestview football team. The Iron Hounds are playing here on Friday."

"I'll track down the agency he used," my father replied, his tone hardening. "But right now, I am calling the school board. I'll tell them the opposing team has a history of extreme violence."

"It won't work. Jasper is obsessed with college scouts, and the coach already signed the agreement."

"Then you don't go to school on Friday."

"If I hide, he wins." I gripped the railing. "He'll just keep coming back. He used this game as a Trojan horse to enter human territory legally. If I run, he might take his anger out on these kids."

"Those human boys will be slaughtered on that field, Elowen."

"I tried to warn the captain. He won't listen." I rubbed my temples. "I'm going to class, but I'm skipping the game. I won't give him the satisfaction of seeing me."

"Stay inside the building. Do not go near that field."

"I won't."

I hung up.

Friday afternoon arrived with a sickening level of excitement. Blue and gold streamers hung from every locker. Students painted their faces in the hallways.

Maya leaned against my locker, adjusting a blue foam finger. "So, tailgate at five?"

"I'm going home." I shoved my math book into my bag.

"You're kidding." Maya dropped her arm. "The whole town is turning up for this. Jasper promised a blowout."

"Not my scene."

"Come on. The opposing team just arrived." She pointed down the hall. "Their bus is massive. The guys walking off it look like literal giants. You have to see them."

A chill shot down my spine. "They're here?"

"Yeah. Walking through the main entrance right now to use the visitor locker rooms."

"Jasper!" a voice yelled from down the hall.

I looked past Maya. Jasper jogged down the corridor, wearing his varsity jacket.

"Elowen," Jasper called out, stopping in front of us. "Last chance. I saved you a seat in the front row. Come watch us crush them."

"I told you," I said, zipping my bag shut. "I won't be there. And if you have any brain cells left, you'll forfeit right now."

Jasper rolled his eyes. "You worry too much. See you on Monday."

He jogged away, disappearing around the corner.

"You are so stubborn," Maya complained. "Just come for the first quarter."

"I have to go."

I turned toward the side exit, desperate to escape the building before the visiting team made it inside.

The heavy double doors at the end of the corridor swung wide open.

The scent hit me before the sound did. Pine needles and aggressive, suffocating dominance.

"Move." A harsh voice cut through the human chatter.

I snapped my head up.

Kael stood at the end of the hall. He wore a black and silver letterman jacket, his broad shoulders taking up half the walkway. Four other Moonlight Academy wolves flanked him, their eyes scanning the sea of oblivious humans.

"Well, well," Kael announced loudly, stepping over a fallen cheerleader's pom-pom. "Look at this quaint little place."

He didn't need to search the crowd for long.

His amber eyes locked directly onto mine.

A slow, cruel smile spread across his face.

I broke eye contact with Kael and ducked into the swarm of students.

"Elowen?" Maya called out. "Where are you going?"

"Nurse," I tossed over my shoulder. "I'm going to throw up."

I didn't wait for her reply. I pushed through the sea of blue and gold jerseys, keeping my head down. The heavy scent of pine rolled through the corridor, suffocating the smell of floor wax and cheap perfume. I needed to get to the clinic, fake a fever, and call my mother to pick me up.

I turned the corner toward the administrative wing. The hallway was completely empty.

"Leaving so soon, defective?"

Rhea stepped out from an alcove, blocking my path. Two other girls from Moonlight Academy, Tasha and Briar, flanked her. They crossed their arms, sealing off the corridor.

"Move, Rhea." I kept my voice steady.

"Or what?" Rhea mocked. She closed the distance between us. "You're going to slap me again? Try it. Let's see how long you last without your daddy's money protecting you."

"I don't want any trouble."

"Too late." Rhea shoved my chest.

My spine hit the metal lockers with a loud crash. Before I could recover, she grabbed my left forearm. Her grip felt like a vise.

"You think you can hide among these weaklings?" Rhea sneered. "You think a human school makes you safe?"

"Let me go." I yanked my arm, but she held fast.

"I should drag you into the cafeteria right now." She leaned in close. "I should stand on a table and tell every single human in this pathetic building exactly what you are. A wolfless freak. A genetic mistake."

"They wouldn't believe you."

"They'd believe a demonstration." Her amber eyes flashed. Her fingernails elongated into sharp points, digging through the fabric of my sweater and piercing my skin.

A sharp gasp escaped my lips. Blood welled up beneath her claws.

"Hey!" a deep voice echoed down the hall.

Rhea's head snapped up. Her claws instantly retracted.

Jasper jogged toward us, his brow furrowed in anger. He wore his varsity jacket, his heavy footsteps echoing on the linoleum. "Is there a problem here?"

Rhea’s hostile expression vanished. She flashed a dazzling, innocent smile. "No problem at all! Just catching up with an old friend."

She linked her arm through mine, pressing her bloody fingers against my ribs. The hidden threat was clear. *Play along, or I expose you.*

"Elowen?" Jasper stopped in front of us. He scanned my pale face. "You know them?"

"Tell him, El," Rhea urged. She squeezed my ribs. Hard.

Pain shot through my side. I forced a nod. "Yes. We went to middle school together."

"Right." Jasper didn't look convinced. His gaze dropped to my trembling hands, then back to Rhea. "Well, she's sick. Coach asked me to walk her to the clinic."

Jasper reached out and grabbed my right hand, pulling me firmly away from Rhea’s grip.

Rhea let go, taking a step back. She pulled her phone from her pocket.

*Click.*

The camera flash briefly blinded me.

"Cute," Rhea laughed, tapping the screen. "A human knight in shining armor. I'm going to send this to Kael. Let's see what he thinks of your new boyfriend touching you."

"Don't do that," I warned, my heart hammering against my ribs.

"Oops. Sent." Rhea smirked. She turned on her heel. "See you on the field, Jasper. Good luck."

Tasha and Briar snickered as they followed her around the corner.

The moment they disappeared, I tore my hand out of Jasper's grip and sprinted for the side exit doors.

"Elowen, wait!"

I slammed my body against the crash bar. The heavy doors flew open. Cold afternoon air hit my face, but it did nothing to cool the panic burning in my chest. I ran down the concrete steps and hit the pavement of the parking lot.

Jasper caught up to me near the visitor bleachers. He grabbed my uninjured shoulder, spinning me around. "Hold on."

"Leave me alone, Jasper."

"You're bleeding." He pointed at my left arm.

I looked down. Four deep, crescent-shaped punctures leaked crimson down my wrist, staining the cuff of my sweater.

"I scratched myself on the locker," I lied, covering the marks with my other hand.

"Bullshit." Jasper stepped into my path, blocking my route to the street. "You begged me to cancel the game. You said they were dangerous. Then those girls corner you, and now you have wounds that look like animal bites. Tell me the truth."

"You need to forfeit the game. Right now."

"Not until you tell me what is actually going on." He crossed his massive arms. "Who is Kael? And why did that girl say he owns you?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words died in my throat.

A massive roar shattered the afternoon quiet.

It didn't come from a human throat. The sound was deafening, a furious, guttural explosion of rage that echoed from the visitor's locker room. The noise vibrated through the brick walls of the school, rattling the metal bleachers beside us.

Jasper spun toward the building, his eyes wide with shock. "What the hell was that?"

I backed away, my blood running cold.

"He saw the picture," I whispered.