The day passed more smoothly than usual, almost suspiciously so. For once, I didn’t have any run-ins with Stacey and her minions. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the sparring demonstration this morning or the new friend I seemed to have acquired. Either way, it was a relief to get through a day without insults or pranks.

No one talked to me—except Kylie—but no one actively harassed me either. It felt strange but... nice. I even caught myself smiling as I walked toward my locker at the end of the day, organizing my things. Unfortunately, good things don’t last long for me.

“You think you’re so tough, huh? Sucking up to Delta Kyle. I bet that’s not the only thing you suck—it’s the only way you could get his attention,” Stacey sneers from behind me, her words dripping with venom.

I ignore her, disgusted but unwilling to take the bait. I take a deep breath and continue rummaging through my locker, hoping she’ll get bored and leave me alone. Suddenly, she slams my locker shut, the metal clang echoing down the hallway. My quick reflexes save my fingers from being crushed.

Before she can say anything more, Kylie appears beside me, as if she’s been here all along. “Hey, girl! I’m starving, and you promised me food after school,” Kylie says, her voice light and cheerful. She acts like Stacey isn’t even there.

I glance at Stacey and catch the murderous look she’s throwing at Kylie. I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud.

“Sorry,” I say to Kylie, turning my back on Stacey. “I was just making sure I had everything for the weekend.”

We take a few steps down the hall, but Stacey’s voice slices through the air again.

“Hey, new girl! You might want to be careful who you hang out with. Some people around here will ruin your reputation and make your life miserable.”

We both stop and turn back toward her.

Kylie flashes her a perfect smile. “Thanks for the tip.” She loops her arm through mine and steers us away, as if Stacey doesn’t exist.

The click of Stacey’s heels echoes behind us, and her tone shifts from venom to sugar in an instant. “Hey, guys!” she calls, her voice suddenly sweet.

I glance over my shoulder and see Leo, Ethan, Aaron, Ryan, and Devin heading down the hallway toward us. They offer a general, half-hearted “hey” in her direction, but they don’t stop walking.

Great. Just what I needed.

“Damn,” Kylie whispers, turning us around slightly to face the guys. “They’re even hotter up close.”

I roll my eyes, suppressing a groan. Of course. They’ve never sought me out at school before, so I can only assume they’re here because of Kylie.

I hate to admit it, but she’s right—they are ridiculously attractive. Leo, my brother, looks a lot like me. We both have dirty brown hair and stormy gray-blue eyes, inherited from our mom. But where I’m small and slight, Leo is broad-shouldered with the same athletic build as our father. He keeps his hair military-short on the sides and tousled on top, giving him that effortlessly cool look that seems to run in the family.

Devin, Kyle’s son and future Delta, could be a model for a surf brand. His sun-kissed blonde hair hangs just below his ears, framing his sharp features and dark blue eyes. Lean and muscular, he’s one of the fastest warriors I’ve ever seen.

Ethan, the future Gamma, looks every bit the part of a brooding biker. His medium brown hair falls across his forehead, nearly hiding his piercing brown eyes. Tattoos peek out from under the sleeves of his shirt, hinting at more ink beneath. He rarely speaks, which only adds to his intimidating presence.

Then there are the future Alphas—Aaron and Ryan, the twins. They’re almost identical, with wavy black hair and striking features. Aaron keeps his hair neat and perfectly styled, his light green eyes softening his otherwise sharp expression. Ryan, on the other hand, lets his curls do whatever they please, his playful baby-blue eyes hinting at mischief.

I’m lost in thought, probably staring, when Kylie elbows me in the ribs.

“Oh, Goddess, please tell me I wasn’t drooling,” I mutter under my breath.

Aaron’s voice pulls me back to reality. “Nice moves at training today,” he says, flashing me a grin. “Hopefully we’ll get to work with you again at advanced training. Devin still needs to redeem his top takedown time.”

Ryan claps Devin on the back, laughing. “Yeah, we should make him train with the pups for a week.”

Even Leo cracks a smile at that, and I find myself laughing along with them. The sound feels foreign—light, easy. For the first time in a long time, I feel comfortable around my brother and his friends, especially in public.

The moment is short-lived. I glance at Leo, catching a flicker of something in his expression—a strange, almost pained look I can’t quite interpret. Does he not want me to be here? The thought shouldn’t hurt, but it does. I drop my gaze to the floor, swallowing the familiar ache in my chest.

Stacey sidles up next to Aaron, placing a hand on his chest. “You’re so funny, babe. Devin’s one of the best warriors we have—I bet he could do that move with one hand tied behind his back.”

She shoots me a quick glare before adding, “It’s not really fair to compare wolves from lower ranks.”

Her words make my muscles tense, and I feel my wolf stir in irritation. I clench my fists, willing my eyes to stay their normal color. If they shift to the glowing hue of my wolf’s, Stacey will know. And no one can know about her.

Ryan grins, clearly enjoying the banter. “Nope. Devin sucks, and we should definitely send him back to the pups.”

Laughter ripples through the group, including Kylie, who nudges me playfully. I allow myself a small giggle, the infectious energy lifting my spirits—if only for a moment.

But the moment falters when I meet Leo’s eyes again. The strange, unreadable expression is still there, and it gnaws at me. I force myself to look away, not wanting to dwell on the familiar ache of rejection.

Kylie’s cheerful voice cuts through the tension. “As much fun as it is roasting Devin, Selene promised me food. So, if you’ll excuse us...” She steers me through the wall of six-foot-tall warriors like it’s nothing, guiding me toward the parking lot.

A huff of frustration follows us, but I don’t look back to see who it was. I’m too focused on getting away.

“How do you have a car already?” I ask as we reach Kylie’s sleek black SUV.

She winks. “Special permission from the Alpha, of course. My parents work for the Alpha King, so I needed a way to get around.” She shrugs, like it’s the most normal thing in the world.

Just as we’re about to climb in, a voice calls out from behind us.

“Hey! Wait up!”

We turn to see Devin jogging toward us, his easy grin in place. “I almost forgot—are you guys coming to the bonfire tonight?”