NATALIA’S POV
My jaw dropped as soon as I stepped through the gates of the Golden Alpha Academy. It was so huge and so majestic that I felt my breath catching in my throat.
It was sparkly and almost as though I’d stepped into the moon goddess’ paradise. My legs seemed glued to the spot and I was more than struck by the grandeur and majesty of the place.
I’ve heard a lot of things about the academy and have my own expectations but this far exceeds what I had expected.
The building was almost as though it had been built with the most beautiful and rarest of gemstones to ever exist.
I couldn’t help but be engulfed in the awesomeness of the place and I walked carefully, putting one leg in front of the other as if asking the floor if I was permitted to step on it.
‘This is really huge,’ Lila’s voice in my mind jolted me out of my thoughts and I lifted my head to look up again.
Despite the academy occupying an entire estate, there are large buildings, excitement washed through my entire being and I couldn’t wait to start activities.
I might have been shook to my core by the sight of the academy but what shook me the most was the sight of the other werewolves walking in with me.
They were all muscular and stood tall like a towering spruce, they all looked tough and their bodies easily towered over mine, it was almost as if I was the smallest person in the academy.
Their shoulders were wide and their muscles rippled under the shirts they wore as they moved with easy grace.
The force of their thighs emphasized their virility and they all looked about twenty or so, their appearance was enough to make me feel out of place.
How am I going to fit in if I can’t handle being in such close proximity with male werewolves?
I gently slapped both my cheeks as I halted the thoughts that were running around freely in my head and pushed it to the deepest, darkest part of my mind, I tried to focus.
The sound of Lila laughing almost made me stumble on my own feet and fall face down but I quickly regained composure as I sneered internally.
‘What?!’ I snapped but she only laughed even harder and I felt my skin crawling. I knew whenever she laughed like that she wanted to tease me.
‘I’m sorry, you just seem so out of place with these people,’ she laughed, not caring how I felt at all and I felt mild anger beginning to shoot through me.
‘I mean, among these towering werewolves, you look like a mushroom growing in a redwood forest.’ Lila teased, the amusement in her voice getting stronger with each word she said.
I scowled, my brows drawing together into a frown as I looked around as if I wasn’t aware of the difference between the other werewolves and I.
‘The difference is not so much.’ I said in a low tone as I continued walking while Lila kept me engaged in the conversation, missing no opportunity to tease me.
The profile of the other werewolves spoke of ageless strength and power, the clear-cut line of their profile was so visible that I couldn’t help but admit that I do feel out of place.
My insides trembled and I shivered, cold chills racing through the entirety of my being when their eyes seemed to unconsciously land on me.
I tried to ignore their questioning looks but there was only little I could do when my wolf spirit wouldn’t stop making me aware of where I am.
Nervously, I touched my short hair lightly, playing with the tip as I tried to mentally cheer myself on.
I kept my head high and looked ahead of me, believing that no matter how difficult it might seem, I’m sure that I’m going to blend in and maintain my disguise.
‘Keep lying to yourself,’ Lila teased and I growled, all the work I’d done trying to build my self confidence had completely gone down the drain.
‘How do you intend to focus, blend in and maintain your disguise when you’re surrounded by these vast numbers of handsome, muscular men?’ She swooned and I rolled my eyes.
‘Stop it, Lila!’ I cautioned her but whenever Lila was set on teasing and embarrassing me in public, there was nothing in the entire world that could stop her.
‘They smell so alluring, I really want to take in more of their scents and—’
‘STOP!’ I yelled internally, she was getting too excited and was beginning to go down the usual dirty talk drain.
Lila was finally quiet and I was finally able to breathe even though I couldn’t take in one deep breath without smelling the male werewolves pheromones.
It was so difficult to ignore no matter how hard I tried, I twisted my fingers together and pulled on them really hard so that I could focus on something other than how their scents seemed to be pulling me in.
“NATE HAYES!” A loud masculine voice made me shiver and my teeth clattered as I turned to see the instructor behind me.
“I’m—” I was about to answer when I felt a large, hard palm shove me forward, causing my legs to fail and I landed on the ground with no warning.
Pain shot through me as I winced, I seethed with rage and humiliation because I’d barely spent a day in the academy and everyone was already laughing at me.
The sound of their loud laughter resounded in the hall and it raked me as I swallowed hard, determined to not show how angry I was becoming as I managed to stand back up.
“Why is he so skinny?” I heard someone in the crowd ask and sudden anger lit inside me, “what do you expect? He’s effeminate, he looks so much like a girl.” Another added and everyone bursted out laughing again.
The sound of their laughter got to me, my fist clenched and I soon started feeling breathless with rage, my chest heaving as I felt like I was about to go out of control.
How dare they?
My teeth grounded and the sound kept ringing in my ears as I closed my eyes while they all continued laughing at me, mocking my appearance and saying mean things.
“Was he born an hermaphrodite?”
“Why does he look like that?”
“Is he even strong enough to be in the academy?”
“I thought the academy doesn’t accept wimps.”
Their words tore at every part of my body, their tone infuriating me. My gaze lifted and my fist clenched even tighter, my nails clawing at my palm.
There’s no way I’m going to let this humiliation slide.
“WILL YOU SHUT THE HELL UP!” I thundered before I could control myself, glaring at every one of them and making sure that my eyes conveyed the fury within me.
“I might look like this but my strength is no less than any of yours!” I retorted, throwing the words at them like stones and the room soon started feeling both hot and cold at the same time.
Their anger was evident but I didn’t look away from any of them or even bowed my head because doing that would only mean I’d accepted defeat.
I braced myself for what was going to happen next and immediately awakened my senses as I waited for attack on all sides.
“Really?” A voice growled and before I could bat an eyelash, he was already standing in front of me, his teeth clenching and his fist ready to dig into my stomach.
He’s so fast.
I accepted the challenge and was about to defend and retaliate against the male werewolf that looked like he was ready to tear me apart with his bare hands.
“SILENCE!” A thundering, groundbreaking voice immediately put a stop to the argument and everywhere immediately fell silent as everyone directed their attention towards him.
He commanded so much respect that the hall that was filled with loud laughter, mockery and rumbling noises fell silent at once just at his one command.
I lowered my head but I could still feel the gaze of that male werewolf on me, it was literally tearing my skin apart and thawing at my bones.
The iciness of his gaze was affecting and he did nothing to mask his anger and murderous intention towards me but I only shrugged it off, not caring about him.
I’m not here for him or for any of them. I’m here for my brother, my parents and my pack.
Closing my eyes, I tapped on my chest and attempted to calm my raging heartbeat as I tried to shove my anger under the rug and listened to the instructor.
“To maintain and ensure the safety of all students, the following rules are in effect,” the instructor started and I listened.
“You all have to respect each other. During full moons, all students must report to designated moonlight zones for transformation and supervision.”
“There will be no marking of academy territory with scents or claws. You are obligated to maintain human form during class, meals and social events.”
“No unsanctioned fighting or aggressive behavior, like what just happened and most importantly, Alpha tones are forbidden in the academy.” The instructor paused.
“I wish you all goodluck in the academy and on graduating, you are now dismissed.” He finished and with a loud ‘Thank you’ the group dispersed.
Sighing to myself, I searched through the pile of luggage for my suitcase and backpack and after a while of searching, I noticed they were nowhere to be found, meaning, that bully got his hands on my luggage.
My temper sparked, my fury sprang to life and rage nearly consumed me as I walked through the jam packed room in search of the werewolf that had bullied me earlier.
“Where are my bags?” I demanded through gritted teeth, raw anger shooting through me and I smoldered with resentment.
“Call me daddy and I’m going to tell you where it is.” He replied, a smug smile on his face as he glared at me and the room filled with laughter again.
Damning the rules and the consequences, I made my hand into a fist and punched him so hard that I could hear his nose breaking. Giving him no chance to recover, I spun him around and pinned him to the ground as I sat on his back.
“Where are my bags?” I asked, the crowd watching as I kept pulling his hand so far back while he screamed like he was a little girl.
“I’m going to—”
“Is it just me or does anyone perceive a female’s scent?” A voice from the crowd said and my eyes widened as I immediately pulled away from the bully, rushing out.
The spray must’ve worn out.
I searched desperately for my bag and soon found it and without wasting time, I reapplied the spray and made my way to the dormitory manager to ask about my dormitory assignment.
“There’s only one vacant dormitory and it’s totally understandable if you don’t want it because—”
“I’ll take it.” I interrupted before he could go on and he handed me the dormitory assignment slip. I have no idea why but he looked at me with pity hooded in his eyes.
“Well, goodluck and once again, welcome to Golden Alpha Academy.” He said sympathetically and I could tell that something felt strange but I shrugged it off.
“Thank you.” I muttered before heading directly to my dormitory building and as soon as I stepped in, my stomach churned as my eyes widened in shock.
This can’t be happening.