I was thankful that Asra was not there when I woke, because I was certain he would spot the little pep in my step.

If only I had Piper by my side, then I would feel invincible.

But for now, it was just me, and I was ready for this.

Today was hot, so I wore a flowy skirt and white top, and paired it with some sandals. My hair, fresh and wavy from the lake yesterday, was tied back into a ponytail. I felt energy surging in my veins, ready to confront bullies.

As a victim all my life, I never once thought I could stand up to those who went against me. I always felt pushed aside, ignored. I knew Darius had more of a reputation, and they would believe him over me. It always made me question why I was chosen to be his wife, but I suppose my mother had a strong say in that. Probably sold some bullshit about my ginger hair.

Now I had the chance to stand up for someone, like nobody ever did for me, and they'd have to listen to me.

Leaving the bedroom on time, I took the death-box downstairs and waited for my sister in the hallway. Idling was easy, and when she appeared, I pretended to be shocked that she was walking the same way as I.

Arabella scowled at me, crossing her arms. "What are you planning?"

I rolled my eyes. "I was going to check out the library you told me about!"

She glared, refusing to move another step.

"Honestly! You said it was amazing, so I wanted to see for myself." I huffed. "I went into ours yesterday, and none of the books were even remotely helpful for what I wanted to know."

It caught her attention, and her features softened. "What are you trying to find out?"

I winced. "I can't tell you. It's secret, but know that it is important to finding out what happened to dad."

That would have to do for now. It's not a lie.

She nodded her head, a soft frown on her lips. "I'll show you the way."

Grinning, we fell into step with each other. Mindlessly, we spoke about her lessons and what she got up to during school. It was a leisurely walk, but the warmth of the sun was a friendly welcome.

We came to a stop by a road and Arabella murmured it was the bus stop. There were a few other teenage wolves around, the ones from the porch waving casually at us.

It intrigued me, never hearing of a bus before. I assumed it was a vehicle, since we were near a road, but when the overly large worm creeped closer, I suddenly became unsure.

The doors creaked open, and I eyed it wearily.

"This is a bus?" I squeaked.

Arabella laughed. "It is. And guess what? No seatbelts."

Gee, thanks, Arabella. Makes me feel a lot better.

Climbing on board, the bus driver's eyes widened with shock. "L-Luna?"

"Hi," I squeaked, looking down the bus aisle at more observant eyes. "This is safe, right?"

He chuckled. "I have fifty years experience, Luna. It is safe."

Swallowing, I nodded nervously as Arabella led me to a seat. She chose one a few rows down, and I couldn't help but stare out the large window at the front. As he drove forward, the bus rattled and shook, my head jerking with every movement and turn. I clutched onto that leather seat, my eyes wide with horror.

Thankfully, the journey barely lasted half an hour. Rolling into the school's campus, my eyes widened with interest. The main building was old and large, and stepping off the bus, I noticed other smaller brick buildings in the distance. There was a lot of greenery around here; a lot of trees and flowerbeds.

It was nice to see such a well-kept garden and school site.

I hate to admit I was a little envious.

"I have five minutes until my class. I can show you to the library if you want?" Arabella suggested. "But then I have to go."

I grinned, nodding. "Let's make this quick, then."

Passing through the gardens of the school, I noticed many eyes drift my way. There were wolves of all packs here, the school boasting a rather quaint ninety-six students.

"So, how many packs are at this school?" I wondered.

"Local packs; six, I believe. Asra has forty packs beneath him, right?"

I nodded just as she opened the front doors to the main building. The smell of old wood washed over me instantly and made a soft smile lift on my lips. Arabella hurried me down various hallways, none of which I remembered the direction of.

"My classroom is literally this one, so..."

Arabella's voice drifted away as we rounded a corner. Her outstretched hand dropped, and an awkward grunt finished her sentence.

Before us were three girls, all around Arabella's age. Instead of entering their classroom, they were standing outside, chatting loudly with each other. Just like my sister, their voices drifted off into silence when they spotted each other. Barely glancing at me, the one on the right snorted.

"Didn't think you would come back?"

Arabella shifted her weight to one foot. "I have to. It's school."

The girl snorted, rolling her almond-shaped eyes. "Not really. You have no purpose here."

I scowled, crossing my arms. "She has just as much purpose as you do."

Their eyes flickered to me, the almond eyed one scowling. "And who the fuck are you?"

I tutted, shaking my head. "Who do you think you even are? Who talks to somebody like that?"

"I am the alpha's daughter, not that it has anything to do with you."

Of course, she was the alpha's daughter. It felt as though someone had written it out of a book.

My eyes drifted to the two on her other side. I couldn't help but notice that beside her was a blonde blue-eyed girl with a large chest that was squashed into a tiny top. One jump and it would all be over. The other had brown eyes and brown hair, tied into tight French braids.

The brown-haired one seemed to recognise me, because the moment my eyes met hers, she dropped them and cursed.

Almond barely glanced at her, flickering her eyes down at me. "Aren't you a little old to be in school?"

I tutted. "Aren't you a little dumb to be firing shots?"

She laughed sarcastically, glancing at Arabella. "I'm sorry. Who exactly are you to be speaking to me that way?"

The brown eyed one muttered her name softly, not looking up from the floor. When she ignored her, the blue-eyed one looked her way, and they whispered to each other.

"I'm sorry, who's alpha's daughter are you? I seem to forget the bratty one's names."

She shrieked with annoyance, her nostrils flaring. "Half-breed, you don't have any standing here. Protecting this human is nothing to do with you."

"I can do as I please, actually." I rolled my eyes. "I was just wondering what kind of school let in girls like you?"

The almond eyed one scowled, taking a step forward, but the blue-eyed one grabbed her by the arm.

"What is it Felicity?" She scowled.

"Don't."

"You are meant to back me up. You are my beta!"

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "They recognise that they have no standing. I don't blame them. I wouldn't back somebody like you up either."

She snarled. "How dare you! I will call upon my father."

"How long will that take?" I sighed, dramatically. "I have work in a few hours."

"It won't take long. Why don't we go somewhere more private?" She sneered.

"And be stuck in a room with your stench? I'll pass."

"You are one to talk, half-breed."

"I am not a half-breed."

"Please, you are not full wolf. I can smell the human in you."

"That is because I am a human," I taunted.

"You've been around that many wolves that you smell that bad? Ew."

Wow, teenagers really had some amazing comebacks.

Arabella's fingers curled around my wrist, muttering my name. "Let's just leave."

"No, no, I think I shall stay. You can go into your class, Arabella. I'll be fine."

"Yeah, we don't need the likes of you around."

Felicity grabbed her friend's arm. "Cece, I don't think you should-

"Shut it!" Cece shrieked. "You listen to me."

"As far as I am aware, you are just the daughter of an alpha. You are not even an adult yet, and... how old are you? Fifteen? Do you even have a wolf yet?" I wondered. "She doesn't have to listen to you."

She growled, flashing her canines at me. "You call me a child."

"Only children squabble like this," I shrugged. "An alpha's daughter technically has no say, so your friends don't have to listen to you. They only do it because you are a bitch and they don't want to be bullied."

"How dare you! You wait until-

"Cecelia?" a male voice echoed down the hall. "I only just left the car park. I was on a phone call. Apparently, someone important is visiting today; impromptu. What's wrong?"

Ooh, someone of importance.

"Daddy!" Cece sighed, batting her eyelashes. "These pests were harassing me."

The alpha male was tall, with broad shoulders. He wore a black suit with white shirt beneath, and when he looked at me and Arabella, his eyes narrowed with warning. He glanced at my sister first, dark brown eyes studying her meek appearance before looking at Cece's friends.

"Girls? Is that true?"

They were quiet, and I scoffed, causing the alpha to finally look at me.

"You should address everybody you speak to, not just those who you deem worthy." I clicked my tongue with disapproval.

He grumbled, glaring down at me. About to speak, his daughter interrupted.

"She started it all, Daddy!" Cece wailed. "She threatened my life and my status!"

The male's jaw ground and his hand came out to grab me by the throat. I blinked, surprised he had taken it physical. What kind of alpha was this? This was some corrupt family heritage.

"A half-breed threatening my daughter?"

He wasn't squeezing so hard, and it made me laugh slightly. "Human, actually. And I would be careful if I were you."

"What are you going to do?" He sneered, sniffing me. "Whore."

I let out a low whistle, shaking my head with a wince. "Yeah, I wouldn't go there."

"Who are you to tell me what to do?" He threatened.

I cocked my head, unphased by his alpha voice. "Is this how you rule your pack? Is this how you treat humans?"

"You are a pest. You and your friend here shall be kicked out of this school for threatening my daughter." He sneered, nails digging into my throat.

I winced a little when it cut into the skin, and a sickening part of me was glad because I knew it was going to go to shit in just a moment.

One thing I could always count on was a guard. I noticed the shadow on the way here, and I saw the wolf slithering onto the bus. I was never really alone. Asra made sure of it.

Sebastian knew to let me handle things after I told him so, but the moment there was blood, he had an oath to stick by.

An arm darted in front of my line of vision, grabbing hold of the alpha's wrist and forcing it backward, away from my skin. I felt my spine relax the moment his grip was gone and heard the commotion from the she-wolves behind me. Arabella seemed to melt into the wall. It was rather comical if not saddening of her confidence.

The alpha's retaliated, about to swing a fist when his eyes widened upon sight of Sebastian. I rubbed my sore throat as the alpha stuttered out a confused sound as Sebastian held him still.

One thing about my guard, about all the warriors in Asra's pack, is that they were the best of the best. Every wolf that is trained to be a warrior elsewhere has the chance to put forward their talent to Asra's pack. When only a select few pass the tests, they go under oath to protect their alpha, and in this case, luna, they receive a simple crested tattoo on their throat.

It was small, the shape of a wolf's head snarling. Simple and cliché, really.

"What are you doing?" Sebastian snarled.

"I apologise, alpha warrior. I was dealing with some human threats."

Sebastian's temper flared, and he growled at the stuttering alpha. "I have been here listening. The humans are not the threat."

"I can assure you, my daughter does not lie." The alpha grunted.

Sebastian squeezed his arm, pulling it down and behind him. The alpha cursed, submissive to Sebastian as the warrior took control, eyes blazing at the females. Each of them was wide eyed, staring up at him with shock.

It was rare Asra's pack mingled, so being subdued by his warrior was a rarity.

"Girls, did these humans threaten your life?"

Cece's friends winced, dropping their heads and muttering a no. Sebastian dismissed them, focusing his intensity on Cece. It thrilled me slightly to see the man in action; he was always a statue around me. Finally, something interesting was happening.

Cece glanced at me, and I smirked at her.

"She was rude."

I glared, straightening my spine. "And you were not? Picking and bullying my sister. Calling us pests, wasn't it? Because we are human, we are unworthy of education? Oh, and I was a whore, correct?"

Cece's eyes blazed, and her father spluttered out a complaint. I gave him a look, and in that moment, something sparked in his eyes.

Finally, recognition.