Chapter 4 - Top Ten in One Day

Azura's POV

"Speak!"

His voice came out as a growl, low and dangerous, vibrating through the air between us.

Kael's hand stayed locked around my throat, pinning me to the cold stone wall while his sharp green eyes raked over my face, searching for something, a lie, a secret, I couldn't tell. I struggled to breathe, my fingers clawing instinctively at his wrist. And yet, even through the fear, something strange stirred beneath it.

The moment our eyes truly met, his expression cracked. The anger flickered, and for the briefest second it was replaced by confusion, as if he were fighting something inside himself. His grip loosened. A muscle ticked in his jaw. He looked completely caught off guard.

At the same moment, an unfamiliar warmth bloomed in my chest. It was the same feeling I'd had earlier, when Zayn caught me before I fell, a sweet, calming pull that spread through my body despite the fact that this man was practically choking the life out of me. It made no sense.

What's wrong with me? Why do I feel safe?

I should have been terrified. I should have hated him. Instead my heart was pounding for an entirely different reason, and that only confused me more.

Kael blinked, like something waking from a trance. His eyes widened, just barely, before he let go of my neck and stepped back in one sharp motion.

I doubled over, coughing, dragging air back into my lungs.

He stared at his own hand for a second. Then at me.

Without a word, he straightened his shirt like nothing had happened. A slow grin spread across his face.

"See you later."

He turned and walked away, and I was left staring after him, completely stunned.

I pressed a hand to my throat, still trying to steady my breathing.

"What," I exhaled hard, "is this school trying to kill me?"

I'd been here for a few hours. One Alpha had caught me before I hit the ground. Another had challenged me, pinned me to a wall demanding answers, and then strolled off like we'd just shared a pleasant conversation. Was every day here going to be like this?

"Azura!"

Piper rushed to my side, her face pale. "Are you okay?"

I forced a smile and nodded. "I'm fine." My neck still stung, but I didn't want to worry her any more than she already was.

"Come on," I said. "Let's just get to the principal's office."

She nodded, then gasped so loudly that several students turned to stare. Her hand shot toward the massive ranking board across the hall.

"Azura, look."

I followed her finger to the screen, and my stomach dropped.

Azura, Rank Ten.

"What?"

I'd moved up again. Without doing anything.

The whispers started immediately.

"She climbed again."

"She's already in the Top Ten."

"It's literally her first day."

"If she meets the other Alphas, won't she end up at Rank One?"

Someone else frowned. "What about Lilith?"

The name silenced half the hallway.

"What do you think will happen?"

"Will Lilith lose her spot?"

"She won't let that happen. Not a chance."

I turned to Piper as we kept walking. "Who's Lilith?"

She glanced around before dropping her voice. "A full blooded she wolf. Raised since birth to become the future Luna of one of the Four Cardinal Alphas."

"Seriously?"

"She's trained her whole life for it. Everyone expects her to end up with one of them. She's been ranked Number One for years."

I looked back at the board one last time and shook my head. "There's no way I'd outrank someone like that."

"I hope not," Piper muttered.

I raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?"

She sighed. "Lilith isn't exactly kind."

"How bad are we talking?"

"If she thinks you're a threat to her position," Piper hesitated, then finished quietly, "she'll make your life a nightmare."

"Well." I shrugged. "Good thing I don't plan on meeting another Alpha."

"I really hope you mean that."

We stopped in front of a large wooden door. Piper knocked twice.

"Come in."

The office was elegant, but warmer than I expected, bookshelves lining one wall, plants crowding the windowsills, the scent of fresh tea hanging in the air. Behind the desk sat a man with long platinum gray hair resting over his shoulders, dressed in a simple white dress shirt and black trousers. Age had softened his face but not the sharp kindness in his eyes.

The moment he saw me, his whole face lit up.

"So," he said, smiling. "You're the student I've been hearing so much about."

I glanced at Piper, confused. The principal rose from his chair.

"I've been hoping to meet the young lady who managed to catch the interest of two Cardinal Alphas on her very first day." He laughed softly, clasping his hands. "And you've already reached the Top Ten. Remarkable."

I rubbed the back of my neck. "I still don't understand why everyone's making such a big deal out of it."

He only smiled, the kind of smile that meant he wasn't going to answer that yet, and extended his hand instead.

"It's nice to meet you, Azura. I'm Principal Smith. My office is always open, if you need anything."

"Thank you."

His smile faded as his gaze dropped to my neck. "Oh, dear. You should have that looked at before it gets worse."

I touched the sore spot where Kael had grabbed me, and when I pulled my fingers back, they were streaked with blood.

I hadn't even felt him break the skin.

"I'll be fine," I said.

"Please don't ignore it."

I nodded. "We should get going."

Piper and I turned toward the door just as it swung open on its own, and a gust of freezing air swept through the room. Every hair on my arms rose at once. A tall young man with snow white hair stepped inside, dressed head to toe in white, his expression so cold it felt like the temperature in the office had dropped the instant he crossed the threshold.

The air itself seemed to change.

Piper's eyes went wide with panic. "Azura." She grabbed for my arm. "Get away from him. Anyone who touches him freezes to death."

Before she could pull me back, the principal lifted a hand, calm and unbothered.

"Let her be."

I barely had time to process the words before he was in front of me. His fingers brushed mine, and an icy current shot through my whole body, not painful, just strange. Soothing, almost. The cold spread from my fingertips outward, sending a shiver down my spine.

My eyes lifted slowly to meet his.

What is this feeling?