6. HOW DARE YOU?


    SERAPHINA


    Cassius instantly dropped his arm and, with a muttered apology, ducked out with the others.


    I stared after him, then nced back at Ronan, unsettled by the sudden aggression in his stance. What the hell was that about?


    “Ronan,” someone called from outside the room.


    Ronan turned toward the doorway, where a handsome Alpha with dirty blonde hair leaned casually against the frame. A powerful,manding aura surrounded him, the kind that made even the air feel heavier.


    Without a word, Ronan gave him a brief nod — and for some reason, cast a fleeting nce in my direction before striding out.


    I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. His presence alone threatened something inside me I couldn’t name.


    Soon, the others were ready in their uniforms, while I busied myself unpacking the few belongings I had left, pretending to be preupied as I neatly arranged them in the cupboard.


    Without warning, Reed kicked my shoe — not hard enough to injure, but not gently either.


    “Hey, Tiny,” he sneered, looking down at me with a twisted grin. “I’m sure you read the instructions about living in the dormitory.”


    I nced up at him, keeping my expression calm and indifferent. “I did.”


    “Then why the hell aren’t you ready yet?!” he snapped, his voice grating and sharp. “The bell’s about to ring, and everyone has to be in the cafeteria, training grounds, or hall ording to schedule. Sharing a room with a weakling like you is already embarrassing enough. Don’t you dare bete or do anything to stain my reputation. I’m in charge of this room, and I swear, if you break any rules, I’ll beat you to death.”


    Growling under his breath, he turned on his heel and stormed out, leaving me standing alone in the now-silent room.


    I watched his retreating back, the faint echo of his footsteps fading just as the bell sounded.


    Snatching my uniform, I dashed out of the room and sprinted down the empty hallway toward the bathroom. Just as I’d hoped, it waspletely empty. But one look at the foggy ss shower stalls made my stomach twist. They offered little privacy, barely a blur between bodies and shapes.


    I clenched my jaw. How the hell was I supposed to pull this off every day? I could manage it now, but this wouldn’t be sustainable. Sooner orter, someone would notice something. I needed a n.


    Quickly stripping, I took the fastest shower imaginable, doused myself with the scent-masking perfume, and dressed. By the time I reached the cafeteria, I was breathless and half-drenched with both the water and sweat.


    The room was already filled with Alphas eating, their eyes following me with unreadable expressions, some curious, others dismissive. Their stares pricked at my skin, but I ignored them and made my way to the food counter.


    Only to find it nearly empty.


    Most of the food containers were scraped clean. Even the desserts and chicken wings, portions usually prepared to match the number of students, were gone. I nced up at the server wolf, who immediately looked away, guilt clear in his face.


    Behind me,ughter broke out.


    Turning my head, I saw the same group of Alphas, tes piled high with more food than they could possibly finish — my share among it.


    “Hey, Tiny,” one of them, the one they called Jordan, who I remembered standing beside Alpha Dante yesterday, called out with a smirk. He was Dante’s friend, “I’ve got way too much food on my te. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to leave some leftovers for you.”


    Laughter erupted around him. I silently looked past Jordan to the other side of the cafeteria where a pair of blue eyes were watching me, Dante. He looked like he wanted to tear me apart. I slowly tore my eyes from him.


    I didn’t rise to Dante’s friend’s bait. Keeping my expression unreadable, I calmly gathered the few scraps that remained — a couple of small apple slices, a half-serving of potatoes, a ss of water. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do.


    I took my te and moved to an empty corner of the cafeteria, sitting alone. Finn sitting some distance away with his friends exchanged a small smile that I returned. But Ronan was nowhere to be found. I thought the rules were for everyone, so howe he acted freely on his own?


    The first official day of training and sses was about to begin, and I needed to focus. I wouldn’t let a bunch of arrogant Alphas screw with my ns. Laying low was the safest option for now. What mattered was surviving, learning, and eventually iming the top spot on the leaderboard.


    But, apparently, the universe had other ideas.


    Jordan and his group made their way over, surrounding my table like a pack of hyenas, grinning like they already owned me.


    “Eating so little. Is that why you’re so malnourished?” Jordan jeered, loud enough for the entire cafeteria to hear.


    Laughter erupted around us.


    I calmly bit into my apple slice, not sparing him a nce. His words rolled off me like water off a duck. I wasn’t ashamed of my frame. I was, after all, an Alpha female — built with the best physique an Alpha female could possess. Butpared to the broader, bulkier builds of male Alphas, my stature naturally appeared smaller. That didn’t make me weak.


    Jordan’s friends chimed in, their voices thick with mockery. “I wonder how this tiny loser made it here. Bet he’s got some powerful daddy pulling strings for him.”


    Another burst ofughter rippled through the room, while Jordan kept his gaze locked on me. Waiting and craving any hint of a reaction.


    “I think we all know who is going to be going home today after the day’s challenge,” someone added with a smug grin, and the wave of insults continued.


    But I didn’t flinch. I didn’t frown. I didn’t give them a thing.


    Jordan’s smugness soured, his temper fraying when he couldn’t get a rise out of me. His hand shot out, seizing my cor, yanking me toward him.


    “Hey, you little fucker,” he growled, his voice low and sharp. “How dare you treat me like air?”


    In my head, Phina snarled. ‘Let me out. I’ll make his hands useless for the rest of his life,’


    ‘No, not now,’ I pushed her back, my expression cold, empty.


    I met Jordan’s gaze, my own eyes unblinking and devoid of fear. Something in the way I stared through him made him hesitate, a flicker of unease shing in his eyes. He felt it. The insult. The challenge.


    His fist rose, aiming for my face.


    Before he could even move, a hand mmed a juice cup down onto my table with a sharp, metallic ng. The sudden noise cut through the cafeteria like a de.


    Silence followed, thick and suffocating.


    Jordan froze. His face drained of color.


    The entire room held its breath.


    “Seth Darven,” a voice called my name.


    I slowly tilted my head up to see Ronan standing right behind me, his expression dark, his presence radiating danger.


    He didn’t look at Jordan. He didn’t look at the others. His focus was solely on me.


    “You are a wolf that I took into my den,” he said quietly, his voice a low,manding growl as he tilted my chin up between his fingers, locking his gaze with mine. “How dare you let yourself be bullied?”