Chapter 148 CHAPTER 148
Isabel did not slow down until she reached the classroom.
Her chest felt tight, her breath uneven, as though she had been running far longer than the short distance from the bathrooms should have required. The break had ended without her noticing. She hadn’t seen Lisa, hadn’t found the courage to look for her. All she could think about was getting back to her seat, back to something that felt familiar, even if nothing truly did anymore.
She pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The change in the room was immediate.
Moments before, there had been noise - quiet chatter, the scrape of chairs, the soft hum of students killing time before the lesson resumed. The instant Isabel entered, it vanished. Conversations died mid-sentence. Heads turned. Eyes followed her as she walked in.
Anna came in right behind her.
At first glance, Anna looked perfectly fine, as if nothing unusual had happened. But Isabel noticed the stiffness in her movements, the way her jaw tightened as though she were holding back discomfort. There was pain there, carefully hidden, Probably from the push to the wall in the bathroom. The knowledge of it sent a small, uneasy flicker through Isabel’s chest. What would have happened if the guard didn’t show up?
The guard who had accompanied her paused at the door. “I’ll be right outside,” he said quietly.
Isabel nodded and moved toward her desk.
As Anna passed by the guard his gaze lingered just a moment longer than necessary. Anna caught it. Her lips pressed together, annoyance flashing briefly across her face before she turned away and took her seat.
Isabel sat down, keeping her head lowered.
The silence did not break.
It wrapped around her instead, thick and uncomfortable. She could feel the stares on her skin, sharp and assessing, not curious in the way she had hoped for earlier that morning, but watchful. Measuring.
She opened her book and stared at the page without reading a single word.
All she wanted was to disappear into the background, to become just another student sitting at a desk. But it felt as though the room refused to let her.
A light tap landed on her shoulder.
She flinched before she could stop herself and turned around.
The girl seated behind her leaned forward slightly, her expression curious rather than hostile. “So,” she asked in a low voice, “what are you?”
Isabel frowned, confused. “What do you mean?”
The girl tilted her head. “Everyone here is something. Wolves. Bears. Others. Some with magic already showing, some still waiting. But nobody can tell what you are. Your scent is not common around here.”
Isabel hesitated.
“When you came in earlier,” the girl continued, her voice barely above a whisper, “we thought you were like the princess. A lycan. Or at least a shifter. Especially with that name.”
Isabel swallowed. “My… scent is different?”
“Unreadable,” the girl confirmed.
A few students nearby shifted subtly in their seats. Isabel felt the attention tightening around them.
“I’m not like the rest of you,” Isabel said quietly.
The girl’s brows lifted. “So you’re something higher?”
“No,” Isabel replied, shaking her head. “On the contrary. I’m just human.”
She meant to keep it between them.
But Lunaris was not a place where whispers stayed small.
Enhanced hearing caught her words instantly. The silence shattered into sharp, restrained reactions. A sudden intake of breath. A soft gasp. A murmur that rippled across the room as students leaned toward one another, exchanging hurried whispers.
“Human?”
“She said she’s human.”
“That’s impossible.”
Isabel felt her heart slam painfully against her ribs.
Even those who hadn’t heard her directly were quickly filled in by their neighbors. The information spread faster than she could process it, and with it came a shift in the air. The curiosity turned heavier, edged with something far more dangerous.
She glanced toward Anna.
Anna was watching her openly now, lips curved into a slow, satisfied smile. There was no surprise in her expression, no shock. Only anticipation, as if she had been waiting for this moment.
You’re alone now, the look seemed to say.
Panic rose fast and sharp.
What had she been thinking, coming here? Believing she could fit into a place where everyone could sense what she lacked? Where being human was not just different, but exposed?
Her hands trembled as she brought them up, covering her ears as though that might block out the whispers. She leaned forward, resting her forehead against her desk and squeezing her eyes shut.
I’ll be fine. I’ll be fine. I’ll be fine.
She repeated it silently, clinging to the words like a lifeline.
The classroom door opened.
The noise died instantly.
The teacher entered- a tall woman with sharp features and eyes that caught the light in a way that was unmistakably not human. There was authority in her presence, the kind that demanded attention without effort.
“Good morning,” she said calmly. “History books out.”
Isabel froze.
She hadn’t even checked her timetable properly yet. Everything had happened too fast. She reached into her bag and pulled out her old exercise book, the one she’d used in her previous school.
The teacher began writing on the board.
The History of Lycans and the Moon Packs.
Isabel stared at the words, a strange mix of fear and awe settling in her chest. This was real. This was what she had asked for.
The teacher turned, her gaze landing on Isabel. “Where did you stop with this topic in your previous school?”
A ripple of laughter spread through the room.
Isabel stood slowly, heat rushing to her face.
The teacher frowned. “What is amusing about my question?”
No one answered.
She looked back at Isabel. “I need to know her academic standing so I can adjust her work.”
Anna lifted her hand, her smile sharp and deliberate. “It’s funny because she’s never studied this, miss.”
The room stilled.
“What do you mean?” the teacher asked.
“The king forgot to mention,” Anna said smoothly, “that she doesn’t have a wolf. And never will. She’s human.”
Isabel felt the words hit like a slap.
The teacher studied her closely. “Is that true?”
Isabel nodded, her throat too tight to speak.
“That’s all right,” the teacher said after a moment. “The principal mentioned your enrolment assessment. He said you’re a quick learner – you’ll soon catch up with the rest of the class.”
The reassurance did little to ease the burning in Isabel’s face.
“Take your seat,” the teacher continued. “We’ll discuss accommodations later.”
Isabel sat down, her cheeks flushed with humiliation. The rest of the lesson blurred together - names, histories, pack alliances she barely understood. She wrote what she could, determined not to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her fail.
When the bell rang for lunch, students filed out quickly.
Isabel remained seated, staring at her notes.
Then a familiar voice cut through the haze. “For someone is always hungry,” Lisa said lightly, “what are you still doing in class?”
Isabel looked up, relief washing over her. “I was waiting for you,” she replied, forcing a smile.
Lisa stepped inside with Ella beside her. “Then let’s fix that.”
As they walked toward the cafeteria, Lisa slowed her steps and glanced between them. “Oh - sorry,” she said with a small smile. “I keep forgetting you two haven’t actually met properly. Isabel, this is Ella. She’s my friend and classmate – the only one who doesn’t call me your highness here. Guess that makes two of you now.” She chuckled.
Ella’s expression brightened immediately. “Finally,” she said, extending her hand. “I’ve been hearing your name all morning.
Isabel shook it, relieved by the normalcy of the gesture. “Nice to meet you.”
Ella tilted her head, amused. “You know, our names almost rhyme. Ella and Isabel.” She grinned. “If you ever get tired of Isabel, you could always answer to Ella too. I won’t even be mad.”
Isabel laughed softly, the tightness in her chest easing just a little. “I’ll think about it.”
They started walking again, the corridor opening up ahead of them.
Ella glanced at her sideways. “Is it true?” she asked, lowering her voice just enough. “That you’re human? Everyone’s talking about it.”
Isabel nodded, a little unsure. “Apparently. I didn’t realize that being human would turn into… this.” She gestured vaguely, meaning the stares, the whispers, the way the air itself seemed to have shifted around her.
Ella let out a quiet breath. “It is a big deal. You’re different.” Then she smiled. “You’re the first human to ever attend Lunaris. You’ve kind of made history.”
Isabel blinked. “That’s not exactly comforting.”
She hesitated before asking, “So… what are they really saying about me?”
Before Ella could answer, Lisa squeezed Isabel’s hand gently, grounding her. “They’ll get over it,” she said with quiet certainty. “They always do. When I first came here, I was all anyone talked about - the lost princess of Mooncrest, Now?” She shrugged lightly. “Nobody cares. Give them a few days. Something new will come along, and you’ll just be another student walking these halls.”
Isabel smiled faintly, holding onto that reassurance as they stepped into the cafeteria.
Warmth wrapped around them instantly. The rich scent of freshly cooked food filled the air, comforting in a way Isabel hadn’t realized she needed so badly. Her shoulders relaxed without her permission.
She inhaled deeply and looked at Lisa. “Out of everything in this school,” she said honestly, “this might be my favorite place.”
Lisa laughed. “I thought it would be.”
They grabbed their trays, moved through the line, and settled at a table near the windows. Sunlight spilled across the polished surface, softening the edges of the day. For a moment, Isabel almost felt normal.
Ella studied her thoughtfully. “So,” she said, resting her chin in her hand, “how exactly does a human end up living in the palace?”
Isabel huffed out a small laugh. “That’s a long story.”
Ella grinned. “Short version?”
Isabel thought about it, then shrugged. “I guess the goddess was on my side.”
Ella laughed at that, shaking her head. “I like you already.”
Isabel hesitated, then asked quietly, “But seriously… what are the others saying?”
Ella’s smile softened, her tone turning honest. “Mostly that you’re either incredibly brave for being here,” she said, “or incredibly stupid.”
Isabel looked down at her food, then back up again, a small, determined smile forming.
“Guess we’ll find out which one,” she said.