Chapter 23 Chapter 23
Angelina's POV
I walked back to the classroom.
More than half the students had already returned to their seats.
Over the next few days, nothing particularly noteworthy happened. Even Jayden and his gang of thugs whose fingers I'd cut off didn't return to the Sterling house to cause trouble. I wasn't sure if Grace and Nathan had resolved the matter somehow, or if there was another reason.
Time flew by.
Before I knew it, the freshman outdoor education trip had arrived.
Camp Redwood was located about two hours north of Roseville, nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It was the kind of place that looked like it had been pulled straight from a summer camp brochure—rustic cabins, rope courses, a climbing wall, hiking trails that wound through pine forests, and a lake where they'd make you do trust falls off the dock.
For the next seven days, all of us freshmen would be stuck there.
Monday morning, early.
A row of yellow school buses was already parked outside the main entrance of Roseville High. The school had specifically rented these vehicles to transport all the freshmen to Camp Redwood.
I boarded one of the buses along with my classmates forty-five minutes after arriving at school.
By this time, every student was dragging duffel bags stuffed with sleeping bags, toiletries, flashlights, bug spray, and whatever else the packing list had demanded. The bus was filled with excited chatter.
I heard Logan next to me being pessimistic as usual:
"Dude, you guys are way too excited. When we actually get there and we're doing push-ups in the dirt at 6 AM, you'll be begging to go back to Ms. Wilson's boring algebra class."
Logan had participated in a similar outdoor program at his middle school before moving to Roseville. He obviously had trauma from that experience, which explained his current negative attitude.
"Oh come on, don't be such a buzzkill!" Mia sat across the aisle, practically bouncing in her seat. Like me, this was her first time participating in such an activity, so she radiated pure excitement and curiosity.
"Whatever. Don't say I didn't warn you guys." Logan shook his head dramatically.
For me, this outdoor education trip was also a first.
But in my previous life, as the Alpha of Riverbend Pack, before I conquered the other 49 Packs in America, the training I'd undergone made this kind of wilderness survival program look like children playing house. Student outdoor education? If you failed, you got lectured, maybe had to redo an activity. The Alpha trials I'd experienced? Failure meant death, or worse—being stripped of Alpha status and becoming the Pack's disgrace.
This was how I'd forged all my combat skills—through countless challenges and life-or-death duels, each one forcing me to either become stronger or be replaced. The reason I could become the Alpha of the world's strongest Pack was because I defeated everyone who dared challenge me, proving my dominance with absolute strength.
In comparison, a week of team-building exercises and trust falls? Trivial.
As these thoughts passed through my mind, the bus had already completed its long route and was now stopping at our destination—the main entrance of Camp Redwood.
"I heard these camp counselors are always super hot college guys. I wonder if ours will be cute!"
"Oh my God, I was thinking the same thing! I'm so excited!"
The girls' chatter drifted into my ears from the back rows.
I had zero interest in that topic. But my gaze drifted out the window, scanning the distant campgrounds.
What had started as an idle glance suddenly sharpened into focus when I spotted a distinctive figure—tall, commanding presence, wearing what looked like tactical gear that was definitely not standard camp counselor attire...
The moment I recognized Caelan standing inside Camp Redwood's grounds, my brow furrowed slightly.
What the hell was he doing here?
From my elevated position on the bus, I could clearly see inside the camp.
My enhanced vision captured details that others would miss—Caelan stood near what looked like the main lodge, and beside him was Rowan.
As Caelan's strategist and right-hand man, Rowan rarely left his side.
"Aria, everyone's gotten off. What are you looking at?"
The bus had already stopped at Camp Redwood's entrance, and students were steadily filing out. Mia noticed I hadn't moved yet and followed my line of sight, very curious.
"Nothing."
I'd already looked away.
I grabbed the duffel bag Grace had packed for me last night—though it probably weighed thirty pounds, I still lifted it easily with one hand—and headed toward the bus steps.
By the time Mia looked in the direction I'd been staring, there was no one there. She shrugged and hurried to catch up with me.
After getting off, students gathered around the entrance with their oversized duffel bags, waiting for instructions from teachers.
The wait dragged on. Since there were no adults actively supervising us yet, conversations grew louder and louder until the entire area sounded like the food court during lunch rush.
"This outdoor education trip is going to be so fun! I can't wait!"
Mia was also infected by the excitement. She turned to me, her eyes sparkling as she asked:
"Aria, what about you? Are you excited?"
Before I could answer, Logan cut in:
"Excited about what? Once we actually get in there, you'll understand the true meaning of the word 'regret'!"
Sometimes Logan was such a killjoy. His comment immediately dampened Mia's enthusiasm by half.
"Logan, shut up. Nobody asked you. I was talking to Aria, not you."
Mia linked her arm through mine, glaring at Logan with mock indignation.
In the original Aria's memories, she had always been the quiet, introverted one. But her friend Mia was the complete opposite—bubbly, outgoing, and constantly bickering with Logan.
I watched with interest as Mia shot back:
"We get it, you had a terrible time at middle school camp. But maybe don't project your trauma onto everyone else?"
"I'm trying to help you guys! Setting realistic expectations so you won't be crushed when reality hits!" Logan protested.
The two went back and forth, neither willing to back down. But their tone wasn't actually hostile—if anything, they sounded like an old married couple. Definitely had that "bickering but secretly like each other" energy.
When we finally entered through the gates under the teachers' guidance, I saw fifteen camp counselors already waiting neatly in formation, and one counselor jogged over to greet us.
He was a college-aged guy, probably in his early twenties, with sun-bronzed skin, an athletic build, standing about 6'1" (roughly 1.85 meters). He had that classic "California outdoorsy guy" look—board shorts, a Camp Redwood staff t-shirt, hiking boots, Ray-Ban sunglasses pushed up on his head.
This counselor stopped in front of our group, flashed us a friendly smile, then spoke with the kind of overly enthusiastic tone that all camp staff seemed to have:
"Hey everyone! Welcome to Camp Redwood! My name's Jake Morrison, and I'll be your head counselor this week. You can call me Jake—or Counselor Jake if you want to be formal, but honestly, let's keep it casual."
He gestured broadly toward the camp behind him.
"For the next seven days, I'm basically your point person for everything. Activities, cabin assignments, meal times, emergency bathroom runs at 2 AM—whatever it is, I've got you covered. If anyone feels sick, gets hurt, or just needs to talk, come to me first. Unless it's something really serious, don't bother your teachers. Sound good?"
A few students nodded. Most were still sizing up the camp.
Jake continued: "I promise we're going to have an awesome week. Rock climbing, orienteering, survival skills, team challenges—all the good stuff. But honestly? This week isn't just about the activities. It's about learning to work together, pushing past your comfort zones, and discovering what you're capable of when you're not glued to your phones."
He grinned.
"So, welcome to Camp Redwood. Let's make it a week to remember!"
I observed Jake with mild interest, but my thoughts were elsewhere.
Why was Caelan here?
This outdoor education trip suddenly felt far less straightforward than it appeared on the surface.