\[Elise’s POV\]
I watch as Serenity and her guard dog grow farther and farther away from me. I can’t stop the feeling of pity I feel for my niece due to her reaction toward me. It was clear without even saying that she was definitely dealing with bullying and being ostracized by the rest of her peers. In a way, she reminded me of me at that age, and that left a sour taste in my mouth.
‘What’s the game plan now?’ Anna asks as I continue to watch. ‘She’s got a pretty thick wall around her.’
‘She does.’ I agree, shifting my gaze to her guard dog. As I do, Serenity peeks back at him, and I see something familiar flash in her eyes. ‘But that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up.’
Smirking, I watch the guard dog say something that causes a flash of dismay to form on Serenity’s face before she quickens her pace.
Hm. I couldn’t help but wonder what the relationship was between her and that man, and who the hell was he? Where did he come from, and why couldn’t I sense anything wolfy about him?
‘Is any of that important?’ Anna huffs. ‘Our only focus is protecting Serenity, and to do that, we need to get close.’
‘I know that.’ I snap in frustration. ‘But I have a feeling that guy isn’t going to make things easy.’
For the next few days, I approach Serenity again and again, only to receive the same reaction. Each time she pushes me away, making it clear that she doesn’t want me getting close, if I attempt to push her, her damn dog steps up.
By the end of my first week at The Academy, I’m about ready to lose my shit.
‘This is frustrating.’ I huff, slamming my tray of food on a table and taking a seat.
During meal time, I can at least watch over Serenity as she sits alone by a window with her guard dog, but it isn’t the same as being near her.
“Hey, newbie.”
Turning, I watch as a beauty with sandy brown hair and sparkling green eyes approaches me with two carbon copies of her, only with different hair and eye colors flanking her.
“Are you talking to me?” I ask lazily, lifting my apple and taking a bite.
“Who else would I be speaking to?” She asks curiously.
For a moment, I look around me, though I know damn well that I’m her target, and doing this seems to do the trick of pissing her off.
“Did I do something to offend you?” I ask. “Or are you here to try to intimidate me?”
I knew, given my appearance, I definitely did seem like an easy target, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t defend myself. Maybe I wasn’t as strong as I was as Elise, but Eleanor was just as quick and agile as the past me.
“Not at all.” The girl responds sweetly. “I just came to give you a bit of advice.”
Remaining silent, I raise a brow and wait as she waits for me to ask what she could mean. When I don’t, her annoyance spikes, and I have to bite back on the giggle that wants to escape me.
“I’d stay away from Serenity.” She says now. “She’s bad news, and anyone who hangs around her will end up being deemed a freak.”
There it was—the confirmation I needed for my assumption. Serenity was definitely dealing with bullying from her peers, and I was certain I knew why it was happening.
In our world, most alphas were males; actually, almost all were males. Pack leaders would intentionally continue to produce offspring until a boy was born to take the place of Alpha. The female children were meant to find strong partners to stand beside or become warriors. It was very unheard of for one to become an alpha. Because of this ridiculous thinking, the idea of Serenity becoming alpha of Emerald Moon was almost unheard of, and that would rub some the wrong way.
“What if I want to be deemed a freak?” I ask, giving a smile. “Pretty presumptuous of you to assume that I didn’t.”
At my words, the girl's eyes widen, making it clear that she was most likely the queen bee that everyone bowed down to.
“Listen to me.” I continue. “Don’t approach me with such ridiculous bullshit. I’ll make friends with whoever the hell I want to. If you and your lackeys have an issue with it, then come for me, but know that I’m pretty fucking crazy, and I don’t take well to those who bully.”
As I speak, the urge to attack trickles into me. Who the fuck was she to pick on my niece to this extent? Was she the reason that Serenity was so damn lonely?
“Tell me.” I say, standing and grabbing the girl’s hair. “Is she like that because of you? Have you been whispering things to others?”
By this point, many are beginning to watch curiously, but I don’t care. I wasn’t just going to sit back when I knew that she was most likely responsible for isolating Serenity.
“You dare to touch me?” The girl growls, glaring down at me. “Do you really think you’re capable of fighting me?”
Instead of responding, I pull her forward and use all my strength to flip her over my shoulder so her back slams into the table.
“I do.” I grin, turning and taking in her shocked expression. “Next time, you should really make sure that you know your enemy.”
Giving her one last look, I begin to move, but I don’t get too far before two teachers rush toward me.
“Yeah, yeah.” I chuckle, lifting my hands. “I surrender.”
Stopping entirely, I wait until they swarm me and give me looks of disapproval. As they do, the girl that I body-slammed comes rushing up with crocodile tears spilling down her face.
“Professor Jeffrey’s.” She sobs, burying her face in her hands. “I… I….” She continues, laying it on thick. “I was just trying to greet her, and she… she…”
Letting out a laugh, I begin to clap, letting her know that she was doing a damn good job of pretending to be pathetic.
"Elanor, is it?” Professor Jeffrey’s says, turning his gaze toward me. “Do you want to tell me what is going on here?”
“Isn’t it as she said?” I ask. “I am a deranged lunatic that body slams people for coming up in my space.”
Growing quiet, I wait as he and the other teacher with him look at me.
"Your father is Don Roswell, beta of Blue Moon, correct?"
“That’s right,” I confirm. “So go ahead and call him and let him know what his dear daughter has done.”
Frowning, both professors continue to stare at me, and when they turn and motion for me to follow, I do.
They don’t speak as we move the sea of students and out into the hall. Nor do they speak while we head toward what I know is the principle's office.
When we reach, Professor Jeffrey’s knocks and steps back to wait until the door opens and the last person I would expect to see appears.
“You,” I gasp, feeling a torrent of emotions begin to flood through me. “Why is it you?”