04
River's POV
The cold morning air bit into my skin as Cassian and I stepped out of the Pavilion where the boring orientation for freshmen had just ended.
Nothing about everything Professor Nyx, the director in charge of the campus, said was new. Just the usual warnings about "discipline, order, and the sacred honor of Alpha bloodlines." Blah, blah, blah.
Even though she didn't say it I know there are some unwritten rules that could get us in trouble if crossed.
Cassian let out a low groan beside me, stretching his arms behind his head, "Man, if I have to hear one more lecture about 'discipline and honor,' I'm gonna throw myself off the combat tower," he muttered.
"Go ahead," I said dryly, rubbing my eyes which were still heavy from lack of sleep. "At least it'll be entertaining."
Last night had been one hell of a night for me. But then again, I wasn't surprised.
How could I have slept, knowing fully well that I had a target on my back?
Cassian had woken me up as early as 5:00am this morning when the sky was still dull just because he "didn't want to be late for our first day."
He was already halfway dressed when I opened my eyes, humming off-key and muttering something about "making a good impression." Meanwhile, I was still trying to convince my body it wasn't dying from exhaustion.
Who the hell even gets excited about dawn drills?
He had torn the blanket off me and said, "Come on, man! Morning exercise is mandatory. You don't wanna look lazy on your first day."
"Yeah, so does sleep deprivation," I had grumbled, but it didn't matter. Cassian was relentless — cheerful in a way that shouldn't be legal this early in the morning.
Fucking hell. Didn't he say today was the orientation? So why the rush?
The second I got out of bed, I grabbed the small injector hidden in the side compartment of my bag, and tucked it discreetly in my soap case.
My heart was already pounding as I picked through my few decent clothes, choosing the least wrinkled shirt and a clean jacket, and spritzing a layer of cologne on them and in the air so Cass wouldn't suspect a thing when I took my suppressant shot.
All I needed was two shots of the suppressant daily, and I would be good to go.
Inside the bathroom, I locked the door and twisted the shower knob, letting the sound of running water cover everything. Steam curled against the mirror as I pulled the injector free and pressed the tip against the inside of my thigh.
Click.
A faint hiss followed, then that familiar cold rush spread through my veins. My muscles went rigid for a moment — then the tension ebbed, leaving behind a dull ache and a strange calm that wasn't natural but necessary.
My breath shook as I straightened. "There," I muttered under my breath. "All good."
I rubbed the spot clean, tossed the injector back into the soap case, and waited a few seconds for the suppressant to settle. A stressed version of myself stared back at me from the mirror. A pale brown eyes, flat expression, damp hair sticking up in random directions.
The perfect picture of an Alpha who didn't belong here.
By the time I finished in the bathroom, Cass was gone. Figures – he couldn't wait.
I slung my bag over my shoulder, locked the door behind me, and started down the path he'd mentioned last night. The sky had lightened to a soft gray-blue, the wind sharp enough to sting my face.
Now, as Cassian and I stepped into the courtyard, the air was colder, crisper, brushing across my neck like a warning. The academy stretched endlessly ahead—stone courtyards, training fields, and banners fluttering with the silver crest of Stormridge. Beautiful, in a cruel way.
Cassian's stomach growled beside me, ruining the view.
"Ugh, I'm starving," he groaned. "I skipped breakfast for that nonsense orientation. Let's hit the cafeteria before they announce another round of speeches."
I didn't argue since my stomach had been gnawing inside since halfway through the orientation.
I nodded. "Fine. Lead the way."
We crossed the courtyard, following the steady stream of students toward the cafeteria. Since the orientation wasn't just for freshmen — second years were asked to attend too to "refresh their memory" — the place was packed.
The cafeteria was a short walk from the Pavilion — a massive hall with arched ceilings and long metallic tables, sunlight spilling through the glass panels above. The hum of voices, the clatter of trays, the sharp aroma of food — it felt too alive compared to the stiff quiet of the orientation hall.
Cassian whistled as we entered. "Smells like heaven."
"Smells like grease and boiled meat," I muttered.
He grinned. "That's heaven to a broke student." His sarcasm of referring to the 'Betas' as broke wasn't lost on me though I said nothing.
We joined the line. I filled my tray with what looked edible — some kind of soup, a chunk of bread, and grilled meat that might've been beef if I was lucky. Cassian, on the other hand, piled enough food to feed a small family.
We found a table near the middle of the hall. I sat down, finally letting my shoulders drop a little. The constant tension that came with pretending to be something I wasn't was starting to wear thin.
As expected Cass immediately started talking to the guy across from us — some loud Alpha who has golden hair and a little scar just below his earlobe.
I tuned them out, focusing on my food. Just eat, River. Blend in. Don't attract attention.
For a moment, it almost worked.
Until someone's shadow fell across my tray causing me to look up.
A pretty girl stood there with a perfect posture, her long blonde hair tied neatly in a bun. Her uniform was spotless, trimmed with the silver stripe that marked her as a second-year.
"You're in my seat."
I blinked. "What?"
She gestured at the bench I was sitting on. "That's my spot."
I glanced around. Half the cafeteria was filled with empty chairs, yet somehow this exact seat was hers?
Smells like trouble.
"You can have it," I said simply, sliding my tray a little to the side.
But as I moved, she stepped forward abruptly — and the next thing I knew, her tray jerked, and a thick splash of soup sloshed forward, staining her pristine white uniform.
"Oh, for the love of—" she gasped, staring down at the mess on her chest. The creamy soup soaked through the fabric, dripping onto the floor. She looked up slowly, and the rage in her eyes made the air around us tighten.
Her lips twisted. "When did Stormbridge start accepting blind idiots to the school?" She held out the edge of her sleeve, soup dripping off the cuff.
The noise around us faltered for a heartbeat. People were pretending not to watch us but very obviously listening.
My throat tightened. Great. Just what I needed — public attention.
"I—uh—sorry—" I started, keeping my voice even. "I didn't—"
"Don't you even try to talk back," she snapped, her tone dripping venom. "Do you have any idea how much this uniform costs?"
"I said I was sorry," I muttered, standing up, trying to diffuse the tension. "It was an accident."
"Accident?" Her voice rose. "You think just saying sorry fixes everything? You should be on your knees cleaning this!"
The girl — whoever she was — seemed to enjoy the attention. Her chin tilted upward, lips curling into a smug smile.
She wasn't angry about the soup. She was angry that someone like me existed near her orbit.
Something in my chest tightened. I could take insults, but humiliation? In front of a room full of Alphas?
I blinked at her once, twice, then said flatly, "Pretty sure you're the one who ran into me so maybe you should watch where you're going next time."
Cassian stopped mid-bite, his spoon halfway to his mouth. "Uh, River—" he started, but I ignored him.
The girl raised a brow. "Do you even know who you're talking to?"
Goddess. How I hate people like this…
"No," I deadpanned, "And unless you plan on apologizing, I don't really care."
Gasps scattered across the room. Someone whispered, "Did he just—?"
The silence around us thickened.
The girl straightened abruptly, her anger draining into composure. She swallowed hard, forcing a tight smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"You should really watch where you're going next time," she said flatly, then picked up her tray and walked away.
I exhaled slowly, unsure whether to feel relieved or confused. "What the hell was that?"
Cassian's face had lost all color. "You really don't know who that is?"
"You just told me—"
He pointed subtly. "Look. Over there."
I followed his gaze toward the far corner of the cafeteria.
And there he was.
The guy I mistook for his room as mine yesterday.
He was seated alone at a table, one leg casually crossed over the other, hand resting against his jaw as his green eyes stared directly at me.
God. He even looked more dangerously breathtaking than yesterday. His uniform was the same as ours, but he wore it differently — effortlessly commanding, like the room belonged to him.
I didn't need Cassian's whisper to confirm who he was telling me to avoid last night was. His aura was enough.
Micah Corvinus.
The rude girl reached his table, placed her tray down, and leaned toward him. He said something I couldn't hear. She nodded, her eyes flickering in my direction for a second before lowering them submissively.
I swallowed hard. "You've got to be kidding me."
Cassian rubbed a hand over his face. "Yeah," he whispered, his voice thick with dread. "You just poured soup on the Supreme Alpha's son's fiance."
I froze. That guy was the Supreme Alpha's son? And the girl is… Oh hell.
For a moment, the entire hall felt too bright, too still. My fingers tightened around the edge of my tray.
"His what?"
"Betrothed," Cassian muttered. "As in… promised to him since they were fifteen. Her father is a very close friend to the Supreme Alpha. So students tend to avoid her."
I glanced again toward Micah. He was still watching me, his face unreadable — calm.
Our eyes met for the briefest second.
And for some reason, my pulse kicked hard.