"Who said they aren't special?" Ivy whispered, her eyes like shards of ice. "What other alphas have you seen possess the godly powers they do?"
"W-what?" Violet stamred.
Ivy groaned, pressing her palm to her face. "Please don't tell you don't know about their abilities too. At this point, I'm starting to think you must be really dumb."
For the first ti, Violet was speechless, an embarrassed flush spreading across her cheeks.
Lila turned to her, eyes wide in disbelief. "You really don't know the cardinal alphas have powers?"
"Who doesn't know the cardinal alphas have powers?" Daisy echoed.
Violet suddenly found herself in the spotlight, feeling foolish for her lack of knowledge. She didn't care about the cardinal alphas, but now it seed like everything here revolved around them. Not knowing anything made her look like a clueless outsider, and Violet resolved to learn all she could to avoid looking like an idiot again.
Still, Violet's pride wouldn't let her back down. She tried to shrug it off with a smirk. "All right then, enlighten . What amazing powers do they have that makes you want to practically throw yourselves at them?"
"You!" Ivy snapped, pointing a finger at her, nearly suffering an aneurysm.
Before the argunt could spark up again, Lila, ever the peacemaker, stepped in with a cheerful smile. "That's where I co in. Since you missed the orientation, I'll give you the crash course."
The way Lila's eyes glead with excitent made it clear she'd been waiting for this mont to show off her storytelling skills. Before Violet knew it, Lila had gently but firmly guided her back to her bed, making her sit. Without wasting a second, Lila plopped down beside her, as if afraid Violet might change her mind if she hesitated even for a mont.
With lightning speed, Lila tapped away on her phone, then held up the screen with a gleam of excitent. "These are the four Cardinal Alphas."
The screen displayed a photo of the so-called Cardinal Alphas all together. It took Violet roughly thirty seconds to recognize each one, and when she did, a curse slipped from her lips. "You have got to be kidding !"
"Why? What's wrong?" Lila straightened up, concern flickering across her face.
Violet's eyes were wide as she launched into a frantic explanation. "This guy," she jabbed her finger at the green-haired alpha, "he's the idiot who gave Griffin's necklace, and the burly one nearly choked ..." Her gaze landed on the alpha wearing shades. "And then, this creep just stared at ..."
Lila looked down at the alpha Violet was pointing to. "You an Alpha Asher?"
"Alpha Asher?" Violet's voice ca out in a croak, dread knotting in her stomach. This can't be happening.
"Alpha Asher is the leader of the West House," Lila confird, solidifying her fears.
Damn. Violet's stomach dropped. She was under the guidance of this creepy guy. How could she have ended up in this situation?
Completely oblivious to the turmoil brewing inside Violet, Lila continued excitedly, pointing to another figure. "And here's Aldric. Isn't he so handso?"
Even amid her anxiety, Violet's eyes fell on the picture, and her breath caught. It was him, the white-haired beauty she'd t at the infirmary.
Lila went on, "There are plenty of alphas at the academy, but none like the Cardinal Alphas. Each one is nad after the region their packs hail from. What's even more fascinating is that all four were born at the exact sa ti, a birth said to be a great celestial event."
She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper, as though even the walls might be listening. "Rumor has it, this was the Moon Goddess's way of answering back after humans committed mass homicide against the she-wolves, wiping out nearly ninety percent of them. The Cardinals were given their powers so they could bring humanity to its knees, exacting revenge and reclaiming their rightful place as leaders."
Violet was supposed to call the stories bluff but for so reason, it sent shivers down her spine. If the humans knew these were the werewolves' intentions, then why give them that much power? Why pretend they were not aware of their intention? Why accept the wolves as equals when, honestly, they were no equals but predators?
Lila swiped her phone to reveal a solo picture of Griffin, and Violet's eyes narrowed in anger, the mory of his assault still fresh in her mind. But that didn't deter Lila, who grinned and said in a teasing tone, "Griffin Hale, your handso brute."
Violet shot her a withering glare and Lila giggled.
"He is the alpha of the east, and his ability is his god-like strength that surpasses even the most formidable werewolves, making him a force to be reckoned with. His power allows him to lift and break through virtually any obstacle, and his combat skills are unmatched in direct confrontation. His senses are heightened, giving him an edge in tracking and hunting, and when enraged, he can channel his strength into devastating shockwaves that can incapacitate opponents with a single punch."
Violet unconsciously rubbed the spot on her neck where he had grabbed her, still feeling the phantom ache. If what Lila said was true, she was incredibly lucky he hadn't crushed her into a pulp.
"And next, Roman Draven, the alpha of the South, " Lila said, swiping to the next image, a photo of a half-naked Roman.
Violet couldn't help but stare, her eyes showing the tiniest flicker of admiration, despite her resentnt towards him. Roman's toned torso took center stage, each muscle etched like it had been crafted by a sculptor's hand.
His six-pack looked impossibly defined, glistening under the light in the image as if he'd just stepped out of water. His tousled green hair frad his face in a disheveled, irresistible way, and with his eyes closed, he looked both mysterious and effortlessly enticing. To complete the look, his tongue playfully poked out as though he'd just woken up from a wild night.
Damn it, Violet hated to say this, but Roman Draven was downright magnetic.
"Roman's ability is his shapeshifting. He could transform into any animal. Like anything, from a swift hawk to a powerful lion, granting him unmatched versatility in battle and stealth. He's the most likable alpha and every woman's dream alpha, so if you could look beyond his manwhoring ways, then both of you would make a good couple."
"Eww, I'll pass." Violet scrunched her face in disgust.
However, her mind couldn't help but linger on the image..... if she and Roman were to mate, their kids would be quite beautiful.
Wait—what in the moon was she thinking? She shook her head, horrified. Get out of my head, you ridiculous, immoral thoughts!
"There's sothing else you should know," Lila continued. "While not all alphas get along, the rivalry between Roman and Griffin is legendary."
She leaned in conspiratorially. "Griffin might have unmatched strength, but Roman has his advantage, he can shape-shift into any animal he chooses, especially ones that can match Griffin's power. That's why there's always a heated debate over who's truly the strongest."
Lila gave a knowing smirk. "And Griffin? He hates that. He's always up for a fight, so the idea of anyone challenging his power drives him mad."
Violet tucked that tidbit of information into the back of her mind. Sothing told her it might just co in handy in the future especially when it ca to dealing with Griffin and settling the score.
"The third is Asher Nightshade, alpha of the West and also our house captain," Lila announced, her finger swiping to reveal his solo image on the screen.
Violet's gaze locked on the photo, and the first thought that ca to mind was: Who hurt this guy?
Asher's face was sharp and chiseled, with an intense, vacant look that sent chills up her spine. Dark sunglasses covered his eyes, giving him an air of mystery.
He wasn't smiling, in fact, his expression was cold, almost bored, as though he'd set the world on fire just to amuse himself. Though it was only a photo, it felt like Asher was staring right at her, his presence unnervingly vivid.
Violet fought back a shiver.
"Now, Asher is—"
"The last cardinal alpha you'd ever want to associate with," Ivy interrupted, her tone ice-cold. "The guy's a psychopath. Trust , you'd be wise to steer clear."
For once, Violet found herself silently agreeing with Ivy.
Daisy was the one who said in a lowered tone, "Asher is a mind fucker. He's most feared because of his ability to control minds, which is why he's rarely seen without his glasses. He can plant thoughts, compel actions, and erase mories, making him the ultimate puppet master, as he's called. So yes, Ivy is right in telling you not to associate with him at all. Asher Nightshade is unpredictable and deadly."
Well, lucky her, Violet was not a masochist and would do well to avoid the guy like a plague.
"And last but not least, our charming prince Alaric." Lila practically shoved the picture in her face.
The image showed Alaric with a candid, almost unaware expression as if soone had caught him in a rare, unguarded mont. He exuded a calm, serene energy that radiated a quiet innocence, a purity that was disarming in soone of his stature.
Yet beneath that gentle exterior, there was sothing undeniably a hardened resilience that hinted at the darkness he possessed. The contrast was magnetic, leaving Violet curiously drawn to the duality he embodied, as though he were both peace and power wrapped into one.
Violet was sowhat intrigued by Alaric, at least for a few seconds, until she ca back to her senses.
Lila chirped excitedly, cutting through her thoughts, "Alaric is the Alpha of the North and wields the raw power of lightning, capable of summoning storms with just a flick of his wrist. His power allows him to unleash bolts that can paralyze or incinerate enemies in an instant. When pushed to his limits, he can create massive electrical surges, and his control over electricity even extends to short-circuiting technology. He's basically a walking EMP."
Finally, it all made sense to Violet why it had felt like lightning when he brushed past her. It was his power, after all.
Daisy chid in, "Alaric is highly intelligent, with a deep interest in science, making him a genius. A mad one if I'm to say."
Violet liked science too, and no, she definitely wasn't thinking of anything foolish.
Lila continued, "Though he prefers solitude, Alaric has the most dangerous temper. It's as quick as lightning and deadly. People say he's the most dangerous alpha among them. There's even a rumor that he's running so kind of private experint to stop the heart by manipulating its electrical charges."
Any fleeting thoughts Violet had of befriending Alaric vanished at once. These cardinal alphas were clearly in a league of their own, and perhaps out of their minds.
"So, now that you've t them, who do you like? Any alpha you want to pursue?" Lila asked with a curious tilt of her head.
"What?" Violet blinked, caught off guard.
Daisy said. "You're in the top twenty; they'll see you as an equal."
Ivy, on the other hand, sneered. "All of the cardinal alphas are taken!"
Lila countered, "Not officially. No one's truly a Luna until graduation."
Ivy scoffed. "You fool! Don't you know this is all prearranged? The one who becos the Alpha King's successor will probably marry Lyka, the pure-blooded she-wolf. The rest of the cardinal alphas would probably be paired with the females at the top through their families' influence. What chance do you think Violet has here? She's just a nobody in comparison!"
Violet's patience snapped, her frustration showing. "All right, that's enough!" She locked eyes with each of them, saying firmly, "I'm so sick of the foolish gas at this school!"
Lila gasped, indignant. "Foolish gas? Do you know how lucky you'd be if you managed to catch the eye of a cardinal alpha—"
"Enough!" Violet's sharp tone made Lila flinch. Violet felt a pang of guilt for startling her, but she had no choice. Not if they were to take her seriously.
"While I appreciate you guys filling in on campus news, that's all it is to —news. I didn't co to this school to be part of so useless tradition but to study and make a better future for myself. And I won't tolerate anyone trying to pressure into joining or entertaining it."
With that, Violet successfully rendered her roommates astonished, a heavy silence filling the room.
Violet didn't wait for anyone to comnt or cast more judgnt. Instead, she turned sharply on her heel and entered the bathroom, the walls shielding her from their prying eyes and harsh words.
Though the cool water washed over her, it didn't quiet the thoughts that raced through her mind, replaying what happened over and over again.
Thanks to the argunt, she had forgotten to take a change of clothes. So when she was done, she wrapped herself in a towel, unbothered and unapologetic, her bare skin still damp as she crossed to her bed.
Her bag was on the bed, so she pulled out sleeping wear and dressed quickly. Her roommates' gazes bore into her, but she remained aloof, ignoring them.
With her back turned to them, she lay down and closed her eyes, shutting them out. Sleep claid her swiftly, her body heavy and her mind fogged by the day's strangeness.
That night, the dreams began.
And in the depths of her sleep, a certain Alpha awaited, ready to extend a "private" welco into his pack.
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