Hailee's POV
I have two secrets. Two deep, dangerous secrets the people of the Full Moon Pack don't know. One—if they ever found out—would make them bow and worship me. The other? They'd be too afraid to even look me in the eye. But I've kept both to myself, pretending to be the weak omega, the cook's daughter no one notices.
Only two people know. My mother—and Lila, my best friend. I told Lila one of them two months ago, and thankfully, she didn't treat me any differently. Just two omega girls, still best friends.
"Hailee! You're running late! Didn't you mention you have a test?" my mother's loud yelling echoed from downstairs.
Rolling my eyes, I stared at myself one last time in the mirror. I wasn't pretty enough to be noticed, nor plain enough to be invisible. I was just there.
A mess of wavy, deep auburn hair framed my face, the strands falling past my shoulders like wildfire in motion. My eyes were the color of the sky, sometimes silver when the light caught them just right—and my skin, pale and speckled with faint freckles, looked almost delicate. I had a small scar just beneath my left eye, a faded reminder of a childhood accident I didn't like talking about.
I ran my fingers through my tangled hair, pulled it into a quick braid, and grabbed the worn-out backpack by the bed. The straps were fraying, and one of the zippers didn't close all the way, but it held what I needed: my books… and the small locket I never took out in front of anyone. Not even Lila.
"I'm coming!" I yelled back, slinging the bag over my shoulder and hopping down the stairs two at a time.
My mother stood in the kitchen, apron dusted with flour, wiping her hands on a cloth. Her eyes met mine. She looked tired, a little worried, but proud. She handed me a wrapped sandwich and a bottle of water.
"Don't look for trouble today," she whispered. "No matter what."
I nodded. We never talked about the secrets out loud, but she always had a way of reminding me to stay out of trouble.
I left through the back door, not wanting to run into any of the ranked wolves. They always had something cruel to say, especially Alpha Dominic's daughter, Clara. She hated that I existed, and even more that Lila chose to hang out with me instead of her.
The school building came into view as I stepped onto the main road, and like clockwork, Lila appeared beside me with her usual lopsided grin and two steaming cups of instant coffee.
"Look who's alive and not in a coma from oversleeping," she teased, handing me one. "You owe me."
I took the coffee, feeling grateful. "I'll repay you in hugs and sarcasm."
We both giggled as we made our way toward the school entrance, the scent of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers mingling with the usual teenage chaos. Our school, Moonridge Academy, stood tall like a castle, its stone walls and towering gates a clear sign of its importance, not just to our pack, but to every pack in London.
It wasn't just any school. It was the biggest and best in all the werewolf territories around here, built right at the heart of the Full Moon Pack. Students came from far and wide—especially from elite families. Alphas' kids, Betas' kids, Gammas' kids… they all walked the same halls as we did. And somehow, they let us—lowly omegas—attend too.
Of course, it wasn't out of kindness. It was a strategy. They needed the best minds, the best fighters, and the best pawns. So even if you were an omega, if you had something valuable to offer, you were in. Barely.
"I heard something crazy yesterday," Lila said as we passed through the school gates, her voice dropping to a whisper just for me. "And I mean crazy crazy."
I arched a brow. "Crazier than the time Clara tried to flirt with the Beta's son from the Blood Stone Pack and got rejected in front of everyone?"
"Worse," she said, her eyes gleaming with gossip. "I heard Alpha Linton's son—you know that Alpha from the forest Pack?—he's transferring here. Like, for his final year."
My footsteps stopped for a second. "Really?"
Lila nodded eagerly. "Yes. His son's name is Caelan or Callum or something, I don't remember. But I've heard he's insanely powerful—and also hot."
I rolled my eyes. "Of course that part matters."
"It always matters," she said, bumping her shoulder into mine playfully. "But get this—there's more. Apparently, another Alpha's Daughter is transferring too. Alpha Zach's."
My eyes widened. "Alpha Zach? As in Alpha of the Dark Claw Pack?"
She nodded again. "Yes. His daughter's name is Lucie. And let's just say… I heard she is the main character type. Always snooping."
Great. As if our school didn't already have enough egos walking around in perfectly tailored uniforms.
"And you know what this means, right?" Lila added, her voice barely above a whisper. "More drama." She teased, and I playfully rolled my eyes at her while she giggled.
Reaching my locker, I opened it and took out a textbook, but then I froze.
I could feel someone behind me. That familiar, heavy feeling that made my skin crawl. Slowly, I turned around.
And there he was.
Nathan. Our Alpha's son.
He stood there with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face like he owned the whole world. His bright-green eyes locked onto mine, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe. He looked annoyingly perfect. Messy black hair, strong jawline, and a body that screamed Alpha. He had just turned eighteen last week, and the entire pack threw a huge party for him.
But sadly, he didn't find his mate. And that made his attitude get worse.
Nathan is my nightmare.
Since the moment I came to the Full Moon Pack four years ago, he's made my life miserable. He's mean, rude, and treats me like I'm less than nothing. And to make it even worse, he forced me to be his errand girl. I fetch his stuff, carry his notes, and do whatever he wants.
"Morning, sunshine," Nathan said in his usual mocking voice. "Rough night?"
I clenched my teeth. He wanted me to fight back, to get angry—but I wasn't going to give him that satisfaction.
"Do you need something?" I asked, trying to sound bored.
"Of course," he said and threw a crumpled paper at me. "Copy my notes from yesterday. Make them neat. No mistakes."
I caught the paper and held it tight in my fist.
I forced a smile, bitter and fake. "Of course. Anything for you… your highness."
He scoffed gently, and patted my head like always. But except this time, his hand lingered for a second too long. I looked up, expecting mockery. But he wasn't even looking at me. He looked… lost, but before I could dwell on it, he turned around and strolled away.
Lila moved to my side, her face etched with a frown. "I swear, one day I'm going to punch him. Right in the face."
I sighed and took a deep breath. "Just two more months… It'll all be over," I said, and Lila nodded, understanding exactly what I meant.
We turned to head to class, but before I could enter, the principal came out from a corner.
"Hailee. My office. Now," he said firmly, not even waiting for a response as he turned away.
My heart sank. The last time I got called to his office, I was suspended.
Now? I had no idea what kind of trouble I'd landed in—but I had a bad feeling.