Instead of answering, Mary smirked, a conspiratorial glint in her eyes. And that was enough to raise alarms in Violet’s head.
“Don’t worry, you’ll find out soon enough. Come on, let’s head to the infirmary. Now that you’ve got the map, finding everything else should be a breeze.” Mary gently guided her forward before Violet could fire off more questions.
“Oh, and unless you want to lose points, uniforms are mandatory every day except weekends,” Mary added. “And make sure you’re wearing the complete uniform. Principal Jameson loves using that to dock points.”
Violet frowned, recalling how Griffin and Roman hadn’t been fully dressed in their uniforms. Of course, there were exceptions to the rules.
“I can’t tell what’s going on in your head with that face all scrunched up, but trust me, Lunaris has its perks. You’ll love it here soon enough. Hot human guys, hunky werewolves, and, let’s not forget, super attractive teachers.”
Violet shot her a look, not judging, but definitely unimpressed.
Mary grinned, unphased. “Speaking of, I’m sure you noticed the compulsory weekly counseling sessions on your schedule. It’s Lunaris’ way of checking up on students’ mental health. And Mr. Richmond… Well, let’s just say he loves to listen, you know what I mean.”
“I don’t want to know what you mean,” Violet replied flatly.
But Mary wasn’t done. She winked, leaning in. “There’s no real issue with student-teacher relationships here, especially with werewolves. They’ve got a lot of energy, and some students… volunteer when Mr. Richmond needs to blow off steam-“
“Alright, that’s way too much information!” Violet groaned, horrified at the images forming in her head.
She shot Mary a pleading look. “Can we just get to the infirmary already?”
Mary nodded, though somewhat reluctantly, clearly eager to share more. Violet was just relieved she wasn’t about to get any more unsolicited details about the school’s scandalous affairs.
She had come here to focus on her studies, not end up on the same path Nancy had chosen. But it seemed that path was all too normal here.
As Violet had guessed, this was the main building, a grand, three-story structure that housed the classrooms, the common room, administrative offices, and meeting areas. Lunaris Academy also boasted a state-of-the-art swimming pool, courts, tracks, a gym, a greenhouse, and even a ballroom. While the ballroom was indoors, the other facilities were located behind the main building.
Violet had assumed the infirmary would be back there as well, but she couldn’t have been more wrong.
Calling the two-story building set apart from the main one an “infirmary” was an understatement. It was more of a private hospital and a sophisticated one at that. Violet was taken aback by the pristine, well-lit hallways. The floors were lined with smooth, light-colored tiles, and the walls were adorned with wooden paneling on the lower half, topped with a calming blue horizontal strip that gave the space a refreshing and tranquil feel.
Doctors in white coats moved briskly, clipboards in hand, and certain areas of the building appeared to have restricted access. Violet couldn’t help but be amazed. Did this school experience that many injuries, or was this just another way for the wealthy to flaunt their resources? She wasn’t sure.
“Come on,” Mary urged, tugging at her arm when Violet couldn’t stop staring, mouth agape like a fish out of water.
They walked into a smaller ward where a minor commotion was already unfolding. A healer-one of the rare now-extinct werewolves with the ability to channel healing magic-was chastising a student, a boy whose arms were covered in fresh burn marks. Violet barely had time to process the fact that the academy employed an actual healer, because her attention quickly shifted to him.
“You can’t keep doing this, Alaric,” the healer said, clearly exasperated. “If you push yourself like this, the infirmary will become your second home.”
“I’m fine,” he grumbled, clearly annoyed, as the healer’s magic worked over his arms, soothing the burns.
Almost immediately, as if he could sense he was being watched, he turned and their gaze met.
Holy creator of the universe. Violet forgot how to breathe.
Fuck. This was slowly becoming a habit.
He had whitish-blonde hair that framed a face so striking it was almost unfair. But it was his eyes that truly captivated her, stormy blue, like a brewing tempest.
She wasn’t the only one affected; she heard Mary whisper his name in awe, “Alpha Alaric,” her cheeks flushing slightly.
Of course, another alpha. Violet couldn’t decide whether to be impressed yet.
Though he didn’t fit the typical image of an alpha, there was a quiet intensity about him that set him apart from the others. Instead of the usual brashness, there was an innocence in his demeanor that oddly drew her in.
With those striking sapphire eyes, he could have easily been the most handsome alpha she’d met today-if it weren’t for the sudden scowl that darkened his face. Violet didn’t just sense his anger; she knew it. But why? She’d never even seen him until now.
As if that wasn’t enough, his gaze swept over her, up and down, as if sizing her up, sending an unexpected thrill through her. But just as quickly as that flicker of excitement rose, it was crushed by his cold, dismissive attitude. His expression made it clear: she wasn’t worth his time. Any illusion of interest on his part was shattered by his icy indifference.
“You’re good to go.” the healer finished up with him.
Done, Alaric brushed past Violet, and in that brief, fleeting contact, a spark jolted through her. It was like lightning, sharp, unexpected, and oddly thrilling. Violet froze, breath catching in her throat, but Alaric didn’t even glance her way. If he felt the same strange jolt, he didn’t show it.
“You. What can I do for you?” the healer asked, her brows furrowing as she studied Violet. “You’re a new face, aren’t you?”
Violet nodded.
“And already in the infirmary on your first day?” The healer shook her head, tutting. “The lord be with you.”
“I know,” Violet whispered, her voice barely audible. “I know.”
*******
“Just a quick question,” Violet began, eyeing Mary. “Don’t you have something better to do than follow me around? No offense, but if your schedule is as packed as mine, we should’ve wrapped up this little liaison by now.”
Mary had lingered even after the healer had finished, which didn’t take long. Still, she seemed in no rush to leave, despite the fact that Violet could easily find her way back to the dorm with the school map. She was a quick learner, after all.
The girl shrugged, a nonchalant smile on her face. “I take my role as a student guide seriously. I’m not done until I know you’re settled comfortably in your room. And as for schedules, I’m a senior. You’ll find that some courses are dropped with each term as you get acclimated. Plus, being a student guide comes with certain privileges.”
Violet said dryly. “I should have known.” So much for feeling guilty about taking up Mary’s time.
“Come on,” Mary said, tapping something on her phone, “you’ve been assigned to West House. Let’s get you settled so I can finally get some rest, too.”
Violet couldn’t agree more. She was exhausted, physically, mentally, and emotionally. It had been a long journey to an unfamiliar city, and the overwhelming sensory and mental assault she’d experienced since her arrival in this academy hadn’t made things easier either. All she wanted now was a shower and a long, uninterrupted sleep before tackling her packed schedule tomorrow.
Unfortunately, Lunaris Academy was massive, and Violet was starting to understand why she’d seen cars driving along the pristine campus roads, dropping students off at various spots. If she hadn’t been so determined to play it cool, Violet might have stopped to gape at the sleek, fancy cars gliding past her. Back in her district, she’d only seen vehicles like these in old-world movies or on illegal racing tracks. The sight of them only reminded her how insignificant she was here, and that was fine by her. She didn’t come to draw attention.
After about twenty minutes of trekking, Mary finally announced, “Welcome to West House.”
“Wow,” Violet muttered under her breath, taking in the stately black-and-white brick building.
Its classical architecture stood out, the four-story rectangular structure adorned with evenly spaced windows and tall chimneys on the roof. A grand columned portico framed the front entrance, with wide steps leading up to double doors while the surrounding green lawns and towering trees added a natural, serene charm to the imposing structure. Clearly, the school had a love for nature.
“And that, my dear, is the West House,” Mary said with a smug grin, clearly pleased at the awe on Violet’s face. “And over there are the other houses: East, South, and North.”
Violet turned her head to see three more stately buildings, identical in architecture but painted in red, blue, and orange.
“Do the colors mean something?” Violet asked, picking up on the details quickly.
“I love how fast you catch on,” Mary responded as they started up the steps, with Violet following silently.
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