“What Ivy’s trying to say-if she could speak nicely for once-is that you’ve broken a school record.”
Violet narrowed her eyes, not buying it. “What in the world are you talking about?”
“Okay, sit down, and I’ll explain,” Lila said, tugging Violet toward her bed. Violet followed, feeling almost robotic as she sank onto the mattress. She noticed Daisy shifting closer, her curiosity piqued, hinting that whatever Lila was about to say was bound to be interesting.
Lila stretched her hand, “your phone.” she demanded.
Though distrust was clear in Violet’s eyes, she still handed her phone to Lila, albeit reluctantly.
Lila took it and began typing, explaining, “I’m sure Mary mentioned that Lunaris has a points system for academic ranking. Well, socially, it’s the same amongst the students. We have our own hierarchy. And logically speaking, as the last student to enroll here, you should be at the bottom as the omega, the runt of the pack. But here you are…” She shoved the phone back at Violet.
Violet took it, baffled. On the screen was a ranking feed with her name, her picture-how did they even get a recent photo?-and a large number twenty beside her profile. She lifted her head to find her roommates watching her with eyes wide with anticipation as if she were supposed to be awestruck or dropping to her knees in gratitude.
Violet remained unfazed, raising an eyebrow as she asked coolly, “This is what all the buzz is about?”
What followed was a chorus of disappointed groans. Lila actually facepalmed, Daisy buried her face in her pillow as though dying of secondhand embarrassment, while Ivy snorted, her expression clearly saying, Told you so.
However, Lila was not the one to give up and before Violet could even register, the girl snatched the phone from her grip with a bit more force than necessary, eyes gleaming with both annoyance and determination. Determination to make her see things from her view.
She held the phone up, gesturing at the screen as though presenting some grand revelation.
“This, Violet, is the Lunaboard,” Lila declared now, her voice bubbling with excitement. “It’s the ranking system for the females here, and it’s huge. It’s ranked by votes and are determined by a mix of factors, popularity, background, abilities, academic performance, you name it. Every student here lives by this ranking.”
She tapped the screen, her face animated as she explained each detail. “And here you are, at number twenty, on your very first day after just one encounter with Griffin!” She shook her head in disbelief, her awe barely contained. “Do you even realize how impossible this is? No one has ever shot up the ranks this fast. Ever!”
Violet looked at the screen, still unimpressed, but Lila’s excitement didn’t falter. “Your name’s going to make it into the Lunarecord! You’re making history!” she added, as if she were personally handing Violet a crown. Meanwhile, Daisy watched in awe from her bed, while Ivy gave a begrudging expression.
While Lila was still riding high on excitement, Violet raised her hand to get her attention. “Quick question, though. So, what exactly do I get for making it to, uh… number twenty?”
“What does everyone here want most?” Lila asked, her eyes gleaming.
“Money?” Violet guessed with a smirk. She was nearly broke, and if this ranking system could somehow get her cash, she’d be all in.
Daisy chimed in with a somber expression, “Power. He who wields power rules all.”
Violet snorted. “With great power comes great responsibility, which honestly, I don’t have the patience or stamina for either. Hence if that’s all, I’m sorely disappointed.”
“A chance to mingle with the elites,” Ivy said at last, her eyes gleaming with envy. Violet could practically see the longing, the torture on Ivy’s face, as if she’d kill for a chance to be in her shoes.
“The elites?” Violet let out a mocking laugh.. “Please don’t tell me you mean those pompous, aristocratic snobs who make up half this school.”
Ivy glared so fiercely that, had she been able to shoot fire from her eyes, Violet would have been incinerated on the spot.
“As someone at the top of the hierarchy, you have the privilege of associating with the Cardinal Alphas.”
“The Cardinal Alphas?” Violet asked, her curiosity piqued.
“The Terror Four,” Daisy answered with a wry smile. “You’ve met one already,Griffin Hale.”
“Oh, hell no,” Violet’s expression turned sour. “That’s not happening. I’ll pass.”
Ivy sat up sharply, staring at her as if she’d committed a crime. “You’d reject an opportunity to mingle with a cardinal alpha? That’s a chance most of us would kill for!”
“Then why don’t you go mingle with them if you’re so desperate?” Violet snapped.
“Because we can’t! Ivy hissed, rising to her feet until they were standing nose-to-nose. She gestured toward Lila and Daisy, who had both gone silent, watching the confrontation. “Only those ranked between first and twentieth are even visible to them. For the rest of us, it’s as if we don’t exist.”
Violet shook her head, exasperated. “Then forget about them and focus on your education. Isn’t that why you’re here? What’s so special about the Terror Four that everyone’s losing their minds? Heck, even their title screams trouble.”
Silence fell, thick and suffocating. The room vibrated with tension until Ivy broke it with a sharp, hollow laugh that echoed off the walls, sending shivers down their spines.
“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?”
“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 stammered.
Ivy groaned, pressing her palm to her face. “Please don’t tell me you don’t know about their abilities too. At this point, I’m starting to think you must be really dumb.”
For the first time, 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 seemed 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 me. 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 argument could spark up again, Lila, ever the peacemaker, stepped in with a cheerful smile. “That’s where I come in. Since you missed the orientation, I’ll give you the crash course.”
The way Lila’s eyes gleamed with excitement made it clear she’d been waiting for this moment 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 moment.
With lightning speed, Lila tapped away on her phone, then held up the screen with a gleam of excitement. “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 me!”
“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 me Griffin’s necklace, and the burly one nearly choked me…” Her gaze landed on the alpha wearing shades. “And then, this creep just stared at me…”
Lila looked down at the alpha Violet was pointing to. “You mean Alpha Asher?”
“Alpha Asher?” Violet’s voice came out in a croak, dread knotting in her stomach. This can’t be happening.
“Alpha Asher is the leader of the West House,” Lila confirmed, 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?
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