This wasn’t Falindale, where money alone could secure Tessa a place in a school.
“She’ll transfer to Navoris High,” Walter said, ignoring Lila’s protests.
“Dad, do you think Navoris High is a supermarket anyone can walk into? It’s the most competitive high school in Navoris!
Even Winnie had to rely on her own hard work to get in.”
“Grandpa, you don’t need to trouble yourself with my affairs,” Tessa said calmly. She had come back to Navoris and to the Sinclair estate only to see him. “Besides, I have my own place to stay. I won’t live here.”
Walter’s expression darkened at her words.
“Tessa, as I’ve said, no one can bully you while I’m here. Everything in the Sinclair family will one day depend on you.”
“Grandpa, what does she have to offer?” Winona sneered. “All she knows is how to fight and hang around with lowly Rogues.”
“You insolent child!” Walter’s voice thundered, and the room filled with the weight of his Alpha’s Presence. Everyone froze, holding their breath, too afraid to say another word.
“Winona, if you say one more thing, I’ll throw you out of the Sinclair family and the Frostmoon Pack!” Walter roared. “What, has my word lost its authority after just five years away?”
Walter Sinclair had been the Frostmoon Pack’s alpha until five years ago. He had passed the title to his grandson Cedric before departing to join the Wolf Clan’s elite forces in their battle against the Vampire Clan at the border.
Now, after the Wolf Clan’s victory, Walter had returned. Although no longer the official alpha, his strength and status commanded unwavering respect, especially with his war-earned honors.
“Tessa, are you also refusing to listen to me?” Walter turned his attention back to her, his tone softer but no less resolute.
“Grandpa, I – ” Tessa faltered. If it had been anyone else, she wouldn’t have hesitated to reject them outright.
But this was her grandfather, the one person who had always stood by her.
“Fine, I’ll go to Navoris High,” she finally agreed. If this is Grandpa’s last hope, I’ll do it.
“But I won’t live here,” she added firmly. Staying under the same roof with people she despised wasn’t something she could tolerate – she might actually kill them.
“That’s fine,” Walter relented. “I won’t force you. But since you just returned tonight, spend one night here with me.”
Tessa nodded in agreement.
“It’s late, Grandpa. You should rest. I’ll stay around for the next few days to keep you company,” she said gently, not wanting to disappoint him further.
“Good. I’m getting old. I just want to see my family living in harmony,” Walter said, his voice heavy with meaning, before heading upstairs.
After Walter left, Lila took Edmund to prepare a room for Tessa. In the living room, only Tessa and Winona remained.
Winona studied Tessa carefully. She seems different now, she thought. But no matter how much Tessa had changed, she was still the same useless girl she had been five years ago.
Back then, Tessa had been the weakest werewolf in the Sinclair family – easy to bully and too timid to fight back.
Now, five years later, she was still a powerless failure, nearly an adult and yet still unable to awaken her wolf.
Winona, on the other hand, had awakened her wolf three years ago. Taking down someone like Tessa would be as easy as squashing an ant.
“Tessa, I can’t believe you had the nerve to come back. Are you looking to get kicked out again?” With Walter no longer present, Winona’s true nature emerged, her words dripping with cruelty and venom far beyond her years.
Tessa calmly pulled a piece of gum from her pocket, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth before speaking.
“Winona, the same way you kicked me out of the Sinclair family and Frostmoon Pack back then, I’ll do the same to you,” Tessa said coolly.
With that, she turned and walked upstairs.
Winona was livid. How dare this powerless waste speak to me like that?
She glared daggers at Tessa’s retreating figure. Just you wait, Tessa. You’ll regret coming back. I’ll make sure of it.
The next morning, Mr. Walter personally took Tessa to Navoris High.
The principal, Mr. Lambert, was not only the head of Navoris High but also the city’s Director of Education. He was a busy man, not someone easily accessible. However, Mr. Walter’s reputation in Navoris carried weight, and the two waited in the principal’s office for his arrival.
It wasn’t until after 11 a.m. that Mr. Lambert finally entered his office. Seeing visitors waiting for him, he immediately had his assistant invite them in. After listening to Tessa’s situation, Mr. Lambert looked troubled.
With these grades, it’s not just Navoris High – even vocational schools wouldn’t want her!
“Mr. Walter, I’ve never turned down a request from you, but this time, I really can’t help,” Mr. Lambert said hesitantly. “You know Navoris High is one of the most elite schools, with students aiming for Ivy League universities. With grades like these, it’s just too difficult. I suggest you try vocational schools or other regular high schools, but I doubt even they will take her.”
Tessa had never wanted her grandfather to beg for her. She stood up and walked out without a word.
Knowing her pride, Mr. Walter quickly followed.
But before they reached the door, Mr. Lambert received a phone call from Nathaniel.
“Mr. Walter, please wait,” Mr. Lambert called after them once the call ended.
“I’ll accept Tessa into Navoris High,” he said, his tone suddenly changed.
Even someone as seasoned as Walter was surprised by the principal’s abrupt shift in attitude. What happened?
“Mr. Lambert, did I hear you correctly?” Walter asked, his voice cautious.
“You did, Mr. Walter. I’ll arrange for Tessa to join a class right away,” Mr. Lambert assured him. He immediately called the academic director to handle Tessa’s enrollment.
Tessa didn’t refuse, but she knew there had to be more to this sudden reversal.
The academic director placed Tessa in the school’s lowest-ranking class, gave her a uniform, and introduced her to the twelfth-grade Class 8 homeroom teacher.
“Mr. Hamilton, please take care of Tessa,” the director said politely.
“Of course, sir. You can leave her to me,” Mr. Hamilton replied with a practiced smile. At a prestigious school like Navoris High, the parents of students were often powerful figures – teachers knew better than to offend them.
The third period was Mr. Hamilton’s class. He brought Tessa to the twelfth-grade Class 8 classroom.
“Everyone, we have a new student joining us today,” Mr. Hamilton announced. “Please give her a warm welcome.”
Tessa walked to the blackboard and, with bold, fluid strokes, wrote her name: Tessa Sinclair.
“Hello, everyone. I’m Tessa,” she said simply.
The murmurs started immediately.
“Isn’t she the Tessa who got expelled five years ago?”
“Yeah, I think so! She used to be in my class.”
“Didn’t she elope with a Rogue at twelve? And wasn’t there something about an abortion?”
“It’s true! I heard – “
“Alright, settle down!” Mr. Hamilton’s voice cut through the chatter. “Tessa, there’s an empty seat in the back. Please take it.”
Tessa walked to the last row, ignoring the disdainful stares from her classmates.
Class 8 was a general track class, home to students from influential families who couldn’t make it into the school’s honors track. These students weren’t afraid of causing trouble.
After the third period ended, Queenie Locke, one of Winona’s lackeys, approached Tessa.
“Tessa! It really is you! I can’t believe you had the audacity to come back to Navoris. If I were you…” Queenie sneered.
Queenie had been Winona’s sidekick back in the day, often helping her torment Tessa.
“Queenie, shut your filthy mouth,” Tessa snapped, her tone sharp. She was still sleep-deprived from tossing and turning in an unfamiliar bed the previous night, and now she had a pounding headache.
“Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?” Queenie sneered, undeterred. “You’re just a useless nobody without a wolf. I could crush you with one hand!” She grabbed Tessa’s wrist, assuming she was still the meek, defenseless girl from five years ago.
But Tessa’s eyes narrowed dangerously, a spark of menace flashing in her gaze.
With a flick of her wrist, she reversed Queenie’s grip, twisting her arm backward.
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