“Ahh – !” Queenie shrieked in pain.
Tessa hadn’t even used her wolf’s strength.
“I told you, I don’t want trouble, but I’m not afraid of it either,” Tessa said coldly, her voice steady but menacing. “Queenie, remember this – I’m not the same Tessa from five years ago. No one steps on me anymore.”
She leaned closer, her grip tightening just enough to make Queenie squirm. “And don’t forget: everything you did to me back then, I’ll make sure you pay for it. Slowly. One by one.”
Tessa let go and shoved Queenie backward. Queenie stumbled and fell to the ground, too stunned to react.
Queenie was frozen in disbelief. How can she be this strong? She hasn’t even awakened her wolf! So how could she overpower me so easily?
The way Tessa looked at her – it wasn’t human. It felt like the gaze of a predator locking onto its prey. For the first time, Queenie felt fear.
I can’t let Tessa stay in Navoris. If she digs up what
Winona and I did to her back then, we’re finished.
As Queenie sat there, trembling, her mind unwillingly drifted back to that incident…
Even after five years, just thinking about it made her heart race with fear.
The incident had too many implications – it absolutely couldn’t be exposed.
The only way to keep the secret buried forever was to completely destroy Tessa. That way, no one would ever uncover the truth.
But Tessa had just returned, and rushing things would only raise suspicion. She would need to bide her time and plan carefully with Winona.
For the last two classes of the day, Tessa slept at her desk. Once school ended, she grabbed her backpack and headed out.
The moment she stepped out of the school gates, she saw Nathaniel waiting for her.
She figured Mr. Lambert’s sudden change of heart had something to do with him.
Without waiting for Nathaniel to speak, Tessa opened the car door and got in.
Nathaniel’s carefully prepared speech evaporated. He couldn’t manage a single word.
“Landon, right? I saved you once, and now you’ve helped me. We’re even. Don’t come looking for me again,” Tessa said, her striking blue eyes filled with rejection.
Landon’s status was too prominent. Worse, he had ties to that mysterious organization. Tessa wasn’t willing to let him disrupt the peace she’d worked so hard to achieve.
No matter how strange her feelings for him were, she wanted nothing to do with him.
“My life is worth a lot,” Landon replied evenly.
All he’d done was have Nathaniel make a call to the Navoris High principal. It was hardly a big deal compared to what she’d done for him.
“I am the alpha of the Nightshade Pack and the head of Thorne Corp. I need you.”
Nathaniel nearly choked. Thorne Corp can recruit anyone it wants. Why on earth is the alpha so fixated on Tessa?
Tessa’s gaze didn’t waver. “I’m just a delinquent who knows nothing but trouble. What could I possibly have that you need?”
It was rare for anyone to hold Landon’s gaze like that. She really is different.
“Your medical skills.”
“Medical skills?” Tessa laughed. “What kind of joke is that? I’m a 17-year-old student. I’ve already told you – I got lucky removing that bullet. If I hadn’t, you’d be dead.”
“Tessa, I’m not joking. Think about it carefully.”
Thorne Corp – The name alone was legendary. The most powerful werewolves in Navoris dreamed of connections to it. And here she was, brushing it off.
Tessa didn’t want to waste any more time. She knew they wouldn’t give up, no matter what she said.
“Alpha, if you want to date her, just say so! Look at her – she doesn’t even believe your excuse,” Nathaniel teased.
Landon’s eyes lingered on Tessa as she stepped out of the car. She’s exactly my type.
As soon as Tessa got out, her phone began ringing. She glanced at the screen and immediately hung up.
But the caller was persistent, ringing her phone over and over until she finally picked up.
“This better be important,” she snapped. “I’m not in the mood.”
“Phantom, still as fiery as ever. When are you coming back?” Lina asked, unfazed by her attitude.
“Get to the point.”
“Fine. There’s a job – are you taking it?” Lina knew Phantom’s temper. She only accepted jobs on a whim, but when she did, she always delivered perfection.
“No.”
Phantom, the youngest and most skilled werewolf hacker in the Lightwing Order, worked purely on her own terms.
“This one concerns Montedra’s cybersecurity. I really hope you’ll consider it seriously,” Lina pressed. If it had been any other job, she wouldn’t have called.
“Cybersecurity?” That piqued Tessa’s interest.
“Fine. Send me the details,” she said before hanging up.
Lina had been ready to argue further, but upon hearing Tessa’s agreement, she rushed to send over the information.
Meanwhile, back at Thorne Corp, Landon had just returned after receiving a call from Cameron Quest.
“Alpha, Phantom has resurfaced!” Cameron said, barely containing his excitement.
Knowing his idol showed up again almost sent him into a frenzy.
“Call a meeting of the entire corporation. This time, I’m going to find out who Phantom really is.”
Phantom, the most skilled hacker on the werewolf continent, was a living legend. No one knew their gender, appearance, or even species – a ghost in the digital world.
Every international conglomerate wanted to recruit Phantom. Having her on their side would mean absolute control over cybersecurity.
Tessa flipped through the files and quickly realized that hackers from Yalvaria were targeting Montedra’s cybersecurity systems.
If they succeeded, Montedra’s national secrets would be exposed, plunging the entire continent into chaos.
Without hesitation, Tessa deleted the files, hailed a taxi, and headed back to the Sinclair family home.
“Tessa, you’ve worked hard to get into Navoris High. I hope you’ll stay out of trouble. Since you and your sister are now at the same school, feel free to ask her if there’s anything you don’t understand,” Lila said, her tone restrained but insistent.
No matter her distaste for Tessa, she was still her daughter. There was little else she could do now but hope Tessa wouldn’t tarnish Winona’s reputation.
“Mom, don’t worry. I’ll make sure to take good care of my sister,” Winona said sweetly.
“I won’t let her repeat the same mistakes.”
She had ruined Tessa’s life five years ago and was confident she could do it again now.
“Are you two done with the theatrics? You’re making me sick,” Tessa said coldly. “What I do is none of your business. If you enjoy acting so much, why not become actresses?”
Without sparing them another glance, Tessa headed upstairs.
“You see her attitude?” Lila fumed. “She really thinks she’s something special after everything she’s done. And she still hasn’t learned to repent.”
Winona smirked inwardly but maintained a composed expression.
“Mom, don’t be angry. You still have me. I’ll never let you down.”
“Yes, thank goodness for you, Winnie. You’ve always made me proud. You know the Sinclair family’s current situation – don’t let me down.”
The Sinclair family had long been the alpha family of the Frostmoon Pack, but their position was precarious.
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