<h4>Chapter 2 - Entering the Lion''s Den</h4>


    <strong>*****************</strong>


    <strong>Chapter 2</strong>


    <strong>~</strong><strong><i>Valerie''s POV</i></strong><strong>~</strong>


    Pain. Heavy, unrelenting pain coursed through my body, especially my head.


    My body felt like lead, my limbs numb, my throat dry. I groaned as consciousness dragged me back, the morning sun stabbing through my closed eyelids like knives.


    What the hell...?


    My pulse pounded against my skull, and the sharp scent of damp earth and blood filled my nose. My blood. My fingers twitched against the dirt, and slowly, I forced my eyes open.


    The forest canopy swayed above me, golden sunlight spilling through the leaves. Birds chirped in the distance, oblivious to the fact that I had almost diedst night.


    I sucked in a shaky breath. The poison. It had worn off, but my body still ached from the aftermath. I tried to sit up, hissing at the sting in my ribs. My wounds had stopped bleeding, but I needed to clean them before they got infected.


    My fingers fumbled for my phone, only to see that a part of the screen had cracked. I hissed as the screen flickered to life, but then fate was after me—1% battery.


    Shit.


    My first instinct was to call my uncle. He''d be pissed, but at this point, I didn''t have much of a choice. I quickly pressed his number, bringing the phone to my ear, but before I did, the screen went dark.


    "Dammit," I cursed loudly.


    I clenched my jaw, but then I remembered—my smartwatch.


    Yes!


    Tapping the screen, I activated the call function to my emergency contact and waited. One ring.


    Two.


    Then, a sharp, familiar voice crackled through the speaker.


    "Valerie Violet Sapphire Snow."


    I winced. My uncle only used my real full name when I was in trouble.


    Having run away from home, used a dangerous means of transport while turning off any means of being tracked, got attacked, poisoned and also caused him to worry—right now, I was indeed in trouble.


    "Morning to you too, Uncle."


    A long silence. Then, a heavy sigh. "I warned you. I fucking warned you, Valerie!"


    "Temper, temper, temper, Uncle. I know," I muttered in Scar''s voice. "I wouldn''t dream of offending you." I held back the need to chuckle, as I could already see the scowl forming on his face. "But you also know why I couldn''t wait."


    Another pause. This onested longer.


    Finally, his voice softened just a little. "Where are you?"


    "Somewhere outside the city. Got mugged, poisoned, and nearly crushed under three oversized alphas."


    A beat of silence. "The... the alpha princes?"


    I blinked. "I... my eyes were blurry thanks to the poison, but I doubt they are as scumbagish as those bullies."


    A sharp inhale. "Doesn''t matter. You need to get somewhere safe and go to school which you would have been doing if you hadn''t run away from home. Where are you now?"


    "Outskirts of the city."


    "Okay. There''s a hotel on Crescent Street. Lobby 2. Go there now. I''ll handle the arrangements."


    I exhaled in relief. "Got it."


    "Valerie." His voice turned serious. "Be careful. And stay the hell away from trouble."


    Toote for that.


    But I didn''t say it.


    Before the call ended, I recalled one crucial detail. "Uncle."


    "Yes?"


    "I lost my ne."


    This time, the silence was deafening. I knew he was holding back his rage. A sharp exhale followed.


    "Valerie..."


    "Please, can you get me another one?"


    "The witches aren''t that free. But I''ll pull a few strings. Sorry, but it wouldn''t get to you on time, so I advise you to stay low. Do not attract attention to yourself."


    "Got it."


    The call ended, and I pushed myself to my feet, wincing at the tight pull of my wounds. I needed to move.


    *************


    The hotel wasn''t far—an hour from where I was—but every step felt like dragging my body through fire. The city was alive now—cars honking, voices buzzing, and the scent of food teasing my empty stomach.


    I reached the building, a sleek, modern structure standing tall against the skyline. The lobby was cool, quiet and smelled like expensive cologne.


    And then—I saw him.


    A familiar face.


    The man stood near the front desk, dressed casually in dark jeans and a fitted shirt, but there was no mistaking him. A contact of my uncle.


    He nced up, and the second our eyes met, he smirked. "You look like hell, Nightshade."


    "Feel like it, too," I muttered. "Hello, Gamma."


    "Is that all I get after seeing each other for five years?"


    My smile broadened as I immediately gave him a hug. He was one of those who trained and spoiled us in my uncle''s pack.


    Without another word, he handed me a brown envelope. I opened it, finding a stack of cash, a debit card, and a hotel key.


    "Shower, eat, sleep," he said. "You look like you''re about to drop dead."


    "I love the encouragement." I snatched the envelope. Then I quickly recalled something: "Oh, and Ryan, I need a new phone andptop. I need to track someone."


    "I''ll have it sent to your room, Nightshade."


    "Always the best." With that, I stalked toward the elevator, leaving him.


    ***************


    The hotel room was clean and ssy, and the scent of fresh linen filled the air. I wasted no time stripping out of my torn clothes and stepping under the hot shower''s spray.


    The moment the water hit my skin, I exhaled.


    shes ofst night flickered in my mind—the thief, the poison, them.


    Were they the Alpha Kings'' Heirs?


    Dristan. Kai. Axel. I thought the four heirs usually moved together.


    I couldn''t recall, as the poison and the loss of blood did a number on me.


    All I recalled were their voices, scents and suffocating aura pressing down on me like a weight I couldn''t shake.


    ''Pathetic little slut.''


    ''Apologize now, and maybe we''ll go easy on you.''


    I gritted my teeth, shoving the memories aside. No. I wouldn''t let them win.


    After dressing my wounds and slipping into the clean clothes left for me—ck jeans, a fitted top, andbat boots—I grabbed my bag, which contained myptop and new phone.


    Then I saw a folded note and opened it. "Stay out of trouble, Nightshade," I read out and nced at the phone number on the back.


    That was his hotline, for me.


    Smiling, I headed out.


    It was time to get to school.


    ***************


    The moment I stepped onto the Prestige Supernatural Academy grounds, I felt it.


    The weight of eyes. The thick, electric buzz of power.


    PSA wasn''t just a school. It was a battlefield.


    Students walked in groups, whispering and exchanging nces. Werewolves, vamps, and even a few fae—the exchange students—were all mingling, sizing each other up.


    I inhaled as I asked someone for directions to the principal''s office.


    Since my dy, I have arrived on lunch break. I was epicallyte.


    Then, a shift in the atmosphere.


    A ripple of tension.


    I caught murmurs, hushed voices speaking in awe.


    "The Alpha Princes are arriving."


    I immediately stilled. I didn''t know if they were the one, but the dangerous aura I felt made my skin prickle. I swallowed hard as the aura drew closer.


    It... was them, alright.


    Slowly, I turned toward the entrance gates. And there they were.


    Three figures, walking in perfect unison.


    "It''s Alpha Dristan, Alpha Kai and Alpha Axel," a fangirl chimed behind me, and I rolled my eyes.


    Looking every bit the arrogant, untouchable kings they thought they were.


    This time, my vision was clear. No poison fogging my mind. No disorientation. And now that I could fully see them, I wondered how the hell I hadn''t noticed it yesterday.


    Dristan. Kai. Axel.


    The three arrogant bastards who had humiliated me in the club now stood at the entrance of Prestige Supernatural Academy, oozing power like they owned the damn ce.


    Dristan''s cyan-blue eyes flickedzily over the crowd. Kai''s emerald gaze burned with dominance. Axel? Smirking like he owned me.


    I had half a second to slip away unnoticed—


    "You."


    Fuck.


    I froze, exhaling slowly before turning back. All three of them locked onto me within two seconds.


    Axel''s smirk widened. "Well, well. Look what we have here."


    Kai tilted his head. "Seems like the puny wolf found our den. Back for more fun?"


    Dristan? He just watched, unreadable, calcting. Waiting for God knows what.


    Heat curled in my gut, but I swallowed it down.


    I forced a smile. "Oh, please. The only thing fun aboutst night was not breathing your disgusting aura when you left."


    A hush fell over the crowd. Gasps. Murmurs.


    "Did she just—?"


    "She must have a death wish."


    Kai''s jaw ticked. Dristan''s gaze darkened. Axel chuckled, shaking his head.


    And then Dristan spoke, voice smooth, controlled—too controlled. "Watch your mouth, slut."


    The word cut through the air like a de. Sadly, before I could react, his finger hooked under my chin, tilting my face up, forcing me to look at him.


    The moment his skin met mine, a sharp jolt of something hot and infuriating shot through me.


    Several gasps echoed from the students loitering around.


    But Dristan had made one mistake. He thought I''d let him.


    Instead, I smacked his hand away.


    Shock flickered across his face before something darker reced it. "You just made a mistake," Dristan murmured, his voice deceptively soft.


    "Did I?" I tilted my head, my expression nk, but my pulse was racing.


    Kai let out a low chuckle, stepping forward. "You''re new here, so I''ll give you a chance to rethink that attitude."


    I snorted. "Oh, how generous."


    Axel exhaled augh, shaking his head. "You''ve got a smart mouth, sweetheart." His hazel-green eyes glinted with amusement. "Shame if someone decided to do something about it."


    Dristan''s cold stare didn''t waver. "You''re in our territory now. You don''t make the rules here."


    My stomach twisted at the possessiveness in his voice, but I refused to let it show.


    Kai''s smirk stretched wider. "But don''t worry. We''ll make sure your time here is... interesting."


    Something about the way he said it sent a shiver down my spine.


    But I ignored it. I exhaled, bored. "Right. You guys have your whole ''we rule the school, fear us'' act down, but I''m not impressed."


    Gasps again. A few whispers.


    From the corner of my eye, I saw a group of cheerleader types lingering by the entrance. Lip Gloss Barbie from earlier stood in front, arms crossed, nose scrunched like she smelled something rotten.


    "Who the hell is she?" she sneered, flipping her hair. "Does she even know who she''s talking to?"


    Another girl, a brte in heels way too high for school regtions, snickered. "Bet she''s just some stray trying to act tough. News sh, sweetheart—you don''t disrespect the Alpha Princes and walk away unscathed."


    A few othersughed, clearly entertained by the idea of me getting put in my ce.


    Typical.


    I rolled my eyes. "I''m sorry—do you have a script for this, or is it just a natural-bornck of originality?"


    The brte gasped. Lip Gloss Barbie''s eyes shed with irritation.


    "Know your ce," she spat.


    Before I could respond, Dristan cut in.


    "Let it go, Brielle."


    Brielle. So that was her name.


    She immediately backed down, shoulders stiff, eyes downcast.


    I snorted. "Wow. Do you keep all your pets this obedient?"


    Kai stepped closer, his broad frame blocking the morning sun. "You''ve got some nerve, talking like you''re untouchable."


    I shrugged. "And so what?"


    Axel let out a low whistle.


    Dristan''s gaze sharpened. Kai''s expression darkened.


    Instead of avoiding trouble like I had been advised, I lifted my head, ring daggers at all three. "Buzz the fuck off."


    Shock and something akin to anger shed in their eyes, but before either of them could react, I shoved past Axel and disappeared into the academy.


    And I knew, without a doubt, that this year at Prestige Supernatural Academy was about to be hell.


    <i>''Fuck them... bring it on, Alphas.''</i>