Evelyn's POV

"On your feet, sling bag" A cold voice spat, loud and intense enough to jolt me out of my bed. Instantly, sleep eluded me, only to be replaced with dread when I realised whose voice it was — one of the elite archons in charge of organising everyone in the dormitory.

But why was he here so early?

Fear numbed my spine as I threw off my blanket and stood on my feet. Making sure my eyes stayed down because if it didn't, it would most likely earn me a beating. Omegas like me were restricted from staring at any elite archon in the eyes. And I'd long mastered the art of keeping to the rule, one that was written only in the hearts of omegas.

''What is today, huh?'' His eyes narrowed at me.

I took a deep breath immediately, managed a straight face and said. ''The award-winning ceremony. I'm sorry I overslept.''

At this point I didn't know if uttering a word was the right decision. Suddenly I felt his presence so close. My breath caught. I hadn't heard him approaching, and he stood so close, but even still I couldn't bring myself to lift up my head.

The corner of his lip curled up unpleasantly. I was already trembling, wondering what was next. I was stock-still. He bent closer to my face and muttered. ''You know what you should be sorry about? You should be sorry about your entire existence! You disgust me. Now get your ass ready for the assembly, you sorry excuse of a wolf!'' I leapt up, my heart slamming thunderously.

'I don't want to come back here and see you.' He ordered and instantly strode out.

10:00 am.

Goddess save my sanity.

As if I needed another excuse to be the subject of ridicule at Kyreosis Prep, my alarm opts for today of all days to betray me, refusing to ring when it should have.

I cram my books into my backpack, fiddling with my uniform as best I could without so much as a glance in a mirror. My feet pounded against the floor as I ran down the quiet corridors of the main building.

The hallway was silent and empty.

The first assembly of the new semester kicked off forty-five minutes ago, and I was late as always. Some days it was because I had to clean up the entire dormitory before going to classes, but today it was all my fault!

My heart raced, a wild drumbeat in my chest, as I got close to the auditorium doors. I shoved it away, inhaling deeply, trying to calm my taut nerves.

Here, among my peers, I could be decked out like everyone else in the uniform of dark blue hues, yet I still stood out like a beacon—a glaring neon sign saying “outcast.” That's just the way the cookie crumbled here—has been for an entire long year spent navigating the minefield of the elite Archons.

This is the kingdom of the best and brightest.

The royalty.

The rich and famous.

The future leaders of the werewolf realm.

If you don’t check off any of those boxes, you’re resigned to the periphery, always looking in.

Regrettably, I fall into none of those categories. After a year and a half of grappling with this bitter truth, I’ve finally come to accept it: I’m the nobody in the sea of privilege.

The black sheep among the golden flock.

The charity case, as they derisively label me.

It was bittersweet. I didn't belong here, not in Kyreosis prep and not with them. With every day that passed, I knew that for a fact.

In the early autumn weeks last year, by some twist of fate or the moon goddess’s whims, I found myself transferred to this prestigious institution on a full-ride scholarship.

Wolves like me—ordinary, worthless wolves—rarely get such golden opportunities. Or a chance to walk alongside the Shadows of the realm's most powerful figures. Not even talk of sharing the same space with them.

It’s the kind of thing that feels like a fever dream for commoners like myself. Omegas, poor, low-ranked families who count themselves lucky just to attend school, let alone gain admission to an A-list college. Especially one as illustrious as this.

It was the best school in the city and didn't have any kind of competition. There’s something about it—perhaps the outstanding success rate that draws in hopefuls, or the fact that its owner is none other than Thane Blackwood, Alpha King of the werewolf realm.

My spirits agitated, souring like curdled milk at the mere thought of him. Not due to any personal beef against the man himself—no, it was his offspring that twisted my stomach into knots.

The alpha princes.

Ryan.

Caspian.

Raven.

And Asher.

Each one of them was the next potential Alpha king, and in the same light the potential cause of my demise.

If there was anyone in this school who has made it their job to torture me, it should be those devil's offspring. Sometimes I wonder why they hated me so much.

Identical quadruplets.

Worshipped by everyone in this godforsaken school, with their mesmerising eyes and undeniable hotness. Over here, they hold more authority than the King himself.

They control the affairs of the school.

Along with their little group of disaster, the Archon elites, popularly known as the Devilari's.

My nightmares.

When I first got the call of my admission into Kyreosis prep, I was so happy. Finally! A light at the end of the tunnel. A chance at a better life for me, my mother and my sister.

I knew it would be the best following three years of my entire life.

But from the first day I stepped foot into this school, those four brothers swore on their lives to make me regret ever accepting their family's offer.

They searched for my pain. My blood. And I’ve grown to hate them just the same way. But most especially, Ryan.

He’s the oldest of the four. The smartest too. Ryan happens to be one clever and strategic bastard I’ve ever come across in my entire life. Unlike Raven, he isn’t a fan of enforced power, rather, he’ll use the advantage he has over everyone else. His genius.

Like the brats that they are, the Blackwood brothers don’t give a damn about any rules or the consequences, because in their world, they made the rules, and as such, they are above it.

And like they keep telling me, I’m nothing but a stone kept in the corner, and this time I'd never get the chance to be the chief cornerstone, when they're done crushing me.

They weren't the devil's offspring, but they could have been. They've caused more havoc in this school even more than the devil himself.

The thought of them sent fear through my entire body, and I was shaken. The past four months had been quiet, to my immense relief. Too quiet, I had thought, as if expecting trouble at any moment. And that was only because the quadruplets were out of the school for a special training.

But they were back.

I have set my sight on them, but unfortunately I will in the next few seconds. As expected, King Thane Blackwood was giving the welcome back speech for the beginning of the new semester.

And bet on it his little brats will be standing right behind him.

Nothing in this world could ever prepare me to face those bastards. But I had no choice.

With a hand on the doorknob, I lifted my chin. I took a deep breath and attempted pulling the door open, but fear gripped me again.

Something smelled so delicious. Yet so masculine. It wasn't a scent I had ever smelled before, but somehow it felt so addictive and familiar.

The moment I pushed the door open, the scent hit me so hard on the face, making me crave, even though I didn't know exactly what I craved for.

I tried to mix in with the crowd quickly, so I didn't get the attention of any of the elite Archons. I knew that would only mean trouble.

“-to address you all and give the finishing speech.” King Thane concluded his speech, “Ryan?”

Something pulled my eyes towards him and the moment I made contact with his gaze my entire body froze, while the glitter of his eyes and hotness sent tingles racing down my spine. Lust and rage, rage and lust. I saw it in his eyes, felt it in my veins. In that moment, I was no longer different from him, we were one and the same.

Fuck me! What was happening?

Ryan stood in front of everyone, and the corner of his mouth curled. "Great students of Kyreosis prep, it is with…" He stopped, his eyes moving through the crowd, as if searching for something and that suddenly his gaze met mine again.

Those were the same pairs of eyes that had humiliated me and cost me pains ever since I came to this school. But today something was different, something was burning in my soul.

His gaze slid lower lazily. No man had ever looked at me the way he was looking at me. What the hell was going on?

Everyone turned to look at me in the middle of the hall. But then, all I could feel was their presence, just the four of them!

Caspian, Raven and Asher stood behind their father, but all they could ever look at was me.

For a long moment, they all stared at me. My heart was beating so fast. They unnerved me. It was a new experience. One I did not particularly like.

But then I saw the fury in their eyes, they were burning with anger. And I was about to lose it!

How the fuck could the moon goddess do this to me again! Was being rejected five times before not enough for her? Why is that bitch always trying to humiliate me?

And just when my wolf was about to stake her claim, someone pushed me from behind.