Bianca Let me set the scene . The cafeteria was too bright . Like , migraine bright . Like , who - approved - these - light - fixtures bright . The tables were buzzing with chatter , metal trays clattered every five seconds , and the air smelled like perfectly cooked meat and desperation . I sat in my usual seat - the center table , of course , perfect view of the doors , under the skylight so my hair basically glowed like a halo . And it seemed like everyone appreciated the effort I put in . Do you know how hard it is to maintain golden highlights in a school where the showers have minerals ? I had to buy a specific shower head attachment . Ugh . Anyway , I wasn't listening to my friends ' conversation . Jessica was sayig something about shoes . Or maybe boys . Or maybe both . I was too busy replaying the stupid , horrible , gut - wrenching convo I overheard Callum have with his parents . " She passed , and you couldn't stomach it . " Callum said it . About her . Her . Like Liora deserves respect or something . Ugh . I swear , I would never understand his weird little fascination with someone so ... plain . She's not even cute ! She's scary - looking , always scowling , like she's auditioning to be a gargoyle . And when she fights ? She flexes like a bear . Totally gross . Unladylike , at best . My hand curled around my glass of citrus water like I was about to strangle it . So why her ? Liora Belrose - respectable ? I nearly choked on a grape . " Hey , Bianca . Seriously , what's up with you today ? " Jessica asked , nudging my shoulder like we were friends or somemthing . I blinked slowly , tilting my head . " I'm sorry , excuse me ? " " You've been grinding your teeth for five minutes , " she said , gesturing at my plate , " and you're stabbing 1/4 Chapter 38 your salad like it slept with your boyfriend . " " Because it did , " I snapped . Then sighed , hand to my temple . " No. Sorry . It's Callum . " +15 BONUS " Oooh , " she sang , way too loud for someone with nothing useful to say . " What'd our prince do this time ? I mean , for someone half the academy wanted to court , he's kind of a serial two - timer . " I shot her a look sharp enough to cut through her plastic lunch tray . She flinched , instantly retreating to push peas around her plate . " Ah , not that it's your fault or his , " she backpedaled quickly . " That Liora girl is just ... ugh , she's such a nuisance . " Another girl chimed in , one we ate with daily , though I'd never bothered to learn her name . " Liora ? You mean that wolfless freak ? She wrecked me in hand - to - hand last week . So embarrassing . I hate her ! " Jessica nodded like a bobblehead . " Right ? And now everyone's acting like she's some big hero . Please . She has to be fake . Like ... a prank or some bizarre student experiment . " " Maybe she's a plant from the lower class , " someone else offered , rolling her eyes . " A social experiment to see how long it takes before one of us snaps . " " She's wolfless , " another sneered . " We don't even have to do anything . She'll ruin herself eventually . " Jessica crossed her arms , voice low with fake concern . " We could ignore her . But it's hard when she's out here spreading her weeds and leeching off the Alpha Female's man . I mean - she was in the garden . With Callum . Late last night . I saw them . " Record scratch . My fork froze mid - air . " I'm sorry , what ? " Jessica's eyes widened . " Wait , I thought you knew ? Yeah , I saw them . Like , just the two of them . She jumped out of a window to meet him . Isn't that ... illegal ? " I stood up so fast my chair squealed across the floor . Every eye within a five - table radius turned to me . I smiled sweetly and gathered my tray like a princess collecting her flowers . " If you'll excuse me , I have something urgent to take care of ." I walked calmly out of the cafeteria . Well . I stomped . Elegantly . Like a swan with a vendetta . My nails dragged along the wall as I strutted , thoughts buzzing like static . So even after his parents ' threats - my threats - after everything weighing on his precious shoulders , Chapter 38 +15 BONUS Callum was still entertaining her . After everything I've done for us , she was still standing . Still smug . Still in the way . Alright . She wanted to play this game? Fine . I invented the game . She wanted to flirt with Callum ? She wanted to crawl up from the gutters and pretend like she belonged in my world ? Cute . Looks like you don't just throw away a rotting peach . You need to let it sit on the windowsill where everyone can smell it . I pulled out my phone and began typing furiously . If Liora wanted to ruin my perfect life , then I would go straight to the root - end her at the source . She wasn't the only one who knew how to keep secrets . I was deep in my plan when I turned the corner and slammed right into the two people I least wanted to see . Liora . And her emotional support stray , Mia . Ugh , it was like seeing two wolfless roaches . Liora blinked at me . Calm . Always calm . I hated it . Mia flinched the second our eyes met . She always did . Pathetic . I smiled , no teeth . " Aww . Out for another stroll ? This time roomie bonding time ? " Liora's eyes narrowed on me as Mia shrank a little , bowing her had to me . " Hello Female Alpha ... We were just going back to our dorm . " I fake - pouted . " So sweet . Tell me , Mia , does it ever get tiring being her little shadow ? I mean , you were the sad story of the year before she showed up . Now you're basically background noise . " " Back off , Bianca , " Liora said , clear and relaxed , like a knife in a silk glove . " Oh please , " I laughed . " I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking . You hang off her like a wet scarf , hoping someone will forget about your trainwreck of a family . What was it again ? A gambling uncle ? A bankrupt wolfless mother ? Oh wait , no , it was a breakdown at a dinner party that got her blacklisted- " " Shut up , " Mia whispered . I blinked . " Excuse me ? " Chapter 38 +15 BONUS " I said shut up . ' Liora stepped slightly in front of her , like she thought she could intimidate me with her sad little boots and righteous anger . " How noble , " I muttered . " Pretending to be a hero doesn't change the fact you're still not one of us . You can steal Callum's attention , sure . But you'll never be a real princess . " Liora tilted her head . " Funny . You keep calling yourself one , but I've yet to see a crown . " I stared . Then slapped the air . I would have hit her - I meant to - but she caught my wrist like it was nothing . Barely blinked . Her fingers locked around mine with a grip that didn't match that soft , blank face . " You never learn , " Liora said calmly . " You just keep proving my point . " I yanked my arm back with a snarl , rubbing the sting from my wrist . " Every time you walk away without punishment , " I hissed , " you just make things worse . We have rules . Order . And you're getting too close to breaking it . " " Must be a weak system if I'm the one shaking it , " she said . " Please , " I spun on my heel before they could see the flush in my face ... or the sting in my eyes . " You're a nobody . More like a tick on a wolf's back . You're the only one with something to prove . " I could feel her smirk behind me , " Kettle calling the pot black . " She thought she won something today ? Please . The storm hadn't even started yet .