Chapter 6 Liora The moment the charm hit the dirt, the shift in the air was immediate. My necklace, the one thing anchoring me in disguise, lay in the dust, gleaming faintly beneath the high noon sun. And with its fall, everything I'd kept sealed surged out like an uncoiled beast. My alpha aura burst forth in a sudden wave, heavy and electric, blanketing the training field in thick, suffocating silence. It was almost funny, watching the faces twist. Shock, confusion, fear. The same students who'd laughed earlier now blinked at me like I'd grown fangs. And honestly? I hadn't. Yet. All I'd done was exist. I tucked my chin, gauging the situation. Great. Now what? Do I say something? Announce myself? Someone near the edge of the ring whispered, "She actually dodged Bianca's attack? No way... how is she that fast?" Another voice-more shrill, probably a Jessica- snapped, "She's only doing well because Callum rejected her, surprising his true mate! And Bianca's just warming up! That's all!" Excuses. But should I correct them? I squeezed my fists tight. Wolfless girls weren't supposed to move like alphas. They weren't supposed to win. And they definitely weren't supposed to make the golden princess look bad. Bianca's growl cracked through the air before I could decide my next move. Her shift happened in a blur of movement and bones. One moment she was snarling, the next she stood on four paws, hackles raised and eyes glowing with fury. Her wolf was like sunlight made flesh, those blonde curls morphing into a sleek, gleaming 1/5 dimost regal air. u expected, towering with an But even as she stood there, radiant and imposing, I knew the outcome wouldn't change. She'd still lose. I felt my wolf surge in response, clawing at my insides, begging to be let out. She was furious. But I couldn't shift. Not yet. For all they knew, I was just... not a wolfless. Maybe, just maybe, I could lie my way out of this. So I didn't shift. I didn't need to. I rolled beneath Bianca's diving body with ease before I sprang back to my feet and took off across the arena. She was fast-but I was faster, even in human form. I suddenly stopped short, digging my heels in. A spray of dirt exploded just ahead of me. She'd lunged, not at where I was, but where I was going. Smart. But not enough. I pivoted hard, redirecting mid-stride, my breath steady, pace controlled. I could hear the shift in the crowd, their startled gasps as I kept moving, barely touched. It felt like a game of cat and mouse, and unfortunately for her, I was quicker on my feet. Light, precise, practiced. I almost smirked as I darted forward again, throwing a glance over my shoulder. All of it reminded me of training. Behind me, Bianca practically howled in frustration, rising from the dust with her eyes glowing like wildfire. She locked onto me, snarling, and charged again. "Come on, Bianca!" someone screamed from the sidelines. "You're the female alpha! Don't 2/5 let her humiliate you!" Jessica's voice rang louder than the rest: "Use your real strength! Show Callum who his real mate is!" I didn't even look at Callum, I already knew his face was riddled with his racing thoughts. Bianca hesitated mid-lunge. Just for a second. Just long enough for me to catch it, the twinge of fear. The way her steps faltered, like her wolf was screaming something her pride refused to hear. She and I both knew this lie would be hard to maintain, but she pushed forward anyway. After a few more rolls and pivots from her predictable movements, I grew tired. Not actually, but more like bored. Did she expect to win? I stepped around her next swipe like she was a buzzing insect, and honestly, that's all it felt like, an over-polished mosquito with a blowout and delusions of power. After a while, she slowed, was winded, catching her breath. I walked toward her. That was all I did. One step, then another. Bianca's ears pinned back. She stumbled, actually stumbled, and shifted back to human form, trembling, panting hard. Her knees nearly gave out as she scrambled backward in the dirt. "You're nothing!" she hissed, but her voice cracked. Her eyes widened the moment I stopped in front of her. I crouched, slow, deliberate, and she flinched, arms flying up to shield her face. But I didn't touch her. 3/5 In the dust. Silence. Not a single breath stirred. No one could speak now. No more theories, not about Callum or how Bianca was just "holding back." They saw it. Felt it. I squeezed the necklace in my palm, eyes flicking up to meet Bianca's as she tensed in the dirt. My voice dropped low, just loud enough for her to hear. "You know... you're really starting to get on my nerves." "Enough." Callum finally moved, stepping into the small space between me and Bianca. I rose to my feet, already seeing the questions forming in his eyes, calculations, memories, doubt. "This is solving nothing. What's your real name?" he asked, almost too quiet to hear. I caught the conspiracy in his voice. He clearly wanted to know if I was from some noble family. Gathering data. I didn't answer, the necklace swinging on my finger as I tilted my head loftily. Bianca, still clutching herself and her pride, stumbled upright, her voice shaking with disbelief and humiliation. "She must've done something to the necklace," she blurted out, a finger jutted to the necklace swirling around my finger. "That's it. It's the charm. It's enchanted or-it's cursed-something! She's still wolfless!" I mean, she wasn't wrong. The necklace was magic, just not how she thought. She lunged toward me, hand outstretched to grab the necklace. I moved faster. My hand caught her wrist mid-air, grip firm but controlled. My patience was thinning. "What is with you wolves and trying to touch me?" I said flatly. "Claws to yourselves." 4/5 Chapter 3 Bianca's mouth opened wide, as if she was still consumed by anger. "You such a....! 11 +15 BONUS Bianca swayed and tried to stand up, angrily charging at me, intending to swipe at me with her claws. But Callum stepped in. His arm stretched out between us, stopping her from attacking. "Enough," he said. I slowly lifted my head and looked into his He was silent, finally facing me directly. Callum's lips moved slightly, a bit sternly: "...I said, enough." eyes.