Wolf‑Less, Hunted by Lies

"Still walking on two legs, defective?"

The metal locker door slammed shut, inches from my nose. The noise echoed down the empty corridor of Moonlight Academy.

I kept my gaze fixed on the scuffed linoleum floor. "Move, Kael."

"Or what?" He stepped into my space. The overwhelming scent of pine and alpha dominance rolled off him. "You going to bare your teeth at me? Oh, wait. You don't have any."

Rhea stepped up beside him, crossing her arms. "Give her a break, Kael. It must be hard knowing you're essentially a pet. A weak, hairless little pet."

I tightened my grip on my textbook. "Back off."

"Make me." Kael shoved my shoulder. "Shift, Elowen. Show me your wolf. Just once."

"You know I don't have one."

"Then you don't belong here." Rhea yanked my backpack strap.

I stumbled backward, my spine hitting the cold brick wall. The impact knocked the wind out of me.

"Watch your hands," I warned.

"Or what?" Rhea sneered. "You're a disgrace to the pack. You're eighteen. You're just a pathetic human."

Anger, hot and sharp, flared in my chest. I didn't think. I just reacted.

I swung my arm and slapped Rhea hard across the cheek.

The crack rang out like a gunshot.

Rhea gasped, clutching her face. Her eyes flashed amber. A low growl ripped from her throat.

Before she could lunge, Kael grabbed my neck. He slammed me back against the wall, his fingers digging into my windpipe.

"Big mistake." His canines elongated, pressing against his bottom lip.

I clawed at his wrist. "Get off me."

"You think you can hit my mate and walk away?"

"I'm already walking away." I kicked at his shin. "Today is my last day. You win, Kael."

He paused. His grip loosened just a fraction. "Gone where?"

"Human high school. Where I belong."

Kael laughed. The sound was harsh, scraping against my ears. He released my throat but planted his hands on the wall on either side of my head, trapping me.

"You think running saves you?" He leaned closer. "You carry the pack scent, defective or not. I will find you, Elowen. And when I do, I'll make you beg to come back to us."

I ducked under his arm and sprinted toward the exit. I didn't look back.

***

"Did he hurt you?"

My mother gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles stark white against the dark leather.

"I'm fine." I rubbed the red marks already forming on my neck.

My father sat in the passenger seat, staring straight ahead at the road. "This is exactly why we're pulling you out. The school board won't intervene, and Kael is getting out of control."

"I hit Rhea," I confessed to the rearview mirror.

My mother slammed her foot on the brakes. The tires screeched as we stopped at a red light. She whipped her head around to face me. "You did what?"

"She grabbed my bag. I panicked."

"Panicked?" My father turned fully in his seat. "You struck the future Beta female. Do you have any idea what Kael will do to our family if he decides to press the issue with the Alpha?"

"He already threatened me," I admitted. "He pinned me to the lockers."

My mother covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh, Elowen."

"Elowen, you must stop doing that," my father said, his voice hardening. "Starting tomorrow, you are human. Do you understand me? You don't fight back. You don't show strength. You blend in."

"I know."

"No, listen to me." He pointed a stern finger at me. "If the humans find out what you are, they will lock you in a lab. If Kael finds out where you are, he will drag you back just to torture you. You have to be completely invisible. No standing out. No making enemies. No making friends either, if you can help it."

"I just want to be normal," I whispered.

"Then act like it." The light turned green. She hit the gas, putting distance between us and the only world I had ever known.

***

Crestview High smelled like old paper, floor wax, and cheap body spray.

No wet dog smell. No overpowering pheromones. No tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

I stood in the main office, clutching my freshly printed class schedule.

"Elowen Thorne?" the secretary asked. She peered over the rim of her reading glasses.

"That's me."

"Locker 402. Second floor. Have a good first day, dear."

"Thank you."

I pushed through the office doors and stepped into the crowded hallway. Humans rushed past me in every direction. They bumped into each other, laughed loudly, and slammed locker doors.

Nobody sniffed the air when I walked by. Nobody challenged my gaze. Nobody cared that I existed.

A girl with bright pink streaks in her hair collided with my shoulder. "Oh, sorry!" She dropped a heavy textbook.

I bent down and scooped it up for her. "It's okay."

She smiled, took the book, and hurried away.

No claws. No growls. Just a simple apology.

I exhaled a long, shaky breath. The knot in my stomach finally unraveled. For the first time in my life, I felt entirely safe.

I found locker 402 and spun the dial. The metal door popped open. I tossed my bag inside and grabbed my history textbook.

"Hey, new girl."

I froze. The voice came from right behind me.

I turned around slowly, bracing myself for a confrontation.

A tall boy leaned against the lockers next to mine. He had messy brown hair, a crooked smile, and absolutely no wolf scent. Human.

"I'm Liam." He held out a hand. "You look a little lost."

I stared at his hand for a second before shaking it. His grip was soft. Normal. "I'm Elowen. And I'm not lost. Just figuring out the layout."

"Well, Elowen. Welcome to Crestview. If you need a tour guide, I accept payment in cafeteria cookies."

I forced a genuine smile. "I'll keep that in mind."

The warning bell rang, a shrill, electronic sound that made my sensitive ears ring.

"See you around." Liam waved and disappeared into the sea of students.

I walked into my first period history class and took a seat in the back row.

A boy with glasses turned around. "You're taking Mr. Harrison's class? Good luck. He assigns a paper every week."

"I think I'll survive."

"I'm Ben, by the way."

"Elowen."

Ben turned back around as the teacher started talking.

That was it. No sizing me up. No sniffing to check my rank. Just a warning about homework.

At lunch, I sat alone at a small table near the window. At Moonlight Academy, sitting alone meant you were prey. It meant an Alpha could come take your food, or worse, drag you out of your chair for entertainment. I kept my eyes on my tray, waiting for the inevitable shove or insult.

It never came.

Here, a group of girls at the next table talked loudly about a weekend party. Two boys argued over a video game. The noise was chaotic, disorganized, and entirely lacking in predatory intent.

Liam walked past my table and dropped a chocolate chip cookie on my tray.

"Advance payment." He winked. "For the tour you're definitely going to ask me for later."

"I didn't ask for a tour yet."

"You will!" he yelled back.

"What makes you so sure?" I called after him.

He spun around, walking backward. "Because the school is a maze and you look like someone who appreciates a good guide."

I picked up the cookie. A real laugh escaped my lips.

"Careful," a voice said from across the table.

I jumped. A girl with dark, curly hair set her tray down across from me.

"Liam is harmless, but he talks enough for three people," she said, taking a bite of her apple. "I'm Maya."

"Elowen."

"Cool name. You transferring in as a senior?"

"Yeah. Family moved."

"Tough break. But Crestview is alright. Just avoid the mystery meat on Thursdays."

"Noted."

I took a bite of the cookie. It tasted like freedom.

By the time the final bell rang, I felt lighter. I walked out the front doors, letting the afternoon sun warm my face.

My mother's car idled by the curb. I climbed into the passenger seat and tossed my bag into the back.

"How was it?" she asked, studying my expression.

"Perfect," I said. "Boring. Quiet. Perfect."

She smiled, pulling away from the curb. "Good. We made the right choice."

I stared out the window, watching the human teens laugh and joke as they walked home. I was finally free. The nightmare was over.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled it out. An unknown number flashed on the screen.

I swiped to open the text message.

*Did you really think a human school would hide your scent? See you soon, defective.*