Chapter 9:School

When he returned, he carried a tray of food and set it down beside her. She picked up a spoon, focusing on eating while she felt his gaze on her. After a few moments, she glanced up.

"What?" she asked, swallowing her bite.

His expression was unreadable. "You have a crown-shaped birthmark on your ribs."

Estella froze, her spoon hovering midair. He saw me naked?!

Her head snapped up. "Did you—did you wash me yourself?"

Crassus' eyes widened slightly before he shook his head. "No. The maid bathed you. She noticed the mark and brought it to my attention."

Estella exhaled, tension leaving her shoulders. Of course. That makes sense.

"I've always had it," she admitted. "I inherited it from my father—he had the same mark."

Crassus's brows furrowed, his features darkening as if he were deep in thought. His silence stretched long enough for Estella to notice.

"What is it?" she asked. He blinked and shook his head. "Nothing," he said lightly, though his expression told her otherwise.

"It's just… unusual. A crown-shaped mark like that is rare." Estella thought nothing of it and let the matter drop, returning to her food. After a while, Crassus stood. "You should rest," he said, his voice gentler this time. "We'll talk tomorrow. You look exhausted."

She didn't argue. She was exhausted.

As he turned to leave, Estella found herself watching him again—watching the way he moved, the quiet strength he carried. Her heart squeezed painfully in her chest, but she ignored it.

Now wasn't the time. She had revenge to take.

A soft glow filtered through the sheer curtains as Estella's eyes fluttered open. The bed beneath her was far too plush, the sheets far too smooth, and the scent in the air—clean and faintly musky—was unfamiliar. She sat up, her fingers gripping the silk covers as the memories of the previous day came rushing back.

Throwing off the covers, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. She looked around the room because she did not look at it the previous day since she was so disoriented and barely awake; the room was lavish, with dark wooden furniture, intricate carvings on the walls, and a grand chandelier above.

Her bare feet met the cool floor as she made her way toward the door. She stepped out and was met with a long hallway. Instinct guided her forward, her steps light as she descended the grand staircase.

At the bottom, she found two maids busily cleaning, their hands occupied with dustpans and brushes. The moment they noticed her, they straightened and bowed their heads slightly.

"Good morning, miss," one of them greeted politely.

"Good morning," Estella responded hesitantly, her voice still hoarse from sleep.

"The Alpha has gone for a pack meeting," the other maid informed her. "He won't be back until later, but he instructed us to prepare food for you."

Her stomach growled at the mere mention of food, and the maid smiled. "Your meal is already prepared."

Estella gave a small nod, unsure of how to respond. Just then, her gaze landed on another maid climbing the stairs with several shopping bags in hand. The sight of them made Estella pause.

"What's that?" she asked curiously. The maid stopped, balancing the bags carefully. "The Alpha instructed us to buy clothes for you. And…" she hesitated before lowering her voice slightly, "underwear as well."

Heat rushed to Estella's face. She hadn't even thought about that—she had fled with nothing but the clothes on her body. The idea that the Crassus had considered such personal details made her both shy and…warm.

She swallowed, her fingers curling slightly. "Oh… I see."

After finishing her meal and bathing, Estella found herself with nothing to do. She sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers idly tracing patterns on the sheets. The unfamiliar environment made her restless, but she had no choice but to wait.

Time stretched on until the door finally creaked open, and Crassus stepped inside. His presence, imposing yet calm, filled the room as he shut the door behind him.

Estella stood up immediately. "Welcome back," she greeted, her voice polite but neutral.

Crassus gave a slight nod. "I see you've settled in. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," she replied, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

He studied her for a moment before speaking again. "Is there anything you want to do?"

Estella hesitated, then shook her head. "I don't know. You can just introduce your pack to me since I know nothing about it."

Crassus arched a brow. "You want to learn about the pack?"

She nodded. "I figured I might as well. Since I'm here." "Then walk with me," Crassus says with a smile.

Estella followed Crassus out of the villa, and they passed through a narrow path lined with towering trees, their leaves rustling softly in the evening breeze.

The scent of pine and damp earth filled the air, mixing with the faint, lingering fragrance of burning wood from the villas nearby. She had been on edge since arriving, but the more she saw, the more curious she became.

Crassus led her to a stone balcony that overlooked the entire area. Below them, a collection of elegant villas stretched across the land, their warm lights glowing like fireflies in the twilight. Beyond the villas, the dense forest created a natural barrier, its vastness extending toward the horizon.

"This," Crassus began, his deep voice calm yet firm, "is the Northern Pack's villa area." He leaned against the stone railing, his golden eyes scanning the expanse below. "Multiple homes, hidden in the heart of the forest, far from prying eyes."

Estella glanced around. "It doesn't look like a pack's territory," she admitted. "It looks… luxurious and not like anything I've ever seen.

Crassus smirked. "That's the point. Any human who finds their way here would assume this is nothing more than an exclusive community for the rich. They wouldn't suspect that supernatural beings live among them." He folded his arms across his chest. "The human government knows about us, but ordinary people don't. It's better that way."

She faced Crassus So, you live here to remain hidden?"

"Yes. But not just hidden. Crassus turned his gaze toward the distant city lights barely visible through the trees.

"We don't isolate ourselves completely. We need to be close to the city, to civilization. It makes things easier… trade, information, blending in. But at the same time, we stay concealed."

Estella mind is still processing everything he had revealed so far. She had always thought of packs as self-sufficient, living in isolation, away from human affairs. But what he was saying now shattered that belief.

Crassus sharp gaze studies her. "We have our own business outside the pack," he then continued.

"Of course, we can't run it ourselves. A werewolf's lifespan is far greater than a human's, and if the CEO of a company doesn't age while everyone else around him does, it would raise questions. So, we entrust our businesses to humans—ones we know we can trust."

Estella listened intently, her curiosity piqued. "You mean... humans run your businesses?"

"Yes," Crassus confirmed. "They act as our face in the human world while we pull the strings from behind. It allows us to exist within their society without exposing ourselves."

She mulled over his words, realizing just how much more complex werewolf society was than she had imagined. "What kind of businesses do you run?"

"Many," Crassus replied. "Trade, real estate, finance. But we also have our own hospitals here, within the pack."

Estella frowned. "Hospitals?" The word was foreign to her.

Crassus studied her reaction before responding. "We send our younglings out of the pack to study—medicine, engineering, pharmacy, and many other things. That way, we don't have to rely on humans for everything."

Estella tilted her head. "What's a... school?"

The question made Crassus pause before he smirked slightly. "A school is a place where people go to learn.

Humans send their children there to be educated in different subjects—reading, writing, mathematics, science, and history. As they grow older, they can choose to specialize in a specific field, like medicine or engineering."

Estella remained silent, absorbing the new information. She had never been outside her pack, never heard of a school, hospitals, or even medicines. But if they were places where one could gain knowledge… then maybe, just maybe, if she managed to avenge her parents one day, she might go to school too.

Crassus continued, unaware of her internal thoughts. "Wolves get injured too.

Sometimes, those injuries need surgery. Taking them to human hospitals would be too dangerous. There's always the risk that humans will find out what we are.

That's why we send our own to study medicine, surgery, and other fields. That way, we can heal our own without relying on outsiders." Estella looked at him, curiosity flashing in her eyes. "Did you go to school?" Crassus nodded.

"Yes, I did. I studied business management." Estella then nodded in return.