Chapter 4: First day

Earlier…

"What kind of outfit is this?" Aurora said, eyeing her reflection in the mirror with mild disdain.

"This is what teenagers wear these days, my lady," Mary replied, trying not to smile.

Aurora frowned, tugging at the sweater. "These clothes make it difficult to fight in. And why should I wear this… what do you call it? A sweater? I don't even get a cold."

She glanced down at her jeans with equal disdain. "And these jeans—ugh. They're not comfortable. Can't I just wear a skirt instead?"

Mary giggled, listening to her complain.

Aurora turned to her with narrowed eyes. "What's so funny?"

"It's just… this is actually the first time you've ever gone to school. Maybe you'll make some friends—or even find a boy you like."

Aurora wrinkled her nose like Mary had just suggested she drink garlic tea. "Me? Like a boy?" she scoffed, crossing her arms.

Mary clasped her hands together with a dreamy sigh. "Let me dream, my lady. You deserve to be happy… maybe even fall in love."

"You can dream all you want—it's not happening," Aurora said, turning back to the mirror. Placing a hand against the glass, her sharp blue eyes staring back at her.

Hidden beneath it all was a fragile girl… one who had died a long time ago.

With a cold breath, she froze the surface of the mirror.

I'm not that little fragile girl anymore.

Sensing the shift in mood, Mary lowered her head. "I'll get the car ready," she said softly, offering a respectful bow before quietly leaving Aurora alone in the room.

Aurora sighed. There it is again—that bow, she thought, shaking her head.

Walking up to the window she pulled back the curtains. Allowing sunlight poured in, bathing her cold skin. 

Unlike other true vampires, her skin did not shimmer in the light—it remained still, pale, untouched by its warmth.

A byproduct of being sired by her mother—the one who had saved her from the streets of Paris.

"Mother, why did you send me here? To watch over some Sir?"

Aurora's voice was laced with frustration, clenching her fists. Her mother kept so many things from her, treating her like a mere child.

And why couldn't she shake the feeling that this was just her mother's way of making her experience life as a normal teenage girl.

Because why else would she send her strongest child to a place like this?

Letting out a breath, she couldn't help but imagine her siblings—probably thrilled at the idea of her going to high school.

No doubt laughing their asses off right now.

Then there was the Alpha, lurking in the shadows. She might as well wait for it to try and play cat and mouse with her.

No…

It wouldn't do that. Based on the information Thalia gave her, it hunts humans rare but no doubt it seeks revenge.

The best-case scenario was that they stayed out of each other's way.

But deep down, she knew she'd have to hunt it down eventually—

A battle she wasn't exactly eager to face.

But of course, she'd win. 

With one final glance out the window, she headed to the car

Now, here she was—standing in front of the building, surrounded by swarms of teenagers.

Some were wandering the halls, others locked in deep conversation.

And the first thing that came to mind?

"How the hell am I supposed to find my classroom?"

Looking down at the sheet of paper Mary had handed her, Aurora read her first period: Math.

"Good thing I was taught how to read," she muttered.

With no idea where the classroom was, she stepped into the building, deciding to wander until she found it. That's when the scent hit her—a stench she knew all too well.

Werewolf.

Following the scent, her gaze shifted toward the locker room just as two boys stepped out. One of them turned in her direction—and growled.

It irritated her. A mutt with no control, right in the middle of humans? It was like he wanted to expose the supernatural to the world.

Without giving him so much as a second glance, she walked past them.

"Scott, did you just growl?" Stiles stared at his friend, wide-eyed.

"I… I don't know what's happening to me," Scott said, unsure and clearly shaken.

Aurora listened in on their conversation from afar. Just by the sound of the boy's heartbeat, she could tell he was telling the truth. Newly bitten, a beta. And yet here he was, attending school in the middle of going through changes. Is his Alpha insane? He could lose control and kill someone.

Now I have to babysit him.

She clicked her tongue in annoyance as she walked down the hall until she found her classroom.

The moment she opened the door, a new scent caught her attention. She turned her head—and her eyes locked with his.

There, sitting at the desk, was a teenage boy with black hair and striking silver eyes.

He clearly wasn't human. The scent was faint—like a whisper of something… other. Not strong enough to identify exactly what he was, but one thing was certain:

He was supernatural.

"You. What's your name?" she asked, walking toward him.

"Huh?" He blinked, pointing at himself. "Me?"

"Yes. You. Tell me your name."

"I… I'm Iván. Iván Vasilios."

"Vasilios…" she repeated softly, so he's the one Mother dearest sent me to watch over? And here I thought he was just human.

"My name is Aurora. Aurora Valentine."

"Nice to meet you, Aurora," he said awkwardly, reaching out for a handshake.

She ignored the gesture. "Is this seat taken?" she asked, already sliding into the chair without waiting for a response.

Iván pulled his hand back and rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, sure. First day of school and all, right?"

Holy shit—a girl is actually talking to me? Do I have rizz? Okay, act cool…

"So, uh… are you from around here?" he asked, trying to sound casual.

"No," she replied, her tone calm. "I just moved here a week ago."

"No way—me too! Well, just yesterday, actually," he said, a little too eagerly.

Iván tried to keep the conversation going with the pale girl, but something started to feel… off.

She hadn't blinked. Not once during their entire exchange.

Before he could dwell on it any longer, students began filing into the classroom one by one. Then the bell rang—signaling the official start of the first day of school.

———

On the East Coast, in a lavish estate, an elegant woman sipped a glass of blood-red wine.

The door creaked open, and in stepped a tall man—six-foot-three, dressed sharply in a suit. His eyes, glowing red, locked onto the red-haired figure as he dropped to one knee.

"Mother, an Original has been sighted near Richmond. 

Her crimson eyes flicked toward him, a slow smile curling on her lips.

"Find out why they're here."

"Should I engage… physically?" he asked.

"No," she said coolly. "Without your sister, you'd be walking to your death. Observe from a distance."