C4 Chapter Four

Alina's Pov

The aroma of sizzling omelets, heavy with the scent of melted cheese and chives, wafted through the air, pulling me from a restless sleep. Today was the day – my first day at Northbridge Academy. A knot of apprehension, tight as a clenched fist, twisted in my stomach. Unlike most sixteen-year-olds, the prospect of a new school filled me not with excitement, but with a cold dread.

"Alina, honey, are you awake?" Mom's voice cut through the fog of sleep, laced with a hint of concern. "Breakfast is ready."

I shuffled towards the kitchen, the wooden floorboards protesting slightly under my bare feet. Mom bustled in, a plate piled high with fluffy omelets that billowed clouds of steam.

"Yes, Mom," I mumbled, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace.

"Did you pack everything?" she asked, her gaze lingering on my face a moment too long.

"Everything's packed," I mumbled, avoiding eye contact.

"Andrew available to take you to school?" Her brow furrowed with a worry I couldn't quite decipher.

"Absolutely not!" I declared, puffing out my chest in a display of bravado that even I knew faltered slightly at the edges. "Besides, he's swamped with Alpha duties."

A pang of guilt, sharp and unexpected, shadowed my bravado. Andrew, my older brother and heir to the Shadow Light Pack's Alpha title, deserved a break more than anyone. Yet, the very thought of him playing chauffeur rankled.

Mom sighed, a hint of disappointment flitting across her eyes. "Alright, honey. Just mind-link me the second you get to school, okay?"

After a quick breakfast and a suffocating hug from an overenthusiastic Marrisa, whose exuberance always managed to leave me breathless, I headed out. The crisp morning air held the familiar scent of pine needles and damp earth – the comforting fragrance of our Shadow Light territory. But as I neared the school, perched precariously between our lands and the rival Dark Moon Pack's territory, a sliver of unease snaked its way into my already knotted stomach. Enrolling at Northbridge, a school that served both packs, suddenly felt like a colossal mistake.

Lost in my thoughts, I nearly barreled into a blur of brown hair and wild laughter. "Alina!" Marrisa's voice shrieked, the force of her hug momentarily stealing the air from my lungs.

"Marrisa! ... Can't... breathe..." I gasped, my arms flailing uselessly against her vice-like grip.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, releasing me in a flurry of apologies. Relief flooded back into my body, chased closely by a wave of warmth at the sight of my best friend's beaming smile. Despite the knot of worry in my stomach, seeing Marrisa, her usual goofy grin plastered on her face, chased away some of the shadows clouding my mind.

"How's Matt doing?" I panted, trying to catch my breath as we jogged side-by-side towards the imposing brick facade of Northbridge High. Marrisa had found her soul mate last year – Matt, the soon-to-be beta of our werewolf pack. Seeing them together always made me a little wistful.

A dreamy smile, wide enough to rival the Cheshire Cat's, stretched across her face. "He's phenomenal, Sarah! Still feels unreal that he's mine."

I playfully nudged her shoulder, forcing a chuckle. "So cheesy, Mar. But hey, maybe I'll get my own happily-ever-after soon enough. When my own fated mate waltzes in."

A jolt of electricity crackled through me as I instinctively glanced at the skin peeking out from Marrisa's collar. There, nestled just above her collarbone, were two unmistakable crimson crescent moons – the permanent mark of the mating bond.

"Oh. My. Gosh!" I shrieked, a cocktail of shock and ecstatic excitement bubbling in my voice. "You guys did it!"

Marrisa blushed the same vibrant shade as the mark itself. "Yeah," she mumbled shyly, her attempt at nonchalance failing miserably. I couldn't resist a playful swat on her arm, and the shared laughter that erupted between us was a melody that resonated with the joy of her newfound bond.

Reaching the school, I sent a quick, "Just arrived! See you later!" message through the pack's mind-link to my Mom before hurrying off to Math class. My mind, however, was far from the upcoming lesson. As I settled into my usual seat, a delightful aroma, a curious blend of mint and lavender, drifted through the air. My wolf perked up within me, its primal instincts taking the reins. Mate, it growled possessively.

My heart hammered a frantic rhythm against my ribs. A jolt of excitement shot through me, and I subtly scanned the classroom, landing on a handsome guy with messy brown hair and eyes that held the captivating depth of a summer sky. But then, the world seemed to tilt on its axis. He leaned in, his lips brushing the exposed skin of the girl beside him, a faint blush creeping up her neck. A wave of disappointment, heavy and cold, crashed over me. My first day at Northbridge couldn't possibly get any worse, could it?