Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 4: School Full Of Hot Werewolves

For a week plus, Violet Purple avoided school. By law, all eligible eighteen-year-olds were required to apply to Lunaris Academy, but the law didn't specify that the chosen had to accept the scholarship.

The offer also came with a deadline: if the recipient didn't report to the academy within a week, the scholarship would be rescinded and given to someone else. No penalty was outlined for declining, perhaps the rule-makers never imagined anyone would refuse such an opportunity.

For people like her, the gutter kids, scraping by on the ruins of a broken world, Lunaris Academy was the dream. But not for Violet. She had no interest in going, especially when her reasons for attending weren't exactly noble. The scholarship deserved someone better.

As if the gods were on her side, Nancy had chosen to leave town at that moment. It wasn't unusual for her to disappear without warning or any explanation, often leaving no note about her whereabouts.

When Violet was younger, she used to think Nancy left because she was a freak, but as she grew up, she understood the nature of her mother's work. Nancy would lose all sense of reasoning whenever she landed a wealthy client, staying with him until her services were no longer required—or, more often, until she overstayed her welcome and got kicked out.

Nancy had always dreamed of marrying rich, but with a job like hers, no man ever took her seriously. It was all fun in the beginning, but things inevitably soured.

The longest Nancy had ever been gone was a month, and Violet prayed she'd pull the same stunt this time so the scholarship opportunity would slip away before she came back. Nancy would be furious, no doubt, but by then, it would already be too late. There'd be nothing she could do about it.

However, Violet had no idea how Mrs. Florence did it, but her homeroom teacher somehow managed to get Nancy's number. She called her ancient Nokia phone, which seemed to have survived since the '90s when the world was still bountiful. The next day, a furious Nancy was standing over her as she lounged in the trailer, and the rest was history.

Call it a sixth sense, but something felt off about the scholarship. Despite not showing up at Lunaris Academy for a week, her scholarship wasn't revoked as she had expected.

To make things stranger, Lunaris Academy had even sent her a letter, politely reminding her that the offer still stood. They even suggested she contact them if she was facing any difficulties preventing her from attending.

It didn't add up. This wasn't how Lunaris usually operated. They were almost chasing after her as if she were someone important. But she wasn't. Sure, Violet was smart and good at sports, but there were smarter students back at her school—the nerds who spent every waking hour studying, all hoping to win this scholarship. Yet, they didn't want them. They wanted her. It didn't add up.

Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do about it. She was going to Lunaris Academy whether she liked it or not.

"Is that all you'll be needing?" Nancy asked, eyeing the open bag where Violet had packed her clothes and personal items. There wasn't much by the looks of it.

"Yes," Violet replied curtly.

If she and Nancy had barely been on speaking terms, it was worse since Nancy found out about her attempt to sabotage her shot at Lunaris Academy.

Nancy frowned, "Maybe I should buy more—"

"Leave it!" Violet snapped in frustration. "Why do you even care?"

A flash of anger crossed Nancy's face.

not be the best mother around, but you're heading to a fancy school, and I won't have some brat who's

was stunned, unable to respond. Where had this side of Nancy

she returned with a full bag stuffed with more

money," Violet grumbled, though it was her own way of

of school fees now. I'd

her eyes, though a hint of a smile tugged at her lips. The tension that had been brewing for a week between them felt lighter, and Violet realized she was feeling much better compared to when she had been giving her mother the

the pièce de résistance," Nancy

Nancy

Nancy, what the

condom. Not just one—an

Nancy tried to calm her,

need this stuff! Are you seriously telling me to go whore around like you?"

crossed Nancy's eyes, but she quickly masked it. Grabbing Violet by the hair, she forced her to meet her gaze. "Now

She hated her mother's

point is, you're going to

rolled her eyes at her

I have, and trust me, they'll knock you off your feet," Nancy said with such conviction that Violet

TV and magazines, sure, they looked good but it was an exaggeration saying the whole race was hot.

Lunaris, I'm not ready to be a grandmother. God knows I wouldn't make a good one, and

Nancy being a responsible grandmother was laughable, and Violet wasn't cruel enough to bring another life into

the trouble and take this." Nancy pushed the packet into Violet's chest,

she muttered, stuffing the condoms deep into her bag where no one could stumble upon them. The

I mixed them up. There

snapped,

I'll leave my

her about her virginity, but Nancy only laughed and backed off, leaving Violet to

sound of the zipper was strangely final. She stepped back to look around the small, cramped trailer she'd called home for as long as

furniture, the broken clock on the wall, the sight of it caused a hollow feeling in her stomach. This place wasn't ideal by any stretch, but it was the closest thing to home she had ever known. And now, she was

stillness. She stood by the door, her usual

came out flat though, her heart wasn't entirely in them. There was something unsettling about leaving like

walked silently to the old bus stop near the edge of the trailer park, an