Being a wolfless omega in a house brimming with powerful werewolves was a constant humiliation. No matter how brilliant you were, no matter what talents you had, without a wolf, you were immediately dismissed as useless.

In a lonely corner of the house, Elsa sat quietly, her gaze fixed on the maids scurrying below through the window. They moved with frantic energy, preparing for her sister’s first day at the academy. The scene should have been lively, even exciting, but to Elsa, it only mirrored the emptiness of her own room.

From the ground floor, faint laughter and chatter floated upward, the joyous sounds of those congratulating her sister. Frankly, gaining admission into the Elite academy was a connection-admission thing for her step-sister and her. But her step-sister, being the cherished and loved one, always had people celebrating her over everything. 

A deep sigh escaped Elsa. Princess treatment wasn’t meant for her, at least not in this life. Her wolfless fate ensured that. Over time, she had grown used to invisibility, and attention no longer mattered. All she wanted now was to survive.

Her eyes drifted to the black uniform hanging neatly in the corner. Soon, she would have to wear it. Rumors about the academy had already reached her ears, painting it as a battlefield for the strong, the wolfed, the exceptional. But Elsa had learned to fade into the background. Maybe, just maybe, she could endure.

“Elsa! Your father calls for you!” The door slammed, the yell cutting through the quiet like a whip. Elsa flinched, her eyes widening at the sudden noise.

“Okay…” Her voice was barely a whisper.

“Get your ass down there in five, or you will be punished!” Barked the voice again.

Trembling, Elsa moved to the uniform and pulled it from its hanger, hands brushing the smooth fabric.

Downstairs, people gathered around a striking young woman, their praises growing louder with every word. Elsa’s gaze lifted, and for the first time, she allowed herself to fully take in her sister. Having a wolf truly elevated one’s presence. The same black uniform that Elsa wore so invisibly seemed to glow on her sister, hugging curves and radiating confidence.

“What are you ogling at?” Elsa’s stepmother’s voice cut through her thoughts, sharp and cold. Elsa’s eyes darted down, cheeks burning, hands twisting nervously by her sides.

“Fo…forgive me, Mother,” she stammered, apologizing.

Clicking her tongue, her stepmother sneered, “Such a wimp. Can’t even look me in the eye.” With a sigh, she turned her attention back to her daughter.

“Is everything ready?” A deeper, commanding voice asked. Elsa didn’t need to look up to know it was her father or her benefactor, like he preferred to be addressed. 

“Yes, darling,” her stepmother purred, entwining her hand with his. “Our daughter will be the most beautiful lady there today. I am so proud of her.”

Her step-sister’s face flushed under the praise, and Elsa felt a familiar knot of helplessness tighten in her chest. She lowered her gaze once more, wishing she could vanish entirely.

“Of course you should be. She is my only pride,” her father said, his voice calm but his message clear.

“I won’t disgrace you, Father. I promise,” her step-sister replied, her voice sweeter than candy, lilting and confident. Elsa swallowed, knowing she could never hope to match her sister. Even her voice sounded like a sweet melody. Everything about her sister was made to be praised, adored, and loved.

“You.” Her father’s sharp call made Elsa’s stomach twist. She flinched; “You” had always been the name reserved for her, cold, distant, a reminder that she was nothing more than an obligation.

“Yes, Father,” Elsa whispered, lifting her head only halfway, careful not to meet his eyes. One wrong glance could earn punishment.

“Don’t make me regret sending you to this school. If it weren’t for the promise I made to your mother, you would still be locked in one of those rooms. Are we clear?” His gaze bore into her.

“Yes, Father. I… I will remember your words.” Her voice trembled slightly.

Her stepmother scoffed, the sound dripping with amusement. “Remember? I bet she barely knows how to count. Just looking at her worries me already.” She turned to her husband, pouting in that practiced, irresistible way she always used to get her way. “Darling, are you sure about this? What if she embarrasses herself and causes problems for Bethany?”

Her father didn’t flinch. “Don’t worry. If anything happens, I will disown her myself. By then, my conscience will be clear.”

Elsa’s heart skipped. Disown her? How could she survive without a wolf, out there in that world?

“Remember,” her father added, “you are my sister’s daughter. I adopted you.” Elsa nodded silently, the words doing little to calm the fear twisting in her chest.

…

The tall, dark gates of the Elite Academy loomed ahead, imposing and cold. Even though the sun shone brightly, the place radiated mystery, danger, and challenge.

Elsa’s stomach twisted. This was going to be her new home or hell. If she wanted to survive, she needed to remain invisible, to never draw attention. Only her bold, beautiful, smart, wolfed step-sister could thrive here.

For a brief moment, she wondered if she should turn back. Could she really face this? But staying uneducated wasn’t an option. She had to find some skill, some way to make her father hate her less or maybe, just maybe, respect her a little.

The gates creaked open, revealing two massive wolf statues guarding each side. Their carved eyes seemed almost alive, sharp and watchful, and Elsa shivered.

A line of cars and people stretched out ahead as the gates swung open, revealing the academy inside. Warmth and light spilled out from the stone walls, contrasting sharply with the cold, dark exterior. Elsa couldn’t help but smile, momentarily distracted by the beauty of it all.

Then, she saw them.

Two piercing, blue-grey eyes were fixed directly on her.

Her heart didn't just skip, it hammered against her ribs. A cold shiver raced down her spine, raising the hair on her arms. She tried to look away, but she was trapped. There was something predatory, something dangerous about that gaze.

It didn't feel like a new beginning. It felt like the start of a hunt.

“Mr. Leon, we are delighted to welcome you and your daughters to our academy,” said a tall black man in a sleek black suit, stretching out his hand for a handshake. Elsa lifted her gaze slightly, scanning the group of people at the front. They were all dressed in black, and she couldn’t help but wonder why the academy seemed to love black so much.

“Trust me, I am even happier to be here. Thank you for accepting my daughters,” her father replied, and both men laughed, the sound echoing warmly through the hall.

“This way please, we will have your daughters settled in no time,” the man said, gesturing toward the entrance. The staff accompanying the black man quickly made way.

They followed him into a spacious office where several others were seated. Elsa assumed they were school officials.

“This is our VC, Mr. Dondon, and this is one of the school’s sponsors, Mr. Leon,” the man introduced. Elsa watched her father step forward and shake the VC’s hand.

She had always known her father was wealthy, but she hadn’t realized he was wealthy enough to be a sponsor of the Elite Academy. Rumor had it the academy was worth trillions, and not even for sale. For him to contribute so much… Elsa’s chest tightened slightly, a mix of awe and unease filling her.

“Thank you for believing in us. If it weren’t for you and a few other sponsors, we couldn’t have come this far,” the VC said, letting go of her father’s hand with a respectful nod.

“You flatter me. All I wanted was to help students achieve their dreams,” he said. “I couldn’t pursue mine, so I always try to help others reach theirs.”

The VC’s gaze shifted to Elsa and Lily. “And we will do our best to help your daughters achieve their dreams too.”

Elsa’s stomach dropped. “Ermm… Lily is my biological daughter,” her father clarified, his voice calm, “Elsa is the daughter of my late sister. I see her as my own, and that is why I refer to her as my daughter.”

Elsa felt the familiar sting of being sidelined. He wanted her identity kept secret but hearing it confirmed in public made her heart ache.

“As long as the child comes from you, we will do our best to give them the best,” the VC said, smiling gently. Elsa’s father returned the smile, satisfied, but Elsa’s chest felt tight.

“Mr. Luke, have someone show the girls around while we discuss matters with Mr. Leon,” the VC ordered. Mr. Luke, who is also the black man nodded, stepping aside.

…

A short distance from the office, Mr. Luke, Elsa, and Lily stood with a young man.

“This is Ray. He will be your guide for the rest of your first year here,” Mr. Luke introduced. “Ray, this is Elsa and Lily. You are in charge of taking care of them from now on.”

Ray nodded and smiled faintly. “Hi, Elsa. Hi, Lily. You will be seeing me a lot from now on.”

“It’s so nice to meet you!” Lily squealed, grinning from ear to ear.

Ray’s gaze lingered on Elsa. She stiffened slightly, unsure of what to say. But before the tension could grow, Lily noticed his concern and immediately stepped between them.

“Can we see our classrooms first? I am so excited!” She asked brightly, drawing his attention back to her.

Ray led them around the academy, showing them every corner and hallway. By the time the tour finally ended, five exhausting hours had passed, and Elsa’s legs ached as they were taken to the dorms.

“This will be your new home or room. Whatever. I don’t give a fuck,” a young lady, slightly older than Elsa, said flatly. They both stood outside the door, staring at the small room before them.”

“Th… thank you,” Elsa murmured.

The girl paused and turned. “What?” Her brows furrowed. “You will have to speak louder than that if you want to survive here. Being an omega is bad enough, don’t make it worse.” She shook her head, clearly irritated.

“I…I am sorry!” Elsa blurted out, immediately lowering her head.

The girl frowned. “Bloody hell. Another victim for these vultures,” she muttered. With a tired sigh, she dug into her pocket and pulled out a key.

“This is your spare key. Lose it…fine. Break any rules…fine. Bring boys in…expulsion.” She leaned in suddenly and warned. Elsa flinched, nodding quickly.

“Anyhoo,” the girl said, already turning away, “go suffer.”

She shoved Elsa inside the room and shut the door behind her.

The room was small, shockingly so but to Elsa, who had spent eighteen years in a dark, lonely space barely fit to breathe in, it felt bright, open and livable. A soft smile crept onto her lips, excitement bubbling in her chest before she could stop it.

Maybe it won’t be so bad. ‘Maybe the academy won’t be so bad.’ She thought.

There were four bunks in the room, two on each side of the wall. Elsa instinctively headed for the left one. She had always lived high up, so she climbed the small stairs and claimed the top bunk.

She was just settling in when voices sounded behind the door. It swung open, and three girls walked in.

“Did you hear about the bonfire tonight? It’s going to be insane! The X boys will be there,” one of them said excitedly.

The other girls screamed in excitement, the noise making Elsa jolt.

“What about him? Will he be there?” Another girl asked. Her hair was dyed a vivid purple.

“Yes! Jake Blake will be there!” The first girl shrieked. “That’s why everyone’s going!”

More screaming followed.

“But wait,” the third girl said suddenly. “There are four of them. If we are getting their attention, we need to be four too.”

The screams died down. All three girls rested their chins in their hands, thinking until the purple-haired girl suddenly screamed again, her eyes locked on something above.

The others groaned and turned around in annoyance.

“What the…AHH!”

They screamed too, clutching each other.

“What is that?” The purple-haired girl demanded. “How did she get in here?”

Elsa froze.

“I…hi,” she said softly, then tried again. “I am Elsa. I… I am staying in this room too.” Her head was lowered, but this time her voice came out clearer.

One of the girls sighed. “You could have said something when we came in.”

Before Elsa could apologize, the purple-haired girl gasped. “Guys,” she said slowly, eyes widening, “are you thinking what I am thinking?”

The other two followed her gaze then their eyes widened too. Before Elsa could react, all three charged toward her.

“We don’t have time to explain,” the purple-haired girl said urgently, grabbing her arm, “but you are coming with us to the bonfire.”

Elsa’s heart skipped.

What?

“What? No, I can’t. I have to stay inside, or I will be punished,” Elsa protested, her voice trembling. But it didn’t take much, her small frame was no match for the three girls, and they easily pulled her down from the bunk.

“Don’t worry, we will be back before curfew,” the purple-haired girl assured her, but Elsa just shook her head, instinctively backing away.

“Come on, don’t be a jerk. We need our squad complete if we are going to have a chance with the X boys,” one of them said, rolling her eyes.

“No, you don’t understand! I can’t go out. I have to stay invisible, or Father will be disappointed,” Elsa said, her voice rising into a near-plead. The girls exchanged glances, clearly unsure what to make of her.

“Fine. Family can be tough, we get it,” the pink-haired one said with a sly smile, “but we are not giving you a choice. Refuse, and I will tell everyone you brought in drugs. Do you think your father would like that?” Elsa looked up, eyes wide in terror.

“Finally, she looks up!” The green-haired girl said, and they all giggled.

“No! You can’t do that. Father will disown me! Please… please don’t!” Elsa’s voice cracked, her eyes shimmering with tears. The purple-haired girl hesitated, clearly moved.

Before she could respond, the blue-haired girl stepped forward, smiling gently. “That’s exactly why you should come with us. It’s just a bonfire, you don’t even have to drink if you don’t want to. Juice, water, whatever. Pleaseee?” Her eyes were wide, palms pressed together in a pleading gesture. Elsa stared at her, caught off guard.

Swallowing hard, Elsa lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers, weighing her options. If she made a mistake on her first night, she was sure her father wouldn’t hesitate to disown her, maybe even throw her out. But if she kept to herself and followed the rules, they might come back before curfew, and everything would be fine. Besides, with her skinny and unattractive appearance, no one would pay any attention to her.

“Okay… I will go. But we have to be back before curfew,” she said quietly.

The girls squealed in excitement. For the first time, Elsa felt a spark of control over her life. Usually, unless her father permitted it, she couldn’t do anything she wanted. And now, for the first time, she had made a choice.

“Let’s get ready. We don’t have much time!” 

…

The bonfire was a chaos of warmth and noise. A tall stack of wood blazed in the center while students circled it. Some whispered intimately, others shouted and laughed. The scene was alive, wild, and overwhelming. Elsa froze, reconsidering her decision.

‘This is my first time around so many people. What if I make a mistake? Say the wrong thing? Offend someone by accident?’ Different thoughts swirled in her mind.

The crowd grew louder. Elsa’s breaths became shallow and uneven. Her hands trembled as her gaze fell to the ground. She stumbled backward until she collided with something solid.

“Ah! I am so sorry. I…I didn’t mean to, I just…” she stammered, looking up in panic.

A calm, deep voice cut in before she could finish. “First bonfire? Yeah, it can be pretty intense.”

Elsa forced herself to look up. Her cheeks flamed red when her eyes landed on him. Handsome, yes but not impossibly so. And yet… she knew, painfully, that she would never be worthy even if she were just a beta.

“Juice. Just for you!” one of her roommates offered, holding out a cup filled with bright orange liquid.

“Thank you,” Elsa murmured, taking it carefully and walking away.

“Hey!” The guy called after her, but her legs moved faster than her words could follow.

A little distance from the crowd, Elsa let out a shaky sigh of relief and drank the juice in one go. The taste, sweet, tangy, and new made her eyes widen. Except for the apple juice her nanny occasionally snuck her, she had never tasted anything else. She was curious to know what it was made of and wanted more.

She took a step toward the bonfire and froze when she heard a faint sound behind her. Glancing over her shoulder into the darkness, she assumed it was a bird or an insect. When she took another step, the sound came again, closer, sharper, and somehow…different. 

Curiosity overrode caution. She crept toward the source, steps soft and careful, until she reached a poorly lit opening. She squinted and froze.

There they were.

Her step-sister, wrapped in the arms of a tall, muscular man, lost in a lewd embrace. Elsa’s stomach twisted. The man’s back… she recognized it immediately. Six months ago, Lily had brought her boyfriend home, and Elsa had dressed as a maid just to catch a glimpse. She only saw his back then but was sure it was him. She might not be good at anything but one thing she had was the talent of memorizing things. She has a good memory. 

When they turned, Elsa’s heart lurched. He was the guy she saw at the gate, the one whose gaze had lingered on her that morning… it was him. She froze, torn between awe and fear. It is not surprising Lily was able to bag such a man. They were both beautiful, came from a rich family and had powerful wolves. They were perfect together. It was foolish of her to even look at him twice. 

He’s way out of your league. ‘He’s your sister’s boyfriend. Quit dreaming,’ she scolded herself, shaking her head. She tried to step back quietly, but her foot caught on something, and a small yelp escaped her lips.

Their heads snapped toward her. Elsa’s eyes widened in panic as she locked gazes with both of them. Heart hammering, she turned and ran, not bothering to check her path.

If Lily finds out it was her, she would tell their father and have her disowned. But surely, from such a distance, they couldn’t have seen her clearly right? Her stomach sank. They were high ranked wolves and their senses were sharper than hers who is just a wolfless omega. They must have seen her.

Fear sharpened every sense. She cursed under her breath, panic twisting her stomach.

“Hey! Where are you going? The party’s not over yet!” A strong hand grabbed her wrist, pulling her to a stop.

“I…I have to leave,” Elsa stammered, voice trembling.

“Not so fast. The party’s just getting started.”