Evelyn’s POV

My heart dropped.

Stay calm, my wolf whispered. Don’t give her what she wants.

I kept changing, pretending I hadn’t heard anything. Maybe she’d get bored and move on to someone else.

The booth door slammed open. Acacia stood there with Zoey and Chloe flanking her, already in their training gear. Acacia’s was obviously tailored tighter than regulation – probably hoping to catch the triplets’ attention.

“I was talking to you, freak.” She stepped inside, forcing me back against the wall. “Heard you made yourself a little friend today.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“That’s the problem.” Her palm slammed next to my head. “You’re supposed to stay invisible. Not go around corrupting new students.”

Zoey and Chloe blocked the exit, wearing matching smirks. I knew this routine by heart.

“Maybe she needs a reminder about her place,” Zoey suggested, way too eager.

Acacia grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked hard. The pain shot through my scalp, but I bit down and didn’t make a sound.

Just get through this, I told myself. It’ll be over soon.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Beta’s daughter? Don’t make me laugh. You’re not even worth the dirt under my shoes.”

“Your mom died because even the Moon Goddess knew you shouldn’t exist,” Chloe chimed in. “What a waste.”

I stayed quiet. Fighting back only made things worse.

“I’m talking to you!” Acacia shoved my shoulder hard. I hit the tile wall, and the barely healed cuts on my back screamed. “That new girl – Nadia, right?”

My pulse spiked. No. Leave Nadia out of this.

“She’s got nothing to do with me,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “She just sat next to me by accident.”

“Bullshit,” Chloe snorted. “We saw you two talking and walking here together.”

Acacia leaned closer. I could smell her cheap perfume mixing with malice. “Listen up, waste. That new girl looks promising. But if she keeps hanging around trash like you, her life here’s gonna turn into hell. Remember what happened to the last girl who tried being your friend?”

Of course I remembered. The transfer student last year who’d been nice to me – her locker got trashed, backpack thrown in the toilet. She transferred out within a month. After that, nobody dared get close.

“That’s not fair.” The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Acacia’s eyes went ice cold. “Fair? You think you get to talk to me about fair?”

She let go of my hair, and the next second her palm cracked across my face. The sound echoed in the small space. My cheek burned instantly, tears stinging my eyes.

“Life was never fair, especially for freaks like you who shouldn’t exist.” She smoothed down her platinum hair. “Your whole existence is a mistake.”

Her nails dragged across my arm, leaving angry red lines. “You know what? I was having a great day too. Just got a text from Magnus. But seeing your pathetic attempt at making friends? Makes me sick.”

Magnus – one of the triplet Alphas. Acacia had been obsessing over those three since middle school, convinced one of them would be her mate.

“Maybe we should give her a reality check,” Zoey said eagerly. “Help her remember her place.”

Acacia considered this, then smiled in a way that made my blood freeze. “You’re right. Dogs need to know where their kennels are.”

She pulled something from her bag. My pupils contracted in terror.

Silver powder.

Hold on, my wolf snarled. Don’t let them break you.

Pull yourself together, I ordered myself. Can’t let Nadia see.

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