Chapter 2 She Is a Devil

My mind went blank for a few seconds. I couldn't even process Damian's words. What did he mean by Nicole being the true Silver Wolf? "Damian, I must have misheard you just now." I forced a smile, trying to hold on to my composure and keep an even expression. "Did you say Nicole is the Silver Wolf?" "Yes," Damian replied plainly. "But the witch said that I'm the Silver Wolf," I explained anxiously, unable to comprehend what was going on. "Aurora," Nicole said softly. She had a beautiful voice, and she spoke so gently that her voice sounded fleeting. But to me, the sound of it felt so heavy that I could barely breathe. She went on, "I'm really sorry, but I can't lie to Damian. On my 18th birthday yesterday, I felt the call of the Silver Wolf." No. That was impossible. I was stunned into silence. The witch's prophecy had never been wrong. Her mother, her grandmother, and even her great-grandmother had been telling fortunes for our pack. They had never been wrong! Nicole was lying! Upon realizing that, I refused to accept the blatant lie and hurriedly argued, "Damian, something must be wrong! How could she possibly be the Silver Wolf—" "Enough!" Damian cut me off with a frown, his impatience showing in his eyes. "Aurora, I'm telling you as the Alpha that Nicole will be our Silver Wolf. You must take care of her." The Alpha's dominance suddenly pressed down onto me, making my teeth chatter and my legs go weak. No Luna should ever be treated like this by her own Alpha, especially not in front of others. Humiliation arose from within and consumed every fiber of my being, but I had no choice but to yield. "I understand," I murmured almost inaudibly, lowering my eyes and enduring the sharp sting in my nose. Damian huffed coldly, finally easing the suffocating pressure he directed at me. He turned his head and spoke to Nicole. My ears were still buzzing from the immense pressure I endured moments ago. I couldn't make out what he was saying, but I could tell that he became gentle again, as if he were afraid of scaring Nicole. He was about to leave, for he shook hands with the principal and walked toward me. I thought he would apologize or at least explain why he treated me, his Luna, so poorly in front of the principal and Nicole. To my disappointment, he didn't do that. He simply walked past me and didn't spare me another glance. I was like a complete stranger to him. I hadn't even managed to calm my emotions before Nicole approached me. She looked like the princess everyone adored. She was wearing a pretty dress, and even the tips of her hair exuded a pleasant fragrance. In contrast, I was the Luna with food stains and dirt all over my clothes. I tried my best to maintain a Luna's dignity. But the moment I lifted my gaze and met her eyes, my heart jolted involuntarily. Nicole's eyes were filled with hostility toward me. Why? We had barely interacted before. Why would she look at me like that? I was still confused when Nicole hooked her arm around mine and said with a sweet smile, "I'm honored to be your friend, Luna Aurora. Can you show me around?" My gut instincts screamed to me that Nicole was vicious. My heart began to tremble in fear, but I couldn't refuse Damian's orders. I could only answer stiffly, "I'm glad too." Half an hour later, I began to regret ever agreeing to her request. When I was surrounded by countless werewolves and forced to endure the humiliation they threw at me, my stomach cramped with nausea. At that point, I had already lost count of how many times I had desperately wished I could turn back time. Nicole's bag and newly issued books lay scattered at my feet. Ten minutes ago, they had still been in my arms. I had been carrying everything for her like I was her personal maid. Knowing that she attracted everyone's attention, Nicole deliberately bumped into me as we turned a corner. She hit the ground, knocking everything from my arms as she fell. I hadn't even realized what she was trying to do at the time. So, I reached out to help her. Nicole smacked my hand away and cried out loudly in an aggrieved voice, "Did I unknowingly offend you somehow, Luna Aurora? Why did you push me?" Almost instantly, a crowd gathered around us. They formed a circle and looked at Nicole anxiously to see whether she was injured. The rest glared at me with utmost disdain. I stood there, completely lost. I tried to explain that none of this had anything to do with me. I wanted to tell them that Nicole had fallen on her own and that she had knocked her things from my arms. Even the cut on her hand was self-inflicted. But they never gave me a chance to speak. Of course they wouldn't let me explain. Nicole had always been the golden female adored by the Blackwood and Silverpaw packs since childhood. On the other hand, I was the polar opposite of what she was. "She's just like her human father! They're a despicable, lowly race! Just because Nicole's the Silver Wolf, she deliberately harmed her." "She stole Nicole's rightful place as Luna. Now, now she's shameless enough to hurt the one who let her have her current position." "Just breathing the same air as this half-breed makes me sick." Endless waves of curses were directed at me. With their twisted faces, they said the most discriminatory words and made the most derogatory gestures at me. Behind them, Nicole stood and flashed a triumphant smile that only I could see. I understood then that Nicole had done all that to frame me. She wanted to be the Silver Wolf, so that everyone's eyes would be on her. On top of that, she definitely wanted my position as Luna! Well, she had been Damian's first love. Of course, she wanted all of that for herself. This realization sparked a fury that burned away my fear and humiliation. I had only one thought in my mind, and that was to make Damian see the truth! I shoved aside everyone in my way furiously and ran forward as fast as I could. I had to get to Damian and demand the justice that should have been mine. Damian hadn't left the school yet. I saw him walking out of a building in the distance, and hope surged in my chest. I sped up and ran as fast as I could. "Ah!" A pained scream tore from my throat as I fell face-first to the ground. I tasted blood in my mouth. When I turned my head, I saw a group of wolves prowl toward me, their eyes filled with excitement. The group bullying that Nicole instigated had turned into an actual hunt. I, a hybrid who couldn't even shift into a wolf, became their prey. "No, this can't be happening… They may really kill me!" I exclaimed in fear inwardly. I crawled forward desperately with all my might. The pressure from the pack of wolves closing in behind me nearly drove me to the brink of breaking down. Tears blurred my vision, so I couldn't see the front anymore. Trembling, I screamed. "Damian… Damian! Help me!" Alas, he was too far away. He couldn't hear me at all. A wolf's hot breath brushed the skin of my ankle. In the next second, its sharp teeth sank into my flesh. The pain caused me to pass out. When I opened my eyes again, I felt like a dying rabbit. The wolves had clamped down on my leg and were dragging me toward an empty restroom. My hair was drenched with cold sweat and stuck to my forehead. Rough stones scraped my cheek as they dragged me. I lifted my head with all my strength, praying desperately that someone, anyone, would pass by and stop this. But the only one standing in front of me was Nicole. Her posture was elegant, and a smile lingered on her lips. She looked like the devil.