Mated to Four Heirs

Chapter nine

RITA ASHCROFT

There were only a few names that mattered inside Nightshade Academy, and mine was one of them.

I had spent three years building that reputation, and every early morning training session, every sleepless night studying pack politics, every duel I had won, and every expectation placed upon my shoulders had shaped me into the woman everyone believed would one day stand beside one of the four Alpha heirs. It wasn't something I had demanded, nor was it a title anyone had officially given me. It was simply the future everyone had always seen for me, and after hearing it repeated for so many years, I had started believing it too.

As I walked through the eastern corridor, students immediately stepped aside to make room for me, while others lowered their heads respectfully.

"Good morning, Rita," a second-year student greeted politely, offering me a small smile.

I returned the smile with a graceful nod before continuing down the hallway.

Another group of students passed by.

"Morning, Rita."

"Morning," I replied calmly, keeping my pace steady as they moved aside for me.

This was normal. This was the life I had always known. Respect wasn't demanded. It was earned.

Or perhaps, inherited.

My family had served the Council for generations. My father sat among the elders who advised the Alpha leaders, while my mother came from one of the oldest bloodlines in the northern territories. Ever since I was little, I had been taught how to become the perfect Luna.

A Luna did not lose her temper… a Luna spoke with dignity and led with wisdom.

Above all, a Luna who never allowed herself to appear weak.

That was why I never cried in front of people, not even after hearing yesterday's news.

At first, I had laughed.

"A human?" I had repeated with disbelief, shaking my head as my friends stared at me. "And four Alpha heirs all claiming she's their mate? Whoever started that rumor deserves an award."

It sounded ridiculous and impossible.

The Moon Goddess didn't make mistakes. Yet within an hour, professors were rushing across campus. Council members were being summoned. The Academy bells rang three times.

Then reality settled in.

The rumors were true… the impossible had happened.

One girl… One ceremony… And everything changed.

I tightened my grip around the books in my arms as the memory returned.

Three years.

Three years of preparing for a future that disappeared overnight because a stranger walked through the Academy gates.

I had trained with Karl since childhood. He had always been serious and disciplined. We understood each other. Even if we never became lovers, everyone assumed our packs would eventually unite through marriage.

It simply made sense.

Adrian...

He had always been kind. He smiled at everyone, including me, and although he never confessed any feelings, he never pushed me away either.

Then there was Darius…

I couldn't count how many arguments we had gotten into over the years. He teased me endlessly. I always found a way to tease him back. Most students believed we secretly liked each other.

Sometimes, even I wondered if they were right.

And then there was Carla… the most frustrating of them all.

No matter how beautifully someone dressed… no matter how talented they were… no matter how hard anyone tried...

Carla never looked.

He kept everyone at arm's length… including me… especially me. For reasons I could never understand, I found myself wanting the one thing he refused to give anyone…

His attention.

A quiet sigh escaped my lips as I reached the classroom building.

"I should stop thinking about them," I muttered beneath my breath, shaking my head slightly.

Yet the moment I reached the classroom window, my steps slowed..Curiosity got the better of me.

Inside, she was there.

Samantha Carter.

The girl who had turned the Academy upside down.

She looked ordinary… almost painfully ordinary.

No expensive uniform… no proud posture… no overwhelming aura. She was JUST a girl trying very hard not to attract attention.

I frowned slightly.

Was this really the person chosen above everyone else?

My eyes shifted toward Karl. Without saying a word, he slid his notebook across the desk toward her. She smiled gratefully.

My jaw tightened.

Then Adrian leaned over from behind and quietly explained something to her, making her smile again.

Moments later, Darius slipped her a folded piece of paper. She opened it, her shoulders shaking with laughter.

My fingers curled around my books.

Three Alpha heirs… three.

Then my gaze drifted toward the back of the classroom.

Carla.

Unlike the others, he ignored her completely. I almost smiled. Of course, that was exactly how he always behaved.

But then something caught my attention.

A boy across the room kept staring at Samantha. As soon as Carla's eyes lifted, the boy immediately looked away.

A second student glanced toward Samantha moments later. Again, Carla looked up.

AGAIN, the student quickly turned away.

My heartbeat slowed. That wasn't indifference; it was protection. Silent, invisible, but unmistakable.

Even Carla, the same person who never cared about anyone, was protecting her.

The realization settled heavily inside my chest. She hadn't just taken three futures away. She had taken all four.

I lowered my gaze for a brief moment before lifting my chin again. I wasn't going to let jealousy control me.

If Samantha Carter truly intended to survive inside Nightshade Academy, she needed to understand where she stood.

I pushed open the classroom door. The conversations stopped almost instantly. Several students greeted me as I entered.

"Morning, Rita," one of the girls said warmly, smiling at me.

"Good morning," I replied with a composed smile before continuing farther into the room.

Instead of walking toward my usual seat, I changed direction and walked straight toward Samantha.

The room became so quiet that even footsteps sounded loud.

She noticed me approaching and slowly stood from her chair. She was shorter than I expected.

"You must be Samantha Carter," I said politely, allowing a pleasant smile to settle on my face as I studied her.

"Yes," she answered calmly, meeting my eyes without looking away. "And you are?"

"I am Rita Ashcroft," I replied smoothly, keeping my smile in place. "Welcome to Nightshade Academy."

"Thank you," she answered sincerely, surprising me.

For a second, I almost forgot why I had walked over.

"I've heard quite a lot about you," I continued pleasantly, folding my hands in front of me.

"I imagine everyone has," she replied quietly, though there was no bitterness in her voice.

"They have," I admitted with a soft chuckle before tilting my head slightly. "After all, it's not every day the Moon Goddess gives four Alpha heirs the same mate."

She remained silent. Interesting. Most people would have panicked by now.

"I suppose congratulations are in order," I said lightly, keeping my tone perfectly pleasant. "Some people spend years earning the attention of powerful wolves."

I paused briefly.

"You managed it on your very first day."

A few students exchanged uncomfortable glances.

Samantha simply looked at me.

"I didn't ask for any of this," she answered honestly, her expression remaining calm.

For some reason, I believed her. Yet believing her changed nothing.

"Perhaps not," I replied with another graceful smile before taking one slow step closer. "But whether you asked for it or not, you've changed many lives."

"I know," she answered softly, lowering her eyes for only a second before looking back at me. "And I'm still trying to understand why."

There it was again. No arrogance or pride… just confusion. That irritated me even more.

How could someone receive everything I'd worked toward, and not even understand what she'd been given?

The classroom door suddenly opened wider.

Professor Rowan entered carrying several ancient books beneath one arm.

"Take your seats," he instructed firmly, placing the books on his desk.

I held Samantha's gaze for one final moment before turning gracefully toward my seat.

As I walked away, I could still feel dozens of curious eyes following both of us.

Whatever had begun between Samantha Carter and me...

Neither of us would be walking away from it anytime soon.