THE ALPHA'S ACADEMY PLAYTHING

Alina Morozova’s pov Alina Morozova is my name. I held a prominent position at Novaya Luna Academy. I walked through those hallways as if I owned them, and perhaps I did. Let's face it, though: I wasn't your typical student. Everyone either feared or envied me because I was the Alpha's daughter. Novaya Luna was not your typical school. It served as a sanctuary for the paranormal. The paranormal community included Vedmas, Tigrovs, Volkyns, and Krovniks, among others. We all lived together, unseen by the human world. Their governments were puppets, dancing to music of our kind, but they were unaware of it. I was raised to be tough because my parents were warriors. My cousin Katya Ivanenko and I were the only ones leading the cheer squad and planning our ascent to the top with no siblings. We were aware that we occasionally had to play dirty to advance in the ranks. We were unfazed by labels like "w***e" because they were merely words. The twist is that I never thought my Volkyn Soul bound would be Alpha Nikita Morozov's quiet, nerdy son. I'm sneaking around with Leonid Sokolov one minute, and then I'm looking directly into my true mate's eyes the next. The universe twists the humor. As if things couldn't get any more complicated, I discovered that I might be carrying Leonid's child. My secrets were on the brink of unraveling. As I watched the party from the shadows, the tension in the night air was palpable. Laughter reverberated through the trees as music pounded from the speakers. I should have been dancing and having a good time out there, but my thoughts were elsewhere. "Alina!" As Katya walked toward me with a worried expression on her face, her voice broke through the din. What's happening? All night long, you've been acting strangely. I paused, not knowing how to describe the mess I had created. "I... I think I'm in trouble, Katya." She arched an eyebrow. "Is something wrong?" What sort of trouble? In an attempt to calm myself, I inhaled deeply. When I was with Leonid, I discovered that I had a Volkyn Soul bound. He witnessed everything. Katya's eyes went wide with surprise. "Wait, you mean...?" As I nodded, a knot started to form in my throat. Yes. In addition, I may be pregnant, which would make things worse. For a moment, she looked at me, unable to speak. This is serious, Alina. What will you do? "I don't know," I said, feeling overpowered. "I can't do it alone, but I need to figure things out." Katya put a comforting hand on my shoulder. Together, we'll overcome this. You're not by yourself. I couldn't shake the dread in my chest as the celebration continued. I knew that things would never be the same again, and the weight of my secrets threatened to break me. I looked around, trying to find Leonid. I had to explain everything to him. But there was no sign of him. A voice behind me said, "Looking for someone?" I looked over and saw Daniil Orlov grinning smugly. I tried to brush past him and said, "Not now, Daniil." He took hold of my arm and held me there. Alina, hurry. Don't act that way. We might enjoy ourselves. I glared at him as I yanked my arm free. "I'm not interested." He grinned. You'll return with a stutter. You always do. I ignored his remarks and turned to leave. I had more pressing issues. I was sitting by myself on the Sapphire Crescent Bench later that evening, deep in contemplation. My mind relived the evening's events, each one more agonizing than the last. "Alina," a voice murmured. Oleg Vetrovski was standing in front of me when I looked up, his eyes worried. "Are you okay?" I gave a head shake. "Not really." He took a seat next to me. "Want to discuss it?" After a moment of hesitation, I nodded. "Oleg, I made a mistake. Hugely." I told him everything that had happened, and he listened. After I finished, he remained silent for some time. Finally, he said, "That's a lot to take in." But, Alina, you're strong. You'll overcome this. I gave a feeble smile. "Thank you, Oleg." As the sun rose, I realized that my life was about to undergo a profound transformation. My actions would have consequences, and the secrets I had been keeping would no longer remain hidden. I was aware that I wasn't alone, though. I had an opportunity to put things right with Katya and Oleg by my side. Additionally, I might just be able to find a way to be with my true love. That night, I didn't sleep. I could always see his face, those wide, startled eyes, when I closed my eyes. The moment of treachery was etched in my memory. After he fled into the trees, the air was heavy with the smell of rejection. My soul is bound. Lost. It was not intended for Volkyn bonds to break that way. Like some old moon magic, they were meant to click and draw us together like magnets the moment our eyes locked. Instead, he fled. He fled as if I were poisoned. Did he notice me with Leonid? Or did he see me for who I really am? I sat on the Sapphire Crescent Bench, cradling my knees, even though the party had ended. Even though the bench was partially chipped and cracked from the most recent Tigrov fight, it still sparkled dimly in the moonlight. I could only breathe there on campus, free from the noose-like grip of my Alpha bloodline. "Still here?" Katya slid next to me, holding two steaming cups. "I assumed you hadn't returned home." "Where did you get coffee at three in the morning?" My voice was hoarse as I asked the question. She smirked and handed me a cup, saying, "I have my way." "I also owe Pavel for the time I filled in for him during the full moon detention." Even though the idea of drinking anything made my stomach turn, I was thankful for the warmth in my hands and laughed weakly. "So, what's the plan?" Katya inquired. "Are you going to locate him?" I gave a shrug. "I'm not even familiar with his name." I am only familiar with his face. His aroma. "The bond." "Not exactly helpful," she whispered. Then she took a sidelong glance. "And Leonid?" I flinched. "Yes... I also have to deal with that. "You think he suspects?" I made a tight line with my lips. "Katya, he saw the spark of the bond. He is aware." For a while, we sat in silence. A Krovnik bat hissed somewhere in the trees, and crickets chirped. The forest was always restless. My guilt didn't either. She said, almost in a whisper, "You think it’s his?" I took a while to respond. "Yeah," I said at last. "Well, I'm not sure, but..." Most likely. Leaning back against the bench, she let out a sigh. "All right. First things first, you must speak with Leonid before the rumors begin to circulate." "He won't want to speak with me." "Not relevant. Alina, you owe him that talk. My boots were scratched from the gravel path, and I was still wearing my party clothes when I trudged across campus later that morning. The academy as a whole seemed more subdued than usual, as if the energy of the night had sapped everything. Students whispered past me. I sensed it. The change. The eyes that once admired me now watch me with hunger. I was hungry for gossip. Officially, I was on the gossip menu. And I was aware of who had placed me there. Orlov, Daniil. I knew he had told everyone after just one glance at his arrogant face resting against the fountain outside the main hall. As I went by, he smiled. He drawled, "Morning, princess," loud enough to be heard by half the courtyard. "Hard night?" I clenched my fists and ignored him. He yelled, "Where’s your soul bound?" "Oh, I see. He ran away when he saw you suck your face with your sidepiece." I halted my stroll. The world swayed. Everyone in our vicinity froze. "What did you say?" With a brewing fury behind my ribs, I slowly turned. Daniil's eyes glowed. He cherished this. The drama. The suffering. "You heard me." Before anyone could blink, I slammed him against the fountain wall after taking three steps across the courtyard. My canines sharpened as my claws pushed halfway through my skin. "Say it again," I snarled. He didn't. He merely grinned. Someone whispered, "Ooooh." "She's wild now." "Be careful," Daniil muttered. "The Council will remove you from Alpha succession if you lose control here." Before I did something dumber, I took a step back. I felt my chest heave. I turned away and said, "You're a parasite." "Eating off the secrets of others." He laughed behind me. And you? You're fortunate to have been born with authority. I entered the greenhouse, hoping no one else was there, and the door slammed open. Naturally, however, fate had other ideas. Already inside, Leonid Sokolov was pacing. He appeared to have not slept, and his dark curls were messier than normal. He had wrinkles on his shirt. The moment he saw me, he froze. We merely gazed. He had unreadable eyes. He evinced neither warmth nor hate. Simply put, cold, as well as hollow. "Leonid" "Don't," he said softly. I moved in closer. "Please. I am aware of what you witnessed. But you must realize" He sneered. "You get it? One moment you were kissing me, and the next you were looking into someone else's eyes and glowing like the moon goddess!" "I didn't plan it!" Tears were burning when I snapped. "Until that moment, I had no idea he even existed." He said resentfully, "But he’s your soul bound." " And I'm not. That's what this process is all about, isn't it? "No!" He retreated when I reached for him. "Are you not pregnant?" The words hit me like a slap. I didn't respond, and that was a sufficient response. His lips formed a rigid line as he nodded slowly. Yes. That's what I believed. "I apologize," I muttered. For the first time in my life, I saw the boy beneath the flawless, calm heir to the Tigrov line as he gave me one final glance. He was also devastated. "I loved you, Alina," he said. "I had faith in you." Then he turned to leave. Long after he had left, I remained in the greenhouse. Even though the sun had risen and was shining golden light through the leaves and vines, my inner cold remained unabated. Everything was falling apart. I sensed it. My friendships, my life, and my Alpha future were all slipping away from me like sand. What was the most distressing aspect? My Soul bound was still a mystery to me. All I could recall were those blue-green eyes and the way the bond made my bones vibrate. However, what would have happened if he had turned me down? Was the bond shattered? Is there any chance of fixing it? I was sitting on the floor with Katya back in my dorm, holding a cheap pregnancy test. I dropped it twice because my fingers were shaking so much. She said softly, "Are you certain you want to know today?" "No," I replied. "But I have to." While we waited, the test rested on the sink's edge. Two minutes seemed like two years. My throat throbbed with my heart. There is only a single line. Then Two. Katya took a sharp breath. "Shit." I remained silent. I sat there in silence. Expecting a child. With Leonid's kid. I am soul bound to a stranger who may never return.