Claimed by the Four Alphas: A Crescent Veil Academy Story

Chapter 4

Zara’s pov

I stepped out of headmaster’s office, the picture pressed tightly to my chest like it might vanish if I loosened my grip.

The hallway felt too bright. Too open, I searched around for Tess but I couldn’t find her. I was about to head back to the headmaster’s office when I heard a scream that had probably destroyed by sense of hearing.

“Zara!!!”, a cheerful voice called out, and before I could even lift my head, a girl with bouncing ginger curls and an energy far too big for this hour appeared beside me. “Hi! I’m Tess. Your roommate, guide, emotional support, friend, whatever you need.”

I blinked at her.

She didn’t mind the silence. In fact, she barely paused to breathe.

“So I’ve been asked to take you to your room instead of giving you a tour today, but while we’re walking, I can tell you a few things. I’ve got a free period anyway.”

I followed numb.

“So,” she began as we walked, her voice light and cheerful, “Welcome to Crescent Veil Academy. This place is home to the most powerful wolves, Alphas, Betas and elite omegas. Not just anyone gets in. You have to be special.”

She glanced sideways to study me, but she didn’t say more than that.

“Some Betas here are strategists, brilliant minds and many more. Omegas have rare abilities like healing and sensory control. And Alpha…well, they’re strong obviously. Fierce leaders. So everyone is important in some way”

I stayed silent.

“But don’t let that fool you. There’s still a pecking order.”

I glanced at her, quietly intrigued despite my pain.

“I mean, sure we’re all powerful here,” she continued, tucking her curls into place. “But it’s not just about strength, it’s about bloodlines, status, your control over your wolf, how early you shifted, how close you are to the ruling packs…you get it. It’s all a game, and you’ve got to play it smart.”

I still didn’t respond and she didn’t seem to mind. “I’m a Beta, so technically second-tier. Not bad, right? But some of the top Alphas treat us like we’re nothing if we’re not part of their little inner circle. You know the type.”

I kept my grip tight on the photo.

She peeked at me again, this time with a little more softness. “Sorry, I talk a lot when I’m nervous. And you seem like you’ve had a long day. Probably longer than mine.”

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t.

We reached a tall dorm building. She led me up two flights of stairs and stopped at the end of a quiet hall.

“This is us, Room 302.”, she unlocked the door. “Shared suite. You’ve got your own bed, desk, closet. I claimed the window side already, no take backs.”

I stepped inside.

The room was spotless. A fresh set of uniforms folded on the neat bed. A polished desk, books stacked in perfect order. I noticed the brand new phone, notebooks, and clothes in the wardrobe.”

I walked towards the phone, I reached out and touched it. It was cold and smooth. It lit up and I flinched. I had never had this. It felt unreal.

“Whoa”, I whispered under my breath.

Tess watched me with a curious smile. “First phone?”

I nodded slowly as I continued to look round the room.

“First…everything?” she asked gently.

Another nod.

She stepped back with a grin, raising both hands playfully. “Okay, okay I get it. I’ll give you space. But fair warning, I’m a talker. You’ll c***k eventually.”

I gave a tiny, exhausted smile. It was honestly the best I could do .

“Alright. I’ll be at combat class later, if you need me. First real class is tomorrow, but rest today. You look like you’ve just had your entire world flipped upside down. And trust me, I’ve seen that look before.”

She stepped out and closed the door softly behind her.

I was alone again.

I stared at the laptop, the clothes, the phone that were mine now.

At the picture in my hands.

“Mom, dad I’m going to make you proud”

***

The next day was bittersweet. I had eaten the best meal of my life for dinner yesterday and somehow, breakfast managed to top it. Eggs, sausages, toast and yogurt. I devoured it like I hadn’t eaten in years. And in truth, I hadn’t. Here they eat three times a day with snacks and appetizers in between. I was used to surviving on one, maybe two meals a day if I was lucky. A piece of bread, a half rotted apple. This was …luxury. And luxury, I’d learned came with a cost.

The moment I stepped into the main hallway of the academy, the whispers began.

“The daughter of legends? And she’s wolfless”, someone said.

“Her parents were feared. What a disappointment.”

The words weren’t loud, but they didn’t need to be.

I managed to keep my held high and just kept walking like I couldn't hear them.

Like they didn’t matter but they did.

Tess walked beside me, less chatty than usual. Her presence grounded me, until she glanced sideways and said, “Zara, you have to be careful.”

I blinked, caught off guard by her seriousness.

“People here aren’t all nice. Some want to see you fail, and others…” She looked ahead, not at me. “They want to use you.”

I stared at her, still shocked. Then she continued.

“You’re powerful. Zara. Even if they can’t see it yet. And that scares them.”

I nodded, taking in her warning.

It didn’t take long before Maya and her minions Tina and Veronica walked past me. Yes I know their names now and just little details about everyone because of Tess, last night she showed me pictures and everything. It was like a “Who’s Who in the Crescent Veil Academy Soap Opera” crash course. She couldn’t tell me everything so she left the rest for today.

Maya’s shoulder brushing against mine barely sparing me a glance.

“Oh sorry, I didn’t see you there,”she spoke with fake sweetness.

Before I could respond, she turned towards the gathering students, her voice raised.

“Wolfless people aren’t relevant anyways.”

The crowd went quiet, so quiet you could hear crickets.

Then she smiled. Yeah she is definitely a villain, I thought.

“It’s even worse that your parents are legends.”

And just when I thought she might leave it at that.

She leaned in, real close, just enough for me to think I would be the only one that could hear her then she raised her voice again.

“What a waste of a bloodline; you had to be the one still alive—such a disappointment.”

Laughter erupted through the crowd.

I gripped my bag tighty like it could shield me from everything, the stares, the laughter, the taunts. Inside were the things that felt like mine: my new sketchbooks, my pencils and my phone.

Maya looked at my bag, she didn’t speak, she didnt need to.

Maya grabbed my bag and tossed it across the hallway like it was trash.

It hit the ground with a loud thud.

“My phone was in there”, I whispered. I didn’t even realised when I moved towards the bag but before I could reach it, someone struck my shoulder hard.

A sharp pain hit my side, and I fell to my knees.

More laughter echoed around me, this was all too much for me.

I was still on my knees, dizzy from the hit, my hands trembling on the cold floor. My bag lay yards away, with everything spilled out. I’m sure they are all useless now.

“Hey you can’t do this to her”, Tess yelled as she tried to help me up.

They didn’t listen. Tina shoved Tess back, she managed to steady herself with the help of the wall but then Veronica slapped her.

“Tess, don’t–”, I screamed, but my voice cracked halfway.

She looked at me, torn between staying and running for help. But she was just one person and they were many.

Their boots circled me like predators closing in on prey. Then he stepped forward.

Roman. The fire alpha.