The Alpha Princess and Her Enemy

Cheated. Yes, you heard that right. She cheated. It wasn’t some grand scheme — it just happened. One moment she was staring at Brad Blackbriar’s smirking face, and the next, something inside her snapped. She needed to win. Needed to wipe that smug grin right off his face. Brad had it all. Looks. Charisma. That roguish handsomeness she hated to admit made him unfairly magnetic. Girls practically melted when he walked into a room, their eyes following him like moths to a flame. He was good at sports, smart, and worst of all, he knew it. Arrogant. Cocky. Infuriating…. Those were just a few of the names she called him daily. But most infuriating of all… he was next in line to be Alpha of his pack—just like her. So, when she spotted the answer key left out before the math final that morning, she hadn’t hesitated. Yes, it was wrong, but she deserved to be valedictorian, damn it! And besides, Brad’s smug face every time grades came back was unbearable. How? How did he always manage it? She studied day and night, pulling near-perfect marks, while he spent his time on the field—or with that girlfriend he paraded around—and somehow, he always scored a few points higher. And of course, he never missed a chance to rub it in. “Well done, Wrenna!” Mrs. Summers smiled as she placed the paper in front of her, a big fat 99% shining in red ink. “Thank you, Aunt Bec—Mrs. Summers,” she quickly corrected herself, before turning to Brad with an infuriating grin. He squinted his eyes at her from where he sat—one row behind. When he got his test back, with a “nice one, Brad, just two points from the highest.” He snapped. “Of course she aced it,” Brad sneered. “Her aunt’s the teacher. I’m sure that’s fair.” “Excuse me?” Mrs. Summers snapped back. Wrenna swiveled in her chair, batting her lashes. “Big talk from someone who’s nineteen and still stuck in high school.” The humans around them snickered. Brad’s jaw ticked. “You’re her aunt and part of her…family!” Brad snapped, ignoring Wrenna, standing to his full length. But Mrs. Summers, having been a teacher for years now at the St. Augustine’s Preparatory, didn’t back down. She was used to Alpha shits, and was here to keep an eye on the Whispering Pines pack members. Most packs had a one of their own as a teacher here. Wrenna had always thought it was stupid that packs shoved their heirs into human schools after elementary. Some “unspoken rule” about learning human ways, preparing for future laws, blending in with business. Whatever. All she knew was that it meant she couldn’t beat up Brad Blackbriar in front of the humans. Mrs. Summers stepped up to him, hands on her hips, as they held a stare off. Wrenna gasped when she felt Brad’s Alpha aura rolling off him, causing everyone, except for Mrs. Summers and Wrenna, to bare their necks at him. Wrenna’s chair scraped as she stood, turning to him and rolling out her own Aura. Gasps echoed across the room as the two Alphas showed off, trying to make the other one surrender. “Lay… off…” Wrenna grated out. “Enough! Both of you!” An authoritive voice rumbled from the doorway. It belonged to Principal Lopez. “In my office, both of you!” Both Wrenna and Brad were still seething when they shoved shoulders in the doorway, both trying to get through the door first. “Will you two stop!? You’re 17,” he snapped at Wrenna, “and you’re 19, both Alphas and you should know better!” Principal Andrew Lopez was more than just a school administrator. He was the retired Alpha of the Shadow Rock pack, a man who’d earned his title not by bloodline, but by challenge. Years ago, he’d defeated a corrupt Alpha in single combat and ruled until he passed the mantle on. Even now, his presence carried the weight of an Alpha — enough to make heirs like Wrenna and Brad think twice before mouthing off. “Alpha heirs or not, in here you’re just brats with inflated egos,” Lopez growled. “Yes, Sir,” they both said in unison. He sighed, shaking his head at the both of them. “You two are going to be the death of me. I better call the erasers, again. Using your Auras in a room full of humans,” he grumbled. Just then, the bell rang. “Remember to keep your heads down!” Principal Lopez barked. When they stepped out of the office, Brad leaned into her. “Enjoy the top score while it lasts — I’ll prove you cheated.” Her stomach tightened a the threat, but she pushed it away. With one last glare at Brad’s handsome smirking face, Wrenna dashed down the hallway for something more important than her juvenile rivalry…. Cheerleading practice. “Five, Six, Seven, Eight!” Wrenna barked at her squad, wearing her ‘new routine’ practice outfit. A neon-pink tank, white sneakers, and a pair of ancient sweatpants Veronica had given her as a joke years ago. Across the back, in glittery rhinestones, were the words Alpha Princess. She wore them with pride. She’d inherited Veronica’s girly side, while carrying Brax’ temper and practical side with her. It was the perfect combo of both. She’d been captain of the St. Augustine’s Sirens for two years now, and wore the title with pride. A whistle blew. Groans followed. The football team strolled in, Brad at the front, helmet under his arm, sweat darkening his T-shirt. His gaze flicked over her outfit, lingering on the rhinestones across her butt. His grin widened. “Nice pants, Princess,” he drawled, voice carrying across the gym. “Bet your stepmom’s proud.” Wrenna’s ponytail nearly snapped with how hard she whipped around to glare at him. Within seconds, five of her girls threw down their pompoms to head over to Brad and his jocks. Wrenna bristled. “Sirens!” she snapped. “Practice isn’t over. Back in line!” Brad looked over, arms draped over two of her cheerleaders. His grin widened as the girls pouted, leaning closer to him. “Relax, ladies. You’ll see me tonight after the game—at the bonfire. Assuming the Alpha Princess doesn’t ban fun by then.” He winked, smirk tugging at his lips as laughter rippled through the gym. “What an asshole,” Beth muttered under her breath. Beth, daughter of Alpha Georgia and Alpha Byron, half-human and half-feline shifter, was Wrenna’s partner in crime despite being two years younger—and the only one who dared say what Wrenna was already thinking. Brad finally swaggered off with his little entourage, two of Wrenna’s own Sirens trailing after him like puppies. Wrenna’s jaw clenched. Her squad fell back into line, but not before Becca tossed her a glare sharp enough to cut glass. Wrenna arched a brow. “Do you have a problem, Becca? Because I can think of ten other girls dying to wear that uniform.” Becca blanched and bent to pick up her pom-poms again. Wrenna turned back to the squad, her voice cracking like a whip. “From the top! Five, six, seven, eight—”