The abandoned wolfless but true princess

ELEANOR’s POV. My legs nearly gave way as I crossed the finish line. My face broke into a huge smile as I crashed to the ground, trying to catch my breath. I did it. I crossed the finish line and I didn’t collapse. This was probably the happiest moment of my life since entering this prestigious werewolf academy. Just a few days ago, my father brought me home from the orphanage. Back then, I was still human, but later I learned I was a werewolf. Well, unfortunately, no wolf. So while my classmates were all running as wolves, I could only compete as a human. I wasn't afraid of losing, but I didn't want to lose. I wanted to at least finish it, so when I crossed the finish line, I was truly overjoyed. “Good job, Eleanor.” I muttered to myself, then waved to Kathy, the only friend I'd made here. I asked her, "See? I did it!" “You’re amazing!” Kathy and I clasped hands in celebration, laughing happily. But the surrounding noise and the increasingly loud laughter mixed in made me suspicious, because it seemed to be directed at me. “What’s going on?” I asked her, “Are they laughing at me?” “Well, yes.” Kathy beamed as she gently took my hands in hers, “Actually, you were the last one to arrive. But you ran the whole course, didn't you? Ignore them. Well, it wasn’t like I cared. I was more concerned about the fact that I finished my race. I laughed, "Yeah, who cares! I still won." “Well, you should care.” I heard footsteps behind me and I turned my head to see Jorge making his way towards us—an expressionless look hovering over his face. He was the first person I bumped into on my first day here, and I immediately remembered his face—he was the man in that picture, one of the four prospective fiancés my father had arranged for me. He looked better in person than the pictures. Broad shoulders, hair dark and inky like the night sky. His hair was always pulled into a messy ponytail atop his head but his biggest assets were his eyes. They had that natural golden hue to them that was impossible to ignore. Unfortunately, I had no intention of attracting him. I am a princess, the king's daughter. But the reason I chose to attend this academy was to escape the marriage my father had forced upon me. He thought I was no wolf, weak, and needed a man like Jorge for protection. But I didn't want that. Back in the orphanage, I was already one of the best students. I had excellent athletic ability and could do many sports. Even if I didn't yet possess the extraordinary ability to rule a kingdom, I wanted to prove that I could at least do it on my own, not necessarily with a man. So, even though I disliked my stepmother Amanda, who wasn't as kind as she seemed, and I disliked her daughter Xena, the mean girl in my grade who led the bullying against me, treating me like a nobody, I still agreed to her suggestion—to attend Blackthorn academy—this so-called elite werewolf academy under an assumed name. If I could graduate successfully on my own merit, I would prove I was capable enough. I believed I could. Therefore, I didn't agree with Jorge's words. I thought he was just provoking me. After all, he was the one who thought Xena was right when she mocked me for being weak without a wolf. There and then, they made me realize how much I didn’t belong here and I felt a deep contempt for their arrogant attitude—he didn’t even know my name but he was already hating me. "Care about what?" I put my hands on my hips, rolled my eyes, and sneered. "How can you deny all my efforts just because I have no wolf? You're sorely mistaken. I will never belittle myself." “I told you” his voice rang out,towering over me like a wall, “This is an elite academy for the top Alphas and Betas, not for No Wolf,” he said quietly, His tone was much calmer now even though his eyes held something different. "How did you think you would survive here without a wolf?” His eyes searched mine for some kind of answer as his hands crossed his chest, “do you think some kind of magic would happen?” He added, If I were you, I would leave when I still have the chance. This place will eat you alive, Eleanor.” "Really?" I still firmly believed this was just a clumsy bullying charade they were putting on to scare me off. "What if I believed I could be the exception?"A smile crept onto his face, handsome, but also disdainful. "Then you will be very wrong." Our argument was interrupted by Mr Branko, who was the teacher for this class and also our physical training and combat training professor .I looked up to see Mr Branko gesturing towards everyone before his deep baritone filled the place. “It was a good start” he began, his tone calm but commanding, “I can see you all gave it your best and it really shows how committed you all are to train yourselves and your wolves. If the lot of you keep it up this way, I can assure you that you will be graduating with honors” Everyone cheered as he began to announce our results until he got to my name and the look on his face changed. He suddenly looked frustrated . I glanced at Kathy, raising an eyebrow at her but she also didn’t know why he was suddenly upset. “It’s already controversial that you were accepted here, Eleanor,” he said calmly, “you do not have a wolf and that’s already a lot. So why can’t you put a little extra effort?” “I don’t understand— “Of course you don’t” he interrupted me, “this is a school for elites and we are not here to joke around, Eleanor. This academy does not reward effort, it reward results” My throat tightened but I didn’t say a word, I kept staring at him. “You do not have a wolf which means you can not perform like everyone else” he continued, “you must perform better” Branko took another glance at his clipboard and let out another sigh. “If you intend to stay here. You need to prove that your presence is not a liability, Eleanor” Before I could respond, he turned and walked away. The laughter of the students behind me echoed through the entire place—not one of them accepted me here.