Unseat the Apha

Every eighteen-year-old girl like Violet Purple had waited for this day from the moment they entered high school. It was the day when young women from all districts were given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a member of Lunaris Academy. An academy that wasn't just a school, but a ticket out, a chance to rise above, to be chosen. It was no secret that the top-performing human students ended up marrying alphas, the apex of werewolf society. After all, the war two centuries ago had decimated the werewolf population, particularly the she-wolves. With only ten percent of them left, alphas had turned to humans for their mates, creating an uneasy yet necessary alliance. The werewolves had been initially strong and persistent during the war but a virus, designed by human scientists, had ravaged the werewolf population, killing eighty percent of their female population. The werewolves, faced with extinction, had no choice but to call for a cease-fire and peace was brokered between the two races. But it wasn't true peace. There were rules, agreements, and an ever-present tension that underscored the delicate balance. Perhaps to symbolize this coexistence, the alpha king had married a human, a woman he met at Lunaris Academy, giving the school its fame and regality. "School, my ass," Violet Purple muttered under her breath, casting a disbelieving glance at the teacher in front of the classroom. The woman was holding up the official-looking application form, droning on about the importance of making a good impression and how the form could be the key to changing their futures. Everyone knew the academy was less about learning and more about matchmaking. But no one would say it aloud, not when they needed a shot at a life they couldn't otherwise reach. "Make sure you fill in every section carefully," the teacher instructed. "Lunaris Academy will only select one student from each district, and with two other schools in our district, the competition is fierce. So use all the skills you have. Make your form irresistible. Ask your parents for help if you need it. Some of them have gone through this process, and their experience might guide you. And remember, submit your forms first thing tomorrow. The law mandates that you apply, and non-compliance comes with heavy penalties. Treat this form like your very life. Good luck. " As if on cue, the bell rang, signaling the end of the lesson. The classroom erupted into chaos as students rushed to pack their bags and head home, their conversations buzzing with excitement, as they gossiped about the upcoming selection. Violet shoved her books into her backpack, her fingers trembling slightly from the tension that had settled deep in her bones. This was a chance she didn't know whether to take or reject. Even if by zero point zero chance that she won the spot at Lunaris Academy, she wasn't interested in being the princess in distress who needed to be saved. Nor was she stupid to fall for the stupid fallacy called love her mother's occupation had ruined any appeal such emotion might hold for her. Also, she knew the game was rigged. Alphas didn't marry girls like her—poor, broken girls with nothing to offer. They married beauties, winners, and girls who knew how to play the game. Violet wasn't one of them. "Hey, purple w***e," a voice jeered from a voice jeered from behind. Violet froze, her breath catching in her throat. Not today, she thought, squeezing her eyes shut, praying they would leave her alone. Maybe if she ignored them, they would lose interest. But she should have known by now, they wouldn't. They never did. "Hey, you deaf?" the voice called again, closer now. Violet could feel the malicious eyes on her back as her tormentors gathered behind her. The same group that had made her life a living hell for years. One of them shoved her forward. Violet stumbled, gripping her desk for support. A wave of bitter anger surged through her, but she forced the emotion down. She was honestly not in the mood to get her fist dirtied, not to mention she had more important things like the Lunaris Academy form in her bag to think about. "You think you're gonna get into Lunaris, huh?" Jasmine, their leader sneered, her voice thick with disdain. "Don't make me laugh. They wouldn't want trash like you anywhere near them. I mean with a used hole like yours, I bet any d**k that goes in there would be lost." The other girls laughed at the cruel joke, emboldened by their leader's malice. Violet's fists clenched, her nails digging into her palms as her pulse quickened. Blood pounded in her ears, the sting of their words sinking deep. Being an orphan adopted by a prostitute was the only reason they had chosen to pick on her, like hyenas circling a wounded animal. It didn't help that her mother's idea of a joke was to call her "Violet Purple" because of the unnatural color of her hair. As long as Violet could remember, her hair had been black at the roots and purple at the tips. It would have been better if her mother had called her "Violet Black," but no, the woman—likely high on drugs at the time—had literally announced to the world that she was adopted and denying her any claim to her surname. Not that Violet knew which would have been worse: being Nancy's real daughter or just a replacement. Violet had despised her name and appearance for as long as she could remember. Once, in a fit of rage, she had chopped off the purple tips of her hair, but they grew back just the same, marking her as a freak in everyone's eyes. That, combined with the shame of being adopted by a prostitute, was all the ammunition the bullies needed. Violet knew they wanted a reaction, but she refused to give them the satisfaction. Instead, she straightened her spine, adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder, and attempted to leave, but they blocked her path. "Get out of my way," she said coldly, her voice steady despite the heat of anger bubbling beneath her skin. She didn't want to fight, but if push came to shove, she'd handle it. A week of punishment or community service was nothing new, and neither was taking on all five of them at once. This wouldn't be the first time. And it certainly wouldn't be the last