The Alpha's Regret

New friends

Chapter Seven

Vitani's POV

The first rays of dawn slipped through the thin curtains of my bedroom, painting soft golden lines across the worn wooden floor.

I opened my eyes slowly.

Every part of my body protested.

A sharp ache spread across my shoulders the moment I tried to sit up, and my hands burned as though tiny flames danced beneath my skin. I stared at my palms, now covered with angry red blisters beneath yesterday's bandages.

Cleaning the entire training ground alone had taken more out of me than I wanted to admit.

I let out a quiet sigh before carefully removing the old bandages.

"...They look worse."

The blisters had burst during the night, leaving the skin raw and tender.

Biting my lip, I reached into my bedside drawer and wrapped fresh bandages around both hands as tightly as I could.

No one needed to know.

No one would care anyway.

After changing into my Mooncrest Academy uniform, I tied my long brown hair into a loose ponytail and forced a small smile at my reflection.

"You'll be okay."

The girl staring back at me didn't look convinced.

---

The dining hall buzzed with conversation when I entered.

Father sat proudly at the head of the long table, already discussing pack matters with several elders.

Beside him sat Elena.

She looked flawless as always, her perfectly styled hair framing a smile that seemed sweet to everyone except me.

The moment our eyes met, her lips curved ever so slightly.

"Well," she said loudly enough for everyone to hear, "look who's finally awake."

A few people glanced toward me before returning to their meals.

Father didn't even lift his head.

I quietly took the empty seat nearest the end of the table.

One servant placed a small plate in front of me.

Before I could touch it, Elena spoke again.

"I heard someone spent all evening sweeping dirt."

A soft laugh escaped her.

"I suppose that's the only thing she's good at."

Several people chuckled.

I lowered my eyes.

There was no point responding.

Father continued eating as though he hadn't heard a single word.

That hurt more than Elena's insult ever could.

After taking only a few bites, I stood.

"I'm leaving for school."

Father gave a brief nod without looking at me.

I wasn't sure whether he'd even realized I was there.

---

The walk to Mooncrest Academy usually calmed me.

Morning sunlight filtered through the towering pine trees while birds sang overhead.

Today...

My thoughts refused to settle.

Lucas.

I hadn't seen him since yesterday.

A tiny smile found its way onto my lips before I quickly shook my head.

"Don't be ridiculous."

Why would he notice me?

He was one of the academy's strongest students.

Confident.

Respected.

Admired by almost everyone.

I was...

Just me.

The girl without a wolf.

The girl everyone whispered about.

By the time the academy gates came into view, students had already begun gathering across the courtyard.

Groups laughed together while others compared assignments before class.

My eyes wandered across the crowd almost on instinct.

And there he was.

Lucas.

He stood beneath the large oak tree near the main building, talking with a few of his friends.

Even from a distance, his easy smile stood out.

He laughed at something one of the boys said before casually running a hand through his dark hair.

For a second...

I forgot to breathe.

Then I quickly looked away.

"He probably hasn't even seen me."

Clutching the strap of my bag, I lowered my head and started toward the academy entrance.

Just keep walking.

Don't embarrass yourself.

"Vitani."

I froze.

My heart skipped.

Did...

Did someone just—

"Good morning."

I slowly turned around.

Lucas was walking toward me with a warm smile.

For a moment, I wondered if I was dreaming.

"H-Hi..."

"Morning," he said cheerfully. "You're here early."

"I... I usually am."

"I noticed."

He smiled again.

"I've seen you arrive before most students almost every day."

"You... noticed?"

The words escaped before I could stop them.

Lucas chuckled softly.

"Of course."

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

"Oh..."

An awkward silence settled between us.

I stared at the ground, unsure what to say.

He probably regrets coming over.

He's just being polite.

"I hope your morning's been okay," Lucas said gently.

"It has."

I lied automatically.

His eyes briefly drifted to the bandages wrapped around my hands.

"What happened?"

Instinctively, I hid them behind my back.

"Oh... it's nothing."

"Nothing?"

"I was just... helping around the pack."

He studied me for a moment.

Not suspiciously.

Just...

Concerned.

"You should be careful."

"I will."

Another smile appeared on his face.

"Come on."

"Huh?"

"Class starts soon."

He nodded toward the academy building.

"We're heading the same way."

For a heartbeat, I simply stared.

"You... want to walk with me?"

"Why not?"

He shrugged casually.

"It'd be nice to have some company."

A strange warmth spread through my chest.

No one had ever said something so simple...

Yet it meant everything.

"...I'd like that."

Together, we began walking across the courtyard.

Around us, conversations slowly quieted.

Several students watched us pass.

Some looked surprised.

Others simply curious.

I barely noticed.

I was too busy trying to convince myself this wasn't another dream.

From the second-floor balcony overlooking the courtyard, a pair of sharp eyes followed every step.

Elena.

Her smile had vanished.

Her fingers tightened around the balcony railing.

"What..."

She watched Lucas laugh softly at something Vitani said.

The sound made something dark twist inside her chest.

"Why is he talking to her?"

One of her friends stepped beside her.

"Elena?"

She didn't answer.

Her gaze never left the pair walking together below.

Vitani.

The weak, wolfless girl everyone pitied.

She had no right to stand beside Lucas.

No right to make him smile.

A cold smile slowly spread across Elena's face.

"If she thinks this is the beginning..."

Her eyes narrowed dangerously.

"...she's about to learn exactly where she belongs."

Vitani's POV

We continued walking across the academy courtyard, and for the first time in what felt like forever, the silence around me wasn't uncomfortable.

Lucas didn't seem to expect anything from me.

He wasn't trying to impress me, nor did he make me feel awkward.

Instead, he simply walked beside me as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

"So," he said with a small smile, "how are your classes going?"

"They're... going well."

"You always get good grades."

I blinked in surprise.

"You know that?"

He chuckled.

"Of course. Professor Morgan praised you in class last week."

A nervous laugh escaped me.

"I didn't think anyone was listening."

"I was."

Before I could respond, a familiar voice called out from behind us.

"Lucas!"

A blond-haired boy jogged toward us with a grin plastered across his face.

"There you are! I was looking everywhere for you."

Lucas laughed.

"You've been looking for me for two whole minutes."

"Exactly." The boy placed a dramatic hand over his chest. "Do you know how difficult those two minutes were?"

I couldn't stop the smile tugging at my lips.

Lucas noticed.

"This is Ryan," he said. "We've known each other since we were kids."

Ryan turned to me with a friendly smile.

"And you must be Vitani."

I nodded.

"H-Hi."

"It's nice to finally meet you."

There was no mockery.

No pity.

Just kindness.

"I've heard you're one of the smartest students in our year."

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

"I... I don't know about that."

Lucas folded his arms with a teasing smile.

"See? I told you she'd deny it."

Ryan laughed.

"I'd deny it too if professors kept using me as an example."

I let out a small laugh.

It slipped out before I could stop it.

The sound surprised even me.

For a brief moment, the weight on my shoulders felt lighter.

Ryan pointed dramatically at Lucas.

"There! She laughed."

Lucas raised an eyebrow.

"So?"

"So?" Ryan repeated. "You should celebrate. Half the academy looks terrified around you."

Lucas rolled his eyes.

"You're impossible."

"I prefer 'charming.'"

I laughed again.

This time, both boys smiled.

For some reason, seeing them laugh made me forget about everything waiting for me back at the pack house.

"You have a nice laugh."

Lucas's words were quiet.

I looked at him in surprise.

He seemed just as surprised by what he'd said.

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"I mean..."

He cleared his throat.

"It's... good to see you smiling."

My heart fluttered.

Before I could answer, the sound of heels clicking across the stone pathway echoed through the courtyard.

"Lucas!"

Elena.

She approached with two girls walking behind her, wearing her usual flawless smile.

"There you are," she said sweetly. "I've been looking for you."

Lucas offered a polite nod.

"Morning, Elena."

Her gaze shifted toward me.

The warmth in her eyes disappeared for only a second before returning.

"Oh."

"I didn't realize you were... busy."

"I was just talking with Vitani," Lucas replied.

Elena laughed softly.

"How thoughtful of you."

She tilted her head toward me.

"I hope my stepsister isn't keeping you from your friends."

"I'm not," I said quietly.

"I was just leaving."

Instinctively, I took a small step backward.

This was where I belonged.

In the background.

Lucas frowned.

"Vitani."

I stopped.

"You don't have to leave."

I looked at him.

His expression was calm.

Sincere.

"We were all heading to class anyway."

Ryan nodded.

"Exactly."

The courtyard had grown noticeably quieter.

Students nearby had begun watching us from the corners of their eyes.

A few whispered among themselves.

Elena noticed.

Her smile remained perfectly in place.

Inside, however, anger burned.

"Of course," she said smoothly. "I only wanted to say good morning."

The academy bell rang, its clear tone echoing across the campus.

Students immediately began moving toward their classrooms.

"We should go," Lucas said.

Ryan stretched lazily.

"If we're late again, Professor Morgan will make us clean the training hall."

Lucas laughed.

"I'd rather avoid that."

He looked at me.

"See you in class, Vitani."

"...See you."

As they walked ahead, I stood frozen for a second, unable to stop the smile spreading across my face.

Someone had chosen to walk beside me.

Someone had spoken to me as though I mattered.

It was such a small thing.

Yet it felt like the brightest part of my day.

I turned toward my classroom, unaware of the icy gaze following me from across the courtyard.

Elena watched until I disappeared through the classroom door.

Her smile finally vanished.

"So..." one of her friends whispered. "What are you going to do?"

Elena's eyes darkened.

"Nothing."

Her lips curved into a cold smile.

"Not yet."

She folded her arms.

"If Vitani thinks Lucas's kindness means something..."

She let out a quiet laugh.

"...she's about to learn how quickly hope can be taken away."

With that, Elena turned and walked toward her own classroom, already beginning to plan her next move.