Ava Craine stepped off the rusted bus with nothing but a worn-out backpack and a crumpled letter in her hand.
The cold wind hit at her cheeks as she took her first look at Stone Ridge University. Tall gothic buildings loomed in the distance like ancient castles. Some students were loud; others quietly walked past in small cliques, dressed in designer clothes and confidence.
Ava pulled her hoodie tighter over her head, hiding the jagged scar near her temple. She didn't belong here. Not among them. But this scholarship was her last shot.
Stone Ridge wasn't just any school. It was hidden in the middle of the mountains, surrounded by thick forests and secrets, it was known for producing powerful leaders, especially from elite bloodlines. What most people didn't know? Many of its students weren't fully human. And neither was she.
At least... not anymore.
Her wolf had never spoken.
Never stirred.
Not even when she turned eighteen.
In the werewolf world, that made her defective, unworthy, and a nobody. But Ava had learned how to survive invisibly. If you don't stand out, you don't get hurt.
"Move." A hard shoulder slammed into hers. Her bag hit the ground. Laughter echoed behind her. Ava looked up to meet the sneering gaze of a girl with sleek blonde hair and piercing eyes.
"Watch where you're going, you lowlife," the girl spat. Ava bit her tongue and bent to grab her bag. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction.
"She doesn't even smell like anything," someone whispered. That stung more than it should have.
She didn't even smell like a wolf.
••••
Stone Ridge dorms were as fancy as a hotel, but Ava's room was tucked at the end of the East Wing, far from the noise. She was grateful.
Inside, she found a small desk, a bed with crisp sheets, and a large window overlooking the forest. Her gaze lingered on the trees.
Shadowmoon.
That was what the locals called the forest behind the school. Legends said wolves disappeared there or came back different. She didn't believe in ghost stories.
Not yet.
••••
The next morning was worse.
First class was Pack Politics and Ancient Bloodlines.
The students sat in a wide lecture hall, the air thick with perfume, ego, and testosterone. Every row was claimed by bloodline hierarchy.
Ava sat at the top, far back, unnoticed. Then the door opened, and silence fell.
Aiden Blackthorn had arrived. He was tall, handsome, and his aura screamed danger. His presence made the air feel heavy. Girls straightened in their seats. Even the professor gave a nervous glance.
He walked in like he owned the place. And he did. His family ran the Bloodfang Pack, which is the most powerful werewolf bloodline on the continent.
His jet-black hair curled slightly at the ends, and his steel-blue eyes scanned the room lazily, stopping just for a second on Ava. Her breath caught. She didn't know why, but something burned beneath her skin the moment their eyes met. A strange tug deep in her chest. Her vision blurred, and her heart thudded like a drum in her ears. He frowned. Then he looked away. Just like that.
••••
Later that day, Ava sat under an old willow behind the library, sketching in her notebook. Drawing was her escape. That's when she smelled it.
Pinewood, smoke and rain.
It hit her nose like a drug. She looked up, and there he was again. Aiden. But he wasn't alone. Two girls flanked him, laughing and clinging to his arms. His expression was bored until his eyes locked on hers again.
His steps slowed. He stopped, staring at her like she was some puzzle he didn't know how to solve. Then, without warning, he walked straight to her. She froze. He leaned in, his voice low and deadly. "Who are you?" Her lips trembled. "Ava... Craine." Something flickered in his eyes. Shock? No... confusion. Anger. He stepped back, his eyes narrowing. "You can't be." "What?" "I don't care what the bond says," he hissed. "I reject you." Then he turned and walked away like she was nothing. Like he hadn't just shattered her whole world.
••••
Ava didn't know how she made it back to her room. Her chest burned. Her limbs felt heavy.
Rejected.
The word echoed over and over again in her head. Aiden Blackthorn was her mate and he had rejected her. But how? Her wolf had never even awakened. The bond shouldn't have formed. Unless... Unless she was more than what she thought.
That night, for the first time in her life, she had a dream. A silver wolf stood in the middle of Shadowmoor, howling at the moon. Its eyes were glowing gold. When Ava woke up, her body was slick with sweat. And in the distance, deep in the forest, she could have sworn she heard a real howl.